Connoisseur Media
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mass media |
| Genre | Radio broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Alpha Media |
| Founded | Westport, Connecticut (2004) |
| Founder | Jeff Warshaw |
| Headquarters | Westport, Connecticut , United States |
Number of locations | 207 |
Key people | Jeff Warshaw (President/CEO) |
| Website | connoisseurmedia |
Connoisseur Media LLC is an American media company. It is based in Westport, Connecticut and led by Jeff Warshaw. As of September 2025, Connoisseur operates 207 radio stations and digital assets in 24 states.[1]
History
[edit]Founder and CEO, Jeff Warshaw built his first station while still a student at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1993, Warshaw founded Connoisseur Communications Partners LP, which he later sold to Cumulus Broadcasting in 2000 for $258 million.[citation needed][2] In 2004, he and CFO Mike Driscoll formed Connoisseur Media which operates 11 radio stations and various digital markets. The first company's acquisition involved several stations in Bloomington, Illinois with capital from hedge fund Farallon Capital, along with its founders. Through a combination of start-ups, move-ins, and acquisitions, Connoisseur Media expanded. It maintains a significant presence in the New York City media market.
It was announced in July 2015 that Petrus Holding Company LP had invested in Connoisseur Media.[3]
On March 27, 2019, Connoisseur Media announced that it would acquire WFRE and sister station WFMD from the Aloha Station Trust in exchange for transferring its Erie, Pennsylvania cluster to iHeartMedia.[4][5] The sale closed on May 21, 2019.[6]
On April 14, 2022, a group led by Warshaw made an unsolicited offer to acquire Cumulus Media for $1.2 billion including debt, and take the company private; the offer was rejected by Cumulus, who believed that it was undervalued.[7][8]
On July 26, 2024, Connoisseur Media announced the sale of WFRE and WFMD to Local Daily Media for $4.275 million.[9]
In May 2025, Connoisseur Media announced its intent to acquire Alpha Media for an undisclosed amount, and entered into a transitional local marketing agreement with all of its stations. The merger will expand the company to 218 stations. Warshaw stated that the acquisition would improve the company's scale, and "[give it] all the ingredients to be a highly successful local media company for many years to come."[10] The FCC approved the sale on August 13, 2025, and the sale was consummated on September 4.[11]
In October 2025, Connoisseur announced its intent to acquire Bonneville International's San Francisco cluster, including KUFX, KBLX-FM, KMVQ-FM and KOIT.[12]
Radio stations
[edit]| Market | Call Sign | Frequency | Band | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, Alaska | KHAR | 590 | AM | Soft oldies/adult standards |
| KFQD | 750 | News/talk | ||
| KEAG | 97.3 | FM | Classic hits | |
| KAYO | 100.9 | Classic country | ||
| KMXS | 103.1 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| KBRJ | 104.1 | Country | ||
| KWHL | 106.5 | Active rock | ||
| Bakersfield, California | KNZR | 1560 | AM | Conservative talk radio |
| KLLY | 95.3 | FM | Contemporary hit radio | |
| KNZR-FM | 97.7 | Conservative talk radio | ||
