African American Talk Radio

David Beaty, a spoken word artist was interviewed on Reggie Bryant's show on 900 AM WURD in Philadelphia yesterday. An amazing performance in this video clip with a life of perseverance and struggle to succeed despite the odds. The interview was great. Where else would you hear about or learn about a performer like this on the radio?

Where are the African American talk stations in America? WVON Chicago; WURD Philadelphia; CBS Radio's WAOK in Atlanta and Radio One's WOL in DC, WOLB in Baltimore, WERE in Cleveland with some of it's programming coming from Syndication One. As a format, Black Talk Radio is in worse shape than Smooth Jazz. Meanwhile the savior of the corporate AM radio stations is a conservative blowhard with a $40 million contract from Clear Channel. We can't afford to let our AM talk stations to disappear.

Smooth Jazz is over in Atlanta, Now It's An R&B Mix on 107.5

PPM ratings system gets the blame for the format change

Radio One's Atlanta VP/Market Mgr. Tim Davies told the site All Access, "we fired up the new Majic 107.5, commercial free, playing Atlanta's best mix of R&B.

Majic 107.5 is a great compliment to our Radio One cluster, as we build the preeminent cluster aimed at the African-American listener." No word yet of the expected move of Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden to the new and better signal on Majic 107.5 from 102.5 Grown Folks Radio.

Listeners of 107.5 will find the following message on the station's website:

A message from Tim Davies, Vice President/ General Manager WJZZ:
First, I would to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting Smooth Jazz 107.5 over the years. Whether you have been a loyal listener, a community organization we have helped or one of our valued advertisers, I wanted to give you a quick explanation why we no longer are airing the Jazz format. In business, you have to make decisions based on many factors. In our case, there is a new audience measurement system and unfortunately, there are just not enough listeners who want to listen to a station like ours….and when you do not have the listeners, you lose advertiser support. When you combine the two, as in this case, it no longer is a viable business.
If you would like to contact me, you can leave a voice message by calling 404-832--7202 or write attention:
Tim Davies Radio One Atlanta 101 Marietta Street 12th floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Again, thank for your support over the years.




Don't you just love the new color scheme for Majic 107.5? It looks familiar...

News and Notes Talks About the First Week of the Obama Presidency

President Obama granted his first sit-down interview to an Arab TV network, Michelle Obama's dress, and Illinois Senator Oprah Winfrey? are the issues; Tony Cox speaks with Brandon Whitney of Homeland Colors; Felicia Harvey of Black Politics on the Web; and Kevin Ross of 3 Brothers and A Sister. Hear an intense roundtable discussion! Listen Here>>
Did Black women really hate her dress that much?

A group called the Black Artists Association is publicly admonishing First Lady Michelle Obama for not wearing works by black designers during the inauguration festivities.
The group's cofounder, Amnau Eele, unleashed her vitriol to fashion industry magazine Women's Wear Daily.

Amid all the praise of First Lady Michelle Obama’s fashion choices for the inaugural festivities, the Black Artists Association is taking her to task for not wearing anything by an African American designer. Cofounder Amnau Eele said Wednesday she will make a formal appeal to the First Lady’s office on behalf of the BAA. “It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We Are the World’ by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?” Eele said. The BAA leader was a runway model in her own right for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Bill Blass and others.Asked if perhaps the First Lady isn’t looking at the world colorlessly, Eele said, “It’s one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment.”

Smooth Jazz Countdown on Urban AC Station

With the Smooth Jazz format on life support, a two-hour "Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown" show with Allen Kepler is set to debut on Clear Channel's Urban AC Majic 104.9 in St. Louis on the weekend. "All of us here at the Smooth Jazz Top 20 are thrilled to have this opportunity to offer the best new smooth jazz music weekly," program host Allen Kepler said.

Monie Love Talks About Her New Passion Beyond Hip Hop

From D-Nice's True Hip-Hop Stories, Monie Love talks about the classic "Monie In The Middle." And it goes a little something like this: "Your homeboy likes me, I like him too, get out the picture..." The setting - Big Daddy Kane tried to push up on Monie?

Monie Love can be heard on Sirius/XM's Backspin and Saturday mornings on Power 99 FM in Philly.

TC is Back On the Radio in DC

"As a native Washingtonian, I'm ecstatic to work with DC's legendary Donnie Simpson, and I'm excited to be a part of DC's only local, urban adult morning show. No doubt, Donnie is DC's morning man!"

DCRTV Reports- DC radio personality TC has joined "The Donnie Simpson Morning Show" on CBS Radio's WPGC 95.5. She will provide woman targeted commentaries each morning on Simpson's show. More on TC at Sista Circle.com.

TC was a member of the popular "The Real DC Morning Show" with Tony Richards, George Wilborn, and news anchor Herman Washington, until it was replaced by the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR in 2006. Some DC area listeners are still salty over that move...

Richards now host a Saturday Afternoon show on WHUR and does live cut-ins during the Harvey morning show. Wilborn of course can be seen on Baisden After Dark on TV One and be heard every afternoon on the Michael Baisden Show.

Let the Change Begin in the Media: The President's First Interview is with Arab TV

President Barack Obama sat down with Al-Arabiya, an Arab network, for his first formal TV interview. In that interview, Obama said he wanted to have a better partnership between America and the Muslim world. You mean it wasn't on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX, MSNBC or even BET? That's a change that many Americans are divided on, but Arab nations around the world are accepting it positively according to the U.S. State Department.

Why is the President Wasting His Time Mentioning...

