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In February 1990, the Program Director of a Basic Rock FM in Northern Virginia that introduced Howard Stern again to Washington, D.C., airwaves by way of syndication accomplished a five-year mission to convey the radio format to the Utica-Rome market.
He did so by teaming with Robert Raide to kind the precursor to Galaxy Media Companions, establishing WKLL-FM underneath Common Supervisor Michael Stapleford.
Since then, Ed Levine constructed Galaxy Media right into a regional participant, bringing tentpole occasions to the combination of property amassed over 36 years. Now, Levine has introduced he plans to retire later this 12 months.
“It’s been a beautiful experience over the previous 36 years,” he mentioned. “It’s arduous to consider I used to be 33 once I began the corporate, and now I’m 70. The place did the time go? Because the years have handed, my priorities have modified…Spending extra time with my household has turn out to be more and more necessary, and I do know that is the suitable time to start a brand new chapter.”
Levine’s ties to Syracuse date to his days as an undergraduate at Syracuse College, at previously student-run WAER; he was Program Director.
In 1978, Levine joined a staff of pioneers in Central New York radio station proprietor who determined to convey an Album-Oriented Rock FM to Syracuse. Owned by Craig Fox and George Kimble and with Ted Utz and Russell Kimble within the management combine, Levine turned the primary Music Director of WAQX “95X.”
Fox stays a licensee within the Mohawk Valley and Central New York. Many years in the past, FCC possession guidelines restricted him from proudly owning extra radio stations. This, Fox tells RBR+TVBR, was a catalyst for Ed and his spouse, Pam, to maneuver ahead with its WKLL buy.
At present, Galaxy is the mum or dad of the “KRock,” Basic Rock “TK99,” Grownup Modern “Sunny 102” and ESPN Syracuse manufacturers, every heard on two alerts within the Syracuse market. In neighboring Utica-Rome, Galaxy’s audio manufacturers are comprised of “KRock,” “Combine 102.5,” Grownup Hits “99.1 TONY FM,” and “ESPN Utica Rome.”
Galaxy’s stay occasions enterprise is anchored by Style of Syracuse, the Syracuse Nationals automobile present, Lights on the Lake, and the Wine & Chocolate Festivals.
Past possession, Levine based the New York State Broadcasters Corridor of Fame, which marked its twentieth anniversary final 12 months and is welcoming new chief Heidi Raphael.
Galaxy has not named a successor for Levine; extra particulars on management succession and his efficient retirement date are anticipated within the coming weeks. In January, Galaxy Media promoted 5 inner leaders, together with Nick Maine to Chief Working Officer and Alex Conn to Chief Content material Officer, in what the corporate known as a strategic enlargement.
“I do want Ed the perfect in retirement as he actually has grown a positive broadcasting group and was undoubtedly a motivator in progressively reforming a variety of points that finally benefited the radio trade as a complete,” Fox tells RBR+TVBR. “From early faculty days via each of our profession paths, he has remained a very good buddy.”
— Reporting by Cameron Coats, in Troy, N.Y.; and Adam R Jacobson in Boca Raton, Fla. Archival reporting by Ed Ryan
FROM THE RBR+TVBR ARCHIVES:
A Galaxy Celebrates Three Many years Of Serving The Empire State
