Industry News Bits FRI 8-4-23

Fundraisers this week .. Moody Radio .. Gospel Radio Favorites

Nielsen AQH Share for Persons 12+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid – SP 23

WJYZ/Albany, GA – 2.2
WBGA/Brunswick, GA – 3.4
WIZB/Dothan – 3.6
WHLW/Dothan – 3.2
WHLW/Montgomery – 7.1
WCIC/Peoria – 4.2
WKNZ/Salisbury – 3.2
WSOK/Savannah – 3.3
WLFS/Savannah – 1.3
KWND/Springfield – 6.5
KWFC/Springfield – 3.1

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CKPC/Brantford, ON (Arise Christian Radio AM 1380) has gone dark. The station was operated by Evanov Communications. CKPC had been broadcasting a CCM format since September 2020 when Evanov moved its former Country format to sister station CFWC-FM, with an eye toward making the station more competitive and maximizing profitability on the FM band. This is the second AM station the company has shut down in the last three years, with CHRF/Montreal (980 AM), went off the air in June 2020.

“Like other broadcasters, Evanov Communications is at a junction that has been brought about by competitive forces, economic conditions and the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are assessing the ongoing impact of these factors on our business, and are adjusting, realigning, and reinventing ourselves where necessary,” said Allison Worone, General Counsel at Evanov, in a statement provided to Broadcast Dialogue. “Evanov Communications continues to be a strong, independent broadcaster and remains committed to the future of radio in Canada. By refocusing our financial and human resources, we will be in an even better position to thrive and grow in a changing media landscape.”

The July edition of Inside Radio’s monthly Format Counts monitor shows the religion category, which includes teaching and variety-formatted stations, has seen the most significant increase, adding a net of 35 outlets (+1.7%) since last July and 19 outlets (+0.9%) since January. Following closely behind is the fourth-ranked CCM format, which has added 27 outlets (+2.0%) since last year and 15 outlets (+1.1%) since the beginning of this year. 

GRAMMY-winning, multi-Platinum-selling group Casting Crowns will celebrate the band’s 20th Anniversary this fall. In anticipation of the album, Lifesongs: A Celebration of the First 20 Years, two songs were released today: “All Because of Mercy,” which is the next radio single, and the RIAA Platinum-selling reimagined hit song, “East to West,” featuring Ben Fuller. Listen to the new songs here.

“It is crazy to even think about the last 20 years. In 2003, we were just the youth band from our church in Atlanta,” shares Casting Crowns lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall. “I still remember the world taking a chance on our song, ‘If We Are the Body,’ and how we soon learned that the church can handle the truth when it is spoken in love. And that is what we’ve been doing ever since – ministry in our churches and speaking truth in love. We can’t wait for everyone to hear the band and fan favorites reimagined with some of our friends on this new album.”

Educational Media Foundation (EMF) has initiated a purchase agreement worth $70,000 to acquire WEZW (93.1) from Gary Fisher’s Equity Communications. Presently, the station is simulcasting oldies from WCMC/WMID (1230/1340). EMF already holds ownership of the contemporary Christian radio station “K-Love” affiliate WLRB (102.7) in the same market.

Radio Training Network is set to acquire the Augusta, GA-licensed translator W270CY at 101.9 FM from Beasley Media Group in a deal valued at $300,000. RTN will simulcast WAFJ/Augusta (88.3) on the translator.

Milestones:
8/5
Dave Benton 27 years at KAMB/Merced
Juan Carlos Reyes 9 years at KBNJ/Corpus Christi
KNMG (Missouri based online station) celebrates 11 years

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