LORI E. LIGHTFOOT MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
September 9, 2020
TO I HE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution congratulating radio station 95.1 and owner Tracey V.
Bell.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Body are pleased to congratulate 95.1 FM Chicago as it celebrates its first anniversary as a Black woman-owned radio station; and
WHEREAS, 95.1 FM Chicago's Chicago-style steppin' format began in 2005 as Internet radio station Clubsteppin by veteran radio programmer Lamont Watts. The station expanded into FM broadcasting in August 2018; and
WHEREAS, Tracey V. Bell purchased 95.1 FM from Windy City Broadcasting in August 2019, having affiliated herself with the station after a long and illustrious career in the corporate world; and
WHEREAS, Prior to taking the helm at 95.1 FM Chicago, Ms. Bell worked in a variety of fields, beginning her career in the radio broadcast division of Johnson Publishing Company before turning to corporate strategy and integrated marketing for several retail brands; and
WHEREAS, Of the more than ten thousand radio stations in the United States, only 20 are licensed to Black women. Under Ms. Bell's ownership, 95.1 FM Chicago remains the only Black-owned FM radio station in Chicago, the nation's third largest media market; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Bell uses her platform as the owner of 95.1 FM Chicago to uplift small businesses and the communities they serve through initiatives such as "We Are Chicago," which has provided relief to small businesses that have been pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, 95.1 FM Chicago partnered with Mayor Lori Lightfoot for the station's "The Mayor's Minute" segment, which provided listeners with information during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, With more than 50 percent of its on-air personalities being women, inclu...
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