Press Release

Connoisseur Media announces the promotion of Michael Banks to General Manager in Frederick, MD. Frederick is home to Country Powerhouse 99.9 WFRE and Legendary Newstalk 930 WFMD.

Looking into a post-Covid world, Connoisseur continues to build out its newly formed Ferocious Media, a full-service marketing company.

Connoisseur has expanded its media business through an acquisition of digital marketing

Connoisseur Media LLC applauds the decision of the FCC to seek a rehearing from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals of the decision by a panel of its Judges to throw out the common-sense reforms in the FCC’s ownership rules that were adopted in 2017. Connoisseur itself was an advocate of one of the reforms thrown out by the panel of Judges – a reform that had allowed the company to increase its presence in the suburban markets around New York City to strengthen the company’s ability to provide important local programming in those markets – an ability that had been hampered by the competition from much larger companies owning NY radio stations that compete for listeners and advertisers without addressing local concerns. This common-sense reform, which was not specifically opposed by anyone before the FCC or before the Court, was thrown out like the proverbial baby with the bathwater in the panel’s misguided decision. We hope that the other Judges on the Third Circuit will heed the FCC’s call for rehearing and agree that the FCC’s reforms should stand.

Connoisseur believes the panel’s approach to broadcast ownership regulation should be overturned, because if left in place, it will stop in its tracks any further efforts of the FCC to bring its ownership rules in line with modern realities. The FCC will be forced to try to meet the panel’s impossible standard of assessing the history of broadcast ownership regulation before it can make any of the much-needed changes in the current rules. The failure to review the panel’s decision will likely put on hold further changes in the radio ownership rules to allow radio owners to strengthen their businesses to survive the onslaught of unrestrained competition from digital media.

Giant international digital media companies are competing directly in local radio markets, both for listeners and advertising dollars. These digital giants are not subject to the limits on growth that constrain broadcasters, nor are they subject to the same content regulations. Broadcasters have in their DNA the desire to serve their local communities, but they need a strong economic base to be able to provide the meaningful local programming that Connoisseur and so many other broadcasters strive to produce.

The FCC needs the flexibility to amend its ownership rules to reflect the current and future state of the industry, and not be hamstrung by a court decision that is rooted in looking at the past. We sincerely hope that the FCC’s request for rehearing is successful, so that these much-needed reforms can move forward.

Westport, CT September 4, 2019 – Keith Dakin, who has been Regional Operations Manager for Connoisseur/Connecticut, has been promoted to the new corporate level position of VP/Programming for the Company. Keith has been with the Connecticut stations since 2010, and had previously programmed WFNX in Boston.

“I am beyond honored to be given a chance to oversee the programming for Connoisseur Media. Our CEO Jeff Warshaw has assembled a collection of legendary radio stations that I can’t wait to work with. These are huge brands that really connect on a local level and bring unique, interesting and compelling content to our listeners”.

Connoisseur CEO Jeff Warshaw added, “Keith has done a terrific job with our CT stations, and has been an extremely valuable resource for Connoisseur. His ability to work with talent is particularly prized within our company.”

Connoisseur has recently added heritage stations WEBE 108 and WICC in CT and WFRE/WFMD in Frederick, MD to a group that includes such stalwarts as WPLR (New Haven), WALK-FM (Nassau-Suffolk) and Star 99.9 (Bridgeport).