The New Pittsburgh Courier learned, Tuesday, March 22, that WAMO, the longtime urban radio station in Pittsburgh, has been acquired by Philadelphia-based Audacy, the second-largest radio company in the U.S. Audacy has four radio stations in Pittsburgh, including KDKA Radio (100.1 FM, 1020 AM), 93.7 The Fan (sports), Y108 (country) and 100.7 Star (contemporary hits). The actual agreement is a local marketing agreement, in which Audacy will provide programming to WAMO-AM (660) and its FM translator (107.3) beginning April 4.
“There are very few brands that have been as influential in the city of Pittsburgh as WAMO and I cannot express our level of excitement to welcome such a great radio station and the terrific staff to the Audacy Pittsburgh family,” said Michael Spacciapolli, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Pittsburgh, in a statement to the Courier. “We will bring scale and leadership in the urban format, while continuing WAMO’s mission of celebrating cultural diversity and commitment to promoting quality diverse music, community support, fan engagement, and local and national news.”
WAMO was for decades owned by an African American company, Sheridan Broadcasting, before Sheridan announced in 2009 that it had sold the signal WAMO had been heard on, 106.7, to St. Joseph’s Missions. For two years, Pittsburgh did not have an over-the-air urban station, until Tim Martz, owner of Martz Communications, acquired the 660 AM signal and brought the “WAMO” brand back to the airwaves. Most people listened to WAMO on a translator, 100.1 FM.
WAMO’s urban format later moved to 107.3 FM, and Audacy turned 100.1 FM into the FM home for KDKA, which, for the previous 100 years, had been heard exclusively on 1020 AM.
WAMO’s current on-air lineup features the syndicated “Dede in the Morning,” Justin Luvv (3 to 7 p.m.) and Mike Dean (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.). WAMO also features gospel programming with Brother Marlon on Sunday mornings and a local music feature, “Future Flavors,” Sundays at 7 p.m.
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