Martinez comes to 89Q from Hope Media Group’s Vida Unida, where he served as Afternoon Show Host and Digital Media Producer. His background also includes Christian radio in Houston, work with the Houston Rockets’ Spanish-language entertainment team, and appearances in upcoming seasons of The Chosen.

“Throughout our search, we were looking for more than another voice on the radio. We wanted someone who would fit the heart and culture of 89Q, connect genuinely with our listeners, strengthen our programming team, and embrace the communities we serve throughout North Central Wisconsin,” said 89Q General Manager Coy Sawyer. “We believe God has brought us that person in Erick.”

Martinez will eventually join Andi Miller on the 89Q Morning Show while working alongside Program Director Mike Lanser to support the station’s programming. His bilingual broadcasting and digital media experience will also help 89Q continue building connections with North Central Wisconsin’s growing Hispanic community.

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Prefer to read? Here’s a summary:

CMB University is coming to Nashville November 7–8, and 56 stations said yes to partnering with CMB to promote it in their communities, a 43% increase over last year! Thank you for helping more students discover a possible future in Christian media. Please pray that God brings the right students to CMBU and uses the experience to help them discern where He is calling them.

Michelle also shares an encouraging sign for Christian radio: in a recent Radio Ink article, Mike McVay points to year-over-year growth in contemporary Christian radio and listeners’ desire for hope, encouragement, and family-friendly content. That opportunity reaches beyond the dial through streaming, podcasts, and social media.

Finally, the all-new CMB Summit is an immersive masterclass experience with seven focused tracks. You’ll learn alongside peers who understand your role and leave better equipped to serve your station and grow your impact.

The post CMB Update – September 2026 first appeared on CMB.

The post CMB Update – September 2026 appeared first on CMB.

“For some Christian listeners, Christmas is not a joyous time. Many people find the holiday season financially challenging and even lonely,” said Chuck Finney, President. “At Finney Media, we believe Christian radio is vital to filling the spaces of listeners’ hearts with encouraging and uplifting programming that connects. Our latest research study shows listeners love familiar favorites that help them feel spiritually encouraged.”

The new study was commissioned by Finney Media to assist Christian radio stations in planning their upcoming Christmas programming. What Drives Christmas Listening in 2026: A Study of Listener-Favorite Christmas Songs is now available as a free gift to Christian radio. Visit the Finney Media website to download a copy of the research study.

“Christian radio listeners are clear about what songs resonate the most with them during the Christmas season,” said Chuck Finney, President. “This study shows us Christian listeners lean more toward versions of Christmas songs they know and love, which often is the older, or original version of a classic Christmas song versus newer, more unfamiliar songs.”

The post New Study Finds Christian Listeners Want Nostalgic Favorites In Their Christmas Listening first appeared on CMB.

The post New Study Finds Christian Listeners Want Nostalgic Favorites In Their Christmas Listening appeared first on CMB.

Pictured, left to right: KSWP evening host Connie Mullins; Blanca Vega, Dunham & Company coach; President and GM Michelle Ross; and Good Friends Morning Show co-host Tim Swanson.

KSWP 90.9 and KAVX 91.9 are celebrating a successful 2026 Fall Share-A-Thon after listeners gave $106,237, exceeding the stations’ $105,605 goal.

A total of 260 families participated in the fundraiser through special gifts, monthly support and increases to existing monthly giving.

“We are incredibly thankful to God for His faithfulness and for every listener who gave,” said Michelle Ross, President and GM. “It is such a privilege to serve these communities, and we never take their support for granted. In a time when so many families are making careful decisions about every dollar, we feel especially honored and blessed by the generosity, passion and commitment people showed for this mission. Their giving helps make it possible for someone else to hear the hope of Jesus through a song, a teaching or a moment of encouragement.”

The post KSWP/KAVX Exceeds 2026 Fall Share-A-Thon Goal first appeared on CMB.

The post KSWP/KAVX Exceeds 2026 Fall Share-A-Thon Goal appeared first on CMB.

Earlier this year, Thompson joined Hope Media Group in Houston as Director of Production and Audio Ministry. He now returns to KXOJ, where he will step back into the afternoon time slot and also serve as Production Director.

As part of the lineup changes, KXOJ Brand Manager Kevin Davis will move to middays, while Kurt Wallace shifts to evenings.

The post Gary Thompson Returns to KXOJ first appeared on CMB.

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WGTS 91.9 had the privilege of hosting the first concert of Phil Wickham’s “Song of the Saints Tour,” starting in Fairfax, Virginia. Over 7,000 people gathered at EagleBank Arena to sing their favorite songs along with Chandler Moore, Jamie Grace, and Phil Wickham. The Fairfax concert was the first of 16 concerts scheduled this fall, and it sold out.

