mediaBrew Closes on Acquisition of Seven in Marquette MI

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 31, 2019

mediaBrew Communications

mediaBrew Communications, led by veteran radio executive Chuck Williams, has closed on the purchase of seven radio outlets and translators from Great Lakes Radio in Marquette, MI, located in the Upper Peninsula. Included in the deal were WRUP-FM (98.3), WFXD-FM (103.3) and WKQS-FM (101.9) along with four FM translators: W260AG (99.9), W248BU (97.5) W291CJ (106.1) and W286BC (105.1). The purchase also included various digital media assets including UPbargains.com and various client web-hosting services.

mediaBrew Communications LLC was founded in 2018 by CEO Williams with a mission to locate, acquire and operate market-leading radio clusters in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. mediaBrew's core operating principle is to "champion radio and its exciting future by driving local community-focused service and local content, with local management and staff."

The Great Lakes properties are mediaBrew's first acquisition. Williams formed mediaBrew Communications Marquette LLC in early 2019 as the vehicle to purchase and operate the Marquette stations previously owned by Great Lakes Radio.

Great Lakes Radio, the seller of the stations, has been a multi-decade owner/operator headed by Todd Noordyk. Great Lakes Radio and the Noordyk family are retaining WQXO-AM and one translator in Munising as well as WRPP-FM in Manistique.

"I'm excited to enter Michigan's vibrant U.P. markets and to welcome the current Great Lakes Radio management team and staff into the mediaBrew Communications family," said Williams. "This team has built such a wonderfully robust and active radio and media cluster. We are committed to helping these market-leading radio and media veterans build on their successes and their outstanding service to Michigan's Upper Peninsula."

Bill Cate of Media Services Group brokered the transaction.