Milwaukee Radio: Tarik Moody Promoted To PD At WYMS

Tarik Moody

Long-term WYMS 88Nine Radio Milwaukee employee Tarik Moody has been named program director for the nonprofit public radio station's new channel designed to engage young and multicultural audiences through radio and digital streaming services, reports The Milwaukee Business Journal.

Radio Milwaukee received a $450,000 grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to a create the urban alternative channel, which will display the full range of Black music – not just what the community is typically known for – and the power of public radio.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has invested in urban channels around the country including stations in Chicago, Denver, Houston and Jackson, Mississippi.

“Our urban alternative channel aims to reclaim the word ‘urban’ for the Black community,” Moody said in a press release. “Instead of putting Black artists in a box, our channel will celebrate the beauty and diversity of Black music and creativity.”

According to Moody, the channel will highlight Milwaukee’s new talent while paying homage to those who’ve come before. This will be Milwaukee’s first non-commercial Black-centric public radio station.

Moody has been with Radio Milwaukee since 2006 since the station asked him to move to Milwaukee to help develop the station. He’s held a variety of positions since then, including his most recent role as director of digital strategy and innovation.

With his new role, Moody will lead music programming, staffing and content.

The official name of the channel will be announced in early 2022 and is planned to launch on Juneteenth Day of 2022, which is June 19. Radio Milwaukee will be looking to hire a team for the new channel come next year as well.

Station director Jordan Lee will oversee the collaboration between the existing WYMS-FM 88.9 station. The new channel will air on 88.9 FM from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. on weekdays and 12 a.m. to 3 a.m. on weekend, along with having a 24-hour presence on WYMS’ HD2 channel.