1972 in radio
The year 1972 in radio involved some significant events.
Events
- Bill and Becky Ann Stewart sell WPBC and WPBC-FM, both of Richfield, Minnesota, to Fairchild Industries. Later that year, both stations become WYOO.
- WDRQ Detroit, having debuted the previous year as a news/talk station, flips to Top 40, as does WAAM in nearby Ann Arbor (dropping its longtime MOR format). Detroit also loses a Top 40 station on April 25, 1972, as WKNR changes from "Keener 13" to beautiful music as WNIC, simulcast with its FM sister (formerly WKNR-FM).
- WCBS-FM in New York City debuts its Oldies format on July 7, 1972.
- NBC sells off their Cleveland radio stations (WKYC-AM and WKYC-FM) to Ohio Communications, headed by Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Arena owner Nick Mileti, and radio executive Jim Embrescia. The stations were renamed "3WE" WWWE-AM and "M105" WWWM-FM, with the AM station attaining flagship rights to the Indians and Cavaliers, and hired pioneering sports/talk host Pete Franklin for "Sportsline."
- Metromedia sells off their Cleveland stations, WHK and WMMS, to the Detroit-based Malrite Communications Group. After protests and pleas from WMMS' devoted following, Malrite vows to maintain the FM stations' progressive rock format, and relocates their corporate headquarters to Cleveland.
Debuts
Closings
Births
Deaths