The publicly traded radio station ownership group founded by the late George Beasley is celebrating its upcoming 65th anniversary, while also seeking to address fiscal challenges associated with its collection of broadcast properties.
For Naples, Fla.-based Beasley Media Group, the commemoration of the company’s founding on December 3, 1961 “marks an important milestone reflecting decades of growth, innovation, and service to communities across the country.”
Now under the direction of George Beasley’s daughter, Caroline Beasley, what was originally Beasley Broadcast Group was awarded an FCC license to build WPYB-AM, a daytime-only radio station in Benson, N.C. Today, largely thanks to a transformative acquisition of Greater Media properties in Boston, Detroit and Philadelphia, Beasley Media Group is comprised of 55 radio stations.
That said, Beasley Media Group is a company in the midst of an evolution. In mid-August, the company struck a deal to sell its radio stations in its home market of Fort Myers-Naples for a total price of $18 million to a pair of intertwined but separately owned local ownership groups. With the release of the company’s third quarter 2025 results, Ms. Beasley derided her company’s performance as “unacceptable.”
Beasley Media Group’s long-term debt is in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Among the forward-looking statements in Beasley’s Q3 10-Q form filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission is one stating that “the company’s substantial debt levels and the potential effect of restrictive debt covenants on the company’s operational flexibility and ability to pay dividends” remain a concern to investors.
In November 2025, Ms. Beasley shared that as Beasley Media Group moved into the fourth quarter, it remained “focused on disciplined execution, strengthening our balance sheet through planned asset sales, and advancing our strategy to deliver sustainable shareholder value.” Regarding what to expect in Q4, Caroline Beasley shared on the call that pacings reflect a high-single-digit decline, ex-political, and are off 20% when including political advertising revenue. Strengthening accountability and accelerating digital revenue opportunities have thus emerged as an even bigger priority for the company.
Moving forward, which includes shifting past a December 10 “meme stock” surge for “BBGI” on Nasdaq that lasted all of 24 hours, Beasley stations will operate under the anniversary theme “65 Strong: Forward Together” as a reflection of “both the strength of the company’s foundation and its focus on the future.”
Caroline Beasley, the company’s CEO, commented, “Reaching 65 years is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and dedication of the people who make Beasley Media Group what it is today. While we are incredibly proud of our legacy, this milestone is equally about where we are headed- continuing to evolve, embrace innovation, and strengthen the local connections that have always set us apart.”
As of noon Eastern on Friday (1/1), Beasley shares were trading at $5.10 per share. This reflects a 45.2% decline from where “BBGI” stood at the start of 2025.
