BIA/Kelsey analyst Dr. Mark Fratrik says "one could become depressed after examining the totals for 2010 radio station sales", since the total value "hovered around $400 million", comparable to the bad economic year of 2009. But Fratrik takes note of several major deals this year, such as Hubbard Radio buying 17 stations from Bonneville and Cumulus Media announcing a deal for Citadel Broadcasting, and says "the attitude towards radio station acquisitions is slowly turning to the positive." The financing is still being worked on, but he says "there are encouraging signs they will be." His prediction: "some pickup in station sales, with the 2011 totals hopefully within the range seen in earlier years. And, groups that have wanted to reduce or increase their presence in the industry may soon get the chance." Read Fratrik's blog entry on the BIA/Kelsey site here.