Iliad Media Group
| Company type | Employee-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Wendell Starke |
| Headquarters | Nampa, Idaho , United States |
Area served | Boise metropolitan area, Twin Falls metropolitan area |
Key people | Darrell Calton (CEO), Mary Zukin (Senior Sales & Marketing Executive) |
| Products | Radio stations, audio application (Listen Boise) |
Number of employees | 46 |
Iliad Media Group, previously known as Impact Radio Group, is a media enterprise and owner of radio stations headquartered in Nampa, Idaho, with additional facilities and broadcast outlets located in Twin Falls, Idaho. The company manages leading stations throughout the Boise metropolitan area and Twin Falls metropolitan area and stands among only four American radio firms that are entirely owned by their employees.
Under the Impact Radio Group Name
Wendell Starke, who formerly chaired the investment company Invesco, started purchasing radio stations during the early 2000s. Impact Radio Group was established in 2007 following the acquisition of several stations, including Wild 101 (KWYD) and 96.1 Bob FM (KSRV).
Darrell Calton, the current CEO, came aboard in 2008 and strategically restructured the collection of stations from middling performers into eight distinct formats. This transformation resulted in market-leading outlets such as 101.9 The Bull, 96.1 Bob FM, and My 102.7.
Transition to Iliad Media Group
In January 2018, Impact Radio Group underwent a rebranding to become Iliad Media Group while simultaneously acquiring six Twin Falls stations from Locally Owned Radio, thereby increasing its portfolio to 13 stations across both markets.
The year 2021 saw Iliad introduce the Listen Boise audio application to broaden its reach beyond conventional AM/FM broadcasting. Later that same year, Fox Sports Boise launched on 99.9 FM as a subchannel of KSRV-FM, bringing the total station count to 14, which includes five subchannels.
In 2023, Mary Zukin, Senior Sales & Marketing Executive at Iliad, earned distinction as the inaugural Speak Up! Mentee through Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio—a development program aimed at professionals working in small to mid-sized markets.
Additionally, in October 2023, Iliad Media Group received recognition as a "Top Workplace" in the Treasure Valley by The Idaho Press, an honor determined by employee feedback.
Shift to Employee Ownership
In September 2022, Wendell Starke transferred ownership of Iliad Media Group to its workforce of 46 employees via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This transition positioned Iliad as one of only four fully employee-owned radio groups nationwide and as the exclusive Boise-based radio company within its market.
Stations and Formats
Boise
KQBL | 101.9 FM The Bull — Country KQBL-HD2 | 99.1 I-Rock — Active Rock KQBL-HD3 | 96.5 The Alternative — Alternative Rock KSRV | 96.1 Bob FM — Adult Hits spanning the '80s through 2000s KSRV-HD2 | 99.9 Fox Sports Boise — Sports Talk KWYD | Wild 101.1 FM — Rhythmic CHR KZMG | My 102.7 — Hot Adult Contemporary
Twin Falls
KIKX | 104.7 Bob FM — Adult Variety KIRQ | Q106.7 FM — Hot Adult Contemporary KTPZ | Music Monster 92.7 FM — Top 40 KYUN | 102.1 FM The Bull — Country KYUN-HD2 | I-Rock 105.1 FM — Active Rock KYUN-HD3 | Magic 95.1 FM — Oldies