Amador Bustos’ Bustos Media is expanding in Tucson with the purchase of Oldies “101.7 The Drive” 830 KDRI Tucson/101.7 K269FV Oro Valley AZ from Fletcher McCusker and Bobby Rich’s Tucson Radio LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
KDRI will join a Bustos Media cluster that includes Conservative Talk “1030 The Voice” KVOI Cortaro, Spanish Rhythmic “Urbana 92.5” K223CI Tucson/KZLZ-HD2, Regional Mexican “La Poderosa 105.3” KZLZ Casas Adobes, and Rhythmic AC “106.3 The Groove” KTGV Oracle. Bustos will begin operating KDRI via LMA on April 1 with their cluster GM Patty Ruiz adding oversight of the station.
McCusker told the Arizona Daily Star, “The biggest challenge we’ve had is that we’re a stand-alone station. Everybody else is a package like Cumulus and iHeart. Even though we’ve risen to No. 2 in the market, we’re not going to get anywhere without a budget.” Ruiz added that no format change is planned for the station and that it’s current airstaff will remain.
Tucson Radio had acquired the former KFLT from Family Life Broadcasting in 2019 for $650,000 with “The Drive” launching in August of that year. Rich serves as Program Director and morning host.
Bustos Media filed an application with the FCC for the acquisition of the assets of Tucson Radio, LLC. The DRIVE is the number two rated station in the market. It offers a large catalogue of music “baby boomers” love and is presented by popular local personalities.
Bustos Media already owns The Voice (KVOI 1030 AM), The Groove (KGTV 106.3 FM), Urbana (KZLZ HD 92.5 FM) and La Poderosa (KZLZ 105.3 FM). Patty Ruiz, the General Manager for Bustos Media in Tucson, will be the GM of the combined stations effective April 1, 2023. KDRI will continue to operate from its downtown studio.
“No other radio station cluster in Tucson will match Bustos’ new range and diversity of listeners,” said Fletcher McCusker, president and founder. “The combined audience will be the most representative of the Tucson market,” McCusker added.
“I am happy to have driven this special format. The listener response has been nothing short of phenomenal. I am also happy to transfer The DRIVE to Bustos so it takes its proud place as the flagship of his radio group,” said Bobby Rich, the Drive’s programmer.
Bustos Media entered into a Management Agreement allowing Bustos to manage the station pending FCC approval.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com