Talon snatches up Joplin-Springfield corridor stations

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by Paul Schreiber|ret||ret||tab|

SBJ Reporter|ret||ret||tab|

pschreiber@sbj.net|ret||ret||tab|

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Creating a synergy of four radio stations operating between Springfield and Joplin is the goal of a second two-station acquisition for Talon Group LLC.|ret||ret||tab|

On Feb. 29, Falcon Broadcasting formed as a corporation to operate Aurora-based radio stations KSWM AM 940 and KQMO 97.7 FM under a limited marketing agreement, said Art Morris, vice president of operations, who serves as Internet technology manager and chief engineer for the two Lawrence County stations.|ret||ret||tab|

These stations will join two others operating 11 miles to the east along U.S. Highway 60 Monett-based KRMO AM 990 and KKBL 95.9 FM. Eagle Broadcasting purchased the stations Aug. 15, said Morris, who has worked there since 1990.|ret||ret||tab|

Both Falcon and Eagle are under the banner of Talon Group, said co-owner DeWayne Gandy. He, along with his wife, Janet, and her brother Bill Lewis, own the Monett stations. The Aurora stations are owned by Gandy, Lewis and Morris. Together, the stations employ about 35, Gandy said.|ret||ret||tab|

Talon Group has no other media possessions, Morris said. |ret||ret||tab|

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Acquisition philosophy|ret||ret||tab|

The addition of the two Aurora stations down the Highway 60 corridor basically gives Talon all the signals between Joplin and Springfield, Morris said. Having a four-station cluster increases its attractiveness to potential advertisers "because these daysthey want to know not only what you do, but how many (radio stations) you've got." |ret||ret||tab|

Talon Group's buying strategy is to pick up stations that overlap its existing stations' coverage area by about 25 percent and extend beyond that, Gandy said. "We wanted to stay down in this area, and we're looking at some other properties, broadcast facilities in the area that bump up next to us," he said. He declined to disclose particulars due to confidentiality agreements.|ret||ret||tab|

The only other station licensed in the immediate Aurora-Monett area is Aurora-licensed KGMY FM 100.5, known as "My Country." The 33,000-watt Clear Channel station, however, has operated out of studios in Springfield for 12 years, said Galen Gilbert, the former KGMY owner.|ret||ret||tab|

Price tags|ret||ret||tab|

The cost for KSWM and KQMO was $835,000, said Gilbert, who will remain as owner until the deal is completed in late 2005. Falcon Broadcasting will be responsible for all of the stations' operations until it takes over complete ownership. "The contract specifies that we must close before the end of 2005," said Gilbert, who is financing the deal.|ret||ret||tab|

Gilbert, 80, got his start in radio communications by teaching radio navigation and meteorology in the Army Air Force during World War II. |ret||ret||tab|

The managing entity for Gilbert's Aurora radio holdings is Community Service Radio Group, Morris said, but the individual stations are operated under separate names: 940 Radio Inc. owns KSWM and Magic Circle Radio Inc. owns KQMO.|ret||ret||tab|

KRMO and KKBL were purchased from Tricia Wadlinger of Monett Communica-tions Inc., Gandy said. |ret||ret||tab|

Gandy would not disclose the purchase price for the two Monett stations.|ret||ret||tab|

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Aurora|ret||ret||tab|

Studios for Aurora's two stations are at 126 S. Jefferson. KSWM is a 1,000-watt station licensed to Aurora and launched in 1961 by Gilbert, Morris said. The station has had a talk-radio format since 1995 featuring shows like "Trading Post," "Bids for Bargains" and "Community Spotlight."|ret||ret||tab|

KQMO is a 6,000-watt station started in 2000 and licensed to Shell Knob, Morris said. Weekday programming includes classic country music and news. On weekends, Frank Soriano, who broadcasts Hispanic music and programming, mans the controls. |ret||ret||tab|

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Monett|ret||ret||tab|

Monett's two stations operate from 1569 N. Central. KRMO is a 2,500-watt station started in 1950 and licensed to Cassville, Morris said. It features modern country music, sports, ABC news and Paul Harvey.|ret||ret||tab|

KKBL is a 6,000-watt station that began in 1978 and is licensed to Monett, Gandy said. Its format is contemporary rock and includes programming like Indy 500 racing and "Garage Talk" with Bill Lewis.|ret||ret||tab|

"Locally oriented programming with an emphasis on local news, weather and sports" is important to all four stations, Morris said, adding that KSWM has signed to pick up the remainder of SMSU Lady Bears' 2004 season from Kenneth Meyers, of Springfield-based Meyer Communica-tions, in a barter agreement.|ret||ret||tab|

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Ad dollars|ret||ret||tab|

Part of advertiser targeting will be to focus on the core population living along Highway 60 and the traffic flow that runs between Joplin and Springfield, Gandy said. |ret||ret||tab|

Gilbert said Talon Group's station strategy makes sense and he sees it as a return to radio's earlier days where a single station might be the only one available within a 50-mile radius. |ret||ret||tab|

"Now, for the station to do the best job in the community, the cluster idea lets you go back to where the station was when you used to be the only one," Gilbert said.|ret||ret||tab|

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Gilbert's stations|ret||ret||tab|

Gilbert, who at one time owned up to 14 stations in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, said the liquidation of his remaining properties was prompted by transitions he and his wife are making into different ventures. |ret||ret||tab|

With the ultimate sale of the Aurora stations, Gilbert will have two stations left. Both are in Missouri and are for sale. "We've just received initial approval for the sale of our station in Stockton, KRLK FM 107.7. That will probably be closed in late April," he said. He operates the station under the name KRLK Radio Inc. |ret||ret||tab|

Atlanta-based Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. is spending $825,000 to acquire the 11,700-watt Stockton station, Gilbert said.|ret||ret||tab|

Cumulus Broadcasting is the second largest broadcasting company in the United States based upon number of stations owned or operated, according to Cumulus' Web site. Locally, people are unaware of it because "they just don't happen to have any properties around here," Morris said.|ret||ret||tab|

All that should change, however, with a seven-station deal involving three operations in Columbia, three in Jefferson City and one in Ashland, according to the transactions link at www.radioandrecords.com. Cumulus will own 294 stations nationwide after the completion of their pending acquisitions, according to its Web site.|ret||ret||tab|

The last station in Gilbert's inventory is 6,000-watt KTRI FM 95.9 in Mansfield.|ret||ret||tab|

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