KEZA-FM Eases Into Second Slot
by August 25, 2008 12:00 am 80 views
The No. 1 station in the spring 2008 radio ratings by Arbitron Inc. was no surprise to anyone in the media, but the No. 2 and No. 3 slots are a minor upset.
KKIX-FM, 103.9 “KIX 104” has been the top-rated radio station in Northwest Arkansas for about 23 years. The upset came though, as KEZA-FM, “Magic” 107.9 edged out as the No. 2 station, beating it’s brother KIGL-FM, 93.3 “The Eagle”.
All three stations are owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc. of San Antonio.
Clear Channel announced on July 25 that shareholders approved a $17.9 billion buyout of the private equity firms Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners.
Arbitron rates stations in the Northwest Arkansas market twice annually. The data are the most recent available.
KXNA-FM, 104.9 “The X” owned by Butler Broadcasting Inc. of Fayetteville, climbed to No. 4 from the No. 6 slot a year earlier.
The No. 5 station, KVBA-FM, “Variety” 106.5, owned by Hendren Communications Inc., is down from the No. 3 slot a year earlier.
The top rated Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. station, KMCK-FM, “Power” 105.7, tied with KVBA at No. 5.
Cumulus also has a new market manager, Ken Fearnow, who joined the group of seven stations from the Lexington, Ky., market on Aug. 18.
He replaces Mike DeMarco who purchased an insurance agency in Tulsa.