As December 2024 began, acclaimed author turned radio station owner Stephen King revealed to local media that “losses in the millions” and his “advancing age” were the primary reasons why he decided to shut down his three Bangor, Me., radio stations, concluding 41 years of service at the end of 2024.
While two of the stations are believed to be silent, pending a sale or surrender of their respective licenses to the FCC, a Class B Rocker in Brewer, Me., found a buyer. Now, an FCC filing seeking approval of the transaction offers new details regarding the future of WKIT-FM 100.3.
The Zone Corporation, represented by Mark Denbo of Smithwick & Belendiuk, is selling WKIT to Rock Lobster Radio LLC — a 50/50 partnership between Jeff Solari and Greg Hawes.
Solari is associated with “Sports Chowdah,” a now-concluded blog in which Solari “tells you how it is and how it should be in New England sports!”
On December 23, Solari and Hawes signed off on an asset purchase agreement that sees Rock Lobster acquire the real estate, towers, studios and license associated with WKIT.
It is paying $500,000 to The Zone Corp. for the assets; a $25,000 deposit has been paid to escrow agent Farrell Rosenblatt & Russell, with the remainder to be offered in cash at closing.
There is no broker or finder associated with this deal. As reported by Streamline Publishing’s Radio Ink, Hawes and Solari are Bangor businessmen who were moved to save their favorite local radio station from signing off forever.
In a joint statement, Solari and Hawes said, “We couldn’t let it die. Hundreds – if not thousands – of people posted, called, or reached out when they heard the news 100.3 was getting the plug pulled. Longtime listeners were devastated. But now the grief can fade. The voices you love are staying right here.”
