Radio Shake-Up In Michigan Sault

Craig Huckerby for SooNews.ca
Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 8:21AM

SooNews.ca has learned that one Sault Ste. Marie Michigan broadcasting company has bought up all the radio stations in the Michigan Sault.

The announcement was made yesterday, that Sovereign Communications has purchased all the licenses for a handful of the radio stations including YES FM according to one employee who lost his job yesterday. Several long time personalities with YES FM were told they were out of a job as of Tuesday. They include Jason Mapes, Melissa Krahnke, Paul "Junior" VanWagoner and Scott Nason.

The 11-station, multi-million deal will give Sovereign - current owners of WSOO-AM, WSUE-FM, WNBY-AM and WNBY-FM - a total of seven radio stations in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The deal includes WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM and WKNW-AM, plus five stations in Marquette and three in Iron Mountain.

The deal must first be approved by the FCC.

Official Release

Sault Ste. Marie-based Sovereign Communications has reached an agreement with Northern Star Broadcasting to purchase their Upper Peninsula radio stations.

The eleven station, multi-million dollar acquisition will give Sovereign a total of seven radio stations in the Sault Ste. Marie and Newberry area, where the company already owns WSOO-AM, WSUE-FM, WNBY-AM and WNBY-FM.

The deal includes local WYSS-FM, WMKD-FM and WKNW-AM plus, five stations in Marquette and three in Iron Mountain.

Bill Gleich, president of Sovereign Communications, said: "Wecouldn't be more excited about this purchase. Having these additional stations will allow us to serve the community as well as our advertisers and listeners in even greater ways.

"I believe we have the best people in the radio business; they're all very excited about our growth and ready to take on new challenges.

"I look forward to a smooth transition as we bring the Northern Star stations into the Sovereign Communications family. We're extremely fortunate to have veteran broadcaster Tom Ewing as our vice president/ general manager.

"Tom will take on additional responsibilities and play an important role in the larger company. Personally, as a local kid that grew up here in Sault Ste. Marie and started in the radio business at WSOO at 15 years old, this is a real dream come true for me."

David Simmons, president of Traverse City/Cheboygan based Northern Star Broadcasting, commented: "while we will miss the many warm relationships that have developed during our involvement in the Upper Peninsula markets, the transaction with Sovereign Communications provides Northern Star Broadcasting with the opportunity for a renewed sense of focus and commitment to the remaining radio stations in the Northern Star Broadcasting group. We look forward to our continued community involvement, presentation of entertaining and quality programming for our listeners while providing outstanding customer service to our advertisers and promotional partners."

Northern Star Broadcasting has owned and operated the eight
Northern Lower Peninsula radio stations since its formation in 1998.

All of the Lower Peninsula radio stations will stay intact as a radio station broadcast group and will continue to be owned and operated by Northern Star Broadcasting, LLC.

The current management team, Del Reynolds, vice president of programming and operations and chief engineer, and Mary Reynolds, vice president of marketing and promotions and general manager, will continue to lead the Northern Star Broadcasting team of dedicated broadcast professionals.

MORE NEWS

Day Three – Finn Grand Fest ESSAR Steel Issues Statement On Local 2724 Vote Strike Averted Local 2724 Votes In Favour Of Deal U.S. Bound Traffic Expect Long Waits at the Border Don't Try This At Home Driver Killed In Highway Accident I Don’t Make Promises Tomorrow for Today Community Night On The Island Happy Faces 12-Year-Old Girl Injured on 'Free Fall' Ride $50 Million Jackpot Still Not Won! - 7 New Millionaires In Ontario! Sault Minor Football Champions Crowned Jackson Doubles Up at Kinross Speedpark Lorena Tridico Found Not Guilty On Appeal Longer Wait Times Possible for Non-Urgent Cases Archives

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS