L.A. radio station 93.5 The Beat (KDAY) has decided not to renew the contract of "The Steve Harvey Morning Show." The station will go with a new morning show called "The Morning Beat."
A year ago KDAY had an ALL syndicated host with Harvey, Mo'Nique, Wendy Williams, Michael Baisden, and Keith Sweat. Baisden now remains as the station's only syndicated host. KDAY most likely is dropping Harvey as a budget move.
Earlier this week Steve Harvey lost another affiliate in Greensboro, North Carolina, when Clear Channel decided to change the Urban AC format on Kiss 105.7 (WMKS). The new format is a Top 40 music station known as "105.7 Hit Music Now."
It looks like Tom Joyner's decision to buy the morning drive time slot at Soul 106.3 (WSRB) in Chicago is paying off in better ratings at the station. The Tom Joyner Morning Show has grown the stations ratings by 300%, from 0.8 to a 2.4 share, in the 25-54-year-old target demo in the latest ratings survey.
"Bonnie Sweeten you just blamed two Black guys carjacked you and your daughter, where are you going next?" I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!! -my tweet on twitter
Don't bother watching the entire video, media's coverage of this hoax never mentions the damaging effect that this accusation has on the perception of Black men. Most media outlets ran the story as fact on Wednesday. Even the husband thought the hoax was true!
Now who's there to express the outrage of a Caucasian falsely accusing African American men of a crime? It sure isn't most Black radio stations.
If you've following the back and forth of the Performance Royalty Tax debate, many radio listeners could care less about the predicament Black radio stations find themselves. In particular most people feel no love towards Radio One and it's founder Cathy Hughes. Many people feel that Radio One turned their backs on the Black community years ago by adopting a business practice that resembles large media corporations. Many folks feel that Black radio should suffer because of what has been programmed to the community the last ten years. They call it karma. They want to see Black radio die a slow death.
But Black radio is not just Radio One. There are a few independent Black radio stations left in America that do serve the community. It's the main reason I do not support a Performance Royalty Tax. There are a few lone voices out there and this incident the other day that triggered an amber alert across the Philadelphia area is the main reason why Black radio stations and media should not be allowed to just die off.
Maybe one day Radio One will get their act together. But part of serving the community is giving the people in it a voice or outlet to express their opinion and bringing forth information that otherwise does not get covered in the mainstream media, not just playing today's Hip Hop, R&B and Classic Soul.
Radio, it seems would best serve it's own interest if it began to emulate social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. It's all about building a community. However large media conglomerates' model for success is to duplicate the same programming all across the country to maximize profits.
Today's column in the Philadelphia Daily News from Elmer Smith and a report on CBS3 news Philadelphia, are the only mainstream media outlets to cover the damaging aspects of Sweeten's accusations. And that's simply not enough. So where do we turn? Maybe a small independent Black radio station, or a Black newspaper, the Sunday morning public affairs program at 6:00 A.M. on your local urban station ...or your social network of Internet friends and followers that give voice to the issues of the day. Urban radio you're missing an opportunity.
Radio One has trimmed pay by as much at 10 percent and reduced its corporate office hours at its Maryland headquarters in an effort to cut cost, said its founder. "We are closing every other Friday," Cathy Hughes told XM 169's Joe Madison during a radio interview. "We've all taken three, five, seven or 10 percent pay cuts depending on what category your annual compensation was," Hughes said. "We've voluntarily turned in vacation time, we furloughed and now we're closing corporate - we're closing Lanham (Maryland)- every other Friday to stay afloat.
The radio company has also made other cuts and layoffs at its other properties as well, according to a source. Still, the company stock price is trading as low as 38 cents, moving down almost 20 percent, according to Morningstar.
Hughes made her remarks while taking aim at Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, who is touting the need for all radio stations to pay performance royalties to artists for playing their music. Satellite radio already pays performance royalties. Radio observers says that the performance royalties may put a third of black-owned stations out of business. Source: Redding News Review
“I’ll tellyou what will happen,” (if the Performance Royality Tax becomes law) “You won’t get anymore new music, because I will only play a song by an artist who is proven, or dead and proven. I’m not going to play a song to see if the audience likes it -Tom Joyner
Small independent radio owner talks about the impact of a potential Peformance Royalty Tax
While listening to a Radio One station last week, I heard Cathy Hughes pleading with listeners to contact Rep. John Conyers over the Performance Royalty Tax. At this point I'm not sure what contacting Rep. Conyers can do, but what is interesting is that her plea is directed towards the gospel music audience. She boldly says that if the Performance Royalty Tax bill passes through the U.S. Congress and becomes law, then Radio One will have to get rid of their gospel music stations. I was listening to an R&B station at the time.
Is that really true? Cathy why not some of Radio One's R&B and Hip-Hop stations?... Oh I get it Ms. Hughes, you need gospel music listeners to save the company's behind. That's a good look to target them for a number of reasons.
First, Gospel stations listeners are more passionate about "the Lord's music" and they would be willing to gather for a protest in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the Capitol. Next, this won't play well in those mega churches across the country. All they need is one Dollar, Jakes, or Long type to get behind this. You know Sharpton is already in the fold. The question begs to be asked, 'Is it better for radio stations not to pay gospel artist for their music versus not having a station at all to promote the Black church and it's music?' Besides most R&B and Hip-Hop listeners are already turned off by what they hear and there are other urban radio stations to listen to in most cities.
And finally, in many major cities Radio One owns the best sounding gospel station because it's on the FM band. Their "Praise" FM stations sound much better than the static, low powered AM gospel station they might be competiting with for ratings. They have a monopoly in that area. And the thought of gospel music going away on FM radio really won't sit well with the Chuch (church)... and let the people say Amen.
Do you have a HD radio? Do you even care about a HD Radio?
The radio industry has done an incredibly poor job of marketing the "superior sound quality" of HD radio. First of all it's too damn expensive. Second of all there isn't any programming or content that's makes it attractive enough to off set the cost of the radio.
The latest gimmick is when an old format is killed off on a standard FM station, corporate programmers move the format to a HD channel. Some how they expect the disgruntled fans of the old format to run to Best Buy and buy a HD radio because they miss the old format so much. The latest seems to be the case with the Smooth Jazz format. Let's just put it on HD radio!...or better yet let's put our AM radio news station on HD radio.
That sounds ridiculous like the guys in the DirecTV commercial. Listeners are more likely to pop in a CD or turn to satellite radio. I'm willing to bet less than 5% of the population even knows about HD radio. If you want people to listen to all those great hidden radio stations, then lower the cost and make it virtually free to automobile manufacturers.But what do I know.
The media around the country and in the Atlanta area are battling to get the first interview with Michael Vick since the football star left prison last week.
790 The Zone, home of "The Two Live Stews", has offered $50,000 to Vick, to be donated to the Humane Society in Vick's name, for the opportunity to talk to him since his release. Radio station spokeswoman Leslie Smith told the AJC she has not heard back from Vick’s agent.
Smith knows the offer is a long shot since plenty of media organizations with more clout and cash are vying for his attention. But she said it would be a “huge publicity boost” for him to do something for charity.
If you were Vick, your first interview will be with ESPN, count on it, unless Oprah is interested...
How big of a deal could waterboarding be? But now that I have watched this, I'm conviced that waterboarding is torture.
Syndicated morning talk show host Mancow, based out of Chicago's WLS, gets waterboarded. And doesn't like it. After this event, Keith Olbermann of MSNBC's Countdown, pledges $10,000 donation because Mancow was waterboarded.
Erich "Mancow" Muller thought waterboarding was no big deal. This morning, he and co-host Pat Cassidy found out. Providing a first-hand account of the controversial interrogation technique, Mancow & Cassidy gave the listening audience and TV cameras a dramatic account.
With Cassidy providing commentary, Fmr. Marine Sgt. Clayton South covered Mancow's face and stated that the average duration is 14 seconds. The procedure was over in eight seconds, but the effect on Mancow was most surprising to him. He was shaking for over an hour.
With radio revenues way down, Radio One let's go midday host, who was the former morning host still making a morning show salary
From Rodney Ho AJC, Rashan Ali, the mid-day host at Hot 107.9, was let go Thursday afternoon. Ali was part of the morning show for many years at Hot 107.9 with Griff and Emperor Searcy as the “A Team" until last summer, when they were re[laced by The Rickey Smiley Show. She was moved to mid-days, partly because she was still under contract. But she was making morning show money and Hot 107.9, like other radio stations, is in serious cost cutting mode.
Her contract was up in February but her agent Career Sports and Management got her a three month extension. Hot, she said, did not negotiate with her. Her contract is up May 31 but they decided to let her go a week early. She has a three-month non-compete clause, she said, so she is free to look for other radio employment in Atlanta which means she could be back on the air by September.
Since Ryan Cameron left Hot 107.9 in 2005, Ali has been the most identifiable personality at the station. When you think Hot 107.9, Rashan Ali is the first personality for me anyway, that comes to mind.
Clear Channel will end the 22 year run of Smooth Jazz 95.5 WNUA in Chicago. The station is the radio home of jazz keyboardist and morning host Ramsey Lewis. Lewis' morning show was syndicated to many smooth jazz stations across the country. According to the Chicago Tribune, Ramsey Lewis will sign off in the 9 a.m. hour on Friday morning (May 22), before the new format Spanish hot AC as "Mega 95.5" takes over at 9:55 A.M.
Earlier this week San Francisco's 103.7 KKSF flipped from Smooth Jazz to a Classic Rock format. So now there is really only ONE major Smooth Jazz terrestrial radio station left in the country which is 94.7 KTWV "The Wave" in Los Angeles. The Wave is owned by CBS Radio and R&B singer Brian McKnight is the morning host at the station. There are rumors that indicate a format change is in the works at KTWV as well.
