Editing CFXJ-FM (section)

===Launch===
[[Milestone Radio]], a company incorporated by [[Denham Jolly]], first applied to the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) for an [[urban contemporary]] music station in 1989.  Milestone was passed over in favour of a [[country music]] station, [[CKIS-FM|CISS]].<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1990/DB90-693.HTM CRTC Decision 90-993]</ref><ref>Greg Quill, "Twelve applicants dance for last local FM radio spot," ''The Toronto Star'', November 23, 1989.</ref> Jolly applied again in 1997, and was passed over in favour of [[CBLA-FM|CBLA]], the [[CBC Radio One|Radio One]] station, which the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] wanted to move to FM as it was leaving its longtime Toronto AM outlet, [[CFZM|CBL]].<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/1997/DB97-362.HTM  CRTC Decision 97-362]</ref><ref>Peter Goddard, "CBC vs. 'dance' - who'll win 99.1 FM?," ''The Toronto Star'', April 12, 1997.</ref>

Both decisions sparked controversy in Toronto, a city with Canada's largest minority population but with no urban contemporary outlet. Some accused the CRTC of passing over an urban station in favour of existing radio services as an example of [[racism]]. The lack of an urban station also created difficulties for Canadian [[hip-hop]], [[reggae]] and [[R&B]] musicians, who had no radio outlets in Canada to play and promote their music.<ref>Royson James, "Wrong headed CRTC fails Black community," ''The Toronto Star'', August 30, 1997.</ref><ref>Peter Goddard, "How the CRTC sold out Toronto decision to reject 'urban' format for 99.1 was power play, pure and simple," ''The Toronto Star'', August 2, 1997.</ref><ref>"Seems Blacks denied FM voice for reasons other than ability," ''The Toronto Star'', September 19, 1997.</ref><ref>"Canadian radio fails young urban musicians," ''The Toronto Star'', September 30, 1997.</ref>

[[Image:Flow 93.5.gif|thumb|The original logo of Flow 93.5 (2001–2007)]]

As well, the 99.1 signal which was awarded to the CBC was believed to be the last available FM frequency in the city. However, in 1998, the CBC found that it was able to surrender two of the CBC's [[FM translator|repeater transmitter]]s outside of Toronto due to CBLA's superior coverage of the region.<ref>Tim Harper, "CBC offers plan for new FM station," ''The Toronto Star'', October 1, 1997.</ref><ref>Tim Harper, "Cabinet eyes a radio deal for black station and CBC," ''The Toronto Star'', October 18, 1997.</ref> In 2000, the CRTC opened applications for new services on these two frequencies.  With Milestone's third application, the CRTC awarded the 93.5 frequency to the company on June 16 of that year.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2000/DB2000-203.htm Decision CRTC 2000-203]</ref>

CFXJ [[signed on]] the air at 9:35&nbsp;p.m. on February 9, 2001, under the name ''Flow 93.5''. "[[Rastaman Vibration|Roots, Rock, Reggae]]" by [[Bob Marley and the Wailers]] was the first song played.  For several weeks, the station was [[broadcast automation|automated]].  Live programming launched on March 1.<ref>Greg Quill, "Radio dream gives city its first black station," ''The Toronto Star'', February 8, 2001.</ref><ref>Greg Quill, ""Flow" goes with Marley as new station hits the air," ''The Toronto Star'', February 10, 2001.</ref><ref>Ashante Infantry, "Two Mikes go with the "Flow 93.5"," ''The Toronto Star'', March 2, 2001.</ref> Before the station became prominent in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], many listeners would try to tune in to [[Buffalo, New York]]'s [[WBLK]], which has aired an [[urban contemporary]] format since the 1960s. Since CFXJ's debut, many [[Canadian hip hop]] and R&B musicians, including [[Jully Black]], [[k-os]], [[Kardinal Offishall]] and [[Jarvis Church]] have made the types of significant career breakthroughs that often eluded Canadian urban musicians in the 1990s.