To see this post, hold and click on your mouse from the arrow
> This conservative talk show host's personal life has been rocky. He has been married and divorced three times, and has no children. In 2006, after years of addiction to painkillers, notably OxyContin. He was charged in Florida with “doctor shopping” prescriptions. He pleaded not guilty and cut a deal; the charges would be dismissed after 18 months if he continued rehabilitation and treatment with a therapist. Before his own drug problems surfaced, he regularly told listeners that drug users should be jailed. He went deaf in 2001. He has a cochlear implant that enables him to hear callers, but an assistant sends him transcripts of on-air conversations, as a backup. < ...to this arrow

Now click here and let go, and the desperate talk show host will simply disappear. Let's move on... However I don't think this is going away anytime soon.

Brian McKnight Adds Another Radio Gig

R&B singer Brian McKnight, the morning radio host, along with Pat Prescott, at CBS Radio's Smooth Jazz station (KTWV) 94.7 The Wave in Los Angeles is now partnering with ABC Radio Networks to host a new slow jams night show "The Brian McKnight Show" originating from 98.7 Kiss FM (WRKS) New York.

The program will air weekdays from 7 to midnight ET. The show will include interviews with entertainers from the world of music and film, discussions on love and relationships and McKnight's selection of ballads from today's top musicians. In the evening time slot was "Kissing After Dark" with Lenny Green, who will now co-host "The Brian McKnight Show."


McKnight says, "The opportunity to have an intimate visit each night with an audience looking for some good soul and R&B plus a bit of conversation is going to be a thrill for me. I'll be able to connect with our listeners on the air, on the phone and in our live Web chat room during the show. It's going to be a fun ride, and I can't wait to get started."

Whatever happened to... Floetry?

Natalie Stewart goes solo, while Marsha Ambrosius hooks up with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment

From the article "Power of Soul" Floetry may be over, but the Floacist goes on. by Craig D. Lindsey

Sometimes you just have to face the music. You have to bite down and come to terms with the truth, no matter how painful or unbelievable it may be. Most recently I had to finally accept what I’ve been denying for a while now: Floetry has, indeed, broken up.

Floetry is (or was) two U.K.-born sistas who dropped one of the best black-music albums of the aughties, Floetic, easily the baby-makingest album of the decade.

Vocalist Marsha Ambrosius (“The Songstress”) and spoken-word poet Natalie Stewart (“The Floacist”) both came to Philly to record Floetic at DJ Jazzy Jeff’s A Touch of Jazz Studios. Released in 2002, it’s seductive, sensual and even self-reflective. Read more>>

Floetry with Common on The Jimmy Kimmel Show

Whatever happened to... the Wendy Williams movie?

Thinking the other day, it's 2009, wasn't there supposed to be a 2008 release date for the Wendy Williams movie starring Robin Givens? Did I miss it? Well anyway Wendy's TV show will get the go ahead for the spring 2009 TV season.

Sampling Explored in New Documentary

"Copyright Criminals: This is a Sampling Sport", a documentary about digital samplings head-on collision with copyright law, features many of hip-hop musics celebrated figures—including Public Enemy, De La Soul, the Beastie Boys, and Digital Underground—as well as emerging artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more. The documentary also provides an in-depth look at artists who have been sampled, such as former James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield, as well as commentary by another highly sampled musician, funk legend George Clinton. (Clinton says he got sued sampling his own stuff.)

A sneak preview of Copyright Criminals produced by Benjamin Frazen and Kembrew McLeod, was shown last week at Michigan Technological University. A national screening tour of cities, college campuses, and film festivals will soon follow beginning in the Spring 2009.

The courts ruling regarding copyright infringement and the possibilities of criminal prosecution has really effected the creative aspects of hip-hop...

The record labels response to this so-called "illegal" activities was to encourage rappers to make records minus easily recognizable samples, slow down and digitally manipulate samples, or better yet, have no samples at all. That in part was the essence of hip hop and it's culture. Taking something old and creating something new with it as stated in the trailer. No matter if it was a rhyme, a beat or a scratch. Now if you owned a record label, would you want to pay royalties to a performer not on your label for a sample? If you own a record label, wouldn't you sign artists that created simplistic beats and uncreative hooks that have no connection to the music of the past rather than being sued in court for copyright infringement? Makes perfect business sense, but bad sense in terms of the quality of hip hop that we hear on the radio today.

We all remember DJ Drama's felony arrest a year ago in Atlanta for making mixtapes.

Around the Urban AC Radio Dial...

Syndication One talk show host Warren Ballentine told listeners last week that his show would lose it's Atlanta affiliate 102.5 Grown Folks Radio (WAMJ). The talk is that Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden would move to the new Grown Folks Radio at 107.5 FM, while Ballentine and Al Sharpton talk shows would not. At the moment WJZZ 107.5 is still a smooth jazz station, but it looks like any day now the format will change. (How about next Monday?)

Radio One is in an interesting situation in the Atlanta market. They own WAMJ, WJZZ, Syndication One and they have ownership/partnership with Reach Media which owns the Tom Joyner Morning Show. However they will use Steve Harvey to go up against Joyner in the ratings. Joyner has a iron-clad contract with the Cox owned Urban AC station, Kiss 104.1 (WALR), which just happened to finish #1 in the latest ratings survey in Atlanta.



With the new format of R&B of the 90's and Today on 107.9 WRNB Philadelphia, many listeners and fans of "Soulful Sundays" with Dyana Williams, thought the show would end it's run at the station. Dyana's throwback soul of the 60's, 70's and 80's remains and moves from Sunday afternoon to Sunday morning at 9AM.

Former Majic 104.9 (KMJM St. Louis) midday host Chaz Saunders has resurfaced in the midday slot at 860 WNOV in Milwaukee. The station streams, so her fans in St. Louis can catch her on-line. Chaz a big market talent was let go by the Clear Channel station more than a year ago after working in St. Louis radio for 20 years.

