Barry Mayo is an American former radio executive. In 1981, he helped launch

WRKS WRKS (105.9 FM, "The Zone") is a radio station licensed to Pickens, Mississippi, although its studio is located in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Launched on July 2, 2009, the station's format is sports, with programming from ESPN Radio. WRKS is ow ...

in New York as the first station to play

rap Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates " rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backin ...

. The station's success led him to be promoted as the first black general manager of

RKO General RKO General Inc. (previously General Teleradio Inc. and RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc.) was an American broadcasting company that, from 1952 through 1991, served as the main holding company for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber C ...

. In 2003, he succeeded Judy Ellis as general manager of

Emmis Emmis Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Emmis, based on the Hebrew word for "Truth" (''Emet'') was founded by Jeff Smulyan in 1980. Emmis has owned many radio stations, including KPWR ...

Radio New York; the first African-American general manager of

Emmis Broadcasting Emmis Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Emmis, based on the Hebrew word for "Truth" (''Emet'') was founded by Jeff Smulyan in 1980. Emmis has owned many radio stations, including KPWR ...

. In this role he oversaw WRKS (now an

Urban Adult Contemporary Urban adult contemporary, often abbreviated as urban AC or UAC, (also known as adult R&B,) is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have hip hop music on ...

outlet) as well as

WQHT WQHT (97.1 FM broadcasting, FM, ''Hot 97'') is a commercial radio station, licensed to New York, New York, which broadcasts an urban contemporary music format. The station is owned by Mediaco Holding, a subsidiary of the Standard General hedge ...

(Hot 97) and WQCD. In 2007, Mayo was named President of Radio of Silver Spring, Maryland-based Radio One, the nation's premier black owned broadcasting company. He attended and graduated from

Brooklyn Technical High School Brooklyn Technical High School, commonly called Brooklyn Tech and administratively designated High School 430, is a public specialized high school in New York City that specializes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is on ...

. He is a graduate of

Howard University Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...

. While he attended Howard he was noted for being the first general manager of its current college station WHBC 830 AM, or otherwise known as the voice of Howard's Black Communicators. Mayo is also an accomplished photographer, having first studied photography with Jno Cook at

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago is a Private college, private art college in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1890, it has 6,493 students (as of fall 2021) pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It i ...

. His photographs have been featured in several exhibitions and publications. He is currently making documentary films focused on identity issues amongst mixed race individuals.

References

External links

www.barry-mayo.com
*
WHBC 830 AM
Howard University alumni Living people American radio executives Year of birth missing (living people) Brooklyn Technical High School alumni {{US-radio-bio-stub