| KKBB | 99.3 | Rhythmic oldies | ||
| Palm Springs, California | KNWZ | 970 | AM | News/talk |
| KNWQ | 1140 | |||
| KNWH | 1250 | |||
| KKUU | 92.7 | FM | Rhythmic contemporary | |
| KCLB-FM | 93.7 | Mainstream rock | ||
| KCLZ | 95.5 | |||
| KDES-FM | 98.5 | Country | ||
| KPSI-FM | 100.5 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| KDGL | 106.9 | Classic hits | ||
| K297BO | 107.3 | Adult standards | ||
| San Francisco (Bay Area) | KKDV | 92.1 | Country | |
| KBAY | 94.5 | |||
| KUIC | 95.3 | Adult contemporary | ||
| KKIQ | 101.7 | |||
| KEZR | 106.5 | Adult Top 40 | ||
| Bridgeport, Connecticut | WICC | 600 | AM | Talk |
| WFOX | 95.9 | FM | ||
| WEZN-FM | 99.9 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| WEBE | 107.9 | Adult contemporary | ||
| New Haven, Connecticut | WYBC-FM | 94.3 | Urban adult contemporary | |
| WPLR | 99.1 | Mainstream rock | ||
| Des Moines, Iowa | KCOB | 1280 | AM | Oldies |
| KCOB-FM | 95.9 | FM | Country | |
| Grinnell, Iowa | KGRN | 1410 | AM | Adult contemporary |
| KRTI | 106.7 | FM | Hot adult contemporary | |
| Fort Dodge, Iowa | KWMT | 540 | AM | Classic country |
| KVFD | 1400 | Talk | ||
| KZLB | 92.1 | FM | Active rock | |
| KKEZ | 94.5 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| KIAQ | 96.9 | Country | ||
| KXFT | 99.7 | Adult contemporary | ||
| KTLB | 105.9 | Oldies | ||
| Mason City, Iowa | KGLO | 1300 | AM | News/talk |
| KRIB | 1490 | Soft oldies/adult standards | ||
| KIAI | 93.9 | FM | Country | |
| KYTC | 102.7 | Classic hits | ||
| KLSS-FM | 106.1 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| Ottumwa, Iowa | KMCD | 1570 | AM | Classic country |
| KKFD-FM | 95.9 | FM | Classic hits | |
| Chicago, Illinois | WJOL | 1340 | AM | News talk/sports |
| WERV-FM | 95.9 | FM | Classic alternative | |
| WSSR | 96.7 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| WZSR | 105.5 | |||
| Joliet, Illinois | WCCQ | 98.3 | Country | |
| Topeka, Kansas | WIBW | 580 | AM | Talk/sports |
| WIBW-FM | 94.5 | FM | Country | |
| KSAJ-FM | 98.5 | Adult hits | ||
| KTPK | 106.9 | Classic country | ||
| Louisville, Kentucky | WGZB-FM | 96.5 | Mainstream urban | |
| WDJX | 99.7 | Contemporary hit radio | ||
| WMJM | 101.3 | Urban adult contemporary | ||
| WXMA | 102.3 | Adult contemporary | ||
| WGHL | 105.1 | Alternative rock | ||
| Shreveport–Bossier City, Louisiana | KOKA | 980 | AM | Urban gospel |
| KLKL | 95.7 | FM | Classic hits | |
| KTAL-FM | 98.1 | Classic rock | ||
| KDKS-FM | 102.1 | Urban adult contemporary | ||
| KBTT | 103.7 | Mainstream urban | ||
| Hagerstown, Maryland | WCHA | 800 | AM | Oldies |
| WHAG | 1410 | |||
| WQCM | 94.3 | FM | Classic rock | |
| WIKZ | 95.1 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| WDLD | 96.7 | Rhythmic contemporary | ||
| Saginaw–Bay City–Midland, Michigan | WSGW | 790 | AM | News/talk |
| WCEN-FM | 94.5 | FM | Country | |
| WSGW-FM | 100.5 | News/talk | ||
| WGER | 106.3 | Classic alternative | ||
| WTLZ | 107.1 | Urban adult contemporary | ||
| Albert Lea–Austin, Minnesota | KATE | 1450 | AM | News/talk/soft oldies |
| KAUS | 1480 | News/talk | ||
| KCPI | 94.9 | FM | Adult contemporary | |
| KAUS-FM | 99.9 | Country | ||
| Luverne, Minnesota | KQAD | 800 | AM | Classic hits |
| KLQL | 101.1 | FM | Country | |
| Mankato, Minnesota | KMKO-FM | 95.7 | Active rock | |
