Radio One (part of Urban One) is exiting a key piece of its Charlotte footprint, agreeing to sell two FM stations to religious broadcasters in a deal that underscores both format realignment and broader consolidation trends in radio.
The company is divesting WLNK-FM (Mix 100.9) and its simulcast partner WMXG-FM (99.3) to two separate faith-based operators.
- WLNK 1009 FM is being acquired by the Bible Broadcasting Network for about $4.2 million.
- WMXG 93.5 FM is being sold to the Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute, which operates stations under the “Good News Network” brand, for roughly $725,000.
Both buyers plan to flip the stations to Christian formats after the deals receive FCC approval, a process expected to take a couple of months.
While operations continue during the regulatory review period, the transition signals a clear format shift away from mainstream Hot AC toward non-commercial religious programming.
Why this deal matters
1. Strategic retrenchment by Radio One: Urban One has been reshaping its Charlotte cluster following a series of frequency swaps and format changes in late 2025. Selling these two signals allows the company to focus on its core formats—urban, sports, and spoken word—while monetizing smaller or repositioned assets.
2. Expansion for religious broadcasters...For the buyers, this is a signal upgrade play: The Bible Broadcasting Network gains stronger coverage into the Charlotte metro, improving reach into areas it previously struggled to serve. The Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute expands its regional footprint with a new FM signal.
While the headline is about two stations, the implications are wider:
Bottom line: This isn’t just a format flip — it’s a strategic exit from a format and signal combination that no longer fits Radio One’s long-term priorities, while giving religious broadcasters a rare opportunity to upgrade their presence in a top-25 market.
1. Strategic retrenchment by Radio One: Urban One has been reshaping its Charlotte cluster following a series of frequency swaps and format changes in late 2025. Selling these two signals allows the company to focus on its core formats—urban, sports, and spoken word—while monetizing smaller or repositioned assets.
2. Expansion for religious broadcasters...For the buyers, this is a signal upgrade play: The Bible Broadcasting Network gains stronger coverage into the Charlotte metro, improving reach into areas it previously struggled to serve. The Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute expands its regional footprint with a new FM signal.
While the headline is about two stations, the implications are wider:
- Another heritage commercial brand disappears from a major market
- Religious broadcasters continue quietly expanding their reach
- Large groups like Radio One are becoming more selective about where they compete
Bottom line: This isn’t just a format flip — it’s a strategic exit from a format and signal combination that no longer fits Radio One’s long-term priorities, while giving religious broadcasters a rare opportunity to upgrade their presence in a top-25 market.