Barry Farmer’s Rise: Building a Digital Media Brand With Purpose in Richmond

When Barry Farmer launched Farmer Company Media, he wasn’t chasing a spotlight. He was building a platform. The Richmond based media entrepreneur and radio show host has steadily grown from an ambitious broadcaster with a vision into a recognized community voice, creating a modern media ecosystem designed to entertain, inform, and uplift Central Virginia.

That rise didn’t happen by accident. It happened through consistency, smart timing, and a clear belief that local media can be both commercially strong and community first.

From Host to Media Builder

In June 2019, Barry introduced listeners to The Barry Farmer Morning Show with Sharon Lizzy, a drive time blend of energy, humor, and real life conversation that quickly became more than a morning distraction. It became a daily touchpoint. While the show delivers what morning radio is known for, music, momentum, and personality, it also carries a deeper intention, motivation, information, and encouragement for people trying to win the day.

Barry’s approach to hosting is simple. Bring the right voices to the table. And not just celebrity voices. Useful voices. Therapists, career coaches, relationship coaches, financial advisors, and other community experts regularly join the show to speak directly to listeners’ real needs. It’s entertainment with purpose, built around the belief that a morning show can do more than make you laugh. It can help you grow.

The Birth of B Lifestyle Magazine

By February 2020, Barry expanded his mission beyond the mic with B Lifestyle Magazine, created as another bridge between powerful voices and the Virginia community, especially people doing meaningful work that often doesn’t get enough visibility.

The magazine was designed as a resource, not just a publication. It spotlights business owners, community leaders, changemakers, and brands that offer practical value, people who inspire and educate while pushing the culture forward. Whether it’s lifestyle, business, family, or community impact, the goal remains the same. Connect the audience to voices that matter.

Launching Kool K101.2 POP Richmond: A Station Built for the City

Then came the move that truly defined the next chapter. The launch of Kool K101.2 POP Richmond.

Barry’s decision to create K101.2 wasn’t rooted in nostalgia for radio’s past. It was rooted in love for music and belief in what local radio can be today. He has always embraced all types of music, and he wanted to build a commercial brand radio station that felt accessible to the Richmond community and the individuals who help it thrive.

But K101.2 wasn’t only created for listeners. It was also created for local businesses.

Barry saw what many business owners were feeling. Economic pressure, tighter budgets, and the need to make every marketing dollar count. K101.2 POP Richmond was built to be a source for affordable advertising solutions, offering businesses a way to reach real people without the intimidating barriers and costs that often come with traditional media.

A Platform That Amplifies Brands and Nonprofits

Farmer Company Media has grown into more than content. It’s become a megaphone for the community.

Through the station, the morning show, and the magazine, Barry has helped amplify brands, highlight nonprofits, and create partnerships that generate real world impact. Whether it’s spotlighting entrepreneurs or pushing community campaigns forward, Farmer Company Media operates like a connector, linking audiences to resources and causes that matter.

That community first mindset is visible in partnerships like support for the Richmond Children’s Business Fair, helping create space for young entrepreneurs to be celebrated and encouraged early.

And it’s especially visible in the powerful awareness campaign Foster The Mic, created to elevate stories and raise awareness for youth in foster care who need adoption. Through a partnership with Virginia Kids Belong, Foster The Mic has helped move the conversation beyond statistics and into human stories, stories that encourage families to consider fostering, adopting, or supporting foster care focused initiatives.

Why Digital Wins: Instant Interaction Matters

Barry’s media strategy reflects how people actually live now, on phones, in cars, and through smart speakers.

He believes that having a local digital radio station and digital forward magazine can be even more effective than traditional terrestrial radio or print only publishing because listeners and readers can interact instantly. People don’t have to wait to participate. They can respond in real time, share content immediately, and connect directly with the platform while they’re already living their day.

It’s not just reach. It’s relationship.

Creating Pathways for Others: The Collaboration Factor

One of the most meaningful parts of Barry’s rise is what he’s done for other voices trying to break in.

Farmer Company Media has helped create new pathways into radio, including supporting innovative creators like Michele Wilson, who launched her hybrid station Culture Mix Radio. Barry sees that kind of bold creativity as essential, and he openly champions it.

As Barry says, “I absolutely love collaborating with individuals like Michele because they have bold ideas and are not afraid to just jump in to see if their idea will work. Collaboration in business is a big key to being successful.”

That mindset, collaboration over competition, has become a signature part of his brand.

A Rise Built on Purpose and Consistency

Barry Farmer’s story is still being written, but the blueprint is already clear. Build platforms that serve, create content that connects, and form partnerships that matter. From launching a morning show in 2019, to publishing a magazine in 2020, to building K101.2 POP Richmond into a community accessible commercial radio brand, Barry has positioned Farmer Company Media as a modern media company with local roots and real impact.

And in a time when trust, authenticity, and community connection are more valuable than ever, Barry Farmer isn’t just rising in media. He’s helping Richmond rise with him.