There is no other situation in the country that even comes close to the relationship between a radio station and a community. Maybe WDAS in Philly comes close, but there is only an FM station there now, but then again there are other urban outlets in Philly owned by Radio One. Maybe WILD in Boston, which has no major Black FM station and only daytimer WILD; but the FM station never had the heritage position that WILD AM once enjoyed. WAMO FM is a top ten station in Pittsburgh and with WAMO AM, that has been part of a community for 55 years. Now it's set to simply have three urban stations go away in a few months.
Sly Jock, the legendary and now retired deejay of WAMO AM said they tried to fix things that were not broke. “They could never latch onto the community and when you lose the community you lose everything,” he said. “They completely shut out the old school.” Sly Jock said he hopes Pittsburgh can get another station that will cater to the community because that’s what it is all about—the community. “Pittsburgh is not a city for syndication such as “The Steve Harvey Show” and St. Joseph Missions is not going to hold out. WAMO must not have cared because they did not even warn the public that this was going to happen. It just did.”
Lakeisha Brown, daughter of Sly Jock and formerly known as “Kiki—The Midday Chick” of the FM side, says, “I feel bad for the people of Pittsburgh that had their hometown radio station for over 55 years. People have dedicated their craft to one talent meaning that you’ve had people who have done this one thing all their lives. It’s hard for some people to bounce from one craft to another. To true WAMO fans, it’s a heritage station.
“I feel it’s a sad day in Pittsburgh and it will never be the same without WAMO,” said R&B singer Ira Soul. “They did a lot for the community. Now that WAMO is gone you can utilize Pitt’s radio station, Point Park University and Carnegie Mellon University. Promoters in the city can still advertise with other radio stations and make their events successful
How "heritage" are the call letters for WAMO? The “AMO” comes from the names of the three rivers that flow together in Pittsburgh – Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio. So you can imagine how much the station is a part of the fabric of Pittsburgh and the African American community.
Sheridan spokesman Russ Bynum says WAMO's studio phones have been ringing constantly since the pending sale is still subject to FCC approval as it was announced over the weekend. "Mostly we're hearing from listeners who are sad to see this happen, but they understand that there are changes happening in every side of media," he said.
The station ranked among the top 10 in audience recently, Bynum said, which means the loss of WAMO's FM and AM signals will leave a gaping hole in urban broadcasting in our area. Bynum says, however, the locally based Sheridan Broadcast Network, which still operates urban stations in Atlanta, Buffalo and Birmingham, Ala., has a network of 300 affiliate stations across the country to which they provide blocks of music and news similar to that found on WAMO.
Personally, I wonder if the widespread acceptance of rap and R&B music among non-black listeners may have something to do with WAMO's impending sale. Long gone are the days when only black Pittsburghers listened to hip-hop sounds, and there are several other local FM stations where listeners can tune in for urban tracks.
In a way, WAMO seems to be suffering the same fate as black-owned businesses did in local black communities: When segregation began to fade in the post-civil rights era, there was no longer the need for stores catering mainly to blacks. Read more >> An urban station's loss may be positive
The date of the WAMO/WPGR format change is not known. It will happen within six months, if the FCC approves the deal. The new owner also would have the option to take over under a local marketing agreement and start running programming sooner. When that happens, Pittsburgh -- a city with a sizable black population -- will be without an urban format. Sheridan also was a major employer of African-Americans in on-air and management jobs at its stations. Eddie Edwards, the former owner of television station WPTT and a longtime champion of African-Americans in broadcasting, yesterday decried the loss of the radio stations, not only for their content but as employers in the community.
"It's disappointing," he said. "WAMO was, basically, their only hope. Television does a better job of hiring minorities, on-air and behind the scenes. But minorities are not being hired by radio. Read more >>: Questions remain about future of WAMO radio after its sale
Many believe the PPM Ratings system is one of the reasons Sheridan sold "WAM-O" 106.7 WAMO FM, 860 WAMO AM and WPGR, before the PPM rating system hit the Pittsburgh area
Complaints from minority broadcasters and others - like the New Jersey Broadcasters Association - find a receptive ear in Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps. He launches a Notice of Inquiry about whether Arbitron's People Meter undercounts minorities and disproportionately harms Black and Spanish broadcasters. Arbitron challenges the assertions of the "PPM Coalition" and says the Commission has no authority to investigate a third-party rating system.
BTW- It's not the Performance Royalty Tax that Black radio station owners have to worry about, PPM is a bigger concern and a greater threat to their survival.
Looks like Pittsburgh's Urban Stations won't have to pay for a Performance Royality Tax; Because there won't be any Urban stations there in a couple of months.
After 36 years of ownership, Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation has decided to sell WAMO-FM 106.7 and WAMO-AM 860 to St. Joseph Missions, a religious broadcaster, for $8.9 million. Also included in the package is WPGR-AM 1510, which was acquired by Sheridan in 2001.
106.7 WAMO (FM) is the Hip-Hop and R&B music station in PGH, while WAMO-AM 860 plays a mixture of smooth R&B and classic soul music and is the home base for Pittsburgh native, Bev Smith's talk show. WPGR-AM 1510 plays gospel music.
Did Sheridan Broadcasting decide to sell now, due to the impeding Performance Royalty Tax legislation?
The announcement was made during a full staff meeting on Friday afternoon (May 15) by CEO Ronald Davenport Sr. His son Ronald Davenport, Jr. is President/General Manager of the stations. Sheridan will keep its AURN radio network business in Pittsburgh, but all of the 35 full and part-time employees of WAMO AM/FM and WPGH will exit as the stations are expected to change to some kind of Catholic religious format under new ownership.
Sheridan is the principal owner of the American Urban Radio Networks, which supplies AUN News with White House correspondent April Ryan (the only African-American broadcaster with a bureau in the White House), Black College Sports, "The Bev Smith Show" and the "The Light" Gospel music service to many Black stations across the country. FCC approval of the sale is expected within the next 90 days.
Helen Little will be heard across the country on Saturday or Sunday evening on many Clear Channel stations. This promotion is called a "Listening Party" and can be heard over the air on the FM radio, Internet and the "iHeart Radio!" phone app. Helen Little is the midday host at 106.7 Lite FM New York.
Here are the stations:
WLIT The Lite 93.9 Chicago, IL www.litefm.com SAT 6P-12M WMYI My 102.5 102.5 Greenville, SC www.wmyi.com SAT 6P-12M WBBQ 104.3 Augusta, GA www.wbbq.com SAT 6P-12M WMXL My Mix 94.5 94.5 Lexington. KY www.wmxl.com SAT 6P-12M KSNE Sunny 106.5 106.5 Las Vegas, NV www.ksne.com SAT 6P-12M KSSN Sunny 102.3 102.3 Modesto, CA www.sunny102fm.com SAT 6P-12M KGBX 105.9 KGBX 105.9 Springfield, MO www.kgbx.com SAT 6P-12M KQXT Q101.9 101.9 San Antonio, TX www.softrock1019.com SAT 6P-12M KRVE 96.1 The River 96.1 Baton Rouge, LA www.961theriver.com SAT 6P-12M KKYS The Mix 104.7 104.7 Davenport, IA www.mix1047.com SUN 6P-12M WGSY Sunny 100 100.1 Columbus, AL www.sunny100columbus.com SUN 6P-12M WNIC 100.3 WNIC 100.3 Detroit, MI www.wnic.com SUN 6P-12M WLZT 93.3 WLZT 93.3 Columbus, OH www.933litefm.com SUN 6P-12M WKWK Mix 97.3 97.3 Wheeling, WV www.wk973.com SUN 6P-12M KGLI KG95 95.5 Sioux City, IA www.kg95.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WSHZ Star 108 107.9 Muskegon, MI www.star108.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WXMC Lite Mix 99.9 99.9 Mobile, AL www.litemix.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WYYY Y94FM Variety 94.5 Syracuse, NY www.y94fm.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WRNQ 92.1 Lite FM 92.1 Poughkeepsie, NY www.921litefm.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WERZ 107.1 FM 107.1 Portsmouth, NH www.werz.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M WNDH 103.1 The One 103.1 Napoleon, OH www.wndh1031.com SAT/SUN 6P-12M
To say the least this is quite interesting, sounds like another Premium Programming option or test run for PD's in those particular city...
Black Owned Radio Stations should NOT pay a Peformance Royalty
I've thought and thought about this... and I just don't understand how a performance royalty tax helps artist in the music industry. Rep. John Conyers and Rep. Sheila Jackson, who appeared on the Tom Joyner Morning Show today, have supported this bill that will allow the music industry to tax radio stations that play songs on the radio. Other than talk, news or sports, that's what radio does- play music.
This royality will go directly to the record companies and not the artist. Then in turn, they will be in charge of distributing it to the millions of artist, be it singers, drummers, keyboard players, etc. that have played a part in a song that is heard on the radio. I would love to see the size of a check of someone who sang backup or played in the horn section of an Earth, Wind and Fire song. Let alone try to find that kalimba player.
Rep. Jackson on the TJMS, cited the tragic case of Florence Ballard, a former member of Diana Ross and the Supremes, who died of a drug overdose and battled depression and alcoholism. Jennifer Hudson's role in Dreamgirls was loosely based on Ballard's life. Now are we to believe that a radio performance royalty check would have made the difference in Ballard's tragic demise. I really don't think so. I'm sorry Rep. Jackson seems so misinformed. Then to suggest that this legislation will rectify federal copyright laws that have been in place since 1909, before radio existed, makes me wonder why radio is the fallguy in all of this.
This is not a radio issue, it's a record industry issue. Radio stations pay a fee to BMI and ASCAP for the music they play already. It's been that way for years. The money goes to the songwriter and the producers. It's the nature of the music business. When a recording artist signs a record contract, they are with the understanding, that promotion, packaging and studio time to get a record out there has to be paid for by someone along the line. So maybe someone should pay the radio station to play a record so more people would buy it. Hmmm... It's OK as long as it is disclosed, otherwise it's called payola. That's bad and the government hates for something like that to be going on behind the scenes of the public airwaves. Anyway, the artist knows that they must sell records and go out on tour, or else they will end up owing money to the record company. Ask Toni Braxton, TLC and many others about bankruptcy.