“This concert was like a gigantic church coming together for a mega-praise and worship singalong,” said WGTS director of creative marketing, Victor Muzica. “The atmosphere and the energy made it feel like it was all about God and not the artists. That made it a true worship experience.”

The post WGTS 91.9 Helps Kick Off Phil Wickham Tour with Sold-Out Concert first appeared on CMB.

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If seasonal listeners discover your stations through streaming/social/search, what happens next? 

Lara Dykes – Digital Content Supervisor, The Light FM (WMIT)

We put a heavy emphasis on-air for folks to sign up for Advent text messages throughout the month of December. We bring daily devotional thoughts/verses/videos from air talent and artists we play on The Light FM, as well as a weekly (Sunday) devotion, when people opt-in for Advent. After Christmas is over, we invite folks to continue their faith journey with The Light FM by downloading our Going Deeper 365-Day Bible Reading plan. Additionally, we just try to provide the same content year-round. Whether it’s Christmas themed or during any other season, our focus is sharing Jesus, encouraging the audience to follow Him and make them laugh a little (or a lot) while we’re doing it. The question is always ‘how can we lead them deeper?’

Beyond the music, what are listeners actually coming to Christian radio for at Christmas? 

Randy Fox – Program Director, KSBJ

I think nostalgia is part of what many people want from the Christmas season. For Christian radio specifically, I think they also want to experience Christmas through a lens that reflects their values. We don’t need to be overly religious about it, but we should convey that Christmas is about more than buying gifts and going to parties.

What reasons are you giving your listeners to choose your station during the holidays? What does that look like?

Brandi Reichert – Director of Strategic Marketing, JOY FM

We LOVE Christmas!  Not only is the music different … there are so many amazing Christmas concerts and events to promote and invite listeners to!  So, we are very active in the community during this time. In November, we are planning a Home for the Holidays promotion, where someone will be able to fly a loved one home for the holidays!  Stories will be submitted online and one lucky winner will win transportation, hotel (if needed) … plus a gift certificate to help with meals and Christmas shopping to make Christmas extra special this year. In December, we go share JOY with places that may not be very joyful … places like the DMV, Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center and Assisted Living Communities.  We have also gone to visit big not for profits or organizations who are helping others, but may not be thought of during this time, like Mercy Hospital and the St. Louis Area Foodbank. We bring a DJ or two … a special giveaway or activity that feels intentional and appropriate for each of the different places we go.  Plus, we partner with Chick-fil-A for this, so we bring food and the Chick-fil-A cow (which is a big hit)!

This may be someone’s first encounter with your morning show. Are you giving them reasons to connect and come back? What does that look like?

Keith Stevens / Morning Show Host, KTIS

We have the unique position of being the “commercial free” Christmas station in the market!  We’ll attract new listeners  by offering up  top testing  familiar Christmas songs 24-7, a large billboard campaign, and playing zero commercials or “marketing partner” spots. Connecting with our new listeners through our “Christmas Blessings” promotion gives them a memorable reason to feel connected locally, compassionately, and emotionally, while hearing songs they love! That’s my aim each morning; providing spiritual encouragement and hopeful stories that make people feel the goodness of God. The pure emotion of “Christmas Blessings” is like no other campaign and truly represents Christ’s compassion through the radio.  “Christmas Blessings” is my morning centerpiece, a way of fulfilling the needs of our audience, nominated by our listeners, and connecting the nominator and recipient together on the air. The stories often go viral and are the showcase of the morning show. In addition to Christmas Blessings, we keep our talk breaks concise, obvious, and profound. Along with my co-host, Pam Lundell, we share  stories that are Christ centered and inspiring,  with real life connection. This strongly creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere for new listeners to return and want more. 

Christmas naturally opens doors for generosity and service, but how do you do that without adding to the noise? 

Matt Wall – President & CEO, Carolina Christian Radio

The team at Life 90.5 in Wilmington, NC looks at the Christmas season as our time to shine the light of the gospel into our community.  We run a huge billboard campaign beginning the last week of November that attracts the eyes of the whole family during the busy start of the Christmas season. Moms, dads and grandparents are looking for the best Christmas experiences for their children and grandchildren. Life 90.5 goes 100% Christmas including Rudolph and Frosty and O Holy Night from the Bing Crosby / Nat King Cole / Elvis classics to the new CCM modern Christmas hits.  This presents such an awesome opportunity to provide these experiences for the kids and families and share the hope of the gospel between the songs to those who are lost and broken.  During this season, there is also the opportunity to invite listeners into generosity as a way to spread the hope they are experiencing.  But how do we invite without disrupting the message?  Our team has developed a unique on air fundraising calendar that has proven to enhance the experience rather than disrupt it.  The 3- week on-air fundraising calendar begins the Monday after Thanksgiving in the form of “pop-up” fundraiser hours with heart warming stories of spiritual impact mostly voiced by listeners.  There is 1 pop-up hour of fundraising per daytime daypart.  This has proven to prevent listener fatigue as well as create the right amount of urgency… “Only 1 hour to fundraise this morning / midday / evening.”  Also, this has worked so well to prevent the host fatigue that can so easily come across on the air with the traditional consecutive hours approach. 