| KEEZ-FM | 99.1 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| KYSM-FM | 103.5 | Country | ||
| KRBI-FM | 105.5 | Classic hits | ||
| Redwood Falls, Minnesota | KLGR | 1490 | AM | Country |
| KLGR-FM | 97.7 | FM | Adult hits | |
| Bethany, Missouri | KAAN | 870 | AM | Sports |
| KAAN-FM | 95.5 | FM | Country | |
| Columbia, Missouri | KWIX | 1230 | AM | Talk |
| KWIX-FM | 92.5 | FM | ||
| KRES | 104.7 | Classic country | ||
| Farmington, Missouri | KREI | 800 | AM | Talk |
| Kansas City, Missouri | KMRN | 1360 | Classic country | |
| KKWK | 100.1 | Classic rock | ||
| Moberly, Missouri | KTCM | 97.3 | FM | Contemporary Christian music |
| KIRK | 99.9 | Classic hits | ||
| St. Louis, Missouri | KJFF | 1400 | AM | News/talk |
| KTJJ | 98.5 | Country | ||
| Springfield, Missouri | KBNN | 750 | AM | News/talk |
| KJEL | 103.7 | FM | Country | |
| Waynesville, Missouri | KIIK | 1270 | AM | Talk |
| KJPW | 1390 | News/talk | ||
| KFBD-FM | 97.9 | FM | Adult contemporary | |
| KOZQ-FM | 102.3 | Classic rock | ||
| Jackson, Mississippi | WJNT | 1180 | AM | News/talk |
| WOAD | 1300 | Urban gospel | ||
| WJQS | 1400 | Sports | ||
| WJMI | 99.7 | FM | Mainstream urban | |
| WRKS | 105.9 | Sports | ||
| WKXI-FM | 107.5 | Urban adult contemporary | ||
| Columbus, Nebraska | KJSK | 900 | AM | News/talk |
| KTTT | 1510 | Classic country | ||
| KKOT | 93.5 | FM | Classic hits | |
| KZEN | 100.3 | Country | ||
| KLIR | 101.1 | Adult contemporary | ||
| Lincoln, Nebraska | KFOR | 1240 | AM | News/talk |
| KLMS | 1480 | Adult hits | ||
| KTGL | 92.9 | FM | Classic rock | |
| KIBZ | 104.1 | Active rock | ||
| KFRX | 106.3 | Contemporary hit radio | ||
| KZKX | 96.9 | Country | ||
| Long Island, New York | WHLI | 1100 | AM | Oldies |
| WWSK | 94.3 | FM | Mainstream rock | |
| WALK-FM | 97.5 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| WKJY | 98.3 | Adult contemporary | ||
| WWWF-FM | 103.1 | Country | ||
| Canton–Akron, Ohio | WHBC | 1480 | AM | Talk/sports |
| WHBC-FM | 94.1 | FM | Hot adult contemporary | |
| Dayton, Ohio | WING | 1410 | AM | Sports |
| WROU-FM | 92.1 | FM | Urban adult contemporary | |
| WGTZ | 92.9 | Classic hits | ||
| WCLI-FM | 101.5 | Alternative rock | ||
| WDHT | 102.9 | Urban/rhythmic contemporary | ||
| Portland, Oregon | KXTG | 750 | AM | Sports |
| KUFO | 970 | Talk | ||
| KBFF | 95.5 | FM | Contemporary hit radio | |
| KUPL | 98.7 | Country | ||
| KXL-FM | 101.1 | News/talk | ||
| KINK | 101.9 | Adult album alternative | ||
| Columbia, South Carolina | WARQ | 93.5 | FM | Contemporary hit radio |
| WSCZ | 93.9 | Mainstream urban | ||
| WWDM | 101.3 | Urban adult contemporary | ||
| WMFX | 102.3 | Classic rock | ||
| WHXT | 103.9 | Mainstream urban | ||
| Brookings, South Dakota | KJJQ | 910 | AM | Classic country |
| KBRK | 1430 | Adult standards | ||
| KBRK-FM | 93.7 | FM | Hot adult contemporary | |
| KDBX | 107.1 | Classic rock | ||
| Madison, South Dakota | KJAM | 1390 | AM | Classic hits |
| KJAM-FM | 103.1 | FM | Country | |
| Watertown, South Dakota | KWAT | 950 | AM | Full-service |
| KSDR | 1480 | News/talk | ||
| KSDR-FM | 92.9 | FM | Country | |
| KIXX | 96.1 | Hot adult contemporary | ||
| KDLO-FM | 96.9 | Classic country | ||
| KKSD | 104.3 | Classic hits | ||
| Amarillo, Texas | KGNC | 710 | AM | News/talk |
