A quick rebuild has turned into another shutdown in western Montana.
Todd Nixon’s Sticks Media has backed out of its agreement to purchase 102.5 KMSO in Missoula and 107.9 KHDV serving Darby and Hamilton, Montana, ending a short-lived effort to bring both stations back to life. With the deal off, the signals are expected to fall silent again.
The agreement, reached late last year with Sheila Callahan & Friends, totaled $255,000 and relied on a staggered payment structure rather than a large upfront cost. The plan called for a minimal initial payment, followed by monthly installments and a share of station revenue until the full amount was met. It was a structure designed to get the stations on the air quickly and allow performance to carry the rest.
Nixon did just that.
KMSO returned first in December with a Hot AC format branded “102.5 Mountain-FM.” KHDV followed later in the month after a brief holiday music stunt, relaunching as Classic Hits “Rocket 108.” Both stations were positioned to re-enter their markets with broad appeal and a clean, accessible sound.
The problem was timing.
In a public message, Nixon said the company ran out of runway before the stations could stabilize financially. He pointed to the work of his team and the progress made in a short period, but acknowledged the business model needed more time than it had.
Nixon, whose background includes multiple markets including Kansas City along with other stops across the country, has been part of both large and small market operations. This situation reflects a broader reality: turning around silent stations requires not just a plan, but enough capital and time to let that plan take hold.
With Sticks Media stepping away, both KMSO and KHDV face another period off the air, less than a year after first going silent following their previous owners’ retirement.
The takeaway is straightforward. Getting stations back on the air is one challenge. Keeping them there is another.
On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.