We asked everyone the same question, “You’ve spent weeks bringing in new listeners. What is your plan for December 26? How are you turning Christmas listeners into year round listeners?”

SOCIAL & DIGITAL

Lara Dykes – Digital Content Supervisor, The Light FM (WMIT)

The Light FM’s main focus during the Christmas season is telling the Christmas story through our own Christmas memories. We retell our favorite memories and the emotion behind them! Then – the rest of the year, we do the same thing (just without the Christmas part and a little less jingle bells). We try our best to tell such authentic stories both on air and online, that folks feel nostalgic and want to keep that feeling all year. December 26 is back to regularly scheduled story telling – we just want to tell whatever Jesus story we have and invite our listeners and viewers along (and give them space to tell their stories, too).

MUSIC & PROGRAMMING

Randy Fox – Program Director, KSBJ

Throughout the Christmas season, we’ll run imaging that highlights what we offer all year: hope, encouragement, and music that’s not just Christian, but powerful, uplifting, and fun to listen to. We’ll also launch our 7 Day Challenge, encouraging those listeners to stay with us beyond Christmas and experience the difference listening to us can make. I have some great stories from people who first started listening because of the Christmas music. It is a great way to bring in those who would normally never listen.

MARKETING

Brandi Reichert – Director of Strategic Marketing, JOY FM

In January, we will kick off the new year with More JOY Everyday on JOY FM.  As listeners come back to normal schedules, they will be invited to tune in every day for a different prize package that will help bring more JOY to their days!  The contest runs for three weeks.  Each day’s giveaways are valued at over $500 and are created to help people spend more time with family and friends (or even just treat themselves) … concert tickets, packages of sports tickets, staycations, jewelry and more!  

ON–AIR

Keith Stevens – Morning Show Host, KTIS

On the morning show, I’ll share a “key word” daily during Christmas programming for “new listeners” to text!  When they do, they’ll get an opportunity to reply with their name, information and tell a little bit about why they listen and how they found us.  After Christmas, I’ll call a new listener each day, welcoming them to the station, and invite them personally to listen every morning. As a surprise and delight, not mentioned on the air, we’ll send them some welcoming swag in the mail and hope to begin a new relationship with them. I’ll select a new 

name each day throughout January.   And of course, the fabric of compelling stories, and spiritual encouragement they enjoyed in December, will continue throughout January and beyond. Consistency and authentic delivery is Key! I’m so excited to see what God will do! 

FUNDRAISING

Matt Wall – President & CEO, Carolina Christian Radio

Immediately after Christmas and into the New Year, the pivot goes to an opportunity to engage in the community impact of spreading the hope of Jesus through our Valentines from Jesus program where hundreds of listeners sign up to participate every year. They are invited to sign up for a number of Valentine balloons with a small heart shaped box of chocolates and a printed Valentines card from Jesus with John 3:16 printed on the card.  Listeners are engaged and spreading the joy and hope of Jesus on Valentines Day. The team at Life 90.5 has witnessed year after year of great momentum with this Christmas / New Years / Valentines Day cycle.

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Originally scheduled for earlier in the summer, the event was postponed due to the Spokane-area firestorm and ultimately expanded into two concerts. The first featured Terrian and The Afters as part of a special WildFire Relief benefit concert, followed by the full ShineFest event featuring local artists and headliners Jon Micah Sumrall of Kutless and Colton Dixon.

As part of the station’s relief efforts, a check was presented to a local family who lost their home in the fires. Shine 104.9 also presented a $15,000 Shine Gives Back check to The Salvation Army to support its ongoing wildfire relief efforts.

The post Shine 104.9’s ShineFest Draws More Than 5,000 People While Supporting Wildfire Relief first appeared on CMB.

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For 60 years, the station has used the airwaves to share Christian programming and serve its listeners and community. In celebrating the milestone, the Proclaim FM team expressed gratitude to everyone who has listened, supported and been part of the ministry throughout its history.

Congratulations to WPOS & 102.3 Proclaim FM on 60 years of Christian broadcasting!

The post Proclaim FM Celebrates 60 Years first appeared on CMB.

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A special thank you to Kelly Brandon of The Light FM and Clint Lewis of KCBI for helping us celebrate and encourage some of the teams hosting fundraising efforts this fall.

Is your station hosting an upcoming fundraiser? We’d love to pray for you and your team! Email us at info@cmbonline.org and let us know how we can be praying.

 

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The post Praying for Fall Fundraisers first appeared on CMB.

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