Photos From The Inauguration

A great collection of photos from the inauguration of President Barack H. Obama, Jr. at Boston.com the website for the Boston Globe newspaper. Click here 48 photos in all

The Boondocks Aaron McGruder Defends Himself

Aaron McGruder, creator of the popular "Boondocks" comic strip, posted a statement on facebook and on a number of other sites, in response to the critisicm he has been receiving in which McGruder told an audience at Earlham College (Richmond, Indiana) on Martin Luther King Day, at least in the local reporter's account, that new president, Barack Obama, is not really black and that it is his wife who is "one of us" because she is descended from slaves.

Here's his statement:
For a long time now, I have tried to keep my opinions on the election and Barack Obama to myself. I occasionally do speaking engagements, which are not open to the press, and unfortunately some of my comments have been twisted around in a silly manner. The claim that I asserted our new President was not Black is categorically false.

I have seen an endless stream of Black pundits on TV pontificating about the significance of President Obama's election - many of them making reference to the 3/5th's clause in the constitution regarding slaves. The point I was making is that this is not an accurate comparison. Barack is the son of an immigrant, not the descendant of slaves. It's like comparing a half-Japanese man to the oppressed Chinese who built the American railroads. Yes, they are both Asian, but it is not an honest or accurate comparison. We all share the common experiences of being Black in America today - we do not all share a common history. A history that in part makes us who we are - and in some cases (as with the psychological damage that still lingers from slavery) holds us back. These are not, I believe, insignificant distinctions. I did say I was cautiously pessimistic about Obama's Presidency - but this is simply acknowledging the reality of an American Empire that is out of control and on the verge of collapse. Let us not forget that on the eve of the election, we witnessed a near trillion dollar robbery of the US treasury. That robbery is still taking place.

I do not blame President Obama, but I do not believe the financial and corporate interests that own and control this country will fold so easily. I do not question the integrity of the man as much as the power of his office - which I believe has greatly diminished over the years. I believe the Federal Reserve Bank, the Military Industrial Complex, and the massive corporate interests that run this country have more power than our new President. I hope I am wrong. After 9/11, I witnessed the most of this country become obsessed with squashing dissent and silencing critics.

I hope this election does not turn Black America towards this same, fascist mind state; but already I am starting to see it, and it saddens me greatly. I absolutely wish our new President and his family success and safety. But after all I have witnessed in my lifetime, and especially in the last eight years, I am not ready to lay down my skepticism or my outrage for this government. To do so would be unwise and, ironically enough, anti-American.

Thoughts or comments?

Saturday Morning's "Auto Scoop" on V-103 Gets Chopped

Rodney Ho of the AJC reports that V-103 (WVEE Atlanta) has decided to end its weekly automotive advice and talk show “Auto Scoop” with Adam Goldfine and Quiet Storm host Joyce Littel. Program Director PD Reggie Rouse said he wasn’t ready to announce what will replace it, if anything. Auto Scoop is syndicated by CBS Radio to a number of other talk format stations around the country. No word yet on if the show will continue in syndication or on it's sister AM station 1380 WAOK...

I always thought the show never fit in the format of the Hip-hop/Urban station from 8AM to 10AM on a Saturday Morning. Especially since it was broadcast on WAOK at the same time and on television on CW69 also. Yes, I understand it was a good sell for advertisers and for consumers looking to buy a car on the weekend, but how in the world did a show about buying cars help the community on the so-called "The People's Station." Then again this is Atlanta, the home of the most bourgeois, perpetrating people in America and the Real Housewives of... need I say more.

Erica Cobb joins Alice

Hot Adult Contemporary station Alice 105.9 (KALC-FM Denver) adds Erica Cobb as morning co-host with BJ and Howie, beginning January 26. Cobb, a Chicago native, most recently served in a similar capacity with Eddie & Jobo at B96 (WBBM-FM Chicago) before they were downsized last December. She joined the duo from crosstown WKSC-FM in November, 2005. Amazingly, we have a job to report rather than a lay-off.

Are times that bad?

Ad agency hires prostitutes for talk-radio stunt
By Melissa Leong, National Post
As the snow fell Saturday night at the corner of Jarvis and Carlton streets, vehicles slowed to watch two sex workers on the corner. Some drivers honked. Others rolled down their windows to talk about the law.
The women held signs with a question: “Should prostitution be legal?”
The stunt is part of a controversial ad campaign created by the zig ad agency for CFRB 1010; it is their latest ploy to get people talking about issues in Toronto. Read more>>

The Politically Incorrect Benediction

Other than the swearing in of the 44th President, Barack H. Obama, Jr.; The best moment of the ceremony was the beginning of the veteran civil rights leader Rev. Joseph E. Lowery's closing prayer by evoking the verses from the Black National Anthem and ending with references to the BLACK MAN, BROWN MAN, YELLOW MAN, RED MAN and WHITE MAN... everybody "say AMEN, say AMEN, and AMEN." Many people were offended by what Rev. Lowery offered, but he's a 87 year old man. At that age you kind of get to say whatever you want to say. Of course Obama gives him a cordial hug at the end as if to say, "Please don't say no more."

What did you think of Aretha Franklin's hat? (Did Aretha really say "SHUT UP" at 2:50 into the video?)

Internet Video Fails at the Critical Moment

It looks like Radio and TV wins over the internet!


Were you like many of us who thought they were going to be able to watch it on your computer? Mike Wendland, the technology reporter of the Detroit Free Press writes about how many of us were not able to see the inauguration over the internet.


