*The accompanying article, “The Stolen Dial: Golden Age of Black Radio’s Rise & Fall,” examines the growth of Black radio from a collection of local stations into a nationwide cultural, economic, and communications infrastructure that helped shape American music and community life throughout the second half of the twentieth century.
The stations listed below represent a portion of that historic network. From New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Chicago to Memphis, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Oakland, and beyond, these broadcasters helped introduce Soul, R&B, Funk, Gospel, and Urban Contemporary music to millions of listeners while serving as trusted sources of information, employment, advocacy, and community connection.
Together, they illustrate the extraordinary geographic reach and cultural influence of Black radio during its rise from the late 1940s through the era of industry consolidation that transformed broadcasting by the end of the century.
Note: This directory is intended as a historical reference and is not meant to be exhaustive.
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New York / Northwest:
WBLS-FM ( New York, NY) – The powerhouse of the 70s/80s. One of the pioneers of the Urban Contemporary format.
WLIB-AM (New York, NY)
WNJR-AM (Newark, NJ/NYC)
WWRL-AM (NY, NY)
WCAU-FM (Philadelphia, first Black broadcaster/engineer at CBS Radio Affiliate)
WDAS-AM/FM (Philadelphia, PA) – Iconic home of “The guy with the goods, Georgie Woods, Dr. Perri Johnson, Butterball, Louise Williams, and other Philly legends
WHAT-AM (Philadelphia, PA) – Home of Mary Mason, Bernie McCain, Diane “Sugar” Blackmon, Tal Forrest
WAMO-FM (Pittsburgh, PA)
WILD-AM (Boston, MA)
WDKX-FM (Rochester, NY)
WEBB-AM (Baltimore, MD)
WWIN-AM (Baltimore, MD)
WERQ-FM (Baltimore, MD)
Midwest / Great Lakes:
WCHB-AM (Detroit, MI) – Reportedly the first FCC-licensed station owned by Blacks. It played a critical role in promoting Motown acts.
WJLB-FM (Detroit, MI) Known for “The Electrifying Mojo,” James Alexander
WJZZ-FM (Detroit, MI)
WJEF-AM (Grand Rapids, MI)
WVON-AM (Chicago, IL) The voice of the Negro, key to civil rights, and political issues.
WGCI-FM (Chicago, IL) – Chicago’s top urban station in the 1980s. Home of Graham Armstrong (P.D.), Doug Banks, and Tom Joyner (Fly Jock)
WBMX-FM (Chicago, IL)
WJPC-AM (Chicago, IL) – Call letters stood for owner, Johnson Publishing
WHUR-FM (Washington, DC)
WOL-AM (Washington, DC)
WOOK-AM (Washington, DC)
WKYS-FM (Washington, DC)
WXYV-FM (Baltimore, MD)
WEBB-AM (Baltimore, MD)
WRAP-AM (Norfolk, VA)
WJJS-FM (Roanoke, VA)
WENZ-FM (Richmond, VA)
WANT-AM (Richmond, VA)
WOEG-FM (Charlotte, NC)
WBLN-FM (Buffalo, NY)
KPRS-AM (Kansas City, MO) – The oldest Black-owned and operated family-owned radio station west of the Mississippi. Started in 1950.
KTAZ-AM ( St. Louis, MO)
WZAK-FM (Kansas City, MO)
WMJM-FM ( St. Louis, MO)
WLOU-AM (Louisville, KY)
WJMO-AM (Cleveland, OH)
WZAK-FM ( Cleveland, OH)
WDAO-AM ( Dayton, OH)
WCIN-AM (Cincinnati, OH)
WVOK-AM (Columbus, OH)
WRAP-AM (Norfolk, VA)
Southeast:
WDIA-AM (Memphis, TN) – Launched June 7, 1947, it was the first radio station in the USA programmed entirely for a Black audience. In 1949, the station adopted an all-Black on-air staff of radio personalities and broadcasters.
WLOK-AM (Memphis, TN)
WLAC-AM (Memphis, TN)
WVOL-AM (Nashville, TN)
WIGO-AM (Atlanta, GA)
WVEE-FM (Atlanta, GA)
WERD-AM (Atlanta, GA) – Founded by Jesse B. Blayton Sr. as the first Black-owned radio station in America. Home of Jack the Rapper Gibson.
WAOK-AM (Atlanta, GA)
WIBB-AM (Macon, GA)
WSOK-AM (Savannah, GA)
WOKS-AM (Columbus, GA)
WJLD-AM (Birmingham, AL)
WENN-FM ( Birmingham, AL)
WQUE-FM ( New Orleans, LA)
WOKA-AM ( Shreveport, LA)
WXOK-FM (Baton Rouge, LA)
WJBO-AM (Baton Rouge, LA)
WJIZ-FM (Albany, GA)
WOKJ-AM (Jackson, MS)
WJMI-FM (Jackson, MS)
WJQS-AM (Jackson, MS)
WJYL-AM (Louisville, KY)
WAQV-FM ( Tampa, FL)
WEDR-FM (Miami, FL)
WMBM-AM ( Miami, FL)
WJAX-AM (Jacksonville, FL)
WOWI-FM (Norfolk, VA)
WVKL-FM (Norfolk, VA)
WCDX-FM (Richmond, VA)
WBTJ-FM (Richmond, VA)
WVAI-FM (Charlottesville, VA)
WPEG-FM (Charlotte, NC)
WBAV-FM (Charlotte, NC)
WRSV-FM (Raleigh/Durham, NC)
WQOK-FM (Raleigh/Durham, NC)
WQMG-FM (Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC)
WJMH-FM Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC)
WRSV/WWIL (Coastal/Wilmington, NC)
WWDM-FM (Columbia & Central, SC)
WWWZ-FM (Charleston & The Lowcountry, SC)
WMGL-FM (Charleston & The Lowcountry, SC)
WJMZ-FM Greenville & Upstate, SC)
WJMB-FM (Myrtle Beach, SC)
West:
KJLH-FM (Los Angeles, CA) – Owned by Motown legend Stevie Wonder
KGFJ-AM (Los Angeles, CA)
KACE-FM (Los Angeles, CA)
KDAY-AM (Los Angeles, CA)
KDIA-AM (Oakland / San Francisco, CA) – Home of Bernie McCain (PD), Keith Adams (PD), Johnny Morris, Bob White, Bob Jones, Diane Blackmon, Bill Hall, Barry Pope, Jay Sweet
KSOL-FM (San Francisco / Oakland, CA) Marvin Robinson, Nick Harper, Diane Blackmon, Lee Perkins
KBLX-FM (Berkeley, Oakland / San Francisco, CA)
KYAC-AM (Seattle, WA)
KPOP AM (Sacramento, CA) – R&B/Soul music programming started by Lee Bailey in 1970
Southwest:
KYOK-AM (Houston, TX)
KCOH-AM (Houston, TX)
KNOX-AM (Dallas/Ft Worth, TX)
KKDA-FM (Dallas, TX)
KRNB-FM (Dallas, TX)
The rise of Black Radio migrated from AM to FM throughout the 1970’s and 1980s, offering clearer audio for R&B, Soul, and Funk Music.
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