Barry Mayo
Encyclopedia
Barry Mayo is a United States radio
executive. In 1981 he helped launch WRKS-FM
in New York
as the first station to play rap
music on a regular basis. The station's success led him to be promoted as the first black general manager of RKO General
.
In 2003 he succeeded Judy Ellis as general manager of Emmis Radio New York
; the first African-American general manager of Emmis Broadcasting. In this role he oversaw WRKS-FM
(now an Urban Adult Contemporary
outlet) as well as WQHT-FM
(Hot 97) and WQCD-FM.
In 2007 Mayo was named President of Lanham, MD-based Radio One, the nation's premier black owned broadcasting company.
He is a graduate of Howard University
. While he attended Howard he was noted for starting its current college station WHBC 830 AM, or otherwise known as Howard's Black Communicator. Mayo is also an accomplished photographer, having first studied photography with Jno Cook at Columbia College Chicago. His photographs have been featured in several exhibitions and publications.
WHBC 830 AM
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
executive. In 1981 he helped launch WRKS-FM
WRKS-FM
WRKS , known by its on-air branding 98.7 Kiss FM, is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in New York City, owned by Emmis Communications...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as the first station to play rap
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
music on a regular basis. The station's success led him to be promoted as the first black general manager of RKO General
RKO General
RKO General was the main holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and, after General Tire's reorganization in the 1980s, GenCorp. The business was based around the consolidation of its parent company's broadcasting interests, dating to 1943, and...
.
In 2003 he succeeded Judy Ellis as general manager of Emmis Radio New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; the first African-American general manager of Emmis Broadcasting. In this role he oversaw WRKS-FM
WRKS-FM
WRKS , known by its on-air branding 98.7 Kiss FM, is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in New York City, owned by Emmis Communications...
(now an Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
outlet) as well as WQHT-FM
WQHT-FM
WQHT is a high-profile American radio station in New York City under the corporate ownership of Emmis Communications. The station broadcasts on 97.1 MHz FM...
(Hot 97) and WQCD-FM.
In 2007 Mayo was named President of Lanham, MD-based Radio One, the nation's premier black owned broadcasting company.
He is a graduate of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. While he attended Howard he was noted for starting its current college station WHBC 830 AM, or otherwise known as Howard's Black Communicator. Mayo is also an accomplished photographer, having first studied photography with Jno Cook at Columbia College Chicago. His photographs have been featured in several exhibitions and publications.
External links
WHBC 830 AM