Matt Baty and Tommy Castor’s Allied Media Partners has acquired Rocking M Media’s six stations in and near Wichita KS.
CEO Baty serves as Vice President of Business Development for Maxus Properties and has previously Associate Athletic Director of Wichita State University and University of Kansas. Castor, who will be Chief Operating Officer, joined Rocking M last summer as GM/PD of their Wellington based stations after spending a decade as Program Director of iHeartMedia CHR “Channel 96.3” KZCH Derby/Wichita.
The stations involved in the deal are Red Dirt Country “KS Country 92.3” KKGQ Newton, Rhythmic Hot AC “92.7 The Blast” KWME Wellington, Variety Hits “97.1 Bob-FM” KIBB Haven, AAA “Flight 100.5” KVWF Augusta, AC “100.3 The Wave” 1130 KLEY/100.3 K262CQ Wellington, Talk 1550 KKLE Winfield
Baty told the Wichita Eagle that the company intends to increase its local sales staff and potentially rehiring on-air talent that have exited the market recently. Allied will begin operating the stations via LMA on Monday, April 1.
Allied Media Partners (AMP) has reached an agreement to buy six radio stations from Kansas’ largest radio operator, Rocking M Media. Rocking M is in its third and fourth generation of Kansas media ownership by the Miller family. The family has successfully owned and managed newspapers, KMCI-TV 38 in Lawrence and Kansas City and now 24 radio stations and associated networks throughout Kansas.
Wichita-based Allied Media Partners is purchasing KIBB-FM (97.1 BOB FM), KVWF-FM (Flight 100.5), KKGQ-FM (Kansas Country 92.3), & KWME-FM (92.7 The Blast) in Wichita, plus KLEY-FM/AM (The Wave 100.3/1130) in Wellington and KKLE-AM (The Valley 1550) in Winfield.
With this acquisition, AMP becomes the only locally owned media company with multiple FM stations in the Wichita market. AMP believes the opportunity to acquire a cluster of radio stations in their own backyard and with only Wichita investors, brings radio back to the grassroots level where it belongs.Allied Media Partners is led by two lifelong Wichitans. Matt Baty (Chief Executive Officer) brings a strong business background to AMP, with his experience in fundraising, sales and marketing from organizations such as The University of Kansas, Wichita State University, The Wichita Sports Forum and Equity Bank. Tommy Castor (Chief Operating Officer) has 15 years of Wichita radio experience, serving in programming leadership roles at various Wichita radio stations.
“AMP’s focus is Wichita, our business partners, our communities and our people,” said Baty. “We are committed to competing and earning your listenership. We want to be what radio was when we were growing up, integrated in the community as a partner.”
“Our team lives in the same community, shops at the same merchants and eats in the same restaurants as our clients, partners and listeners,” added Castor. “Not only will you get local ownership with AMP’s radio stations, but you’ll get a listening experience that will showcase Wichita, while still sounding ‘big city’.”Allied Media Partners will begin programming the Wichita stations April 1 under a local marketing agreement. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. KIBB-FM (97.1 BOB FM), the heritage station, plays an Adult Hits Format, KVWF-FM (Flight 100.5) plays an Adult Album Alternative (AAA) format, KKGQ-FM (Kansas Country 92.3) plays a Throwback Country format and KWME-FM (92.7 The Blast) plays a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary format.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Matt Baty and former Rocking M employee Tommy Castor, in this transition of ownership. We wish them well and much success along with a close continued business relationship between AMP and Rocking M,” said Doris and Monte Miller of the Miller family.