At the crucial time - high noon, when Barack Obama took the oath of office as America's 44th President - the Internet failed its biggest test today, unable to deliver on its promise of providing live streaming video. Unknown millions tried to tune in for the noon swearing in service end but ended up blank screens. I tried them all - Freep.com, MSNBC, Fox, ABC, CNN, the New York Times, CSpan and others - and without exception, they all failed. After about eight minutes into the speech, I had sporadic luck with the Washington Post stream, which, despite hiccups, delivered the only available live stream I could find on my Comcast broadband connection. Judging by the running commentatary on chat rooms form others who couldn't get the video streams, my experience was the norm.

"Server busy"... "Too many viewers" ... "Try again, too busy"... "Stream Not Available" were the messages I most often received when I tried to watch the various sites in the moments leading up to the noon swearing in and the new president's acceptance speech. Read more...

Change Has Come to WRNB, Mo'Nique is Out

107.9 WRNB Philadelphia is still an Urban AC station but may be patterning themselves after KRNB Dallas "105.7 the New R&B." The station will now feature a music mix of R&B music from the 1990’s up to current R&B sounds. According to the station, research concluded that the Philadelphia radio listeners were asking for a more contemporary urban adult radio station instead of a traditional Urban AC.



The station will feature more artist like Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Babyface, Maxwell, Mary J Blige, Mint Condition, while WRNB's playlist will no longer feature R&B from the 70's and 80's. With the format change comes a new line-up with the morning show and midday shows remaining the same with The Tom Joyner Morning Show and Mo’Shay Laren. Philly radio icon Lady B returns to afternoons from 3pm-7pm and DC Todd from 7pm to midinght with the Mo'Nique show dropped from the line-up. In these economic times, it's interesting to note that Radio One would allow one of its stations to drop a syndicated show like The Mo'Nique Show, after chairman Alfred Liggins said that Mo'Nique would become a radio star.



The station is now known as "The New Sound of 107.9 WRNB, R&B of the 90’s and Today." That's a mouthful.

Clear Channel Job Cuts 1,850 Jobs, 9% of it's Workforce

Among the positions being eliminated across the country are:

After 19 years, Jamillah Muhammad, Program Director for Clear Channel’s Mix 92.3 WMXD in Detroit is out. She was also the producer of Keith Sweat’s quiet storm/slow jams show “The Sweat Hotel.”

Hot 92.3 KHHT Los Angeles Program Director R-Dub! is out. Recently Westwood One signed exclusive rights with RDub!'s syndicated show “Sunday Nite Slow Jams with R Dub!". The show is syndicated to more than 50 U.S. stations along with outlets in Mexico, Brazil, and the U.K.

Assistant Program Director /Music Director at Urban AC WDAS-FM/Philadelphia, Jo Gamble has exited the company.

President Barack Obama

Closer to The Dream

If you don't have your parents or grandparents with you anymore, what would they say on a day such as this?

John Legend "If You're Out There"

John Legend rehearses "If You're Out There" before his performance at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and discusses the inspiration for this new song.

Pimpin' the History and Legacy of Obama

Ashford and Simpson's "We're Solid, Solid as Barack", Hennesey 44? Ben and Jerry Ice Cream? Yes Pecan. Yes this is real...


The historic election of Barack Obama has helped fuel the blogosphere like no other event in recent history. What are bloggers saying about tomorrow's inauguration?

From ice cream to cognac, the President-elect has inspired an industry of Obama merchandise. Tony Cox of News and Notes talks with Harry Allen of Media Assassin; Patrice Yursik of Afrobella; and Robert Redding of Redding News Review.


Click here to listen

Bill Cosby Says I Won't Be Watching TV One Buffoonery

In a phone interview this morning on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Bill Cosby made some revealing comments regarding the Presidential Inauguration Coverage. Joyner asked Cosby what he will be doing during the inauguration. Cosby told Joyner that he and his wife would be watching the coverage on C-SPAN. Joyner immediately suggested that he watch TV One. Cosby's reply was that he wasn't going to watch a channel that would refer to the "anatomical proportions of Mrs. Obama."


What was Cosby referring to? During last year's Democratic National Convention, commentator Michael Eric Dyson began discussing white women's flat butts and Michelle Obama's voluptuous one.


Joyner's reaction was "That was on BET!" and he would be on TV One. (Joyner was obviously incorrect) Cosby made a point that tomorrow's inauguration coverage needed to be done with respect.

Syndication One Broadcast Live From DC

Syndication One and the Radio One Network will broadcast four nationally syndicated radio shows live from Washington DC for the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. Rickey Smiley, Yolanda Adams, Warren Ballentine, and Al Sharpton will feature exclusive inaugural coverage from Monday, January 19th through Wednesday, January 21st. Each radio show will engage predominately African American audiences with unique perspectives combining humor, inspiration, and entertainment along with continuous up-to-date coverage of inaugural events. On Inauguration Day, the radio personalities will host their shows from prime locations in DC.

Indie 103.1 Says to Listeners "We Won't Play Crap! We'll Going to the Internet."

Indie 103.1 (KDLD/Los Angeles) signed-off with Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” last week. The station is now stunting with a 5 song loop interspersed with announcements that the station is moving to an internet-only operation. The following message is what listeners are hearing when they tune into 103.1 FM.

The station known to play edgy and alternative artists, with eclectic programs, even sparked interest from Prince, who made an in-studio appearance recently and debuted some digital tracks from his upcoming album at the station. Here are some listener's comments from the LA Times.


The station is now featuring contemporary regional Mexican music as “El Gato.”

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -
Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option — to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.

Farai Chideya Leaves Host Chair With Grand Master Flash Interview

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are synonymous with the birth of hip hop. The rap group's DJ "Grand Master" is ionterviewed by News and Notes host Farai Chideya. Flash was the group's mastermind, and in the late 1970s, the group's performances in New York public parks and nightclubs helped give hip hop its identity. He chronicles his life and career in the book, "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash: My Life, My Beats."

