Industry News Bits FRI 8/28/26

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AQH Share for Persons 12+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid JULY
WMHK/Columbia – 2.7
KVNB/Little Rock – 2.6
WNKL/Toledo – 2.4

WPHN/Gaylord, MI (The Promise FM) is adding a new signal, WSBX/Mackinaw City, MI which will serve both sides of the Mackinac Bridge.

At the same time, Northern Christian Radio (NCR) is preparing for another translator to go on the air soon in Alpena, MI.

WPHN APD Dennis Hutchinson says, “All of this combined with a $250,000 match to help finish the work to rebuild the tower lost in the ice storm in 2025, shows God’s faithfulness is proving true once again!”

In December 2023, Northern Christian Radio, Inc acquired Good News Media, Inc adding 8 stations and 2 translators.

Malama Media Group announce veteran radio programming executive Rick Thomas has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Programming, overseeing the company’s Hawaii radio cluster as well as programming strategies for future acquisitions.  Malama Media Group’s six-station cluster in Honolulu includes religious teaching KGU-FM (99.5). Other stations in the cluster are Sports KGU-AM (760),  ethnic KHCM-AM (880), country KHCM-FM (97.5), news/talk KHNR-AM (690), and classic hits KKOL (107.9).

Thomas resumes includes roles for CBS in both New York and Los Angeles, KYLD/San Francisco, KSFM/Sacramento, XHRM/San Diego, and XHTZ/San Diego. He most recently served as Brand Manager of Beasley Media Group’s Tampa cluster, programming WRBQ and WQYK directly. Thomas is no stranger to Hawaii, having spent significant years as VP of Programming for Ohana Broadcasting Honolulu.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Rick back home to our ‘ohana,” said Josh Villa, Managing Partner and Market President of Malama Media Group. “When you look at the breadth of what Rick has accomplished, from programming iconic stations in New York and Los Angeles to leading multi-format clusters in some of the country’s most competitive markets, you’re looking at someone who truly knows how to build winning brands and winning teams. His experience across virtually every major format, combined with his genuine passion for radio and deep respect for the communities he serves, makes him exactly the kind of leader we want in our organization. Hawaii deserves the best, and Rick is the very best.”

Thomas expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity: “Coming back to Hawaii feels like coming home. I raised my family in Honolulu. I have a special love for creating great radio and serving the people here. I’m grateful to Monroe and Josh for their trust and for welcoming me into what they’re building at Malama. E Hana Kākou. E Kūkulu Pū”.

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As it marks a landmark 50-year anniversary, the world’s largest faith-based music company, Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG), last week held the company’s annual Partner Summit at its Nashville headquarters.

“A lot has changed in 50 years – really a lot has changed since we got together 12 months ago,” Brad O’Donnell told the audience. “There were early signs then about the Christian and Gospel market getting ‘hot’. Things that we would never have imagined before have happened, including how young our fanbase is getting.

“Christian and Gospel is now one of the most frontline-focused genres, ahead of Latin, pop, hip-hop and rock. Even more impressive, streaming in our genre grew by 18.5 points in 2025. We are entering an amazing period for faith-based music globally.”

TWR Africa Pure Talk, the radio voice of TWR Africa, now also is available in an app.

“It’s a new way of connecting with the station, and it’s a more exciting and personalized way of doing it,” said Thulani Mdletshe, a regional content director for TWR and a TWR Africa presenter since 2012. The app launched on Aug. 1, with a social media rollout to follow on Aug. 8.

“TWR Pure Talk represents an exciting new chapter for TWR Africa,” said Susie Pek, TWR’s vice president of Global Content and Integrated Ministries. “It’s a platform built for honest conversations — about faith, relationships and the real issues people face every day — and it opens the door for deeper connection with our listeners across sub-Saharan Africa. I truly believe this is more than a launch; it’s an invitation for a continent to encounter hope and truth in a fresh, relevant way. My heart is full of joy and gratitude for what God has ahead for this ministry.”

The Pure Talk name is itself relatively new, having been introduced in the summer of 2025 for what long had been known as TWR Africa Radio

Salem Media, Inc released new findings from BibleStudyTools.com, the largest free online Bible study resource and part of Salem Web Network. The data shows that young adults remain the most active generation reading Scripture online, countering a widely held assumption that they are disengaging from the Bible. Using first-party analytics from millions of readers, the Young Adults and the Bible study found that adults ages 25 to 34 are the single largest age group using BibleStudyTools.com, a position they have held for years. Nearly four in ten of the site’s readers are under the age of 35.

The data also revealed a notable shift in what young adults are searching for, with the most-visited topics pointing to a generation increasingly turning to Scripture in seasons of difficulty rather than only in moments of celebration.

“What stands out in this visitor data is not simply that young adults are coming to the Bible online, but how they are engaging with it on a deeper level,” said David Bingham, Senior Vice President at Salem Media. “They are turning to Scripture for answers to difficult questions and making use of study resources along the way. That gives us a meaningful picture of a generation that is not walking away from God’s Word but seeking to understand it in the context of everyday life. They are hungry for biblical knowledge.”

New Life Ministries has filed to donate WNLR/Churchville, VA (1150) to Sonshine Ministries. Sonshine has operated WNLR under a local marketing agreement since Jan. 2025.

HisAir Christian Radio & Records Industry News TIMELINE – Aug 28, 2019

After 62 years in the same Takoma Park, MD location, WGTS/Wash DC is celebrating the grand opening of its new broadcast ministry center in Rockville, Maryland.

“This has been a dream decades in the making,” said WGTS President and General Manager Kevin Krueger. “The way God has worked through listeners and givers to make this center a reality is truly a miracle. We’re praying that the new ministry center is simply a launching pad to share the hope and encouragement that comes from Jesus with even more people in Washington D.C. and beyond.”

HisAir Christian Radio & Records Industry News TIMELINE – Aug 29, 2019

Country superstar Dolly Parton has teamed with for KING & COUNTRY for a remake of the group’s hit song “God Only Knows.” The song will premier tonight on YouTube and various music streaming outlets. “When I first heard ‘God Only Knows’ I thought it was one of the best songs I’d ever heard,” Parton said. “I came from a very spiritual background, and I love anything to do with inspirational songs that lift people up. I feel that this is a good song for right now, and it’s so well written. I know that it touched me at a time when I needed to be lifted up.”

Milestones:
Impact Radio/Pretoria celebrates 31 years
Jim Kirkland 18 years at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/24 at WMIT/Asheville
Marcy Rinehart 21 years at WNZR in Mount Vernon, OH
Allen Henderson 53 years in broadcasting and 39 years at His Radio

8/28
Keith Maddox 7 years at WYGS/WKJD Columbus, IN
Al Ross (KSWP/Lufkin) passed 1 year ago
Brother Billy Hudson (Faith Radio) passed 3 years ago

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