Galaxy Media Company

Last updated
Galaxy Media Company
IndustryRadio broadcasting
Founded1989
Key people
Ed Levine (President)
Website galaxymediapartners.com

Galaxy Media Partners (formerly Galaxy Communications) is a radio broadcasting company with radio stations entirely in the Central New York area. As of 2024, Galaxy owns 13 radio signals in New York. [1]

Contents

History

Ed Levine, current president, attended the Newhouse School at Syracuse University where his love for radio began. After serving as program director for the college radio station, Levine and two classmates started Syracuse’s first live FM radio station in 1978. In 1989, the first Galaxy station, WKLL was launched by the current CEO, Ed Levine, and his business partner, Bob Raide. WKLL was named for Ed and wife Pam’s then-19-month-old daughter Lauren. In the 1990s, Galaxy launched additional stations in Syracuse and Utica. In 2001, the headquarters was moved from Bridgeport to a new building in Armory Square, located in downtown Syracuse. WKLL remains owned by Galaxy to this day.

Galaxy divested itself of its Albany, New York cluster and swapped several stations in a multi-owner deal that included Clear Channel Communications in Utica/Rome 2007. [2]

In 2013, Ed Levine became the sole owner after a $13.2 million buyout from the former majority shareholder. [2]

In 2016 Galaxy moved their Utica studios (WKLL, WUMX, WTLB and WRNY) from Washington Mills to Downtown Utica inside the brand new Landmarc building (the old HSBC location) and renamed it Galaxy Media in 2018.

In October 2016, Galaxy Communications (through Galaxy II Media, LLC) agreed to acquire Gamma Broadcasting's stations in Berkshire County, Massachusetts for $3.15 million: WBEC, WBEC-FM, and WUPE in Pittsfield, WNAW and WUPE-FM in North Adams, and WSBS in Great Barrington. [3] [4]

In 2018, Galaxy Communications rebranded to Galaxy Media company and brought aboard 10 new investors to buy out the shares that had been owned by a private investment firm and help the company reduce debt. Those investors are local people including Ed Levine's long-time friend and Syracuse University basketball coach Jim Boeheim. Additionally in 2018, Townsquare Media acquired the classic rock radio station WOUR-FM 96.9 in Utica from Galaxy Media in Q4. [5]

Stations

Syracuse/Oswego

Utica/Rome

Former

Several stations formerly in the Galaxy family were sold to the Educational Media Foundation.

Pop culture

In February 2024, Galaxy Media was featured on The American Dream, a Bloomberg TV series. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Townsquare Media</span> American radio network and media company

Townsquare Media, Inc. is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting with the acquisition of the MOG Music Network. As of 2019, Townsquare was the third-largest AM–FM operator in the country, owning over 321 radio stations in 67 markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSBS (AM)</span> Radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

WSBS is a commercial AM radio station in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and has a full service adult contemporary radio format, mixed with local news, talk and sports. World and national news is supplied by ABC News Radio. WSBS is an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox Radio Network.

WOUR is a commercial radio station licensed to Utica, New York. It broadcasts a classic rock radio format, with occasional recent rock hits, calling itself "The Rock of Central New York." The station is owned by Townsquare Media as part of a cluster with Talk station WIBX, Country music station WFRG-FM, Adult Contemporary WLZW and Classic hits WODZ-FM. The studios and offices are on River Road in Marcy. In morning drive time, WOUR carries the syndicated Free Beer and Hot Wings Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFRG-FM</span> Radio station in Utica, New York

WFRG-FM, branded as Big Frog 104, is a country music radio station licensed to Utica, New York. Owned by Townsquare Media as part of a cluster with news-talk station WIBX, hot AC-formatted WLZW, classic hits-formatted WODZ and classic rock-formatted WOUR, it bills itself as "Central New York’s #1 For New Country".

