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The year 1986 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.

Events

• January 18 – The syndicated "American Country Countdown" expands from three to four hours. Much like "American Top 40" had more than seven years earlier, several new features are added, including a weekly recap of three No. 1 hits from the 1970s and playbacks of an artist's older hits.
• March 28 – More than 6,000 radio stations of all format types play "We Are the World" simultaneously at 10:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
• June 6 – Canada's premier Top 40 station, CHUM-AM Toronto, drops its hit format after almost 30 years and changes to "Favourites of Yesterday and Today."
• August 11 - KFRC 610 AM in San Francisco drops its top 40 radio format after twenty years at 6 AM, and changes to a 1940s Big Band format, redubbing itself as "Magic 61".
• October 22 – WNBC traffic reporter Jane Dornacker is killed in helicopter crash while live on air.

No dates

• Doug Banks joins WGCI-FM in Chicago, Illinois for nights, later mornings.
• CFGO-AM in Ottawa, Ontario moves from 1440 AM to the more powerful 1200 AM frequency.

Debuts

• January 11 – Adult Contemporary outlet KMGG/Los Angeles becomes KPWR ("Power 106"), debuting a Rhythmic Top 40 format.
• Moneytalk with Bob Brinker debuts on ABC Radio Network.

Closings

Births

Deaths

• Jane Dornacker, 39, American rock musician, actress, comedian and WNBC traffic reporter.