The following is a list of events affecting radio broadcasting in 2019. Events listed include radio program debuts, finales, cancellations, and station launches, closures and format changes, as well as information about controversies.
Notable events
January Date Event Source 1Two months after going silent due to damage from Hurricane Michael, former Southern rock/blues hybrid WARB—Dothan, Alabama returns to the air with urban contemporary as "Vibe 105.9.""Hip-Hop Vibe To Debut In Dothan" from Radio Insight (December 19, 2018)Classic country format WRKA—Louisville began stunting with party songs based around a New Year's Day theme, leading up to a flip to Soft-based rhythmic AC as "103.9 The Groove" on January 14."A New Years Party Starts On 103.9 Louisville" from Radio Insight (December 31, 2018)The Air1 radio network drops Christian CHR in favor of contemporary-based Worship music."AIR 1 MOVES TO WORSHIP MUSIC" from Radio Insight (January 1, 2019)Adult album alternative simulcast WXTG/WXTG-FM—Norfolk/Hampton/Virginia Beach flips to all-news while the format continues on WTYD—Williamsburg."All News Coming To Norfolk As Tide Goes Out" from Radio Insight (January 1, 2019) 2The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) orders Way Broadcasting (DBA RM Broadcasting), owner of WZHF—Capitol Heights, Maryland/Washington, D.C., to register the station as a foreign agent due to its carriage of Radio Sputnik via a local marketing agreement with Rossiya Segodnya, the Russian Federation government-owned news agency. The DOJ alleges Rossiya Segodnya "has complete control" of WZHF through the lease agreement and is operating the station "to advance Russian interests", with Way Broadcasting obligated to perform maintenance on WZHF's equipment to maximize the exposure of Radio Sputnik to as broad an American audience as possible. Way denies the existence of a joint venture with Russian interests and claims the lease did not create "an agency relationship"."Justice Department Demands Radio Station Be Ordered to Register As Russian Agent" from The Hollywood Reporter (January 2, 2019)CKOO-FM—Kelowna, British Columbia abandons its oldies format for an AC format as Soft 103.9. 3Upon the completion of the simulcast between urban AC KMEZ—Port Sulphur/New Orleans and sister KKND as KMEZ replaces the latter at 102.9, KKND is relaunched with classic hits, branded as "106.7 The Krewe." "A New Classic Hits Krewe Comes To New Orleans" from Radio Insight (January 3, 2019) 4Most of the air staff of country KKGQ—Newton/Wichita are released, leaving only mid–day DJ Brian Michaels. A new lineup is expected to be announced soon."PD & Airstaff Exit KS Country 92.3 Wichita" from Radio Insight (January 4, 2019)Cumulus Media makes major changes in Western Michigan. WBBL—Grand Rapids drops sports and becomes a simulcast of country WTNR—Holland, utilizing the "Thunder" branding; the simulcast ended on January 19 with WTNR flipping to adult album alternative as "94.5 The Q." The sports format moves over to WJRW Grand Rapids and WKLQ—Whitehall. The move is part of a shuffle that will see Michigan Media Network acquire WBBL's Huge Show hosted by Bill Simonson, which will continue to be syndicated to its affiliates in Michigan."WBBL Flips To Country As Thunder Returns To Grand Rapids" from Radio Insight (January 4, 2019) "CUMULUS LAUNCHES THE Q 94.5 IN GRAND RAPIDS" from Radio Insight (January 19, 2019)WSOL-FM—Brunswick, Georgia/Jacksonville returns to urban AC after nearly five years with classic hip hop."V101.5 Jacksonville Returns To Urban AC" from Radio Insight (January 4, 2019) 7The Los Angeles/Southern California trimulcast of KSSE/KSSC/KSSD drops Spanish AC "La Suavecita" after one year and starts simulcasting Spanish adult hits sister KLYY—Riverside, thus bringing the "Jose" branding back to the area, when it was last used at KDLD/KDLE, who had dropped it around the same time for Regional Mexican "La Tricolor" until May 2018 when it flipped back to the "Super Estrella" brand, this time as Spanish classic rock."Jose Returns To Los Angeles Replacing La Suavecita" from Radio Insight (January 7, 2019)The former America's Morning Show associated mainly with the Cumulus Media Nash FM network of country stations rebrands for the third time in three years as solely The Ty Bentli Show, reduced from the Ty, Kelly and Chuck Show several months after Kelly Ford's departure; Chuck Wicks continues to serve as Bentli's sidekick on the program. Unfortunately on the same day, flagship station WNSH—Newark/New York City drops the program in favor of a music-intensive morning block."Ty, Kelly & Chuck To Relaunch As The Ty Bentli Show" from Radio Insight (December 5, 2018) "WNSH New York Drops Ty Bentli Show" from Radio Insight (January 7, 2019)KNOC—Natchitoches, Louisiana, drops urban AC for classic country as "95.9 Kix Country"."Classic Country Comes To Natchitoches" from Radio Insight (January 7, 2019) 9After two years with rhythmic Top 40, WXZO—Willsboro, New York/Burlington flipped to a satellite feed of MeTV-FM. The move comes in the wake of parent owner Vox AM/FM's acquisition of CHR WXXX in December 2018."MeTV-FM On Its Way To Burlington/Plattsburgh" from Radio Insight (January 9, 2019)In Albuquerque, Spanish AC "La Suavecita" replaces Regional Mexican "La Tricolor" at KRZY-FM"La Suavecita Comes To Albuquerque" from Radio Insight (January 9, 2019) 10 Following the airing of Lifetime's docu-series Surviving R. Kelly, which resulted in authorities launching investigations into allegations of sexual abuse, a handful of key urban contemporary and urban AC outlets led by KKDA-FM and KRNB—Dallas, KJLH—Los Angeles, WBLS—New York City, and WAMJ—Atlanta announce they will no longer play music by R. Kelly; SiriusXM also bans his music, only announcing mentions of his songs on their weekend countdown shows focused on the 1990s and 2000s. Several artists who had previously collaborated with him pulled his music from their social media accounts, while eight days later, RCA Records officially dropped him from their roster.
