WANR/1570 Warren Follies - Ownership Control Change Filed

[OldAkronite]

Officially filed with the FCC as of last Friday: an agreement to transfer full control of Beacon Broadcasting, Inc., owners of WANR/1570, WEXC/107.1 Greenville PA and apparently still of WGRP/940 Greenville PA, from Michael Arch to Harold Glunt, who owns a Warren-based steel plant equipment supply company called Glunt Industries:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=316177
(This direct link from the FCC website will bring up an Adobe Acrobat/PDF file.)

Among the interesting things in there - a call from Glunt that he'll change all the stations' formats to a younger-skewing Christian format (aimed at teens and college age students) no later than 60 days after the transfer is finalized.

Unclear, at this point, is whether that would change the odd mix of Soft AC music and Christian parody rock now running on 1570. I presume 70's soft rock isn't really aiming at teens and college age students, for one. And one could also presume that WEXC/107.1's secular oldies hit the door as soon as Glunt officially takes control of Beacon.

-OA

 

[Shadow]

> Officially filed with the FCC as of last Friday: an
> agreement to transfer full control of Beacon Broadcasting,
> Inc., owners of WANR/1570, WEXC/107.1 Greenville PA and
> apparently still of WGRP/940 Greenville PA, from Michael
> Arch to Harold Glunt, who owns a Warren-based steel plant
> equipment supply company called Glunt Industries:
>
> http://www.glunt.com/
>
> The agreement, linked below from the filing at the FCC
> website, is incredibly detailed. It calls for Glunt to
> assume nearly all of the station's debts, cancel his own
> debts, and take over nearly $65,000 in unpaid bills from the
> corporation's three broadcast outlets. A few other debts
> will also be set aside as a part of the agreement. Arch
> would become sales manager of the operation after the
> agreement is fully finalized.
>
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/> prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibit_id=316177
>
> (This direct link from the FCC website will bring up an
> Adobe Acrobat/PDF file.)
>
> Among the interesting things in there - a call from Glunt
> that he'll change all the stations' formats to a
> younger-skewing Christian format (aimed at teens and college
> age students) no later than 60 days after the transfer is
> finalized.
>
> Unclear, at this point, is whether that would change the odd
> mix of Soft AC music and Christian parody rock now running
> on 1570. I presume 70's soft rock isn't really aiming at
> teens and college age students, for one. And one could also
> presume that WEXC/107.1's secular oldies hit the door as
> soon as Glunt officially takes control of Beacon.
>
> -OA
>
Gee, there is a ton of demand by teens and young adults for Christian music on low wattage Am radio stations in Warren/Youngstown. Sounds like a nice money maker for them.

 

[Xnewsie]

> Gee, there is a ton of demand by teens and young adults for
> Christian music on low wattage Am radio stations in
> Warren/Youngstown. Sounds like a nice money maker for them.

That's the marketplace at work for ya! ;-) WANR has always been an also-ran in the ratings, but at least it's had some owners and management figures that knew how to properly run the station. That's more than can be said for Arch. As for Mr. Glunt, he'd do well to take any authority from Arch before he runs rampant again.

 

[OldAkronite]

> That's the marketplace at work for ya! ;-) WANR has always
> been an also-ran in the ratings, but at least it's had some
> owners and management figures that knew how to properly run
> the station. That's more than can be said for Arch. As for
> Mr. Glunt, he'd do well to take any authority from Arch
> before he runs rampant again.

You know, although the religious formats aren't my cup of tea...

If that's what Harold Glunt is gonna do, then bless him for it. I just hope that he hires someone (NOT Arch) to DO IT RIGHT. Put a full-blown young skewing CCM'er on 107.1, and program it right. Don't throw in mixes of Christian parody rock and bad satellite-fed soft AC! Oh, sorry, that's what Mr. Arch has on 1570 NOW.

I'm guessing he'll hook up with a satellite CCM feed of some sort. Does Salem do a satellite 24/7 version of The Fish?

And here's hoping rumors that the 107.1 oldies staff will find a new home, do come to fruition.

