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Garth Brooks’ Sevens Network has reached an agreement to buy 100.1 FM, the frequency currently used by Nashville independent station Lightning 100, pending FCC approval. Brooks plans a country-focused station on 100.1, while Lightning 100 says its programming will move to 106.3 FM and 102.5HD3.
Garth Brooks’ Sevens Network has agreed to acquire 100.1 FM, the Nashville frequency currently carrying independent alternative station Lightning 100, according to a report by Consequence. The deal still needs Federal Communications Commission approval; if finalized, Brooks plans to put a country-focused station on the frequency while Lightning 100 moves its programming to other signals.
The agreement concerns the frequency used by WRLT-FM, not an announced end to Lightning 100’s programming. The station says it will move to 106.3 FM and 102.5HD3, and that its existing programs will continue after the change. The reported plans do not specify when the transfer or move will take effect.
Lightning 100 describes its format as a broad mix of indie, alternative, singer-songwriter and local music. Its programs include the concert broadcast “Nashville Sunday Night,” the industry-focused “Music Business Radio” and “The 615,” which features Nashville artists. In a post announcing the change, the station said: “Lightning 100 is turning the page, but the music we love isn’t going anywhere!”
Brooks’ planned station is described as country-focused. In remarks reported by Consequence, he said the project would bring “the entire family of Country Music together in one spot,” including established performers and emerging artists. He also described an ambition to combine terrestrial and digital radio; details of the planned service have not been provided.
Nashville’s Radio Dial Is Set to Shift
The proposed sale would change what listeners hear on one of Nashville’s familiar FM frequencies, but the announced plan is a frequency change for Lightning 100, not a stated shutdown of the station. If the FCC approves the agreement and the move proceeds, listeners will need to tune elsewhere to hear its programming, while 100.1 FM would carry Brooks’ planned country station.
The change also affects a station with a role in the city’s local music scene. Lightning 100 features local artists and live performances, and has announced plans to bring back its Live on the Green festival in 2027. Its stated plan to keep current programs running offers continuity, although the frequency move may require listeners to find the station on a new signal.
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Brooks’ Recent Radio Plans
The purchase follows Sevens Network’s three-year partnership with TuneIn, which ended in September 2026. The partnership began in 2023 and included online stations such as the country outlet The BIG 615. The reported acquisition would give Sevens Network a route onto a terrestrial FM frequency as well as the digital-radio approach Brooks has described.
Lightning 100 has operated as an adult album alternative station, a format that draws on alternative and independent music alongside singer-songwriters and local acts. The station’s announced move preserves a place for its programming on other signals, but the source report says it is not yet clear whether it will keep the Lightning 100 name after leaving 100.1 FM.
“Lightning 100 is turning the page, but the music we love isn’t going anywhere!”
— Lightning 100, in a post announcing the move
FCC Review and Station Branding
The sale is subject to FCC approval, and no approval or completion date is given in the report. Until the regulatory process is resolved, the proposed transfer and launch plans remain pending.
Other details are also unsettled publicly: the report does not identify a launch date for Brooks’ station, describe its programming beyond a country focus, or say whether Lightning 100 will retain its name after moving. The station has said its programs will continue, but the source material does not give a detailed schedule for the move or explain how listeners will be directed to the new signals.
Approval Before the Frequency Changes
The next formal milestone is FCC review of the proposed acquisition. If the regulator approves the deal, Sevens Network can proceed with its plan for a country-focused station on 100.1 FM, while Lightning 100’s announced destination signals are 106.3 FM and 102.5HD3. No timetable for those steps has been reported.
Listeners can expect further information from the companies and station about the timing, the Lightning 100 name and any practical instructions for finding its programming. The station has said its existing shows will continue, but specifics about the transition have yet to be announced.
Key Questions
What is Garth Brooks’ company buying?
Sevens Network LLC has agreed to acquire 100.1 FM, the frequency currently used by WRLT-FM, which carries Lightning 100. The deal is pending FCC approval.
Will Lightning 100 go off the air?
The station says its programming will continue after the move, on 106.3 FM and 102.5HD3. The source report does not provide a move date.
What will Brooks put on 100.1 FM?
Brooks plans to launch a country-focused station on the frequency if the acquisition is approved. Further programming and launch details have not been reported.
Has the sale been finalized?
No. The agreement is subject to FCC approval, and the report does not give a decision or completion date.
Will the station still be called Lightning 100?
That remains unclear. The report says the station’s programming will move, but does not confirm whether it will keep its longtime name.
Source: consequence.net
