Stephen King closes three of his radio stations in Maine

By Alimat Aliyeva

Stephen King has announced that his three radio stations in Bangor, Maine, will cease operations at the end of this year.

“While radio across the country is being dominated by giant corporate broadcasting groups, I’ve enjoyed being a local, independent owner all these years. I love the people who went to these stations every day, entertained listeners, kept the equipment running, and gave local advertisers the chance to reach their customers,” the renowned author said in a statement.

King’s involvement in radio began in 1983 when he acquired a station that he later renamed WZON, inspired by his hit novel The Dead Zone. The station went through several name changes before being shut down, only to be re-acquired by King in 1990.

Over the years, his ZONE corporation expanded to three separate stations: WKIT-FM, known as "Stephen King's Rock and Roll Radio Station"; WZON-AM, which focused on a retro style; and WZLO-FM, offering adult alternative music. Together, these stations catered to a wide range of musical tastes and became an essential part of the local community in Bangor.

The stations will officially sign off on December 31, marking the end of one of King’s most beloved and personal projects.

The closure highlights the challenges faced by independent radio stations in today’s rapidly changing media landscape. These stations struggle with financial sustainability, dwindling advertising revenue, and increasing competition from streaming platforms and large media conglomerates.

Despite the popularity of King's stations, their content became financially unviable. King and his wife had operated the stations at a loss for decades but have now acknowledged that it is time to step back. The decision to close the stations was made with a sense of nostalgia but also practical necessity.

King’s involvement in the radio world was not just a business venture—it was a passion project that allowed him to connect with his local community. His dedication to the stations was evident in the care he took with the programming and in maintaining a unique, independent voice in an increasingly corporate media world.

Though King’s radio ventures are coming to an end, his legacy in the community and in the world of entertainment remains strong. This closure reflects a larger trend in the media industry, where the rapid rise of digital and streaming platforms has led to the decline of traditional forms of media, like local radio stations.