Now some question the relevancy of saving Black radio. News flash! There is really no such thing as Black Radio anymore. Black radio died in the late 1990's with the Tel Com Act in 1996. More on that later. To be honest I would say there's is only one major market Black Radio music station in this country. Only one station that plays music on a regular basis, along with a daily news and community service programming... And does not have any syndicated programming... that station would be 102.3 KJLH Los Angeles owned by Stevie Wonder. So the whole notion of being angry or disatisified with Black radio as justification for letting today's "so-called" Black radio stations go by the wayside, makes no sense at all. Many say that's what they deserve because of the type of music that is programmed on a daily basis.
Back in 1996, the Tel Com Act, passed through Congress, without much fanfare. We now see more than a decade later the devastating effects that decision has had on the radio industry. This legislation allowed for media companies to own more than five radio stations in the same city. It also allowed companies to own TV, radio and newspapers in the same market. On top of that companies could also own an unlimited amount of stations across the country. We now have cookie cutter stations throughout the country and stations that many people just don't want to listen to anymore. Large media companies that can afford to pay a performance royalty are responsible for you hearing Soulja Boy "Get My Swag On" tens times a day, not Black radio. Remember Black radio doesn't exist any longer.
And given the state that radio is in today, adding a tax now, to an already suffering industry, just might do Black owned radio stations in.
The changing of the guard at WBAI (99.5 FM) has picked up speed, with longtime program director Bernard White put on 10-day suspension, which he says really means he's fired. "This is a termination," said White in a note to his supporters after he was ushered from the building Friday.
"I am not allowed in the building," he said, "and I am unable to retrieve my personal belongings that I have accumulated over my 29-year association with WBAI."
Critics of White and former station manager Anthony Riddle, who was offered a reassignment last week, say these moves are necessary to rebroaden WBAI's audience without compromising its original mission as a free-speech alternative to commercial media. Read more: Staff changes raise static at WBAI
The Empowerment Experiment (originally known as the Ebony Experiment or EE is now four months old) is much more than John and Maggie Anderson just supporting Black businesses only. It is the businesses they patronize, the entrepreneurs they support, the communities they help, and the millions of consumers, businesspeople, civic leaders, journalists and investors out there who are starting to talk about economic empowerment for Black people in America.
Now that we are supposedly in "beyond race" era in this country, this is interesting and seems to have garnered favorable media attention even from FOX ... not FOX News, but FOX Business Channel.
"Save Black Radio" rally was held in Detroit today, as the House Judiciary Committee, headed by Chairman Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich) passed a controversial bill to impose a performer's fee on over-the-air radio stations.
The Performance Rights Act would change law so that AM and FM radio stations would pay performerance royalties to play their songs, as is true with satellite, cable and Internet music services... More in The Detroit News
Black Radio on it's Death Bed!!! Some say Hispanic and Christian Radio as well
The outcome and the 21-9 vote weren't a surprise - though there was an unexpectedly spirited debate between Committee Chairman John Conyers, who's pushing H.R. 848, and California Rep. Maxine Waters, who is sharply opposed. There were last-minute tweaks to the "Performance Rights Act", including a break for stations billing less than $5 million a year. The NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) and the Free Radio Alliance continue to rally opposition for the floor fight that's coming to the full House. The NAB has about 200 signatures of the 218 that it needs to block passage.
A rally to "Save Black Radio" is scheduled to take place today, May 13 in front of Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) office in Detroit. Conyers won't be there; He will be inside the Capitol heading the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee meeting on Wednesday morning, where the bill may pass through committee.
Cathy Hughes, CEO and Founder of Radio One is seeking to call attention to the Performance Rights Act and how it will affect many African-American owners. Hughes claims this bill could “put many black owned radio stations out of business and force others to abandon their commitment to provide free music, entertainment, news, information and severely affect money losing formats such as gospel and black talk.” In a letter on Radio One Detroit websites, she encourages listeners to call and email Rep. Conyers.
Radio One Detroit is encouraging its listeners to gather at Conyers' office with talk host Mildred Gaddis of WCHB-AM, Tune Up of WDMK-FM (105.9 Kiss FM) and Reggie Reg of WHTD-FM (Hot 102.7) in a demonstration against the proposed legislation. The bill (House Bill 848) if passed would allow for the recording industry to charge up to 50% of revenue to radio stations in order for them to play music.
So far, there has been only one hearing on the bill and that hearing did not have any black ownership representation. Black radio owners and community leaders including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dick Gregory, Tom Joyner and Cathy Hughes have all been flatly refused by Conyers for opportunities for a hearing on this matter.
