SYRACUSE - Galaxy Communications, LP covers the airwaves from Syracuse to Albany. The radio company owns 12 stations in the Syracuse and Utica-Rome markets, and two in the Albany market.

The company's CEO Ed Levine has been in the radio business for more than three decades and has worked his way from college disc jockey to station owner.

Born in Westchester County, Levine came to Syracuse in the 1970s to attend Syracuse University. He began his radio career at WAER, the college's student-run IM station. After college, Levine helped launch WAQX-95X in 1978. The IM rock station has be a Syracuse fixture ever since.

As radio enters the satellite era, Levine recalls that FM wasn't the dominant band when he started his career in commercial radio. In the late 1970s, Syracuse and many other radio markets across the U.S. were dominated by AM rock channels. FM was a place for jazz, classical, and "easy listening," Levine recalls.

A news report from 1978 took note that "WAQX will broadcast commercials."At 95X, Levine moved from disc jockey into the role of program director. He had previously held the program director's post at WAER. Being a program director, Levine explains, gave him a chance to influence what songs made it on the air.

"In radio, one person can make all the difference," he says.

From 95X, Levine went on to work as a program director at stations in Albany, Washington, D.C., and Houston. In the mid-1980s," Levine decided to apply for his own radio license in the Utica market. By 1989, with backing from business partner Robert Raide, Levine put station WKLL on the air in Utica. The station cost approximately $170,000 to start, Levine recalls.

During the 1990s, Levine completed his transition from employee to owner, acquiring stations in Albany and Syracuse. He later added new partners and created Galaxy Communications, LP.

In the fall of 2001, the company moved from offices on Route 31 on the Madison County side of Bridgeport into a newly built studio building at 235 Walton St. in Syracuse's Armory Square. Levine keeps a "before-and-after" photo comparison on the wall of his office to show how far the business has come. The new building features multiple street-level studios where fans can see the radio hosts at work. Outdoor speakers play Galaxy radio stations for passers by.

In the 1990s, federal deregulation allowed companies to expand their station ownership, leading to mass consolidation. Galaxy Communications stations now compete against large, national companies such as Citadel Broadcasting and Clear Channel Communications. Levine is well known in the radio business for his criticism of Clear Channel as the epitome of "corporate" radio. He believes Galaxy's local ownership and management better serve the community. In December, radio-ratings service Arbitron elected Levine to its Radio Advisory Council.

"We live here," Levine explains, "Syracuse or Utica are never going to be as important to some far-off corporate headquarters as they are to us."

In addition to his rivalry with Clear Channel, Levine has had some public run-ins

with Howard Stern. In the early 1990s, Levine operated a consulting firm called "Sternbusters" that helped radio stations counter-program against the syndicated morning show. Levine's Albany station had maintained its ratings against Stem after his show began airing in the Albany market.

Last year, WAQX owners Citadel Broadcasting dumped Stern from the Syracuse market after he repeatedly discussed his impending move to satellite radio. Citadel had previously imposed a delay on the show and edited references to Sirius satellite radio where Stern will air next year. Ratings for 95X's replacement morning show have fallen below the numbers Stern used to bring in, and angry fans have protested the change. One fan has started the www.95xsucks.com protest Web site.

Media outlets are asking Levine's opinion of Stern's feud with Citadel. Levine recites some advice he received long ago.

"When the competition is self-destructing," says Levine, "just get out of the way."

Ed Levine Chief Executive Officer Galaxy Communications, LP