Industry News Bits Thu 9-1-22

September 1, 2022September 12, 2022

Fundraisers this week .. WWIL/Wilmington .. KSWP/Lufkin

The Olivet Media Group at Olivet Nazarene University closed Sept. 1, 2022,on the purchase of WEGN 88.7 in Kankakee County, Illinois. WEGN is the new flagship station to the Brilla.FM Spanish Network. Brilla.FM began in 2013 as an HD 2 channel on the University’s “mother” channel WONU 89.7. Since then, two translators at 89.3 in Goshen, Indiana, and 89.5 in Elkhart, Indiana, were added in 2020.

This new station acquisition was 100% funded by donations from listeners to the Shine.FM Network who are committed to also reach Spanish-speaking communities. Brilla.FM plays all Spanish Christian music with a mixture of worship and pop, along with Latin music styles such as Tejano, salsa, reggaetón and merengue, among others. The Olivet Media Group media ministry director, Professor Brian McIntyre, served as a media missionary in South America before returning to Olivet in 2011, and is very passionate about expanding the reach of Christian radio.

Professor McIntyre says of the inspiration to launch a Spanish ministry, “During my first year at Olivet, more than a dozen bilingual high school students who were interested in radiovisited Olivet through the Office of Admissions. Obviously, God was telling us to create not only a dynamic media ministry, but a place for Spanish students to learn in their heart language how to create great radio.”

Brilla.FM on-air personalities include professionals from Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Argentina, along with current Olivet students. Brilla.FM is heard globally at www.brilla.fm and also on the Brilla.FM app for Apple and Android.

Fowler Media Partners, LLC of Ohio has announced the sale of WIRO-FM/Garrison-Portsmouth, Ohio to Strong Tower Christian Media of Xenia, OH. The Sale which is pending final FCC Approval will return the frequency to its original purpose as a non-commercial license and Christian Format. Strong Tower will begin operating the station through an LMA in the coming weeks.

Presently, Strong Tower Christian media owns and operates 2 50kw’s WEEC/Springfield/Dayton (Hope 100.7) and 50,000 watt WFCJ Miamisburg/Dayton and Greater Cincinnati (93.7 The Light)

“Strong Tower Christian Media is excited about coming to the tri-state area with our Southern Gospel Hits format. This is an answer to prayer as we’ve been asking God to expand our territory for His glory! This is a new market for us and we’re beyond thrilled about reaching new listeners”, says Tracy Figley, President of Strong Tower.

“Strong Tower Christian Radio Stations are solid, well programmed and their group is humble. I have no problem saying one of my best accomplishments for this station is placing it in the hands of Strong Tower and we cannot wait to celebrate their success and see what God does through this frequency. I love their mission, vision and their Team”, said Bryan Fowler of Fowler Media Partners. Bryan Fowler represented Fowler Media Partners, LLC in this transaction and Tracy Figley represented Strong Tower Christian Media.

WFCI/Franklin, IN, the campus radio station at Franklin College will soon be under new ownership, the school announced Wednesday. The college says, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission, WFCI-FM 89.5 will be sold to Catholic Radio Indy. Pending FCC approval, the sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

Blanca’s third full-length studio album, The Heartbreak And The Healing (available Sept. 23, 2022), offers two sides of the same story — the hurt and the redemption. Written in the wake of a painful divorce, the songstress vulnerably cracks her heart wide open on the all new 14-track collection that beautifully showcases the merger of her unstoppable voice and her transparent lyricism. A diverse fusion of pop, Latin, hip-hop and Gospel, the LP follows Blanca on a journey of self-discovery as she rises from the ashes stronger and more empowered than ever before.

Salem announced the Battleground Talkers Tour 2022. Salem says it is doing all it can to help voters in the upcoming November 2022 national midterm election make wise decisions that will impact the country for generations. Salem will be hosting live voter events in five battleground states, over eight days. Salem conservative hosts will assist listeners and voters to understand how important it is that they get out to vote as well as vote with an understanding of the issues, and the candidates that will be leading our government.

Salem national hosts Dennis Prager, Charlie Kirk, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Mike Gallagher, Eric Metaxas, Brandon Tatum, and Hugh Hewitt will participate in the tour stops in October in the areas where the election will likely be decided. Hosts will broadcast their radio and TV shows from many of these cities. The TV broadcast of their shows is seen every day on the Salem News Channel. Thousands of listeners and viewers will be invited to join in person in a different city each night during the tour.

In addition, Salem has hired industry veteran Tara Loring as Eastern Regional Digital Sales Director beginning Monday, September 12th. Loring has joined Salem Media from Hubbard Broadcasting where she served simultaneously as General Sales Manager and Director of Digital Media for Hubbard’s West Palm Beach properties. Loring will report to Salem Vice President and General Manager Jon Latzer.

CMB held its Music/Programming & Digital Summit in Charlotte last week. The event took place at Elevation Church.

CMB Manager of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing Brittany Whatley told HisAir, “The Charlotte Momentum Summits were arguably some of the best Summits we’ve ever had, and so much of that was because of YOU! We soooo missed being in person and hugging your necks and getting to chat with you face to face.”

The next CMB Summit will be in Nashville on November 10 & 11 for the On-Air and Creative Momentum Summits.