Knoxville

Joe Armstrong, the owner of WJBE, is shown outside the station. A Federal Communications Commission judge rejected an effort by the agency to strip the license of WJBE 99.7 FM/1040 AM — whose call letters pay tribute to the original WJBE's owner, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown — Knoxville's only Black-owned radio station.

National
Arts

FCC judge rules that Knoxville's only Black-owned radio station can keep its license

7:38pm September 18, 2023

by Jonathan Franklin

Since 2022, WJBE has battled with the FCC over its owner, Joe Armstrong, being able to own a radio station following his conviction in 2016 for making a false statement on his tax return.

Joe Armstrong, the owner of WJBE 99.7 FM/1040 AM — whose call letters pay tribute to the original WJBE's owner, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown — says the Federal Communications Commission is threatening to revoke his broadcast license over his prior conviction for a tax crime, one that occurred years before he took ownership of the station.

National
Music & Culture
Arts

Black-owned radio station may lose license over FCC 'character qualifications' policy

7:01am June 25, 2023

by Jonathan Franklin

Joe Armstrong, owner of WJBE 99.7 FM, says the FCC is threatening to revoke his broadcast license over his conviction for a tax crime — one that occurred years before he took ownership of the station.