WGLM W. Laf. Sold - Flips Christian

[Boiler*FM]

What a bummer this is

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080213/NEWS09/80213012/1154

 

[Timewarp]

I believe it has been for sale since 1994.

 

[justalurker]

Per FCC Filings the price is $1.2 million dollars. Not bad.

 

[quackattack34]

I remember hearing that Arthur wanted this station. Isnt it ironic he didnt get it?

 

[Rowdy1234]

It's been a rather sad day here at GLM.

Most of the staff was given their two week notice today. Only myself and Ron Schuessler will be here after EMF's LMA begins on the 29th.

GLM has come a long way since this time last year. I worked closely with Dial Global to get jingles, cleaned up liners (not so much segment promo clutter), and was instrumental in getting a new website launched. As a result, we did pretty damn well in our key women demos in the fall book (of course, we sucked as always 12+ ).

I got my start at GLM 10 years ago as an intern, and we were always the little station that could, especially after we became the only FM standalone in the market. No matter the obstacle since that time, GLM always seemed to squeak by just fine.

Since I returned, GLM has never had more than 7 employees. Out of the current six, three wore many hats. I alone did traffic, billing, operations, the website, production, designed sales packages, and spent many o' days at the transmitter site when it was failing during the heatwave last summer. I worked 50-60 hours/week to get it all done and despite the long hours, I wouldn't trade the knowledge I acquired here for anything.

For those who I have spoken with today, thank you for the encouraging words, and hopefully we'll all land on our feet somewhere. I just hope its sooner rather than later.

Ken Stapleton
Director of Operations
The Mix 106-7 WGLM

 

[kentuckymedia]

I had an opportunity to visit Lafayette about 3 months ago and WGLM was the station that could. It sounded very well programmed, even if it was 90% off Dial Global. The station was truly one of a kind.

I personally am very good friends with some folks in Sac-town and EMF will be a great operator. I do wish those well who now have to move on in the radio business to another station or another market.

Educational Media Foundation is a great service, and for Christian Music listeners, you will really enjoy their greater service to the community they serve.

This leaves two sole operators in Lafayette now with Artistic and Schurz dividing the audience. To all those who have served at WGLM I wish you well and that you will find positions that you can serve well.

J.R.
Gentry - Handwerk - Rizer
Communications Specialists
Market Research/Cluster Consultants

 

[RDO]

Per FCC Filings the price is $1.2 million dollars. Not bad.

I heard Kelly wanted $6M for the longest time.

 

[shortbaldguy2007]

I was at 'GLM in 95-96, and we did all right. We couldn't touch the likes of K105, 'XUS and Z96, but we survived. Dan McKay was PD/mornings, Jeff Smith did news, Paul Poteet did afternoons from his Carmel studios, I did mid days and Don Seybold did nights. I learned a lot, especially from Dan and Paul.

If I remember correctly, Kelly was trying to sell the station back then. She didn't seem all that interested in the day to day operations. I wish her well.

I'm a fan of K-Love, and I'm sure the Lafayette listeners will enjoy the programming. I don't think there's been any kind of Christian music there since Paris Foxworthy and the gang at the church on the south side.

 

[BSURadioGeek]

I take it since they say CCM it's going to be K-Love, and not Air1 up in Lafayette.

 

[justalurker]

I believe it has been for sale since 1994.

Per FCC Filings the price is $1.2 million dollars. Not bad.

I heard Kelly wanted $6M for the longest time.

It is a shame that he came down so far. Perhaps he's taking the other five million as a tax write-off? The terms are very good. $60,000 down ... $300,000 at closing and about $11,000 per month over the next 10 years. At that price ($1.2 million) they might have been able to sell to a more local entity that wanted to spread it's ministry than the great "320 station" network out of California. A more local entity (perhaps a company out of Illinois or Indiana) would probably keep the local staff ... and keep the station commercial.

Sorry about the job losses. It's a tough way to go, being replaced by hardware.

 

[glmichaels]

Ken,

I too am sad for you, Rick and the rest. I'm in hopes you'll land on your feet at a full run. You've been great to work with in production and I'm sure you will. I'll miss emailing spots back and forth. Best of luck to you my friend! Let me know where you end up...I'll put in a good word for ya!

g

 

[RDO]

I believe it has been for sale since 1994.

Per FCC Filings the price is $1.2 million dollars. Not bad.

I heard Kelly wanted $6M for the longest time.