"Sony, R. Kelly Agree To Part Ways: Exclusive" from Billboard (January 18, 2019) "L.A. and N.Y. Radio Stations Keep R. Kelly Off Airwaves" from The Hollywood Reporter (February 13, 2019) 11 The classic hip hop quadcast of WMTX-HD2/W233AV/W256CT/W290BJ—Tampa/St. Petersburg abruptly ends, and starts redirecting listeners to urban contemporary sister WBTP, who adjusts their direction to a more mainstream urban presentation in part due to a drop in the Nielsen Audio ratings. WMTX-HD2 and its translators' flipped to a simulcast of talk WFLA on January 14."Throwbacks Give Way To WFLA Simulcast" from Radio Insight (January 14, 2019) 14Entercom expands the "Channel Q" branding to Seattle, as it flips KNDD-HD2 from all-Pacific Northwest bands and artists and K277AE from a feed of rhythmic Hot AC KHTP—Tacoma to the LGBTQ/Dance hybrid. The move gives Seattle two Dance/EDM outlets, joining the already established Seattle Public Schools' KNHC."Channel Q Comes To FM In Seattle" from Radio Insight (January 14, 2019)Seven Mountains Media, a Pennsylvania-based broadcaster, purchases a package of stations in New York's Southern Tier from Community Broadcasters, LLC. The package had been in Community Broadcasters' hands since Backyard Broadcasting sold the stations in its exit of the radio business in 2013. 15Two Halifax radio stations make a switch to Soft AC. Evanov's CKHY-FM abruptly dumps their Mainstream rock format and its "Rock" moniker after nearly 6 months for "Jewel 105". This comes as a preemptive move for CKUL-FM which in turn, switched from adult top 40 "Mix 96.5" to that same format as "The Breeze" two days later becoming the third radio station owned by Stingray to adopt the "Breeze" format and branding. 17Fox Sports Radio affiliate KGA/K278CY—Spokane relaunches its format to a hybrid sports/hip-hop mix as "103.5 The Game." The station, whose presentation will mostly be music oriented and is expected to serve as a flanker for CHR sister KZBD and to counter rhythmic rival KEZE, continues to serve as the home for Gonzaga University basketball, Spokane Chiefs hockey, and Spokane Indians baseball."Hip-Hop + Sports = 103.5 The Game Spokane" from Radio Insight (January 17, 2019) 18A Nielsen BDS Radio data research for 2018 confirms that rhythmic Top 40 returned to the new music lead, as reflected by the number of top 20 songs in the format with 106 titles, up from 103 from 2017. urban contemporary is second, having charted 104 top 20 songs last year. Meanwhile, the number of top 20 hits at Mainstream Top 40 continues to decline with 105 titles in 2013, followed by 96 in 2015, and 87 in 2018, placing it fifth behind active rock (fourth with 92 titles) and adult album alternative (third with 100 titles) respectively. Rounding out the remaining five were country (6th with 85 titles), alternative rock (7th with 84), Adult Top 40 (8th with 82), Urban Adult Contemporary (9th with 75) and Adult Contemporary (10th with 69)."It's Official: Hip-Hop Has More Hits, As CHR Tightens" from Radio Insight (January 18, 2019) 21KMXA—Denver split from its simulcast with Spanish AC KJMN and switched to ESPN Deportes Radio, marking a return to the format after seven years.ESPN Deportes Returns to Denver Rdaioinsight - January 21, 2019 23After a 20-year run as Vice President of Programming and National Digital Program Director for Emmis Communications, including overseeing rhythmic Top 40 KPWR and since 2017 classic hip hop KDAY for Emmis and (current owner) Meruelo Media, Jimmy Steal exits the Los Angeles outlets to take a new role as Vice President of Branding and Content for Hubbard Broadcasting's Hot AC WTMX—Chicago. from Radio Insight (January 23, 2019) 31NHL's St. Louis Blues switches flagship stations, moving from KMOX to WXOS in a four-year deal that includes a cross-promotion with Hubbard Broadcasting's St. Louis cluster and expanded content, starting with the 2019–2020 season. Chris Kerber and Joey Vitale will remain with the team's broadcasts with the move from KMOX to WXOS."St. Louis Blues Moving From KMOX To WXOS" from Radio Insight (January 31, 2019)
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