Since February, Rep. Conyers has proposed some changes in the wording and royalty rate of the initial bill including exemptions for smaller broadcasters. "It's bullsh*t!" said Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins III. "All the minority owned stations are in major metropolitan areas. Seventy-five percent of all African Americans live in top 50 markets, so those stations do bill over $1.25 million annually. There will be only a very few stations that meet those exemptions." Liggins says that of the 53 stations in the Radio One portfolio, "only about three will be exempt. That threshold is going to capture 90% of all the revenue in the industry. Conyers is trying to hide behind doing something for small broadcasters and, at the same time, getting done what he wanted to do." -Source R&R and AllAccess
VIBE Going After those Bloggers with their own Blog!
Vibe Magazine and the Vibe Media Group contacted us regarding the blogger hoax and said, "Rumors about VIBE Media Group filing for bankruptcy are completely false and have absolutely no merit. The source of this false rumor is a disgruntled blogger who didn't make VIBE's 50 Top Rap Blogs list posted last week. In fact, an announcement was made this morning about the launch of a new VIBE Media Group property, The MOST!.
As our post stated yesterday, Vibe Magazine, daily newspapers, and magazines are facing a stiff challenge from the Internet. Have you seen the latest EBONY Magazine with Jada Pinkett Smith on the cover? You can barely pick it up without it falling through your hands because it's so thin.
Here's the release:
June 1, 2009, New York City—VIBE Media Group, the definitive voice of urban culture, is rolling out two brand new properties entitled THE MOST! and THEMOSTmag.com. It will exist both in print and online. THEMOSTmag.com launches on June 1, 2009, and the premiere issue of THE MOST! hits newsstands nationwide on June 16, 2009.
True to the brand’s motto “All Up in The Bizness,” THE MOST! will feature celebrity fashion, lifestyle, red-carpet moments, travel, and news. THE MOST! will also review multiculturally-oriented television, DVDs, films, and book properties. THE MOST! will fill a void at the newsstand by reflecting VIBE’s commitment to urban style, celebrity, beauty and culture through a more tabloid-themed publication. A purely lifestyle and celebrity magazine featuring some of the most trendsetting stars in the world, THE MOST! is “urban” with pride and mega style.
“THE MOST! has an adventurous, fun spirit. Our goal with THE MOST! is to give our readers ‘the most’ of what they crave,” says Danyel Smith, Editor-in-Chief of VIBE/Vice President/Editorial Director of VIBE Media Group, and Founder of THE MOST!
VIBE first published tabloid issues in January 2008 and January 2009 with much success. Similar in design to THE MOST!, the January 2009 issue featuring Chris Brown and Rihanna has been the highest-selling issue to date of 2009, and the January 2008 issue featuring Kanye West was VIBE’s second-highest selling issue of 2008.
"We are excited to launch a fun, innovative media vehicle - both online and on newsstands. We believe there is a sweet spot in the consumer and advertiser marketplace for THE MOST! Advertisers across many categories are anxious to see this debut and we are proud to have leading brands from automotive, telecom, personal grooming and fashion industries in our launch issue," says VIBE Publisher Edgar Hernandez.
THEMOSTmag.com will function as a blog. The launch plan for print distribution of THE MOST! is twice a year at newsstands only (July 2009 and January 2010).
From R&R The Rev. Al Sharpton has let a longtime friend and advocate in the U.S. Congress know that legislation he's backing will hurt minority broadcasters via his daily Radio One talk show. Sharpton on Monday began encouraging his audience to let Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, know that the pending Performance Rights Act, a bill Conyers has fought hard for decades and which recently has picked up significant congressional support, would have a "devastating" impact on mom-and-pop stations, including minority-owned and operated outlets, according to David Honig, the executive director of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council.
The pending House legislation, H.R. 848, and its companion bill in the Senate, S.379, would require broadcasters to pay artists and performers a fee for broadcasting their recorded works. The smallest of broadcasters, those generating advertising revenues of $1.25 million or less, would pay only $5,000 a year.
But Conyers, who has recently received a barrage of letters from Jesse Jackson's Rainbow-Push Coalition, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and MMTC and has held several meetings with Honig and others representing minority broadcasters, is now expected to offer an amendment to the bill that would cut the rate to only $500 a year. The bill is tentatively set for markup in the House on Wednesday (May 13). All of them have asked Conyers to conduct a study on the impact the bill will have on minority broadcasters, including, perhaps, requesting a study by the Government Accountability Office. While Conyers hasn't promised anything, acknowledges Honig, they have left their meetings believing that more research on the subject would be conducted.
$500 a year seems like a small amount for the smallest of broadcasters, but I believe the point here is this: larger minority broadcasters would have to pay more and once you get someeting like this to become law, you'll never get rid of it. ...and who knows how much a peformance royalty rate will increase in the future which may mean bankruptcy for many Black and Hispanic broadcasters.
IS Vibe magazine a victim of the recession or the Internet? The following post can be found all over the Internet, but I have no idea who originally authored this post. Therein lies the problem, how do you separate fact from fiction, journalism from gossip, truth from lies? Is Vibe really filing for bankruptcy? Who knows? Whatever the truth is; it's out there... and Vibe Magazine seems to be another victim of the same problems that many daily newspapers are facing with competition from the Internet.