It is a shame that he came down so far. Perhaps he's taking the other five million as a tax write-off? The terms are very good. $60,000 down ... $300,000 at closing and about $11,000 per month over the next 10 years. At that price ($1.2 million) they might have been able to sell to a more local entity that wanted to spread it's ministry than the great "320 station" network out of California. A more local entity (perhaps a company out of Illinois or Indiana) would probably keep the local staff ... and keep the station commercial.

Sorry about the job losses. It's a tough way to go, being replaced by hardware.

Kelly is a woman. Kelly Busch. Just to clarify.

 

[Rowdy1234]

Ken,

I too am sad for you, Rick and the rest. I'm in hopes you'll land on your feet at a full run. You've been great to work with in production and I'm sure you will. I'll miss emailing spots back and forth. Best of luck to you my friend! Let me know where you end up...I'll put in a good word for ya!

g

Thanks Gary.

You've helped me fill in a lot of the blanks that couldn't otherwise be answered by my co-workers, and I greatly appreciated it over the last couple years.

Besides voicing production, I've been off-air during my stay at GLM so I'm going to be doing nights a few days next week to get my tape spiffied up. Hopefully, I'll find something quickly.

If you, or anyone else for that matter, know of any openings in the Lafayette, Kokomo, Indy, Danville, IL, or Champaign/Urbana markets, e-mail me at stapletontg1 at gmail dot com.

 

[Rowdy1234]

I had an opportunity to visit Lafayette about 3 months ago and WGLM was the station that could. It sounded very well programmed, even if it was 90% off Dial Global. The station was truly one of a kind.

I personally am very good friends with some folks in Sac-town and EMF will be a great operator. I do wish those well who now have to move on in the radio business to another station or another market.

Educational Media Foundation is a great service, and for Christian Music listeners, you will really enjoy their greater service to the community they serve.

This leaves two sole operators in Lafayette now with Artistic and Schurz dividing the audience. To all those who have served at WGLM I wish you well and that you will find positions that you can serve well.

J.R.
Gentry - Handwerk - Rizer
Communications Specialists
Market Research/Cluster Consultants

Thanks for the compliments, JR.

I've always felt because a station is on the bird doesn't mean it should be set on auto pilot. The format is always going to sound canned to a point, but there are ways to make it less noticable.

The subtle and more noticeable changes we made over the last year didn't cost us a dime to do because of our close relationship with Bright AC. I highly recommend the format for anyone wanting do satellite Hot AC.

 

[jegrant]

Eventually I believe WGLM could flip to Air1, but I agree, on Feb. 29, Lafayette listeners will hear K-Love.

However - if EMF is able to successfully complete the "major move" of KAIZ to Indiana - I could see WGLM going Air1 at that point, perhaps.

Admittedly, EMF will be providing a format that isn't really available on the Lafayette dial. There are Christian stations, but none of them are strictly Christian AC. They all either mix in some talk/preaching, lean toward Inspo, or (WTGO) mixes in a bit of preaching and has a Rock lean.

 

[AndTheLambGoesBAA]

The subtle and more noticeable changes we made over the last year didn't cost us a dime to do because of our close relationship with Bright AC. I highly recommend the format for anyone wanting do satellite Hot AC.

Taking bets. Date and time McKay flips WIBN to soft AC.

 

[Timewarp]

I predict that if WIBN goes soft AC, it will soon be sold too, go Spanish, or both.

 

[Rowdy1234]

As someone who has worked side by side with Dan McKay to help build WIBN into what it is today, I doubt he'll flip it from oldies. AC is an at-work format, and if WGLM's biggest disadvantage was the lack of signal penetration in downtown business offices, WIBN will definitely have issues. It's true that Dan has AC is in his blood, but he also knows what works. When I left to go back to GLM in 2006, WIBN was billing extraordinarily well servicing all points west of Lafayette.

 

[AndTheLambGoesBAA]

As someone who has worked side by side with Dan McKay to help build WIBN into what it is today, I doubt he'll flip it from oldies. AC is an at-work format, and if WGLM's biggest disadvantage was the lack of signal penetration in downtown business offices, WIBN will definitely have issues. It's true that Dan has AC is in his blood, but he also knows what works. When I left to go back to GLM in 2006, WIBN was billing extraordinarily well servicing all points west of Lafayette.

I appreciate the input. All the best to you.

 

[gr8oldies]

Sorry to see the station sold, but I'm sure K-Love will have a good audience in Lafayette (in my esperience K-Love comes to a market before Air 1). I worked there 1995-96 with Dan McKay and the whole gang, I board op-ed Paul Poteet's show and did weekends and/or overnights live....at that time we were live and local for the most part.

Good luck to Rick and everyone being displaced. Rick Mummey is da man!