Listen to the radio interview as Grand Master Flash talks about how the group's most famous records drove him to drug addiction. Farai bids her farewell also.

Farai Chideya has officially left News and Notes as host, however she will be back in a cameo role during the inauguration coverage on Tuesday. News and Notes' last broadcast will be March 20, 2009 due to budget cuts by (NPR) National Public Radio.

Tony Cox will take over as the host of the show. On his blog Cox vows "...As host, I promise we will continue to bring to you the same insightful, sometimes controversial, but always relevant stories of and by people who often slip below the mainstream radar."

In her final blog Chideya says, "...You guys are the best audience ever. I cannot tell you how much it means to wake up with your e-mails every day and go to sleep knowing that somewhere, someone is listening to News & Notes. Today is my last day as host of NPR's News & Notes. I will always be a friend to the show and to public radio."

Porsche Foxx Reveals Details About Her Departure at V-103

Porsche Foxx, former midday host at CBS Radio's Atlanta urban radio station V-103 (WVEE), tells Rodney Ho of the Atlanta Journal Constitution that she left the station amicably, that it had nothing to do with drugs or alcohol. She did say she discovered a lump in her left breast three weeks before she left V-103. She said she lacked “support” from the station management. Read more in Rodney's blog...

Tom Joyner Live From DC Next Week

The Tom Joyner Morning Show will be in Washington D.C. covering the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama with live broadcasts, special guests and exclusive programming from Jan. 19 – 21.

The radio show will offer unprecedented coverage of the historical occasion, including exclusive interviews, surprise guests and award-winning commentary on the official and unofficial events of the week. Additional coverage, information, and exclusive content will be available on BlackAmericaWeb.com. Airing live each day from 6 to 10 a.m., Joyner, together with co-hosts Sybil Wilkes and J Anthony Brown, will be live from one of D.C.’s most celebrated neighborhood restaurants, Ben’s Chili Bowl, in a broadcast to commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Monday, Jan. 19.

The TJMS will have a history-making “party with a purpose” on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, when the crew will spread out around the city to keep listeners informed of every activity of the day, including broadcast spots on Constitution Ave, Pennsylvania Ave and the U.S. Capitol. Plus, listeners can join in the “BlackAmericaWeb.com Blog Party” as well for “man on the street” reports from special news correspondents.

Sirius XM Satellite Will Provide 17, That's Right 17 Channels of Obama

SIRIUS XM Radio will offer extensive uninterrupted coverage of the inauguration ceremony as well as special broadcasts with commentary and interviews across 17 channels.

SIRIUS XM Radio will simulcast on CNN, CNN En Espanol and Fox News Network, and will offer a channel dedicated to Washington, D.C. area traffic and weather.

Gayle King will devote several broadcasts to the inauguration on the Oprah & Friends channel from Washington, including a special two-hour live post-inauguration broadcast with special guests from the SIRIUS XM Radio studios near the Capitol. Jamie Foxx and The Foxxhole, his exclusive 24/7 SIRIUS XM channel, will also broadcast live from Washington with co-hosts Claudia Jordan and Speedy Caldwell.

Below are details of SIRIUS XM Radio's Inauguration Day Coverage:

OPRAH & FRIENDS• Gayle King continues her in-depth coverage and celebration of Obama's journey to Washington on The Gayle King Show, her exclusive daily show. The Gayle King Show will air January 19th and January 20th from 8 am - 9am ET.The Inauguration Day show will feature a special interview with Inaugural Poet Elizabeth Alexander - the fourth poet in American history invited to recite a composition at a presidential inauguration. On January 21st at 1 pm ET, King will host a live two-hour post-inaugural special from the SIRIUS XM Radio studios near the US Capitol in Washington, DC. King and a wide variety of notable guests will explore this history-making event from every angle and take calls from around the country.• On January 20th at 10 am ET Dr. Maya Angelou will examine what it means to be American today and the notion that we are more alike than not during this historic time on The Dr. Maya Angelou Show. Dr. Angelou will be joined by Americans from all walks of life, including people from mixed race families, and people representing the political spectrum. Korean violinist Sonia Lee will also perform the version of the national anthem she will play at the inauguration.

JAMIE FOXX'S THE FOXXHOLE• Jamie Foxx's The Foxxhole will continue its unprecedented coverage of Barack Obama's ascendancy to the White House. On Inauguration Day, January 20th, Jamie Foxx and Foxxhole radio hosts Claudia Jordan and Speedy Caldwell will be live from Washington, DC to cover the historic event. The Foxxhole - SIRIUS channel 106 and XM channel 149 - is Jamie Foxx's exclusive 24/7 comedy and entertainment SIRIUS XM radio channel. Foxx serves as executive producer of the channel and hosts a live, weekly show.

THE POWER• The Power, the nation's only 24/7 radio channel exclusively dedicated to African-American talk programming, will begin its inaugural coverage at 6 am ET on XM channel 169 with host Joe Madison, "The Black Eagle," live from Capitol Hill. The channel's coverage will continue with Joe Madison's live broadcast from the rooftop of the Comcast building overlooking the inaugural ceremony and parade.• At 1 pm ET, Reverend Al Sharpton will take to the air with his coverage of the inauguration as he follows the parade through the streets of Washington, DC.• The Power host Armstrong Williams will pick up the coverage at 9 pm ET with interviews from celebrities, entertainers, sports stars and elected officials from several balls and the inaugural ceremony earlier in the day. Armstrong Williams' guests will include Dr. Maya Angelou, Mary J. Blige, Kevin Liles, Actor Robert Davi, Shirley Caesar, Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, and Dr. Dorothy Height.

Happy Birthday Dr. King! January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.





