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Kyle Wallace and 101.7 The Truth Are Breaking Glass Ceilings

Tony Cartagena

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Timing is everything.

In December of 2020, Good Karma Brands publicly announced their plans to launch 101.7 The Truth, a talk radio station focused on embracing and telling the stories of Milwaukee’s black community.

Months of interviews, planning and hiring’s led to the first full day of broadcasts, Jan. 4, 2021.

After completing graduate school at Central Michigan, Kyle Wallace worked in the Milwaukee area as a high school football coach. He then followed that with a stint as a college recruiter for Marquette University.

On the side, Wallace was a part-time teammate at ESPN Milwaukee, working live radio remotes, producing shows and attending games for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, collecting sound during post-game availability.

During a conversation with Barrett News Media, Wallace explained how he was overly happy with his position at Marquette. He took great pride in the reality that he was able to make a difference in the lives of prospective students.

However, he still had this itch. He wanted to be involved in sports media, and needed to create a lane for himself to thrive as an on-air contributor. So he continued working whenever he could at 540 ESPN Milwaukee, another station owned and operated by Good Karma Brands.

“In June of 2020, (Good Karma Brands Founder and CEO) Craig Karmazin reached out to me and asked what I thought about a black station. Really, where do African Americans go for news about the community?” Wallace recalled. “There’s not a station that people go to and can run to when they want to hear black voices, that’s something that’s absent from the Milwaukee media market.

“When he said that he had interest in potentially trying to start something I told him, ‘I am more than happy to help in any way that I can because I think it is very important that we provide a platform for African Americans to really voice their thoughts and opinions.'”

Throughout his time with ESPN Milwaukee, Wallace learned the ins and out of the media landscape in his city. He grew comfortable asking questions at press conferences, and networking with fellow media members. His experience allowed him to teach incoming intern classes, and other teammates, everything from running the board to cutting audio and using a recorder.

“I told (Karmazin), I am willing to do anything and everything I can to help you guys get this off the ground,” he said. “I know I’m just a part-time teammate, but I’m a teammate at the end of the day, and I want to make sure this is a success,”

“Whatever I have to do I am more than happy to do it.”

Little did Kyle Wallace know he would soon be named the Director of Content for 101.7 The Truth.

Wallace told BNM that before being offered the position he actually helped game-plan potential teammates to bring in, powerful black Milwaukee voices. He also gave input on who he thought would be a good fit as program director.

“It was a leap of faith,” he said after a tough decision to leave his role with Marquette. “Making that jump to a brand new radio station. The goal is to be around forever, but at the end of the day you have to make sure you are producing, not only on-air but also making money as well.

“I was a little bit nervous but I was excited as well because I knew it was a new challenge that could be very very special for Milwaukee’s community. Not just for the black community, but for everybody that is interested in great talk radio, and to hear a different perspective than they may be used to.”

The Truth is working tirelessly to break glass ceilings in media. The station is providing representation and opportunities for people of color who want to pursue and grow careers in the field, and fans who want exposure and coverage of their community.

“Covering the Brewers, I don’t think I ever saw another black reporter,” Wallace said. “(Covering the Bucks) there was maybe one or two, sometimes.”

On July 22, 2021, 101.7 The Truth was broadcasting live from downtown Milwaukee, during the parade for the NBA Champion Bucks.

During the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration, The Truth provided a live broadcast experience.

“An audio platform that embraces Milwaukee’s black community,” reads the mission statement on the station’s website. “This is our marketplace where authentic conversations can challenge and inspire everyone. You won’t hear just one perspective. It’ll be raw, honest, and true to what’s really going on in our communities.”

Wallace discussed with BNM the impact his former career had on his ability to direct content at The Truth. He knows how to teach an aspiring producer how to produce a live show, because he did it himself.

As a recruiter, he had no idea the impact it had on students to see a black male care about their educational future, until they told him, ‘we wouldn’t be (in college) without you.’

At Whitefish Bay High School, Wallace doesn’t remember ever having an African American teacher during his four years there. An unfortunate common theme in education.

“It meant more to the kids, because it was more than just a recruiter,” he said.

Those recruiting skills came full circle after The Truth hired Zech Simmons as a producer. Wallace recruited him as a high school student to college, and they kept in contact over the years. Simmons was one of the first calls Wallace made when The Truth started drafting their roster.

“We are confident we chose outstanding leaders who have already made an impact on the city through their service, advocacy, and fight for justice and equality,” he said in the station’s initial press release.

