We’ve been reporting that tomorrow Friday is the start of a new era in New York radio, and specifically the 101.9 frequency. 

With the Emmis sale to Merlin Media and Randy Michaels, WRXP goes off the  air today.

WRXP program director Leslie Fram tells FishbowlNY that the Rock station will not do anything out of the ordinary for the final hours.

“Each of the jocks will have their own ending song just to thank the audience,” Fram says. “We want to end on a positive note.”

One other positive for ‘RXP, Fram says the station has a 2.3 million cume (listenership), their highest in the three-year history. Fram is also pleased with the ‘RXP’s rating in the 25 to 54 demographic—3.6.

Fram says she’ll remain in New York through the summer, searching for her radio gig.

“[I'm] looking for my next adventure,” Fram says.

While the format is still to be determined, various reports say fledgling Merlin Media will remove Rock station WRXP 101.9 from the air on Friday. Reports say Thursday is the final day for the ‘RXP air staff.

On June 21, Randy Michaels assumed control of three Emmis radio stations, including ‘RXP.

Since then, Michaels brought in radio veteran Walter Sabo as COO, likely to run the day-to-day operations of the new 101.9.

Last week, FishbowlNY learned that Pete Salant was tapped to reunite with Sabo in an unspecified programming role. Salant ran Adult Contemporary WYNY in the early 1980s with Sabo as his boss.

Since buying the station, rumors have persisted that the new 101.9 would flip format. The most likely candidate for 101.9 is News/Talk, or some variation.

However, Merlin Media, in attempt to keep people guessing, recently registered www.1019wyny.com through Go Daddy.

Merlin Media is taking another step toward the future.

Accomplished radio programmer Pete Salant has joined Merlin Media in an unspecified programming role, sources with knowledge of the information tell FishbowlNY. 

Salant made a name for himself as the program director and operations manager of WYNY from 1980 to 1983.  

Salant reteams with his former NBC boss–then-FM radio division executive VP Walter Sabo, now the Merlin Media chief operating officer.  While at 30 Rock, Salant led the team that pioneered the Adult Contemporary music format at WYNY, which climbed from number 22 to number one in Adults during Salant’s first six months. The station remained the highest rated music station among all FM and AM stations in New York City during his tenure.

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Merlin Media, the start-up formed by Tribune castoff Randy Michaels, may have its new call letters ready to go. Perhaps, though, it’s all one big tease.

As we’ve been reporting for several weeks, rumors are running rampant that Merlin will flip former Emmis-owned Rocker WRXP 101.9 to a News/Talk station.

Now, All Access reports that Merlin has registered www.1019wyny.com through Go Daddy. The information lists Merlin Media, LLC as the registrant.

Of course, WYNY, which built its reputation by playing Adult Contempory, made the move to Country in the 1987.

However, bringing a Country format to 101.9 doesn’t appear likely.  

“There’s no chance,” one industry insider told FishbowlNY.

Walter Sabo, Merlin’s COO, is a longtime talk radio consultant.

Last week, we told you that longtime traffic reporter Jeff McKay left Metro Networks after nearly 20 years. While McKay has been close to the vest about his next venture, the Daily News may have shed some light.

The paper reports today that McKay, known for his reports on 1010 WINS, will join Merlin Media. In turn, that will further fuel speculation that Randy Michaels‘ upstart media company will flip WRXP/101.9 from a Rock station to News/Talk format.

Broadcasting  consultant Walter Sabo had been brought in to run Merlin. His background includes programming New Jersey 101.5/WKXW, a Metro affiliated station at which McKay also spent many years helping listeners negotiating jams with “The McKay Way.”

The Daily News reports that a timetable for the changeover isn’t known, but it’s not likely to be an extended process.

As we’ve been reporting, Emmis sold WRXP to veteran broadcasting executive Randy Michaels. Earlier this month, Michaels created Merlin Media for the takeover of ‘RXP and two other Emmis stations based in Chicago.

