Radio One’s new owner replaces GM

By Katie Maurer

One of Dayton’s largest radio conglomerates has a new owner and new general manager.

Main Line Broadcasting officially took over the five area Radio One stations Sept. 12.

At the same time, Main Line released long time Radio One general manager, Don Griffin in favor of another radio veteran Jim Beard. Griffin said he was surprised at the news.

“I’ve spent 17 of my last 20 years in Dayton and am a Dayton native,” he said. “I have more feeling and passion than most in the business.”

Ed Conrad, Main Line’s chief financial officer, said the company thought Griffin did a great job with the stations but felt Beard was a better fit.

“We thought Jim would be able to operate more in line with Main Line’s strategic direction and operating style based on his previous experience,” Conrad said.

Beard came from Little Rock, Ark. where he was a general manager with Regent Communications, according to Rob Riggsbee, owner of Cincinnati-based Inside Media.

He ran seven stations there, he said.

Beard could not be reached for comment.

Riggsbee said unfortunately when stations and broadcast companies are bought and sold, the most common change is at the very top.

“This tactic is used industry wide,” he said. “The new company comes in and makes changes with the top officials first. They usually like to bring in their own person who they have a relationship with.”

Main Line is owned by Washington-D.C.-based equity firm Arlington Capital Partners.

Conrad said the company has not planned any changes to the Dayton area stations.

Radio One announced in August it would sell its five radio stations in Dayton along with six stations in Louisville to the broadcasting company.

Locally, Main Line now owns two urban stations WDHT-FM 102.9 and WROU-FM 92.1; country station WKSW-FM 101.7; the ESPN news, talk and sports station WING-AM 1410; and a Top 40 station WGTZ-FM 93.

Conrad said the Dayton market was a good investment for the company because it has a nice mix of formats that cut across a wide range of demographic groups.

“That’s the type of diversity we like to have in our markets,” he said.