In what’s being described by enterprise insiders as essentially the most transformative energy play in Diaspora radio, the Newark, NJ-based Roadblock Radio will on Might 1 start broadcasting Caribbean content material on 101.1FM HD3 within the tri-state space.
Roadblock Radio founder and CEO Jamaican-born Kacy “G Metropolis” Rankine advised Caribbean Life on Monday that he brokered the landmark, “24×7”, deal and signed a contract in March with Audacy, Inc., the third largest radio firm within the US.
Audacy, Inc., owns 235 radio stations throughout 48 media markets. In November 2017, the corporate merged with CBS Radio.
The landmark radio deal comes simply 9 months after a Texas-based spiritual firm acquired WVIP 93.5 FM and WVOX 1460 AM for US$8.15 million.
WVIP had been a dependable pillar within the Caribbean Diaspora for nearly 40 years, offering information, sports activities and leisure.
The station was additionally a significant promoting platform for Caribbean manufacturers, like Grace Kennedy, Golden Krust, Western Union, Caribbean Meals Delights, Jamaica Nationwide, Digicel and Circulation.
“Once I heard that WVIP, 93.5 FM was offered, I spotted there was a void in Caribbean radio right here within the tri-state space,” Rankine stated. “I despatched out just a few proposals then. Out of the blue, God despatched me an angel.”
He stated he acquired a name from an government at Audacy, Inc. asking if he would meet with them to debate becoming a member of the platform.
“We created a non secular connection from that first dialog, and right here we’re right now,” Rankine stated. “Arduous to imagine we’re on the identical platform as 1010 WINS, CBS Sports activities, FAN Sports activities and CBS FM 100.1 FM, the flagship station on the Audacy platform.
“We’re transferring on up from being an Web radio station within the Nineteen Nineties to being a radio pioneer in 2024,” he added. “It will be huge!
“Radio is essential to the Jamaican/Caribbean neighborhood,” Rankine continued. “Positive, after WVIP was offered, we had just a few on-line stations that tried to fill the void, however our love for terrestrial radio is vital to our existence as a neighborhood. With the launch of 101.1FM HD3, Roadblock Radio Reload, we’re bringing again the love.”
He stated Roadblock Radio will cowl Bridgeport, Ct. “all the best way right down to New York Metropolis and surrounding communities in Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
“We then come throughout New Jersey, masking central and south NJ to Pennsylvania,” Rankine added. “That is God’s palms at work that made this doable.”
With out particularly naming Caribbean personalities who will likely be a part of the brand new station, Rankine stated, “We’ve got jocks lining up from NY, NJ, LA, Colorado, Florida, Jamaica, Trinidad, Africa and Haiti who will all be a part of this new expertise.
“We are going to play reggae, dancehall, soca, kompa music and every part in between,” he added. “This will likely be huge for the tradition.”
Rankine stated he has been a long-standing enterprise entrepreneur in New Jersey, relationship again to the early Nineteen Nineties, when he opened a clothes retailer, G Metropolis City Put on, on 18th Avenue in Irvington.
He stated he expanded the enterprise to incorporate a document retailer, a advertising and marketing firm and an Web radio station (RoadblockRadio.com), which promoted main occasions like “Sounds of Greatness,” New Jersey Reggae Competition and different live shows, which showcased music stalwarts like Shabba Ranks, Beres Hammond, Capleton, Sean Paul, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, Ninjaman, Sanchez and Coco Tea, amongst others.
“One of many huge occasions I promoted was dancehall star Beenie Man on the Robert Deal with Lodge,” Rankine stated. “That occasion introduced out over 3,000 screaming followers on Thanksgiving Day in 1999.
“We additionally promoted huge soca occasions with Machel Montano and Allison Hinds,” he added.
For extra data, go online to www.RoadBlockRadio.com or name 973-573-8154.