The Truth isn’t even a year old yet, however, they are dreaming big. Wallace’s personal goals for the station are to continue creating an impactful on-air product. He hopes that momentum will carry over into the community, making the brand a destination for the black community to come together as one. That’s especially important as local and state elections take place in 2022. He aspires for The Truth to become an outlet where the black community can learn about prospective elected officials and each of their causes.

Of course, influenced by that background in education, Wallace said he eventually wants to create a college scholarship funded by the station, awarded to a local student.

Listen to 101.7 The Truth here.

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1010 WINS Hosting Pickleball Tournament

On Saturday, September 30th, 1010 WINS will host a 90-minute pickleball clinic — dubbed “Pickleball 101.0” — before the competition begins later that morning.

Barrett News Media

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A photo of the 1010 WINS Pickleball tournament logo

In a partnership with Sportime Randall’s Island and NYC Pickleball, 1010 WINS is hosting one of New York’s largest pickleball tournaments later this month.

On Saturday, September 30th, 1010 WINS will host a 90-minute pickleball clinic — dubbed “Pickleball 101.0” — before the competition begins later that morning.

Separate divisions will be held for men’s, mixed, and women’s doubles. Cash prizes of $1010 will be awarded to the top finishers in each division.

The sport of pickleball has grown exponentially in recent years, as players of all ages have picked up the sport. As of 2022, there were an estimated 4.8 million pickleball players. That figure has increased nearly 15% compared to 2021.

Several professional pickleball leagues have been created in recent years, with NBA and NFL players purchasing expansion franchises in Major League Pickleball.

Those interested in registering for the event can do so by clicking here.

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77 WABC Adding Alfonse D’Amato as Contributor

Alfonse D’Amato had an impressive political career, serving as a New York representative in the U.S. Senate from 1981 to 1999.

Ryan Hedrick

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A photo of the 77 WABC logo

Former U.S. Senator from New York, Alfonse D’Amato, is joining 77 WABC as a regular contributor. D’Amato will share political insights on 77 WABC’s talk programs, including Cats & Cosby, co-hosted by Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby.

In a release, John Catsimatidis, owner of 77WABC and Red Apple Media, called D’Amato, is one of the most knowledgeable people he knows.

“From his many years in the U.S. Senate, Al has a deep understanding of the underpinnings of politics — local, national, and global – and will help 77 WABC listeners discern the truth about what’s really going on in Washington and the world.”

Senator D’Amato expressed his pleasure in being a part of one of the country’s top news and talk programming, highlighting 77 WABC’s reputation for openly discussing issues without being affiliated with any political party but dedicated to promoting what is best for America.

“I am pleased to be part of the greatest news/talk programming in the nation,” Sen. D’Amato said. “77 WABC is a station whose people call it the way it is and aren’t wed to a political party but are wed to doing what’s right in America,” he said. 

Alfonse D’Amato had an impressive political career, serving as a New York representative in the U.S. Senate from 1981 to 1999.

During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and was a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the President’s Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism.

He was instrumental in New York Republican politics and helped to recruit George Pataki and secure his Republican nomination in the 1994 gubernatorial race. After leaving the Senate, D’Amato founded Park Strategies, which is now a well-known lobbying firm.

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Kara Swisher: Lachlan Murdoch Will Have ‘Short Reign’ as Fox Corp. Chairman

Swisher, who used to work for Murdoch and has become a critic, shared her prediction for the future of Fox Corporation and News Corp.

Eduardo Razo

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A photo of Kara Swisher
(Photo: Sean T. Smith | Adweek)

The decision by Rupert Murdoch to step down from his role leading Fox Corp. and News Corp. and hand the reins to his son, Lachlan, has many media members, like Kara Swisher, buzzing about the company’s future.

Swisher, who used to work for Murdoch and has become a critic, shared her prediction for the future of Fox Corporation and News Corp. She boldly predicts that Lachlan will have a short reign before eventually selling the company to a familiar name.

“Prediction: It will be a short reign of the crown prince — after the old man goes, the other siblings will have the con and it will all be sold off (Elon? Right leaning PE firm or media org?),” Swisher wrote on the platform X, formerly Twitter.

Elon Musk purchased Twitter last year and has gone through a complete rebrand since the Tesla CEO purchased the outlet. However, early this summer, The New York Times reported that the social media outlet’s ad sales had plunged 59 percent. So the question is whether Musk wants another media platform despite his struggles with X. 

As for Murdoch, he has been in the news recently after a new book claims that the media mogul believed Fox News could settle its defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $50 million.

The network eventually paid a $787.5 million settlement with the voting machine company after it was accused of purposefully airing falsehoods regarding the validity of the 2020 presidential election.

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