Stephen King is killing off his network of money-losing radio stations in Maine, announcing Monday (Dec. 2) that WZON, WKIT and WZLO will cease operations in the Bangor area on Dec. 31 after 41 years under his and wife Tabitha's ownership.
The evil producer writer bought WLBZ in 1983, renaming it WZON in homage to his 1979 novel The Dead Zone. The station was sold in 1990 but bought back by the Kings three years later. Despite King's passion for radio and his efforts to preserve local and independent stations, the three stations continued to lose money, with King personally covering the deficits.
WZON is on the AM dial at 620 and plays “Retro Radio,” while WKIT 100.3 FM is billed as “Stephen King's Rock Station” and WZLO, at 103.1 FM, is “Maine's Adult Alternative.” The company operates under the name The Zone Corporation.
King, who was in his 30s when he entered radio, cited financial losses and his advanced age — a healthy 77 — as reasons for the shutdown. He expressed pride in being a local owner and gratitude for the staff and local advertisers who supported the stations.
“While radio across the country has been overtaken by giant corporate broadcast conglomerates, I've loved being a local, independent owner over the years,” King said. “I loved the people who went to these stations every day and entertained people, kept the equipment running and gave local advertisers a way to connect with their customers. Tabby and I are proud to have been a part of this for more than four decades.”
General Manager Ken Woodwho has been with the stations for 10 years, acknowledged the end of an era but appreciated the Kings' commitment to local broadcasting.
“Independent, local radio stations were the norm,” Wood said. “There are only a few left in Maine and we are lucky to have had these three while we did.”
A press release says Zone Corporation is closing, but does not specify if they want to sell the stations. That potentially means they could cease operations under a Special Temporary Authority from the FCC, which allows them to follow regulations while they possibly find a buyer.
Since starting in terrestrial radio in 1983, King has written over 50 novels, including such well-known works as The, Misery, The Dark Tower series, Pet Sematary, Under the Dome, Skeleton Crew, The Green Mile and 22/11/63among many (many) others.
Read the full announcement from Zone Corporation:
When internationally renowned author Stephen King first entered the radio business in 1983, it was with the enthusiasm and love of a lifelong rock and roll fan and as a listening member of the greater Bangor community.
He was also a young man of 36 with a lifetime of creativity ahead of him. Now in good health but feeling 77, King says it's time to “get his business affairs in order” and that means saying goodbye to the radio stations he's personally kept alive and on the air all these years .
“While radio across the country has been overtaken by giant corporate broadcast conglomerates, I've loved being a local, independent owner over the years,” King said. “I loved the people who went to these stations every day and entertained people, kept the equipment going and gave local advertisers a way to connect with their customers. Tabby and I are proud to have been a part of this for more than four decades.”
In those four decades, however, the stations consistently lost money. The amounts varied from year to year, but were significant. King has personally covered those losses.
Iconic station WZON, which first went on the air in Maine in 1926 as WLBZ, was purchased by the Kings in 1983. The call letters were changed to WZON, a nod to Stephen King's best seller The Dead Zone and a form of rock and roll was founded. The station never made money, and for a time, it even surrendered its commercial status to become a donor-supported enterprise. In 1990, the station was sold, only for the Kings to reacquire it three years later and bring back the commercial model.
Ken Wood, the stations General Manager for the past ten years is certainly sad to see it end, but said he is grateful for Kings ownership and proud of the local voices that have a place in Maine's colorful broadcasting history. “Independent, local radio stations were the norm. There are only a few left in Maine and we are lucky to have had these three as long as we have,” Wood said.
The ZONE Corporation's stations are WZON (620 AM), WKIT (100.3 FM) and WZLO (103.1 FM). Broadcasting activities are expected to cease on December 31.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/stephen-king-shuts-maine-radio-stations/