Vibe Magazine Makes A Statement "Bankruptcy Rumors False" - Accusation Made by Disgruntled Blogger
Global Grind, Bossip and other Hip-Hop/Gossip sites ran this post, that has now virtually disappeared from the Internet:
According to inside sources, Vibe Magazine is almost on the way out. Vibe's long-run in the game looks to be coming to an end. Sales and subscriptions have been at an all-time low for the past couple of months. Vibe Magazine used to be a staple in the hip hop community, but ever since Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith took over, the ship has been slowly sinking. I think we could say that she is single handedly responsible for Vibe Magazine falling apart. Recently, a story was published in Vibe which listed the Top 50 Hip Hop Blogs out today. If you look at their list, it's clear to see that Vibe has NO CLUE what the kids are looking at.
Ever since Danyel took over it seems like Vibe is detached with what's going on in the entertainment world. A magazine that started out as something that hip-hop fans could be proud of has quickly turned into a magazine hip hop fans are ashamed of. It's a sad day when Vibe Magazine has approximately 130 pages and 70 of those pages are advertisements. As a loyal reader of Vibe magazine, who has followed it and watched the magazine grow for the past couple of years, I hate to say it, but Vibe is on the way out.
PIX Morning News (Channel 11 WPIX) is featuring some of the New York metro area's radio DJs on "Radio Week". They're kicking things off with 106.7 Lite FM radio personality Helen Little. Little took WPIX's Jill Nicolini on a behind-the-scenes tour of their studio and showed her what goes on during a typical day at 106.7 Lite FM.
Little is on weekdays from 9:30am to 3pm. The North Carolina native was a former program director at Hip Hop station Power 105.1 (WWPR) and operations manager at Radio One Philadelphia, and after some restructing at Clear Channel radio last year, she was more than happy to return to her roots behind the mic at the mainstream adult contemporary radio station. You can keep up with Little by following her blog at http://www.helenrlittle.blogspot.com/ and on her Lite FM's webpage.
Checked out the new host of The Morning Beat, Charlamagne, on 100.3 The Beat (WPHI). He has made a seamless transition from Dirt Law Radio and the South Carolina flow to Philly radio. Of course many listeners remember him from The Wendy Williams Experience on rival Power 99. I predict bigger ratings in the morning for the station.
Why? Simply because the show is a throwback, it's local and listeners get to interact with Charlamagne, not only via the phone but also through social media sites facebook and twitter. I don't know if any other stations are doing this, but they should get on board. He runs contest by encouraging listeners to change their updates and status to a keyword and using "@" replies. I would think trying to run this on a nationally syndicated show, although possible, wouldn't have the same impact. Another reason, there aren't four or five people in the studio competiting to be heard on the microphone. Sometimes less is more!
Meanwhile, The Morning Beat which rarely sticks with a "pre-ordered" playlist, featured mixer DJ Touchtone this morning. He played "God In Me" from gospel artist Mary Mary and KiKi Sheard. Apparently the song generated a good buzz, because Charlamagne punched up the song again within a half an hour. Out of the norm for sure, but it works when you go local and you let the on-air personality be a "personality".
K104 (KKDA) have officially added DeDe McGuire to their morning show, "Skip Cheatham and Da Playground." With the addition of DeDe, the show will now have about 21 DJ's in the studio. (Not really but in reality that's make about 6 voices in the morning.) DeDe also continues to co-host the afternoon syndicated Urban AC show, "The Ride with Doug and DeDe" with Doug Banks from Dallas also.
K104 morning show was hosted for a long time by Dallas radio vet, Skip Murphy, who left K104 after 15 years to join sister station, 105.7 KRNB. "Skip Murphy and the Morning Team" was ranked #1 during the morning drive timeslot for nearly a decade at K104. However two months ago he decided to leave KRNB and the radio industry altogether.
Morning host Skip Cheatham transitioned from afternoons at K104 to take Murphy's spot. Meanwhile in the past few months, 97.9 The Beat (KBFB) with the help of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show has moved ahead of K104 in the ratings. The move to hire DeDe Maguire is K104's attempt to regain some of the Dallas urban radio listeners that switched over to 97.9 The Beat.
Last week Burke shot his dog and wife in the head.
A day after he was freed on bail from the Seminole County jail in connection with the shooting of his wife and her dog, fired radio host Shannon Burke was picked up for violating terms of his release. Burke, 43, former host of The Shannon Burke Show on Real Radio, 104.1-FM, is accused of sending a friend to his house with keys to retrieve his motorcycle and legal documents, his lawyer said. But that was a violation of his pre-trial release designed to protect his estranged wife, Catherine Burke, whom he shot in the head last week amid a domestic dispute, the Seminole Sheriff's Office said. Deputies determined that Wednesday's incident was an "indirect contact" with his wife -- which violated terms of his release. Shannon Burke was booked into the Seminole jail shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. Read more>>
I think this site's name will change to Urban Chicken Nation, there's such a fascination with chicken and here's the coupon for FREE Kentucky Fried Chicken ... oops I mean Kentucky GRILLED chicken. Just remember you can't use it on Mother's Day.Now who is so trifling to take their wife, mom, or babies' mamas to KFC on Mother's Day. Do people really like over-processed, massed-produced chicken that much? You have to give the people over at KFC credit for marketing this new product to the African American community. I guess it doesn't hurt to have Oprah backing you either. They've got this down to a science. I received a chicken coupon in my in box... a chicken coupon!