The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Radio One Will Pull the Plug On Smooth Jazz in Atlanta

Radio One/Atlanta has dismissed the remaining local air talent of its longtime smooth jazz property, 107.5 WJZZ. Program Director Dave Kosh and air talent Greg Fitzgerald have exited. Radio One will abandon the smooth jazz format for Urban AC. The station at the moment is still playing smooth jazz music. Speculation has it that Steve Harvey will headline the new format at 107.5 FM.

At the moment, Steve Harvey is the morning show over at Radio One's Grown Folks Radio 102.5. However 107.5 has a much stronger signal than 102.5. Despite that fact, Grown Folks Radio has been gaining in the ratings and the station has made a few moves recently by signing up veteran Atlanta talent like Magic Man, Carol Blackmon and Denise Dunbar. Moving that talent over to 107.5 might prove to be more profitable for Radio One.

Grown Folks Radio features Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton talk shows in the middays, with Michael Baisden in the afternoons and "Si-Man Baby " evenings.

Tavis Smiley Opens "America I Am" Today in Philadelphia

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia will host the world debut of America I AM: The African American Imprint, a new exhibition celebrating nearly 500 years of African American contributions to our country. The touring exhibition will open at the Center on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth date on January 15, 2009, and run through May 3, 2009, before continuing its 10-city, four-year tour.


Covering more than 13,000 square feet at the Center, the exhibition will present a historical continuum of pivotal moments in courage, conviction, and creativity that solidifies the undeniable imprint of African Americans across the nation and around the world. The more than 200 artifacts and information within the exhibition will provide context to how African Americans have contributed to and shaped American culture across four core areas: economic, socio-political, cultural, and spiritual, up to present-day events, including the inauguration of the first African American president.

900 AM WURD Radio in Philadelphia will provide live coverage of the event on-line.

Tom Joyner, radio talk show host, Dr. Cornel West, professor of African American studies at Princeton and Tavis Smiley, radio and television show host, get a preview of the artifacts in mobile exhibit leading up to "America I AM: The African American Imprint" museum exhibit.
AP Photo by Cheryl Gerber

Sirius XM Satellite Channels Are Back "Backspin" and "The Strobe"

Sirius XM listeners will be able to listen to The Strobe and Backspin beginning Thursday. The Strobe and Backspin will bring back disco/classic dance and old school hip-hop respectively to SIRIUS and XM. Additionally, The Beat Morning Show will launch on BPM on January 15. The daily show will feature popular dance hits and be hosted by former Beat program director Geronimo.

Sirius XM’s Backspin channel will feature the best of old school rap and hip-hop. The channel will be the home of several specialty shows including Ladies’ First with Monie Love and Zulu beats with Afrika Bambaataa, Mick Benzo and The Cutman LG.

“Bringing back The Strobe and Backspin, and adding The Beat Morning Show, is part of our commitment to respond to our subscribers’overwhelming passion for our service,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, Sirius XM Radio. “We are fortunate to have an enthusiastic audience that embraces satellite radio with unprecedented fervor. We will continue to listen to them as we strive to create the best audio entertainment experience available.”

Soulja Boy Tells 'Em How To Fool Radio PD's and DJ's

A blog is reporting>> Hip-hop sensation Soulja Boy Tell 'Em generated interest for his smash-hit debut "Crank That Soulja Boy" by assuring radio stations it was the new single by 50 Cent or Britney Spears. The savvy teenager printed labels with the stars' names on just to make sure DJs gave his track a listen - and once they did they were hooked. He explains, "I put a whole lot of different people's names just to catch people's attention, so they can hear it." That's how the word spread about the song, and basically it made me famous. It was a good idea to do it."

Hmmm... OK, I believe that one. Wow and to think, he came up with that one all by himself.

Amazing.

Next he's gonna tell us he's going to pull up his pants, become a role model for the youth, and clean up his lyrics! LOL

Petey Greene Documentary To Air On PBS

Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene to premiere on February 3, 2009 on the Emmy® Award–Winning PBS Series Independent Lens. The film captures the extraordinary life of the Washington, DC media personality who was America’s first “shock jock.”

“So grab your head and make a fist. Listen to me and remember this. That I’ll tell it to the hot, tell it to the cold, tell it to the young and tell it to the old. I don’t want no laughing; I don’t want no crying and most of all, no signifyin'.” —Petey Greene

A great documentary that goes beyond the feature film "Talk to Me" starring Don Cheadle and Taraji P. Henson. This film has a lot of footage of Petey Greene's TV show that was thought to be lost. You might be surprise to find out the influence he has had on many people who have prominent positions in the media and political arena today. It was enough for me to see Petey Greene tell Howard Stern to shut up cracker ...and Howard shut the hell up too.

Coz Carson Leaves US Talk Network

Talk show host Coz Carson tells The Redding Report that he has left USTalkNetwork.com to return to music radio. "I am looking forward to putting down the political activist moniker for a while and concentrating on entertainment and music." Carson, who had once been ranked one of the top talk show hosts in America by Talkers magazine, says that he has accepted a midday music host position with Ackley Media Group in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He says he is looking forward to discussing "life issues" on WWKS-FM in St. Thomas.

Carson media stops have included morning talk host on 1600 WWRL in New York, Program Director at 1690 WVON in Chicago and Press Secretary for former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

Byron Pitts added to 60 minutes

The veteran, award-winning CBS News Correspondent Byron Pitts has been named a contributing correspondent to 60 Minutes it was announced Jan. 13, 2009, by Jeff Fager, executive producer of the broadcast. Pitts, who has appeared on 60 Minutes periodically since 2006, will be featured regularly beginning in the 2009-10 season and will report at least six stories. He will also continue to work for the CBS Evening News With Katie Couric, but with the new title of chief national correspondent.