| KGNC-FM | 97.9 | FM | Country | |
| KXGL | 100.9 | Classic hits | ||
| KVWE | 102.9 | Classic rock | ||
| Lubbock, Texas | KLLL-FM | 96.3 | Country | |
| KMMX | 100.3 | Contemporary hit radio | ||
| KONE | 101.1 | Classic rock | ||
| KBTE | 104.9 | Urban contemporary | ||
| San Antonio, Texas | KTSA | 550 | AM | News/talk |
| KSAH | 720 | Regional Mexican | ||
| KZDC | 1250 | Sports | ||
| KTFM | 94.1 | FM | ||
| KLEY-FM | 95.7 | Tejano | ||
| KJXK | 102.7 | Adult hits | ||
| KSAH-FM | 104.1 | Regional Mexican | ||
| Sherman, Texas | KMKT | 93.1 | Country | |
| KLAK | 97.5 | Adult contemporary | ||
| Tyler–Longview, Texas | KOYE | 96.7 | Regional Mexican | |
| KKUS | 104.1 | Classic country | ||
| KYKX | 105.7 | Country | ||
| KOOI | 106.5 | Adult hits | ||
| KTLH | 107.9 | Regional Mexican | ||
| Salt Lake City, Utah | KTUB | 1600 | AM | Regional Mexican/sports |
| KDUT | 102.3 | FM | Regional Mexican | |
| KBMG | 106.3 | Contemporary hit radio/Latin pop/reggaeton/tropical music | ||
| Fredericksburg, Virginia | WNTX | 1350 | AM | News/talk/sports |
| WFLS-FM | 93.3 | FM | Country | |
| WWUZ | 96.9 | Classic rock | ||
| WVBX | 99.3 | Contemporary hit radio | ||
| Aberdeen, Washington | KXRO | 1320 | AM | News/talk |
| KWOK | 1490 | Sports | ||
| KXXK | 95.3 | FM | Country | |
| KDUX-FM | 104.7 | Classic rock | ||
| Moses Lake, Washington | KWIQ | 1020 | AM | Sports |
| KWIQ-FM | 100.5 | FM | Country | |
| Wenatchee, Washington | KKRT | 900 | AM | Sports |
| KKRV | 104.7 | FM | Country | |
| Wilson Creek, Washington | KWLN | 103.3 | Spanish | |
| Kenosha, Wisconsin | WLIP | 1050 | AM | Talk/full-service |
| WKRS | 1220 | Spanish sports | ||
| WXLC | 102.3 | FM | Country | |
| WIIL | 95.1 | Active rock |
References
[edit]- ^ "Connoisseur Media - Headquarter Locations, Competitors, Financials, Employees". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ "Jeff Warshaw: Westport's Radio Connoisseur". 06880danwoog.com. November 10, 2022.
- ^ Perot Companies Go for Connoisseur Media Archived July 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Paul McLane, Radio World, July 15, 2015
- ^ "iHeartMedia & Connoisseur Media Swap Frederick & Erie". RadioInsight. March 27, 2019.
- ^ Fairfield, CJ (April 4, 2019). "Two Frederick radio stations acquired by Connoisseur Media". The Frederick News-Post.
- ^ "No New Station Sales In FCC Database Tuesday Morning". All Access.
- ^ "Report: Jeff Warshaw Leads Effort To Acquire Cumulus Media". Insideradio.com. April 14, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Huston, Caitlin (May 4, 2022). "Cumulus Media Rejects $1.2B Acquisition Offer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "Local Daily Media Acquires WFRE/WFMD". RadioInsight. July 24, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ Coats, Cameron (May 5, 2025). "Alpha Media to Join Connoisseur Media in Landmark Group Merger". Radio Ink. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ^ "Connoisseur Media Completes Acquisition of Alpha Media, Becoming a Top 10 U.S. Radio Broadcaster". Connoisseur Media. September 4, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.
- ^ Venta, Lance (October 7, 2025). "Connoisseur Media Acquires Bonneville's San Francisco Cluster". RadioInsight. Retrieved October 7, 2025.