There has been much speculation that WRXP’s days as a Alternative Rocker are limited.  Rumors persist that Michaels will flip the station to News/Talk, Sports, or even a Country music format.

Now for the latest proof that WRXP will drop Rock once the paperwork goes through later this summer.

The station’s TakLiberty Festival, planned for the PNC Arts Center in New Jersey on September 18, is no more.

A brief statement from Emmis read, “The WRXP TakLiberty Festival featuring Coldplay has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.”

In a touch of irony, WRXP originally announced plans for the day-long concert one day before Michaels purchased the station.

Since buying a trio of Emmis radio stations last week, including New York’s WRXP, Randy Michaels has kept adding important parts to its upper management at newly formed Merlin Media.

Today, the fledgling company named Walter Sabo (left) as chief operating officer. Sabo, a former executive at ABC Radio, RKO Radio, and NBC’s FM station group, founded his New York-based Sabo Media consultancy in 1984.

“Success requires building brands that are unique, desirable and difficult to duplicate. Walter has the vision, intelligence, leadership skills, and experience to move Merlin beyond current convention and to take advantage of emerging media opportunities. It also means attracting special, talented people, and Walter knows how to do that,” said Michaels.

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Earlier today, we told you that Randy Michaels formed a company–Merlin Media to purchase three Emmis radio stations, including WRXP in New York.

Michaels becomes CEO and chairman of the new venture.

John Gehron was named chairman of the advisory board. He’ll be responsible for building a strategic and robust relationship with key business partners in Chicago. Gehron has 40 years of experience as a pioneer and leader in the radio industry.

Liz Aiello joins the fledgling company as VP. Aiello most recently was SVP of broadcast at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She was recruited by the company to revise the Martha Stewart Living Radio station brand on Sirius Satellite Radio.

“At Merlin Media, we aren’t building a broadcast company, but a multimedia, multiplatform company,” said Randy Michaels, chairman and CEO, Marlin Media. ”Liz has deep experience in radio, television, satellite, cable and interactive, and her intelligence and extensive contacts in New York will be the perfect addition to our new company. We are pleased to welcome them both, and the unique strengths they bring with them, to the Merlin Media team.”

Previously, Aiello worked for Howard Stern, and served as WABC/Channel 7 managing editor and executive producer.

It’s been several months in the making. This morning, Emmis has sold WRXP. 

Two other stations (WLUP and WKQX) are part of the portfolio acquired by Randy Michaels and GTCR, a Chicago based investment firm.

Michaels bought the trio of stations under the name Merlin Media. Emmis retains minority stake in the radio stations.

Merlin Media has 45 days to file the paperwork and complete the acquistion.

Radioinsight.com says, once approved, expect WRXP to flip from Modern Rocker to a News/ Talker.   

Update: Statement from Jeff Smulyan, Emmis chairman and CEO

“While it is always difficult to part with stations that have been valuable contributors to our company, we believe that today’s transaction will create significant value for our shareholders.” said Smulyan. “As a significant minority partner in Merlin Media, we’re delighted to remain engaged with these markets and stations in the exciting days ahead.”

In an anti-climatic decision, the Tribune Company board of directors got Randy Michaels to step down from his post as CEO.

The clock was ticking on Michaels’ tenure after allegations into his personal conduct and management style, leading to questions whether he was the right person to lead the company from bankruptcy.

Replacing Michaels is a four-person panel comprised of Tony Hunter and Eddy Hartenstein, publishers of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, respectively; Nils Larsen, the Tribune chief investment officer; and Don Liebentritt, chief restructing officer.

Michaels joined Tribune in 2007, shortly after longtime colleague Sam Zell took over the media company in a highly leveraged deal.

It remains to be seen if the Michaels dismissal will have an impact on Tribune-owned WPIX.

In recent weeks, the station, with news director Bill Carey at the helm, made major changes to their signature newscast—PIX News at Ten. Jodi Applegate replaced veterans Jim Watkins and Kaity Tong.