Garth Brooks agrees to buy Nashville’s 100.1 FM for country station with emphasis on women

Garth Brooks has agreed to buy the Nashville frequency that carries Lightning 100, with plans to launch a country station called FM-100. His Sevens Network’s acquisition of WRLT-FM at 100.1 from Tuned In Broadcasting awaits Federal Communications Commission approval. Inside Radio reports a $3 million purchase agreement. Lightning 100 continues broadcasting on 100.1 while the sale is pending; Brooks’s announcement does not give FM-100 a launch date.

After FCC approval and closing, Lightning 100 plans to move its independent, adult-alternative programming to Cromwell Media’s 106.3 FM and 102.5 FM HD3. Brooks says his country format will include established stars and emerging artists, with women from the 1960s through today sharing the playlist. “We NEED both sides telling the story of country music,” he said in his official announcement. He has not announced a fixed percentage of airtime for female artists.

Brooks also describes FM-100 as a service to Nashville rather than a station that reports music airplay to industry charts. “We are NOT a reporter,” he said in the announcement quoted by Variety. He says the outlet will promote events publicized by other local stations and keep Middle Tennessee listeners informed about what is happening in Nashville.

Brooks’s announcement says FM-100 has reached an agreement with Nashville Severe Weather to interrupt regular programming with critical information during dangerous weather. He also plans to work with Nashville’s convention and tourism community through the station’s app, providing information to visitors before and during their trips. The announcement outlines those services but does not name on-air hosts or promise a schedule of live DJs.

The project follows several Brooks ventures in music distribution. GhostTunes launched in September 2014 and folded into Amazon Music in 2017. His original SiriusXM Garth Channel ran from September 2016 through September 30, 2022. The BIG 615 launched on TuneIn on June 15, 2023; Tailgate Radio and a revived Garth Channel also joined that platform. Brooks’s TuneIn partnership ended in September 2026. The Garth Channel and Tailgate Radio signed off September 22, while The BIG 615 continues through the end of 2026 without affiliation with Brooks or Sevens Network, according to MusicRow.

Sources: Garth Brooks; Variety; Inside Radio; MusicRow: station deal; MusicRow: TuneIn timeline.