With Stephen King set to shutdown his three stations in Bangor ME at the end of the month, a pair of local businessmen have formed a new ownership group to acquire market leading Rock 100.3 WKIT Brewer.
Jeff Solari and Greg Hawes’ Rock Lobster Radio LLC will acquire WKIT and operate it via LMA starting on January 1 until final FCC approval. The duo released a statement that said, “We couldn’t let it die. Hundreds – if not thousands – of people posted, called or reached out when they heard the news 100.3 was getting the plug pulled. Longtime listeners were devastated. But now the grief can fade. The voices you love are staying right here.”
Solari is a longtime sportscaster in the Bangor market. He served as a reporter and anchor at WLBZ-TV from 1992 to 1995 before moving off-air as Creative Services and Promotions Director. After stints at television stations in Mobile and Oklahoma City, he returned to Bangor to host afternoons at King’s 620 WZON from 2004 to 2010 and later spent time at “92.9 The Ticket” WEZQ from 2015-18. Solari has also run an internet radio company and his Rock Lobster Entertainment produces Sports content and events in Maine. He commented on Facebook, “My childhood friends will vouch for me when I say I was about 12 years old when I started dreaming of owning a radio station. Today the dream came true. Greg Hawes and I are thrilled to have reached a deal with Stephen King to keep WKIT rockin’ Maine for years to come. It’s a legendary station with a great team!”
Hawes and his brother own multiple Bangor area restaurants and a marijuana dispensary. He added, “Cat is outta the bag. After reading all the genuine comments about the closure of WKIT, I felt a sense of commitment to try to keep it around. I do my best to cater to the community that supports all of my crazy ideas, and this is another one of those situations. It’s clear that the Bangor area was not ready to see 100.3 go away, so Jeff Solari and I are gonna make sure it’s around for years to come. Welcome to radio!”
Oldies “Z62“ WZON Bangor and AAA 103.1 WZLO Dover-Foxcroft/98.3 W252CT Bangor are still expected to go Silent on 12/31.
