The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.
Events
Quad Cities' radio stationsWKBF (1270 AM) and WHTS (98.9 FM), both owned by Mercury Broadcasting but operated by a joint sales agreement with Clear Channel Communications, are sold during the year. The sale of WKBF from Mercury to EMF Broadcasting is completed in late 2005, and in February the format switches from contemporary hit radio (which had been formatted at the frequency since 1987) to formatting Christian music as WKLU.[1] WKBF, which had been broadcasting a progressive talk format, is sold to Quad Cities Media and switches to Christian talk in December.[2]
January 21 – Kix Brooks, one half of the country music superstar duo Brooks & Dunn, takes over as host of the long-running "American Country Countdown." He succeeds Bob Kingsley, who had left the program after 27 years a month earlier, and had since started a new program called "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40." Kingsley's last show was December 24, 2005, and radio personality Michael Jay had served as interim host until Brooks' debut.
June 13 – VNU Media, the publishers of Billboard, acquires Radio & Records. The following July 14 Billboard Radio Monitor will cease publication, followed by Radio & Records three weeks later on August 4. On August 11 both trades are merged into a "newly relaunched" R&R.
June 14 – KKST/KEDG/Alexandria, Louisiana trade formatted to KKST as Urban leader as "Kiss 98.7" and KEDG as Adult contemporary leader as "Star 106.9".
In September, Mediabase, associated with the original R&R for 19 years until their final issue (as an independent trade), begin publishing their chart listings in USA Today and in the following December debut their online website.
November 7 – BBC radio airs the 15,000th episode of its (near) daily drama serial The Archers, begun in 1951.
Mike McConnell, launched into national syndication after several years at WLW on July 1.
On August 17 KZLA/Los Angeles drops Country after 26 years and becomes the second station in the United States to pick up the Rhythmic AC "MOViN'" format as KMVN. The flip would leave Los Angeles without an FM Country station until March 2007 when KKGO fills the void.
Greenstone Media, a female-oriented talk radio network
Kevin Barrett begins hosting a twice-weekly talk show on Genesis Communications Network called The Dynamic Duo, and another talk show, hosted weekly on RBN, titled Truth Jihad Radio. The topic of both shows is mainly conspiracy theories surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks.
June 23 – The Phil Hendrie Show, host Phil Hendrie decided to retire from radio in an effort to pursue an acting career. Reruns continued on two stations until 2007.
The Majority Report. Originally one of Air America Radio's featured programs, the show ended a few days after Janeane Garofalo left the show and the network. Later restructuring of the schedule saw her co-host, Sam Seder, move to early mornings.
Mavor Moore, 87, Canadian writer, actor, radio & TV producer and founder of theatrical institutions.[29]
date unknown
Steve Crosno, 66, longtime El Paso radio DJ whose career spanned nearly 50 years (kidney failure).[30]
Jaye Michael Davis, 62, veteran U.S. radio deejay (motorcycle accident).[31]
George Edwards, 87, American radio host for WQXR.[32]
Len "Boom" Goldberg, 74, longtime station voice and DJ for WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio, and the first station voice for New York City's WHTZ "Z100" upon their 1983 launch, heart attack.[33]
Dick Johnson, 69, veteran Maine radio broadcaster and news reporter, complications of a heart attack.[34]