Maybe KFC could market HD radios and all of those hidden AM and FM radio stations with Hi-Def sound (Do you even know what that is?); but radio is hellbent on downsizing their product into a one size fits all model. ...And they really expect the public to consume it like chicken?! Meanwhile radio content is driving many listeners to the Internet on a daily basis. By the way it seems KFC's advertising campaign is mainly using television. I've yet to hear a radio commercial for this new KFC product. Maybe they have determined that Urban radio is just not that effective as a marketing tool any longer. Hmmm...
If you've ever doubted the power of the media then watch the following clips... have you ever seen anything more embarrassing?
This is sad. Not the unpreparedness of Popeye's, but the way folks can't figure out how to go to the local supermarket, buy some chicken, take it home and cook it! It's also disturbing to watch the TV news anchors laugh it up. (yuck, yuck, ha, ha) What's so f***** funny? Again I say images and influences in the media are so powerful.
In one of those rare cases, the very popular RenelBrooks-Moon, host of "Renel in the Morning" show at Oldies/Urban AC station 98.1 Kiss FM (KISQ - San Francisco) will be permitted to give her audience an on-air farewell this Friday, May 8th. She will also make a farewell appearance at a local club on May 23rd. No official word yet on her replacement. (Kiss is a Clear Channel station, then maybe it's Steve Harvey...)
Renel is the public address announcer for the San Francisco Giants baseball team.She began working in San Francisco radio in 1985 and is a member of the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame. Many listeners have left comments on her web page and regret her departure from 98.1 Kiss FM after 12 years.
Renel's 50th Birthday Bash last year with En Vogue
Clear Channel's Alt rock station Radio 104.5 (WRFF) is the No. 1 station in Philadelphia among listeners ages 18 to 34 for four consecutive months by more than a full rating point over the second place station. The station runs daily with just two staff announcers and most of it's content is pre-recorded. Sounds like a formula for success that will make radio execs smile...
OK I have to admit I do check out the station from time to time because they will throw in an occassional Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, or House of Pain old school, and a Bob Marley song. (Why do white guys love Bob Marley anyway? Does it give them an reason to feel more connected to their ganja?) Good thing this cookie cutter approach doesn't work everywhere. I'm sure it would spread everywhere. They tried the same thing in Baltimore at Alt rock Channel 104.3 (WCHH) and it's bombing in the ratings. In Hartford the format did poorly as well and Clear Channel ended up selling the station after flipping it from hip-hop Power 104.1.The bottom line is this... Radio 104.5 is one of Clear Channel's most profitable stations to their ...bottom line.
Prince talks about the music and radio industry with Tavis Smiley on PBS. Prince tells Tavis that you probably don't hear his latest album on the radio because he is not with a major record label. He also talks about his record deal with Target Stores that resulted in his latest album going number one with no radio airplay.
Clear Channel puts their new programming plan in place in Miami. This in the 12th largest radio market in the country. WMIB (103.5 the Beat), last year changed formats from urban/hip-hop to "grown and sexy" urban ac, took a big hit with the layoffs. All of the local personalities have been let go except for midday host Vanessa James.
Among the voices gone from the 103.5 The Beat are afternoon personality Prince Markie Dee, (better known as one of The Fat Boys in his former 80's rap life), overnighter Ryan Da Lion and Miami radio vet Ken James.
"The Keith Sweat Hotel" will fill night shift and jocks from other cities will be placed on the station to replace the fired hosts.
L.A. radio station 93.5 The Beat (KDAY) has decided not to renew the contract of "The Steve Harvey Morning Show." The station will go with a new morning show called "The Morning Beat." 
It looks like Tom Joyner's decision to buy the morning drive time slot at Soul 106.3 (WSRB) in Chicago is paying off in better ratings at the station. The Tom Joyner Morning Show has grown the stations ratings by 300%, from 0.8 to a 2.4 share, in the 25-54-year-old target demo in the latest ratings survey.
I think this site's name will change to Urban Chicken Nation, there's such a fascination with chicken and here's the coupon for FREE Kentucky Fried Chicken ... oops I mean Kentucky GRILLED chicken. Just remember you can't use it on Mother's Day. Now who is so trifling to take their wife, mom, or babies' mamas to KFC on Mother's Day. Do people really like over-processed, massed-produced chicken that much? You have to give the people over at KFC credit for marketing this new product to the African American community. I guess it doesn't hurt to have 
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