Tom Calderone, WNED president and CEO, is pictured with Marion Beckerink, president of the Rotary Club of Jamestown.

Marion Beckerink, president of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, recently introduced speaker Tom Calderone, president/CEO of WNED.

Prior to joining Buffalo Toronto Public Media in August 2021, Calderone held leadership positions with Spotify, VH1 and MTV and served as a consultant for media companies. Calderone was the global head of content partnership/global head of studios for Spotify, pioneering the company’s expansion into new areas of audio and video content, including podcasts and mobile-friendly video series.

For 10 years (2005-2015), Calderone was President of VH1/Viacom, during which he led the organization into the Top 5 cable channels for adults 18-49 years old. He was executive vice president of music and talent programming at MTV and MTV2/Viacom from 1998 to 2005, during which he introduced new programming such as Total Request Live, MTVIcon, and music documentaries. He also served as chairman of Save the Music from 2005 to 2015.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and Communication from SUNY Buffalo State, Calderone worked in radio as on-air talent, program director, and operations manager before moving on to radio consulting with Jacobs Media. Calderone was elected to the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame in 2014. He also received an honorary Doctorate from SUNY Buffalo State in 2008.

Calderone outlined the various aspects of Buffalo/Toronto Public Media and showed a brief video outlining the divisions of the entity.

He focused on the idea that WBFO radio is planning to broadcast from the greater Jamestown area, not only local basketball and football games, but also about various other topics. He asked the group to suggest possible features that the station could include from the greater Jamestown area. He noted that the station already has partnered with the National Comedy Center on programs such as one in remembrance of Mark Russell.

Members suggested that the channel feature area businesses and industries; healthcare; innovations, the local arts and music, a return to feature the second Jamestown Dance Festival, and musicians such as David Watson and the Great Train Robbery.