MESA, ARIZ. — RBR+TVBR has independently confirmed the sale of a group of radio stations operating under the Desert Valley Media Group banner to a newly formed entity led by Mike Cutchall.
This will see his group take on “The Wow Factor, “Hot 97.5/103.9,” and “Power 98.3” in the Phoenix market under an LMA that takes effect on September 1.
Cutchall is acquiring the stations through his Houston-headquartered Zelus Media; a purchase price was not disclosed ahead of the filing of paperwork in the FCC’s LMS seeking its regulatory approval for the deal.
Kalil & Co. served as the broker in this transaction.
Zelus is described as a marketing, media, and business solution company centered around the dynamic and rapidly growing esports and recreational gaming space.
Cutchall is no stranger to the properties, which are comprised of the following stations:
- Class C Oldies KOAI-FM 95.1 in Sun City West and K235CB at 94.9 MHz in Chandler, branded as “The Wow Factor”
- Class C Rhythmic Hot Adult Contemporary KMVA-FM 97.5 in Dewey-Humboldt and Class C1 KZON-FM 103.9 in Gilbert, marketed as “Hot”
- Class C Hip-Hop KKFR-FM 98.3 in Mayer and K241BQ at 96.1 from Fort McDowell, known as “Power 98.3.” The FM translator has a transmitter atop South Mountain and serves the San Tan Valley
Circa summer 2010, Cutchall was President/CEO of what was known as Riviera Broadcast Group. In August 2021, Riviera became Desert Valley Media Group under the leadership of Jeff Trumper.
Trumper is a market veteran and circa 2006 operated the 97.5 MHz frequency as Adult Standards “Star 97.5” under former call letters KRZS through his Trumper Communications business. As the 1990s came to a close, Trumper owned nine radio stations including three in Albuquerque, one in Santa Fe and one in Corrales, N. Mex., that were sold to iHeartMedia predecessor Clear Channel Communications for $55.5 million.
“It has been a sincere pleasure to have led Desert Valley Media Group and its tremendous staff of outstanding broadcast professionals,” Trumper said in a statement obtained by RBR+TVBR on Friday afternoon.
Cutchall has also been an Operating Partner at YMF Media, CEO of Sun City Communications and Cobalt Communications, Executive Vice President of pre-iHeartMedia radio station groups Capstar and AMFM, as a Regional Vice President of SFX Broadcasting and COO of Prism Radio Partners.
In May 2023, he was chosen to lead Beasley Media Group’s five FM stations serving Las Vegas as Market Manager.
Cutchall commented, “We are thrilled to enter the Phoenix market, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. We extend our deepest appreciation to Jeff Trumper and his team for their exceptional management of Desert Valley Media Group during the challenging times of a pandemic and subsequent recovery years. We look forward to working with the outstanding Desert Valley Media Group staff.”