Recently Byron's wife, Lyne Pitts, stepped down as vice president of NBC News, to write a book and to move "to the next phase" of her career.

"The Huxtable Effect" - Cosby on Meet The Press

Bill Cosby was asked to comment on the suggestion that his landmark television show "The Cosby Show" set the stage for an Obama presidency. Cosby dismisses any connection, however I believe the show has played some part in bringing forth an acceptability factor for the next President.

I was sent a video that links the Obama's move to the White House to the opening theme of "The Jeffersons." You know "We're Movin' On Up... to the East Side to a DEE-luxe apartment in the sky." It really doesn't work when you move from the Hyde Park section of Chicago to the White House. Comedians are going to have to work a lot harder instead of using racial stereotypes with Barack Obama and his family. It simple doesn't work. Maybe it's The Huxtable Effect.

"The Huxtable Effect" question is at the 7:00 mark.

The article "Before Obama, There Was Bill Cosby" explores the effect of "The Cosby Show" on popular culture.

...But one idea seems to be gaining traction, and improbably it has Bill Cosby and Karl Rove in agreement: “The Cosby Show,” which began on NBC in 1984 and depicted the Huxtables, an upwardly mobile black family — a departure from the dysfunction and bickering that had characterized some previous shows about black families — had succeeded in changing racial attitudes enough to make an Obama candidacy possible. More in the NYTimes article>>

Endless Possibilities at the CES 2009

Mario Armstrong covers the (Consumer Electronics Show) CES 2009 in Las Vegas at his website. Check out more videos along with some neat gadgets like Pico Projectors for business presentations and "Dick Tracy" watches. Amazing!

The following videos feature new technology and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges along with Intel's Smart Car with Wimax in-dash internet video streaming. Mario Armstrong reports not only for his website Digital Spin, but he contributes to internet based US Talk Network and NPR.

Sounds like radio needs to upgrade the content they now make available on their websites and the way it is delivered to consumers. With this technology your radio becomes obsolete... maybe in-studio streaming with camera ready jocks? If you take a look at newspapers, then radio should realize they can't continue to do business as usual. Hopefully local content won't become obsolete either.

Listen to Mario's question at the end of this vid. Sounds like Intel's chairman Craig Barrett might want to go to the strip in the VIP and pop some champagne.

Some Folks Get Buzzed Over Satellite TV at CES 2009

If you read the following blog from Gadget Blog, then you might wonder who gave the go ahead for this service from AT&T in this economy. (Can I apply for his job or is it that AT&T has a useless and expensive satellite up in space not doing anything?)

There are some serious flaws in this technology that some see as a threat to Sirius Satellite Radio. In my opinion satellite content just isn't going to be a viable entertainment option for consumers when wireless technology is not going anywhere. Maybe AT&T should just stick with phones.

Come this spring, parents will have another tool at their disposal when it comes to shutting up kids in the backseat. Called Cruisecast, it's AT&T's foray into car-based satellite TV, and it's expensive.

And heavy. To get the promised 20 channels of satellite TV programming, users will have to install a 3lb., 11.3-by-10.3-by-4.3-inch antenna on their roof that's "not particularly noticeable," says AT&T. They've obviously never driven off to work with a laptop on the roof, which is what this sounds like. Believe me, people notice this kind of thing, especially when it falls off in the middle of the freeway.

While the number of channels appears to be set in stone, the full lineup is unknown. So far, the confirmed family-friendly focused channels include the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Discovery Kids, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network Mobile, USA, Comedy Central, MSNBC, CNN Mobile Live, and CNBC. Twenty satellite radio stations are also included in the package, which costs $1300 up front for the system, and $28 a month for the service.

Service cut-outs that occur when similar services go under a bridge or into a tunnel, like my ancient 4-year-old Sirius XM radio receiver, will be addressed—allegedly—by AT&T's proprietary "breakthrough buffering technology."

Additionally, there was no word on the kind of insurance claim one should file when the satellite receiver caves in your roof, but we'll keep an eye out for an update.

A silly animated marketing video from AT&T at cruisecast.

Clear Channel Cuts Will Take Place On Inauguration Day

From T-R-I One reader puts it this way – “Barack Obama gets inaugurated into office under the halo of ‘change’, and it appears that Clear Channel will use that day, ironically, to make all of the moves they are going to make.”

He says “if it really happens that way, it’s also a bit of distraction. While America is paying attention to the new president, Clear Channel will be changing and 're-engineering.’ Most changes are expected to be off mic, with layoffs coming in sales and operations departments. Stay tuned...

Notorious: The Event of Our Lifetime? Hardly

From Paul Porter of IndustryEars.org -
Notoriously Overrated: What Was so Big about Biggie Smalls?

If you ask any Hip Hop fan who are the greatest rappers of all time, dead or alive, he will, most likely, put Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace in the top five. Any omission of "Biggie Smalls" is considered Hip Hop blasphemy. Even highly educated college professors have made a career out of quoting Wallace's lyrics like "The 10 Crack Commandments" as if they were part of some sacred text.

Even today, if you go to any Hip Hop clothing store in any city in America you can still buy the T-Shirt of The Notorious BIG with the crown on his head for 20 bucks. However, as it is with most American icons, we never take a minute to ask, at the end of the day, what was this person's overall contribution to society that made him worthy of the accolades that we bestow upon him, posthumously.

The tragic story of the Notorious BIG is the cornerstone of the Hip Hop catechism and has been the subject of so many books, documentaries and magazine articles that I am not sure how much more light the film "Notorious" can shed on his life. I guess that the movie company, Fox Searchlight, is banking on the possibility that thousands of loyal Hip Hop fans will be willing to put down $8 a head just to pay homage to their dearly departed idol, even in the midst of a major Recession.

