Country superstar Garth Brooks‘ Sevens Network is set to buy the radio frequency of Nashville’s longest-running independent radio station.
On Tuesday (Nov. 10), Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc./Lightning 100 announced an agreement for Brooks’ Sevens Network to purchase the 100.1 FM frequency, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
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Lightning 100, long a favorite station in the Nashville community, has been locally owned and operated for 36 years. Lightning 100’s AAA format blends a variety of genres, while supporting independent and local Nashville artists. The station also founded the Nashville outdoor concert series Live on the Green, which launched in 2009. In October, Guster and Grace Potter led a “Lawnwarming Party,” as it was announced that the full Live on the Green series will return in 2027; the most recent Live on the Green had been held in 2022.
Pending FCC approval and the sale’s closure, the Lightning 100 format will transition to Cromwell Media’s 106.3 FM and 102.5 FM HD3 frequencies. For now, Lightning 100 will continue on the 100.1 FM frequency. Under the Sevens Network ownership, 100.1 FM will focus on a country music format.
“This is an opportunity to bring the entire family of country music together in one spot…the legends, the greats, and the future greats,” Brooks said in a statement. “Nashville is being called ‘The Newest City in America,’ and we want to bring a new kind of communication, combining terrestrial and digital radio, built to grow with this city. Our job is NOT to compete with the local channels in Nashville, but to PROMOTE what they have going on. We are NOT a reporter, we are a SERVICE to Music City and its businesses.”
On Instagram, Lightning 100 posted, “Lightning 100 is turning the page, but the music we love isn’t going anywhere!”, adding, “While Lightning 100 will soon have a new home, our original programming, commitment to independent music, and passion for our local music community will continue on 106.3 FM and 102.5 HD3, thanks to an exciting new partnership with Cromwell Media Nashville. We will be moving to a new spot on the dial, but our heart, our mission, and the music that brings us together remain the same…We’re excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to keep bringing you the music you love! Until FCC approval and the transition are complete, keep listening on 100.1 FM and the Lightning 100 app. We’ll let you know when it’s time to make the switch!”
