Audacy reaches agreement to acquire WAMO format

One of Pittsburgh’s biggest radio conglomerates just got bigger. And more diverse.

Audacy, Inc., owners of KDKA news radio, 93.7 The Fan, Y108, and 100.7 Star, announced Tuesday it has acquired WAMO Pittsburgh’s intellectual property and format from Martz Communications Group.

WAMO is considered the only urban, hip-hop station in the Pittsburgh radio market and is known for having artists like Drake, Kanye West and Lil Nas X as integral parts of its stable of artists.

The station has a decades-long history of being on the cutting edge of the R & B format and has played an important role in providing content to Pittsburgh’s African American community.

“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.

“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 and fan engagement, and local and national news,” he said.

WAMO was founded in Homestead in 1948 as WHOD but eventually changed its call letters to WAMO to stand for the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. By the 1960s, the station became a major player in rhythm and blues music in the Pittsburgh area.