Stephen King's Radio Station Group to Cease Operations

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, December 3, 2024

WKIT-FM/Bangor, ME

Zone Corporation, the radio station group owned by best-selling author Stephen King, will shut down operations at the end of the month, the company announced Monday. The closure affects several eastern Maine radio stations, including WKIT-FM (100.3), known for its Classic Rock programming, as well as WZLO-AM (620) and WZON-FM (103.1).

Zone Corporation General Manager Ken Wood confirmed the stations will go off the air on December 31, marking the end of a broadcasting legacy that spans more than four decades.

Stephen King, who purchased his first station, WZON, in 1983 and later added WKIT and WZLO to the portfolio, attributed the decision to his desire to simplify his affairs as he ages. "I'm in good health, but I'm feeling my 77 years," King said in a statement. "It's time to get my business affairs in better order, which means saying goodbye to Zone Corp and the stations I've personally kept afloat all these years."

King expressed pride in the stations' independence, noting that they have remained locally owned and operated despite the dominance of large corporate broadcasting groups. "I've loved the people who've worked at these stations every day, entertaining listeners, keeping the equipment running, and helping local businesses connect with their customers. Tabby and I are proud to have been part of this for over 40 years," he said, referencing his wife, Tabitha.

The stations have faced financial challenges throughout their history, with King acknowledging that he has absorbed significant losses to keep them operational. Despite this, his love for music and rock and roll motivated him to invest in the stations. He rebranded WLBZ, the first station he acquired, to WZON in a nod to his novel "The Dead Zone."

Wood, who has been with Zone Corporation for the past decade, praised the stations' contributions to local radio. "Independent, locally owned radio stations used to be the norm. There are only a few left in Maine, and we're lucky we had these three as long as we did," Wood said.