From working in the station to owning it, Sheila Brown is now the first Black woman in Buffalo, New York to own a radio station, according to WIVB 4.
In 1998, Brown made a decision to leave WUFO after changes in management made her unhappy with her work environment. However, she vowed she would be back and eight years later she was after buying the place and making it her own.
“I looked at the building and I waved and said don’t worry baby I’ll be back.”
The road to ownership wasn’t easy. Many banks closed the door to funding right in her face.
“I went through everything, we had banks say no like three times before they said yes, credit unions said no your business plan needs to be updated, but True Bethel and Bishop Darius Pridgen they had faith in me,” Brown tells WIVB.
As did her family. Brown credits a strong support system – beginning with family – for her success as well.
“My uncles coming to see us would go hey here comes our super star. Not saying it to boost me but just positive affirmation, so I never was afraid of anything I was going to do.”
That faith in her abilities gave her the gumption to move WUFO from an AM- band to adding an FM channel with Power 96.5.
“I was able to take an AM band, move it from off LaSalle Avenue which was a residential street, no one knew we were there, to downtown Buffalo where we have millions of cars passing by every day.”
Brown adds, “Since we’ve been FM, we were able to get morning shows, syndicated shows and it gave us a real footprint in the industry.”
However, with great success, also comes great challenges, including a recent lawsuit by a disgruntled employee.
“You do the best you can, wipe it off. You can’t let nothing get you down because you know what God has promised you and you know what you promised yourself.”
Instead of dwelling on the challenges, Brown looks toward the future and sees only the good things to come.
“It feels good but it’s sad in 2021 we’re still talking about the first if anything but I’m just proud that the lord used me to be the first woman of color to own a radio station. The Vice President she said she might be the first, but not the last so my goal is to prep other people.”
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