(NEWARK, NJ) -- Wednesday, May 19, 2021 marks the launch of WBGO Studios - the new podcasting unit of the world premier jazz station, based in Newark, NJ. WBGO will develop a number of new podcasts under the WBGO Studios banner, joining 3 successful podcasts - Jazz United, recently named Jazz Podcast of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and hosted by award-winning journalist Nate Chinen and WBGO host Greg Bryant; The Checkout, hosted by Simon Rentner and SportsJam, now in its 13th year - with over 350 episodes hosted by news director Doug Doyle. 

The introduction of WBGO Studios coincides with the release a new four-part podcast series, The Great Wealth Divide, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. WBGO Studios will also develop new talent in the podcast arena, as well as seek to help strengthen already existing podcasts in our local community. "We are meeting our audiences where they listen," remarked WBGO President and CEO Steven Williams.

Aligning with WBGO's mission to serve its listeners with unique and exclusive content, The Great Wealth Divide will offer timely and accessible discussion on issues of finance and socio-economics with emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. The podcast will be hosted by Dale Favors, the highly regarded managing partner of Adaptive Growth Leadership. Favor’s background includes work with some of the world’s largest hedge funds as well as Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg LP and the Royal Bank of Canada.

The podcast's producer, Mike Sargent, is a veteran NYC broadcaster, film maker, writer and a leading figure in the movement to cultivate diversity in public media. Episodes will drop every Wednesday, beginning on May 19 and running through June 9, and can be found on WBGO.org, the WBGO app, and wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and promotes jazz, blues, Latin jazz and classic rhythm & blues. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, public radio station WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its music and news programming, live performances and partnerships. WBGO reaches a diverse audience from its broadcast location in America's number one media market, the New York/New Jersey metro area. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the organization’s reach extends to millions more across the country, and around the globe through WBGO.org and the WBGO mobile app and social media plus Facebook Live broadcasts. WBGO is broadcast at 88.3 FM in the NY/New Jersey area and may be streamed from WBGO.org.