-OA

 

[collegeDJ86]

> You know, although the religious formats aren't my cup of
> tea...
>
> If that's what Harold Glunt is gonna do, then bless him for
> it. I just hope that he hires someone (NOT Arch) to DO IT
> RIGHT. Put a full-blown young skewing CCM'er on 107.1, and
> program it right. Don't throw in mixes of Christian parody
> rock and bad satellite-fed soft AC! Oh, sorry, that's what
> Mr. Arch has on 1570 NOW.
>
> I'm guessing he'll hook up with a satellite CCM feed of some
> sort. Does Salem do a satellite 24/7 version of The Fish?

If he's hoping to put on a "young skewing CCM" on 107.1, I certainly hope he doesn't consider a 24/7 version of The Fish. Mostly because I don't think The Fish (at least Cleveland's) is young skewing in general. Sure, you'll hear Switchfoot often, and maybe a Kutless song (with the electric guitar replaced by piano--something else that perturbs me a bit) or some Jeremy Camp. Personally, I listen to the Fish sometimes because it is the only CCM station that comes in strong in my area. Sometimes, I can get 95.9 The Light WNPQ New Philly, especially on my personal stereo, and I much prefer its musical selection, though their imaging and voice talent sound a little rougher.

Anyways, back to the topic... Salem, I believe, is the company that runs the satellite Today's Christian Music format, which I heard much of as a younger kid in my southern Indiana hometown. It isn't too bad, and would appeal to lots of age groups I think. That feed tends to run music that is more recent than the Fish's mid-90s Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith pop. On XM Satellite radio, though, Salem runs a station on ch. 31 called the Torch. It is definitely younger skewing and more rock based. I enjoy it when I get to hear it on my friend's unit. I don't know that it is available for FM use though. Another possible feed to pick up that is more younger skewing could possibly be Way-FM, which is based in Tennessee. They play lots of good music.

As for music on Warren's AM, I don't understand why the owners would do that. Personally, I think most music on AM sounds dreadful compared to FM, unless it is oldies or standards. The area used to have CCM on AM 1460(or was it 1470?), then called WPAO, in Sharon. But it was bought out by Catholic broadcasters quite a number of years ago.

I will say, though, that, if the CCM AC or CHR format is done right, is much needed in the area, and will be appreciated by at least me while at college!

> And here's hoping rumors that the 107.1 oldies staff will
> find a new home, do come to fruition.

I agree. It isn't very much fun to hear about people losing jobs to computers.

 

[adz]

Note O-As post at the start of this thread..$65,000 in unpaid bills? How in the hell does that happen?

And a ''teen and college age skewing'' Christian format? How would like to have to take this out on the streets and sell it?

It isnt like Christian Radio is all its forms is under represented in Northeast Ohio..curising down your AM and FM bands will find you a whole wealth of the stuff...but as always the question comes down to one thing..

Can you make money? If you can find a satellite format that lets you turn key all three operations...the answer could be maybe..or maybe not..

 

[OldAkronite]

> Note O-As post at the start of this thread..$65,000 in
> unpaid bills? How in the hell does that happen?

Take a look at the PDF file linked in my opening message. The list of bills is actually at the end of that file. And it's a long list... a laundry list of every utility you can think of, the rent for the building itself (paid to the quasi-governmental WRAP, a redevelopment agency which owns the building), and ad infinitum. I'm guessing that the various creditors cut more slack to a radio station?

Oddly enough, WRAP is run by one Mr. Michael Keys, who appeared on that very frequency many years ago as a talk show host, under the air name Michael Vaughn.

Of course, Mr. Glunt himself is a major creditor, having loaned them over $200,000 over the years. He's swallowing that in the deal.

> And a ''teen and college age skewing'' Christian format?
> How would like to have to take this out on the streets and
> sell it?

I get the idea that Mr. Glunt sees it as a mission to attract young people to the Christian faith, and this is what he's most interested in. It's up to Mr. Arch, as sales manager after the transition, to sell the thing. If it doesn't sell, Mr. Glunt is out a relatively low amount of money...after a year, Arch's pay drops to whatever he actually sold the previous year, if he doesn't meet goals.

But still, though I'm sure he'd like to make money, it sounds like Mr. Glunt sees this as his legacy. He is an older gentleman.

