He graduated from Kansas State University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. It was there where he met Doris Downing, got married and moved to Williamsburg, Va., where he entered active duty with the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant.
Five years later, Monte Miller and Doris, today his wife, returned to Bellville, Kansas, where he joined his father in a newspaper business that in 1981 grew to a television station. TV station ownership ended in 2000, but broadcasting would prove to be a further endeavor for the Millers.
In 2008, Monte and Doris Miller teamed up with their son, Christopher Miller, and purchased 14 radio stations from Mary Quass-led NRG Media. This created Rocking M Media. By 2015, it was the No. 1 operator of radio stations in Kansas; Monte Miller was bestowed with the Hall of Fame Award from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. In October 2016, Christopher Miller participated in a lengthy two-part interview with RBR+TVBR about the family business. At the time, RBR+TVBR wrote, “There’s a great story here, one that other small-market broadcasters may gain insight and learning lessons from.”
Sadly, the biggest takeaway, retrospectively, focuses on how a bitter family feud landed Rocking M Media in a federal bankruptcy court, and how a judge’s pending ruling will likely serve as the final chapter to radio station ownership in the the Sunflower State.
On March 28, 2022, a 37-page filing was officially accepted by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Kansas City.
Represented by Kansas City based attorney Sharon Stolte of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, Rocking M sought to reorganize under Chapter 11 rules. On May 11, 2022, the company filed the necessary FCC paperwork to become a “debtor in possession.”
Among the largest unsecured creditors are music rights organization ASCAP, with some $12,206 owed; $547 to SESAC; and a $5,557 bill due to fellow music rights group Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). Rocking M also told the court that three transmission sites have a cumulative value of $450,000. But, the biggest debt is a $3,745,614.50 secured claim of creditor Belate LLC of Houston. It is a Blanket Lien on personal property (excluding the assets of KKGQ); equity securities of Rocking M Radio; Rocking M Media; and life insurance policies for Monty and Doris Miller.
This put Rocking M Wichita’s total liabilities at $3,764,794.39, and set the wheels in motion on how to officially remove any involvement of Christopher Miller and grandson Cale Miller from the company. This effort began in fall 2019. At that time, the fate of four FMs, an AM with an FM translator, and an AM talker serving the Wichita market was put into question after a blame-game blow-up found an entity that agreed to purchase the stations — Allied Media Partners (AMP) — was locked out of the studios by the landlord. It seemed Rocking M failed to pay the rent; Doris and Monte Miller seized control, and took the stations dark under Special Temporary Authority for a lengthy period. Then, Rocking M split up its Salina, Kansas cluster by handing control of four stations to Christopher Miller.
By August 2022, noted media broker Greg Guy was recruited to help sell some 13 Rocking M properties, with a post-bankruptcy plan to own 7 radio stations. In late October 2022, the court attracted $1,988,673.50 from four unique buyers for the properties.
Today, Allied Media Partners is a creditor who awaits a Thursday (11/16) hearing in Kansas City, and AMP notes that both Belate LLC and KS StateBank accuse the elder Millers of wrongful conduct with respect to the Wichita sale agreement.
For AMP, the fight for the Wichita stations it believed it had acquired could prove lengthy and difficult. As part of the Guy-led asset auction process 13 months ago, My Town Media, the licensee led by Bill Wachter, was the successful lead bidder for the seven Rocking M stations serving the Wichita market: KVWF ($429,026.25), KIBB ($504,647.25), KWME ($220,000), KKLE-AM ($20,000), KSMM ($30,000), KMMM-AM ($40,000), and KLEY ($27,000). The backup bidders for those stations were Steckline Communications; Bluebonnet Management; Community Broadcasting; Ad Astra; and Intrepid Communications III LLC.
While that battle is carried out, an October 26 filing with the bankruptcy court indicates that Mr. Guy on Thursday (11/9) was given the court’s OK to sell all of the remaining Rocking M stations. As of today, there are 10, not seven, associated with Rocking M. Should U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Dale Somers agree to the proposal, no minimum bid would be necessary. This illustrates the fiscal strain on what remains of Rocking M’s radio operations, as any qualified bid will be considered by the court.
Before the court is a draft “Purchase and Sale Agreement,” with those receiving a copy including Christopher Miller’s longtime business associate, Christopher Imlay of Booth, Freret & Imlay of Silver Spring, Md.
Two groups of properties are impacted. The first, with stations licensed to “MCI” — a 50/50 partnership between Monte and Doris Miller — are KLOE-AM & KKCI-FM in Goodland, Kansas; and KWGB-FM in Colby, Kansas. The second group is “RMM,” which sees Doris, Monte and Christopher Miller each hold one-third equity interest. The stations associated with RMM are KXXX-AM & KRDQ-FM in Colby, KGNO-AM, KZRD-FM & KAHE-FM in Dodge City, KERP-FM in Ingalls, and KSMM-FM in Liberal, Kansas.
Given the total debts, an expedited sale of the remaining Rocking M stations is now on track.
“In the interest of time, and to maintain maximum flexibility with respect to the Proposed
Sale, the Debtors have opted not to continue in lengthy discussions and negotiations with prospective purchasers to select a stalking horse bid for the Estate Assets,” the filing states. “Rather, they are soliciting qualified bids for the Estate Assets without having provided any bid protections or other form of strategic advantage to any prospective bidder.”
While it will not end the Miller family feud, it puts the fast track on their conclusion to radio station ownership.
