Saga has announced the addition of Michael Czarnecki as Brand Manager for its just launched “96.5 Live Free Country” WMLL Bedford/Manchester NH.
Czarnecki joins WMLL from Binnie Media where he served as Vice President of Programming for its Portland ME cluster since September 2022 and previously as company Director of Brand Operations. He previously has programmed iHeartMedia’s Talk 680 WRKO Boston, “104.7 WONK-FM” Washington DC and served as APD for the company’s Springfield MA cluster, 95.7 WKSS-FM and 104.1 WURH Hartford, held on-air roles at WAAF and WFNX Boston and programmed KIFS Medford OR.
Original Report 12/15: Saga Communications has flipped Classic Rock “96.5 The Mill” WMLL Bedford/Manchester NH to Country “96.5 Live Free Country“.
Positioning as “Continuous Country Without The Static”, the new format takes aim at Townsquare Media’s 97.5 WOKQ Portsmouth, Binnie Media’s “93.3 The Wolf” WNHW Belmont/Concord and the Boston Country stations, which all are heard in portions of the Manchester and Nashua markets. WMLL is launching its new format with 5,000 songs commercial-free.
Saga also owns Classic Country “The Outlaw” 103.1 W276BJ Concord, 106.9 W295BL Manchester, and WZID-HD3.
Saga Communications, Inc. has flipped WMLL Manchester from Classic Rock to Country as “96.5 Live Free Country.” The station launched with 5,000 songs in a row, touting continuous country favorites without the static. The flip fills a hole in the market for Country music, which to date has only been able to hear artists like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney, from stations the bleed into the market. 100% of the soon to be announced on-air staff will be live and local in New Hampshire.
Market president, Lucy Lange said, “Country music is the hottest genre of music today. There is a clear market desire, and we are excited to fill the void of country music in Southern New Hampshire; Live Free Country will deliver New Hampshire’s continuous Country favorites!”
Additionally, Michael Czarnecki has been hired as Brand Manager. Czarnecki previously spent time in Springfield, Hartford, Boston, Washington DC, and is incredibly familiar with the market having started his career at WGIR/Rock 101. Czarnecki added, “I am thrilled to be joining the incredible team at Manchester Radio Group. I could not be more excited to be a part of bringing Country music to Southern New Hampshire. A sincere Thank you to Lucy Lange and Pat McKay.”
