Ed Levine, founder, president and CEO of Galaxy Media Partners, has announced plans to retire later this year after nearly five decades in broadcasting and 36 years leading the independent media company he founded.
Levine, 70, launched what is now Galaxy Media Partners (formerly Galaxy Communications) in 1990 with a single radio station operating out of a diner in Utica, New York. Under his leadership, the Syracuse-based firm grew into one of New York’s largest independently owned media companies, operating 15 radio stations across Central and Upstate New York, including clusters in Syracuse and Utica/Rome, while also producing major regional events such as Taste of Syracuse and the Syracuse Nationals.
“It’s been a wonderful ride over the past 36 years. It’s hard to believe I was 33 when I started the company, and now I’m 70,” Levine said.
Levine began his career at Syracuse University’s WAER and co-founded the influential rock station WAQX (“95X”) in 1978 before holding leadership roles in other markets and returning to Upstate New York to build Galaxy. The company has focused on its core Syracuse and Utica operations after earlier divestitures and expanded into live events and experiential media.
While stepping away from Galaxy, Levine said he has no intention of fully leaving business. He plans to focus on experiential media and live events by establishing a new events company based in the Carolinas.
Galaxy Media Partners has not yet announced a formal succession plan or exact retirement date; those details are expected in the coming weeks.