A pair of Caribbean programmers who had been leasing time on 93.5 WVIP-FM New Rochelle NY until its sale to Hope Media Group last summer are returning to New York radio.
“Caribstar Radio” has launched on iHeartMedia’s 103.5 WKTU-HD3 Lake Success. The station is also heard on 1240 WGBB/95.9 W240DF Freeport on Long Island. Co-founder Bobby Clarke says, “CaribStar Radio brings a fresh, dynamic approach to Caribbean broadcasting, building on the esteemed legacy of Irie Jam Radio, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023. CaribStar Radio is not just a continuation of a legacy; it’s a new chapter in uniting the Caribbean Diaspora.”
“Roadblock Radio” will then launch on Audacy’s 101.1 WCBS-FM-HD3 on May 1 replacing “Scott Shannon’s True Oldies Channel“. Part of a business that includes a record store and marketing company, the station also promotes the New Jersey Reggae Festival.
CEO Kacy ‘G City’ Rankine commented, “When I heard that WVIP, 93.5 FM was sold, I realized there was a void in Caribbean radio here in the tri-state area. I sent out a few proposals then. Out of the blue, God sent me an angel.” Northeast Radio Watch notes that Rankine was issued a pair of Notices of Unlicensed Operations by the FCC in 2017 for running pirates on 90.1 in Newark and Paterson NJ.
