There’s a new conservative talk station in Fayetteville, as 101.5 Freedom-FM debuted from 479 Media on Tuesday.
What We Know: The station formerly known as 101.5 The Vibe has shifted from a throwback format to conservative news/talk. The station will feature a lineup completely made up of nationally syndicated shows. 101.5 Freedom-FM will have Michael DelGirono in morning drive (5-8 AM). Its midday programming consists of The Glenn Beck Program (8-11 AM) and The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (11 AM-2 PM). The Dana Show (2-5 PM) will anchor afternoon drive. The Joe Pags Show (5-8 PM) and The Erick Erickson Show (8-11 PM) will air in late afternoons and evenings. Coast to Coast AM with George Noory will air in overnights.
What They Said: “479 Media is proud to be Northwest Arkansas’ only locally-owned full cluster of commercial radio stations. Freedom FM 101.5 reflects our mission to serve this community with meaningful content while giving local businesses a powerful and affordable platform to reach customers. We believe there’s a real need for this kind of station, and we’re uniquely positioned to deliver it with a local-first approach.” –479 Media Owner John Lykins
“Freedom FM 101.5 is built to be a daily companion for listeners who care about what’s happening locally, nationally, and financially. We’re investing in our newsroom and prioritizing timely, relevant information for Northwest Arkansas.” -479 Media GM Mark “Haystack” Wells
What It Means: As a result, a fresh news/talk battle has emerged in the Fayetteville market. Cumulus already operates 1030 KFAY, which has long held a presence in the format. That station leans heavily on syndicated talent, but it still offers a local voice in afternoon drive with Steve Finnegan. KFAY-AM broadcasts at 6,000 watts during the day. Meanwhile, 101.5 Freedom-FM pushes 5,500 watts on the FM dial, giving listeners another option in the space.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
