Radio is getting very interesting in the Western New York region. Manny Bella and Lester Pace are in the process of offering WDKX competition in Rochester, NY with 105.5 (W288CS) and in Buffalo, WUFO, a heritage Radio Station that has been around since 1961 has just gone FM as Power 96.5. Read more: Zealous Sheryl Underwood’s Plan to Leave Her Mark on Radio.
Since WUFO announced the FM signal WBLK, is getting their first competitor and they suddenly switched to “Power 94” after WUFO announced their Radio Station as Power 96. I talked to WUFO owner Sheila Brown (a great lady and incredibly determined. Look for a podcast coming soon with her) who said she has every intention of keeping the name Power 96.5 This may be confusing to listeners. The Radio Station is being consulted by industry vet Tony Gray. Â WBLK doesn’t use consultants but has a new PD Jay Hicks, brother of radio vet Courtney Hicks.
WBLK canceled the Tom Joyner show and picked up Steve Harvey’s Morning Show under WBLK’s previous PD who was recently replaced but now the two shows will compete in the market on the FM dial. This is the first time in the history of radio in the market that two Black FMs exist in Buffalo. With the huge black population in the market and the black mayor Byron Brown (I went to college with him) running for a fourth term, and my cousin Charley H. Fisher III for Erie County Legislature 2nd District things are getting interesting here. (Yes, I am in Buffalo for a minute).
