by R. Asmerom

Black radio has been slowly shrinking in the United States, and today, two legendary Black stations, WBLS (107.5 FM) and WRKS (98.7 FM, Kiss-FM), announced that they will merge to become one. Due to the struggles of the stations and their parent companies, Disney was able to buy 98.7 Kiss-FM in a $96 million dollar deal, and has leased its frequency to ESPN radio. The historical Black-owned company Inner City Broadcasting, which experienced financial decline, recently sold off WBLS  to YMF Partners.

According to New York Daily News, each station averaged about 1 million listeners per week. But ratings may soon be affected by programming as the merger will mean that popular syndicated hosts Tom Joyner and Michael Baisden will not be carried. However, Steve Harvey’s popular morning show will continue to be broadcast.

Read more at New York Daily News

Meet Egypt Sherrod, successful Television and Radio Personality. She’s a businesswoman, entrepreneur, wife and soon-to-be new mom. Egypt knows first hand the importance of staying focused, sharp and concentrated on career goals. She’s consistently maintaining the message of working hard through her various mentoring initiatives and her Foundation, Egypt Cares Family Foundation. A natural enthusiast, motivator and accomplished On-Air personality, Egypt Sherrod shares exclusively with us why she’s the boss!