“In 1989, the last thing Jay Hanson expected was a long broadcasting career,” reads the bio for the owner and President of Mix Maine Media on the company’s website. A resident of the state since 1994, he’s built Augusta-based company offering a range of services including digital marketing, video production and, naturally, radio advertising.
That’s because Mix Maine Media owns a trio of radio stations in the Augusta-Waterville market is expanding its holdings in Bangor.
According to a press release shared by WABI-TV, Hanson-led Mix Maine Media is acquiring WKIT-FM 100.3, a Rock station serving Bangor formerly owned by acclaimed author Stephen King, from Rock Lobster Radio LLC.
A Local Marketing Agreement will take effect on Saturday (11/1), ahead of an expected closing in early 2026. Terms of the deal were not made public; a FCC filing containing the deals of the transaction cannot be made due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“When an opportunity arises to enhance your position in a market you love, you move quickly,” said Hanson. “We couldn’t hesitate on a heritage station featuring legendary talent, on and off the air, as well as owners who are emotionally invested in the station’s future success. Our passion for local radio, shared by WKIT’s present team, will continue to win for its listeners and advertisers.”
Rock Lobster is led by Greg Hawes and Jeff Solari.
“We’re proud of what we have done for WKIT in our short amount of time with the station,” Solari said. “We have moved the station to a beautiful new facility downtown with state of the art equipment upgrades. We retained the employees, kept the on air programming and the same including popular local contests all while racking up some of the highest ratings the station has seen.”
As RBR+TVBR first reported at the start of 2025, WKIT, a Class B Rocker in Brewer, Me., was acquired by Rock Lobster for $500,000 from The Zone Corporation, represented by Mark Denbo of Smithwick & Belendiuk.
The Zone Corp. is controlled by King, who in December 2024 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.
The fact that WKIT has landed in the hands of Hanson may be logical: Mix Maine Media in February emerged as the entity that agreed to purchase WZON-AM 620 “Retro Radio,” a Class B with 5kw daytime/620 watts nighttime from 1 tower across from Bangor High School and Class A Adult Alternative WZLO-FM 103.1 in Dover-Foxcroft, Me., which simulcasts on W252CT at 98.3 MHz in Bangor, is now known.
Mix Maine Media parent J. Hanson Company paid $125,000 for the two properties.
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