Read the rest of this blog on the above link^

Is he hating on Biggie or does Paul Porter make some valid points? What do you think?

I hope there isn't any violence in any movie theatre across the country on the weekend before the Dr. King Holiday and President Barack Obama's Inauguration. That's so tired and that aspect of hip hop needs to stop. It's time to move on and above that stuff.

Given the fact that Biggie died tragically, I would hope the movie sends a strong message against violence. But that would be expecting too much, wouldn't it? The violence is one of the reason's why the movie was made. Biggie Smalls is hardly a hip hop idol for today's youth, who are between 15-23 years old. Unless they are banking on a lot of people 25+ to flood the movie theatres. So I expect another movie that glorifies the sex, money and violence. I greatly respect Angela Bassett (she plays Biggie's mother) as an actress, therefore I would hope her involvement in the project would signal something different.

In any event, despite what the ads are saying, this is not the event of our lifetime. Regardless of the hype, I'm not taking any chances... I'll see ya on DVD. Good marketing campaign, though.

"The Morning Mash Up" Joins the XM Lineup

Beginning Monday, January 12, The Morning Mash Up! beams down on SIRIUS Hits 1 SIRIUS channel 1 and XM 20on20 channel 20. The morning show is hosted by Rich Davis, Nicole Biggins, Stanley T Evans and Ryan Sampson.

Every weekday, The Morning Mash Up! discusses the biggest celebrity news and everything related to pop culture. The crew has interviewed A-list celebrities and musicians, including, Paula Abdul, Christina Aguilera , Jessica Alba, Kevin Connolly, Jamie Foxx, Adrian Grenier, Paris Hilton, Randy Jackson, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Pattinson, Jerry Seinfeld, Ashlee Simpson, Timbaland, Pete Wentz, Kanye West and many others.

By joining XM’s 20on20 lineup, The Morning Mash Up! will now be available to over 20 million subscribers. The Morning Mash Up! airs Mondays-Fridays from 6:00 am – 12:00 pm ET on SIRIUS Hits 1 SIRIUS channel 1 and 20on20 XM channel 20. SIRIUS Hits 1 gives listeners the best new music first and all the hits they know and love.

For more information on The Morning Mash Up!, please visit www.sirius.com/siriushits1 and http://www.xmradio.com/.

Obama Has The "*****-i-tises"

...you know it rhymes with arthritises.

In a 2001 "lost episode" of Check, Please!, a PBS restaurant review program, then state senator Barack Obama reviewed the "Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop" in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Obama talks about eating a few of the pancakes at this restaurant and beginning to nod off. I don't think the others at the table quite understood what he was talking about.

The full episode will air on January 16th at 8:00PM on the PBS station in Chicago, Channel 11 WTTW. What a great name for a restaurant, huh?

Midday Change at Kiss in Columbia

Tre Tailor has been relieved of her duties as midday personality for Citadel’s urban AC “Kiss 103.1” WLXC in Columbia, SC. She tells The State newspaper she was “shocked” by the decision. She has been replaced by former afternoon jock Doug Williams.

Hundreds Protest In Oakland Over BART Shooting

A steady stream of mourners passed by the wreath-flanked casket of Oscar Juliuss Grant III, and by the time his funeral service began Wednesday morning, an overcapacity crowd of about 1,000 people had packed into the South Hayward's (California) Palma Ceia Baptist Church.

Raw Video: Angry Citizens Confront Oakland Police over murder of Oscar Grant.

News and Notes interviews the attorney for Oscar Grant's family. A $25 million lawsuit is expected to be filed agianst BART. Hundreds of protestors in Oakland smashed storefronts and cars, set cars on fire, and blocked streets over the death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant. Listen Here>>

Lil' Wayne on ESPN

Lil' Wayne appears as a guest and debates with Skip Bayless on ESPN's 1st and 10. Lil' Wayne more or less predicts an Oklahoma win over Florida in the BCS College Football Championship Game.

Black Man's Assasination Gets Little National Media Coverage

It's been a week since Oscar Grant III was murdered by a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Police Officer on New Year's Day. However it seems the media coverage outside of San Francisco regarding this story has been pretty much non-existentant. At this point some are suggesting that the officer mistakenly pulled out his gun instead of a taser. In any event another Black Man has been murdered and ignored, while the media covers the tragedy that hit the Travolta family or senatorial bid by Roland Burris.

Are there any dangers in the fact that Black Media is basically control by very few people? That would be Clear Channel, Radio One, and ABC Radio. Does a story like this even exist in the collective minds of Black people if Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden don't cover it? Surprisely, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson have been quiet on the murder. Not even NPR's News and Notes covered this story. Bill Anderson of independently owned WURD Radio seems to be the only Black radio host/personality that has discussed this on his program.

With the election of a Black President, does it mean that when injustices occur, African Americans are to be quiet? If you remember a little over a year ago, many people were outraged and socially/politically active over the Jena 6, but now there is silence. Interesting...

100.3 The Beat Makes Lineup Changes

DJ Touchstone

Radio One's 100.3 The Beat (WPHI) will eliminate the late night program "Loveland", in favor of a more upbeat show at 10 p.m. featuring the "World's Number 1 Blind DJ", DJ Touchstone. Touchtone leaves the earlier evening slot at 6 p.m., while co-host Kendra G will go solo from 6-10 p.m.

Radio One's Operations Manager Elroy Smith said, "Both Kendra G and Touchtone did an incredible job as a team from 6-10 p.m. Allowing them to shine individually will give this station a huge injection. Since every urban station in Philly is slow at 10 p.m., we wanted to be different. We believe this move allows us to be hip, vibrant, young and fun. We are destined to raise the bar."