WIBX is a commercial radio station in Utica, New York. It is one of Central New York's oldest radio stations, dating back to 1925. The station airs a talk radio format and is owned by Townsquare Media as part of a cluster with adult contemporary 98.7 WLZW, country music 104.3 WFRG-FM, classic hits 96.1 WODZ, and classic rock 96.9 WOUR. The studios and offices are on River Road in Marcy, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKLL</span> Radio station in Frankfort, New York

WKLL, WKRL-FM, and WKRH are a series of radio stations owned by Galaxy Communications. The FM stations, broadcasting at 94.9 MHz, 100.9 MHz, and 106.5 MHz respectively, are all branded as "K-Rock" and run an active rock format. The stations are licensed to Frankfort, Syracuse, and Fair Haven, New York respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLZW</span> Radio station in Utica, New York

WLZW is a commercial radio station in Utica, New York, serving the Utica-Rome radio market. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and calls itself Lite 98.7. It is part of a cluster with news-talk station WIBX, country-formatted WFRG-FM, classic hits station WODZ-FM, and classic rock-formatted WOUR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRNY (AM)</span> Radio station in Rome, New York

WRNY is an American radio station broadcasting at 1350 kHz in Rome, New York. The station was owned by Clear Channel Communications until September 2007, when ownership was transferred to Galaxy Utica as a result of Clear Channel's decision to "go private". The station had been acquired by Clear Channel from Dame Media in June 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIXT (AM)</span> Radio station in Little Falls, New York

WIXT is an AM radio station broadcasting on a frequency of 1230 kHz and licensed to the city of Little Falls, New York. Owned by Galaxy Communications, the station airs a variety hits format under the branding Tony FM 99.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKVU</span> Radio station in Utica, New York

WKVU is a radio station broadcasting a Christian adult contemporary format. Licensed to Utica, New York, United States, the station serves the Utica–Rome metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by the Educational Media Foundation, and is an affiliate of the K-Love network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WUMX</span> Radio station in Rome, New York

WUMX is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to Rome, New York, United States, the station serves the Utica–Rome area. The station is owned by Galaxy Utica Licensee LLC, the Utica division of Galaxy Communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBEC-FM</span> Radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

WBEC-FM is a commercial radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZUN-FM</span> Radio station in Phoenix, New York

WZUN-FM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Phoenix, New York, and serving the Syracuse metropolitan area. The station is owned by Edward Levine's Galaxy Communications through licensee Galaxy Syracuse Licensee LLC. It airs a classic hits radio format.

WUPE is a commercial AM radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Townsquare Media and it simulcasts the classic hits format of 100.1 WUPE-FM. WUPE serves the Berkshire Mountains area. The station is a daytimer and must sign off the air at sunset, according to Federal Communications Commission rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZUN (AM)</span> Radio station in Sandy Creek-Pulaski, New York

WZUN is a radio station airing a classic hits format, twin-licensed to both Sandy Creek and Pulaski, New York, and effectively serving the Syracuse market to the south. The station is owned by Galaxy Communications, and is part of a simulcast with 102.1 WZUN-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBEC (AM)</span> Radio station in Massachusetts, United States

WBEC is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting a talk and sports radio format. It is licensed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is owned by Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTBR-FM</span> Radio station in Pittsfield, Massachusetts

WTBR-FM is a non-commercial educational station broadcasting a community radio and classic rock music format. Licensed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States, the station serves the Pittsfield area from a studio located at 4 Federico Drive. The station is currently owned by and licensed to the Pittsfield Public School Committee, and managed and programmed by Pittsfield Community Cable Broadcasting, Inc. through a time-brokerage agreement.

WUPE-FM is a classic hits radio station owned by Townsquare Media. Licensed to North Adams, Massachusetts, United States, WUPE-FM serves Pittsfield.

WNAW is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to North Adams, Massachusetts, United States, the station serves northern Berkshire County. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, and features programming from ABC News Radio. Its programming is also heard on FM translator W234DD (94.7).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWEI</span> Radio station in Easthampton, Massachusetts

WWEI is a radio station in Easthampton, Massachusetts, serving Springfield with a sports radio format. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. Most programming is provided by Boston sister station WEEI-FM.

References

  1. 1 2 "Syracuse Radio Operator's 'American Dream' Gets TV Treatment". Radio Ink. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. 1 2 Tampone, Kevin (2013-06-28). "Galaxy CEO buying out partner in $13.2M deal". Syracuse. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  3. ↑ Dobrowolski, Tony (25 October 2016). "In $3M deal, Galaxy Communications to take over most of Berkshire County's airwaves". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  4. ↑ "Galaxy Communications Acquires Pittsfield Cluster". RadioInsight. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  5. ↑ Venta, Lance (October 17, 2016). "Galaxy Communications Acquires Pittsfield Cluster". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
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