Stephen King shuts down his Maine radio stations after decades of operation

In a significant move for the radio landscape in Maine, Steven King, the renowned author and media personality, announced the closure of his three radio stations at the end of the year. These stations, WZON-AM, WKIT-FM, and WZLO-FM, operated under The Zone Corporation and will cease broadcasting on December 31. King and his wife, Tabitha, invested a considerable amount of personal wealth into keeping the stations running since their purchase in 1983, a decision which was motivated by their dedication to independent radio. Over the years, the stations have struggled financially, facing increasing operational costs and competition from corporate broadcasting entities. Despite their efforts, the trio of stations never turned a significant profit, leading to their eventual closure. Stephen King expressed his bittersweet feelings about the decision, acknowledging the enjoyment he found in being an independent owner and the connections they forged with the local community. He stated, "I’ve loved being a local, independent owner all these years," reflecting on the pride he held in operating the stations for nearly four decades. The stations were initially acquired in 1983 when King renamed the first station WZON in homage to his bestselling novel, "The Dead Zone." Throughout the years, the operations evolved; WZON eventually became a nonprofit station in 1990 before being reacquired by King and his wife in 1993. The presence of King’s stations was significant, as they represented one of the last bastions of independent radio in a landscape increasingly dominated by large corporate entities like iHeartMedia and Audacy. General manager Ken Wood commented on the situation, praising the Kings' commitment to providing local radio and servicing local advertisers with a platform to connect with their audience. He noted that independent, locally-owned radio stations were once common in Maine, but only a few remain. With these closures, the landscape will further shift toward corporate ownership, diminishing local media's unique contributions. The impending closure has rekindled discussions on the viability of small, independent radio stations in the current media climate, exemplified by Stephen King's decision. In his statement, King alluded to the pressures of maintaining radio stations that have increasingly struggled to stay afloat amidst rising operational costs and competitive pressures from corporate giants. As the end of the year approaches, the local Bangor media scene faces significant changes, with many reflecting on the contributions of the King's stations throughout their operational history. Their departure symbolizes a lasting shift in the media environment where local flavors have frequently been replaced by corporate entities, ultimately changing how communities interact with and experience local broadcasting.