John Lykins to buy Hog Radio for $3 million

Lowell businessman John Lykins has a deal in place to expand his radio interests in Northwest Arkansas.

Lykins says he’s offered $3 million for Hog Radio Inc., a group of four radio stations based in Springdale. The stations are 96.7 The Coyote (country), Star 101.5 (classic hits), ESPN 99.5 (sports talk) and Lite 106.5 (adult variety). ESPN also has a simulcast on 1290-AM KUOA that is part of the deal.

The stations are currently owned by Bunyard Media Group, owned by De Queen businessman Jay Bunyard. Bunyard had a deal in place in November 2019 to sell the four stations for $3.4 million to Hog Radio general manager Candace Dixon-Horne. That deal fell through earlier this year.

Hog Radio has roughly 15 employees. Some of the radio group’s most popular shows include “Brock and Marci in the Morning” on 101.5, sports talk with “Ruscin and Zach” in the afternoons on 99.5 and Mark “Haystack” Wells in the afternoons on 96.7.

Lykins, a pharmacist and real estate investor, also owns Springdale-based KXNA (104.9 “The X”). He acquired that signal from former business partner Steve Butler in early 2019.

“I’m looking forward to continuing Bunyard Media Group’s success by providing local content,” Lykins said. “As the rest of the radio world continues to pipe in shows from New York and Los Angeles, we will still offer local people, local voices and local opinions.

“We will be the largest independent radio provider in this market, and will be able to offer our customers a more efficient advertising process with this cluster.”