Galaxy Media Company


Galaxy Media is a radio broadcasting company with radio stations entirely in the Central New York area.

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, Mr. 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. This building has multiple street level studios allowing people to see the DJs at work. WKLL remains owned by Galaxy to this day.
In 2016 Galaxy moved their Utica studios from Washington Mills to Downtown Utica inside the brand new Landmarc building and renamed it Galaxy Media in 2018. Inside their new location the walls on the side of the street for each studio are made entirely of glass allowing people to see DJs at work similar to the "Good Morning America" Studios.
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.
In October 2016, Galaxy Communications 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.
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.

Stations

Syracuse/Oswego

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