> Can you make money? If you can find a satellite format that
> lets you turn key all three operations...the answer could be
> maybe..or maybe not..

I don't know how many satellite Christian music formats appeal to the 12-24 crowd, which is what he wants.

-OA

 

[techie]

> > Note O-As post at the start of this thread..$65,000 in
> > unpaid bills? How in the hell does that happen?
>
> Take a look at the PDF file linked in my opening message.
> The list of bills is actually at the end of that file. And
> it's a long list... a laundry list of every utility you can
> think of, the rent for the building itself (paid to the
> quasi-governmental WRAP, a redevelopment agency which owns
> the building), and ad infinitum. I'm guessing that the
> various creditors cut more slack to a radio station?
>
> Oddly enough, WRAP is run by one Mr. Michael Keys, who
> appeared on that very frequency many years ago as a talk
> show host, under the air name Michael Vaughn.
>
> Of course, Mr. Glunt himself is a major creditor, having
> loaned them over $200,000 over the years. He's swallowing
> that in the deal.
>
> > And a ''teen and college age skewing'' Christian format?
> > How would like to have to take this out on the streets and
>
> > sell it?
>
> I get the idea that Mr. Glunt sees it as a mission to
> attract young people to the Christian faith, and this is
> what he's most interested in. It's up to Mr. Arch, as sales
> manager after the transition, to sell the thing. If it
> doesn't sell, Mr. Glunt is out a relatively low amount of
> money...after a year, Arch's pay drops to whatever he
> actually sold the previous year, if he doesn't meet goals.
>
> But still, though I'm sure he'd like to make money, it
> sounds like Mr. Glunt sees this as his legacy. He is an
> older gentleman.
>
> > Can you make money? If you can find a satellite format
> that
> > lets you turn key all three operations...the answer could
> be
> > maybe..or maybe not..
>
> I don't know how many satellite Christian music formats
> appeal to the 12-24 crowd, which is what he wants.
>
> -OA
>

The only one that I've heard of is "Radio U" which originated on WUFM 88.7 in Columbus before they turned it into a satellite format a few years back. It's come and gone on several stations but they've never had many affiliates, right now it's part-time on a non-comm in California and an LPFM in Indiana as well as full time on the Columbus signal.

 

[OldAkronite]

Radio U on 107.1/1570?

> The only one that I've heard of is "Radio U" which
> originated on WUFM 88.7 in Columbus before they turned it
> into a satellite format a few years back. It's come and
> gone on several stations but they've never had many
> affiliates, right now it's part-time on a non-comm in
> California and an LPFM in Indiana as well as full time on
> the Columbus signal.

Radio U might work. But do they offer a feed for commercial stations? If current manager and soon-to-be sales manager Michael Arch is gonna sell spots, he's gotta have places to do it!

-OA

 

[techie]

Re: Radio U on 107.1/1570?

> > The only one that I've heard of is "Radio U" which
> > originated on WUFM 88.7 in Columbus before they turned it
> > into a satellite format a few years back. It's come and
> > gone on several stations but they've never had many
> > affiliates, right now it's part-time on a non-comm in
> > California and an LPFM in Indiana as well as full time on
> > the Columbus signal.
>
> Radio U might work. But do they offer a feed for commercial
> stations? If current manager and soon-to-be sales manager
> Michael Arch is gonna sell spots, he's gotta have places to
> do it!
>
> -OA
>

Radio U has run on commercial stations before. Their media kit says they have local breaks on the feed, but I'm not sure how much time is actually available for spots.

 

[OldAkronite]

WANR Needs Spot Avails? Hahaha...

> Radio U has run on commercial stations before. Their media
> kit says they have local breaks on the feed, but I'm not
> sure how much time is actually available for spots.

Well, right now, the bizarre filler programming on WANR has no spots, so...perhaps Mr. Arch doesn't need many avails.



In between the soft 70's rock from an ABC satellite feed, the Christian parody rock covers, an occasional hour or two of old Wolfman Jack shows and all-over-the-road oldies hosted by market veteran Ron Leader, they play religious PSAs...

-OA