South Florida Public Media Group and the Miami-Dade School Board have reached a settlement. Their dispute over the $6.45 million purchase of Hip Hop 104.7 The Flame WFLM in Palm Beach Shores is now, at last, on a path to resolution.
What we know: South Florida Public Media Group agreed last June to buy WFLM from JDD Radio. The school board sued South Florida Public Media Group in September, alleging breach of contract and misuse of funds. Then, in February, the MiamiFCC approved the acquisition — calling the dispute a private civil matter. Shortly after, both parties reached a settlement in principle at mediation.
What’s at stake: The deal restructures who holds the power. Upon closing, the WFLM license transfers to the school board for just $1. South Florida Public Media Group retains day-to-day management under a revised agreement. Crucially, all funds, donor lists, and revenues must be held in trust — exclusively for the stations’ benefit.
What remains unclear: The settlement still needs school board approval at its May 13 meeting. Leadership questions also linger. Former South Florida Public Media Group Chairman Richard Rampell resigned last month, telling the Miami Herald he refused to be part of what he called a “sellout.” Whether new leadership emerges — and who leads that transition — remains to be seen.
What it means: This settlement basically clarifies who’s really in charge in South Florida public radio. South Florida Public Media Group still runs the day-to-day operation. But the school board made it clear they still hold the oversight authority. For public media, it’s a reminder that governance matters just as much as programming. And around the industry, this deal will either become a model to follow or a warning sign of what can happen when those lines get blurry. elsewhere.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
