Cumulus Media is in the midst of dropping several AM radio stations from its portfolio as the signals go silent. It says it has a method to its madness.
In the past few weeks, the company has silenced stations like KZAC — previously known as KSFO before that brand moved to 810 AM — on 560 AM in San Francisco. Additional stations signing off include 1070 WAPI in Birmingham, Newsradio 1440 in Montgomery, 1260 WRIE in Erie, Sports Radio 1440 KPUR in Amarillo, and Sports Radio 1560 in Melbourne, Florida, among several others.
As Cumulus takes the stations silent, the company says they are necessary steps to continue moving forward.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to optimize our portfolio and allocate resources effectively in our local markets, we have determined that certain stations are no longer the right strategic fit within their respective markets,” the company said in a statement. “As a result, we have made the decision to suspend operations at these stations — an adjustment that impacts very few individuals — while we evaluate the best path forward, allowing us to focus on strengthening and maximizing the impact of our other brands.”
Cumulus Media has also taken some FM stations dark, in the process, including stations in Muskegon, Michigan; Bloomington, Illinois; and Wichita Falls, Texas, among others.
The company is not alone in shuttering stations in recent weeks. Townsquare Media has also taken stations silent during the month of March, according to filings with the FCC stating that economic conditions in the market forced the move to temporarily take stations in the Quad Cities, Maine, and New Jersey silent.
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We all know what’s coming, we’re just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
Why on earth do you turn those stations off?!? Why don’t you put a format on those stations that nobody else in the market is doing! Go crazy be different. Be odd. Take a page from the WOW Factor station in Phoenix. We don’t need four or five sports stations in a market, that’s absurd. Go after the older demos that have discretionary income. Trust me, you cater to them they are loyal and they will listen. You may not become rich, but at least you’ll have a steady cash flow!!