Cumulus Takes At Least 3 More Stations Off Air

Cumulus Media, which operates 400 stations across 84 markets, has cited economic pressures and a need to focus on "strengthening and maximizing the impact of our other brands" as reasons for a number of its stations going dark this year.

The company’s Q4 2024 earnings report, released in February 2025, revealed a net revenue decline to $218.58 million (down 1.2% from $221.3 million in Q4 2023) and a widened net loss of $231.08 million, exacerbated by national advertising headwinds and a slowdown in local broadcast ad dollars. These financial strains, coupled with a stock price languishing at $0.63 per share (a 52-week low as of early March), have driven Cumulus to trim underperforming assets.

Among the stations most recently confirmed to have gone off the air permanently:

• Jefferson City, MO: On March 21, both KLIK (1240 AM and 103.5 FM), a conservative talk station featuring Westwood One programming, and KJMO (97.5 FM), a classic hits outlet, ceased operations. These closures left the mid-Missouri market without these local signals, as reported by local outlet The California Democrat.
• San Francisco, CA: KZAC (560 AM), formerly the iconic KSFO (now branding on 810 AM, went silent on February 28. Its shutdown marked a significant loss for the Bay Area’s AM dial.
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  Richmond/Lexington, KY: WLXX (101.5 FM), branded as “101.5 Jack-FM,” also shut down on February 28, ending its variety hits format in the region.
• Des Moines, IA: KBGG (1700 AM), a sports station carrying ESPN Radio, went dark on March 28. This closure reflects Cumulus’s broader retreat from less profitable sports formats in smaller markets.
• Flint, MI: WWCK (1570 AM), another AM station, ceased broadcasting on March 28. Previously a simulcast partner for its FM sister, its closure aligns with a trend of AM stations bearing the brunt of cuts.
• Fort Walton Beach, FL: WYZB (1550 AM), a minor player in the market, also went off the air on March 28, signaling Cumulus’s exit from marginal AM properties.

Additional closures earlier in March included stations like WAPI (1070 AM) in Birmingham, AL; WLWI (1440 AM) in Montgomery, AL; WRIE (1260 AM) in Erie, PA; and KOLI (94.9 FM) in Electra, TX, among others. 

Cumulus has indicated that at least 20 stations were slated for shutdown. Formats affected range from sports and talk to country and classic hits, suggesting a broad reassessment rather than a focus on any single genre.

The company’s strategy appears to prioritize its stronger brands, such as Westwood One (the largest audio network in the U.S.) and key FM stations in major markets, while shedding smaller or unprofitable AM signals and some FMs. Cumulus’s moves come as the industry grapples with declining terrestrial radio listenership—down to 78% of Americans monthly in 2024 from 92% a decade ago, per Edison Research—pushing companies to consolidate or pivot to digital platforms.

While Cumulus has not released an exhaustive list of all stations going dark, the pattern indicates a focus on cutting AM stations (often reliant on translators) and weaker FMs in mid-to-small markets.