Nature Coast

And finally, we head back to Florida where Mark Media isn't finished growing.

Just weeks after acquiring Cumulus Media's Melbourne cluster, Mark Media is expanding again with a $2.5 million deal to acquire WGUL-FM, incorporated, better known as Nature Coast Radio.

The transaction adds five signals serving communities along Florida's west coast between the Tampa and Gainesville markets.

They include Hot AC, Citrus 95.3 WXCV in Tampa, homosassa springs classic hits 96.7 the fox w x o f in yankee town country Z103.3 and 104.3 WXCZ and WXZC serving Cedar Key and Inglis and Aldi's greatest hits 106.3 WGHR and Spring Hill The $2.5 million purchase is structured with a $500,000 deposit, another $500,000 due in closing or at closing, and the remaining $1.5 million dollars financed through a promissory note to be paid over 10 years.

Over the past year, the company has acquired five Treasure Coast radio stations in Vero Beach, Most of Hall Communications, Lakeland Cluster, and more recently, the Cumulus Media Cluster in Melbourne.

Mark Media also owns Stand Alone Christian AM stations in Orlando and Dallas.

So from Lakeland and the Treasure Coast to Melbourne, Gainesville, and Florida's Nature Coast, Mark Media's radio footprint continues to grow.

And that will do it for this week's Radio Connection Live News Brief.

Much of this region is part of the state's pine tree industry, growing and harvesting pine for lumber.

Now, we are part of what's known as the Nature Coast, an area where there are springs where people still come to swim, and the Sewanee River, which old-timers may recall from the song.

You know, I'm thinking about that, Kev.

I guess the song was Way Down Upon the Sewanee River.