See WHAT Happened - BET is NOW Viacom's Rising Star and Debra Lee is feeling pretty good

"We had 10.65 million viewers tune in (live + same day), which makes the BET Awards the number one show on cable so far this year."

The June 30th broadcast of the BET Awards '09 was a record breaker for BET. Coming upon the heels of the death of Michael Jackson undoubtedly helped account for the high ratings the show received. Judging by blogs, vlogs, facebook comments and twitter tweets, the consecsus was that the show was awful. However the fact that so many of us tuned in to this train wreck, BET executives have interepreted your viewer support as an affirmation to continue to entertain you. They're saying "You like me, You really like me."

You, not me, have encouraged BET to go even further with developing new programming. You know you guys love Tanya and Toya. So expect more of the same. Although I did watch "Rising Icons" with Chrisette Michele, it was OK.

Now here's an idea, PLEASE DON'T WATCH the BET Awards 2010. You already know what it is. Well, if you really got to watch it, then just TIVO it, watch it later and zoom past the commercials and tell someone on twitter that's what you're going to do. No use letting the advertisers think that you'll actually sit there and watch their commercials.

There's one BET executive that's feeling pretty good about herself, BET President Debra Lee. In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable, Lee was asked a number of questions about BET. Here's one of the questions:

"BET's ratings were up 34% in the second quarter of '09. To what do you attribute that rise?

-We've made a lot of strategic moves that have contributed to our ratings growth. Loretha Jones joined us last year as the president of original programming, and Barbara Zaneri joined us as our head of programming, scheduling, strategy and acquisitions. Together they have made our programming and scheduling even smarter in a number of ways - from strengthening Tuesday nights, to moving our hit gospel competition series Sunday Best to Sundays, to using our returning franchises to help launch new shows, to programming our dayparts in better ways. There is more flow to the schedule, and we have made great acquisitions, including The Game. We have also acquired movies including Training Day and The Matrix; we're doing movies three times a week now.

Our ratings growth is a result of our original programming, and we have even more series in the pipeline. We have a nightly talk show with Mo'Nique, starting in October, called The Mo'Nique Show. We also recently added The Wendy Williams Show to our nightly line-up--it airs earlier in the day on Fox. We also have another new show about singer Monica that follows her comeback in the music world. Her show will be called Monica.

We are also partnering with NASCAR on Changing Lanes, which chronicles the search for the sport's next generation of drivers. We're looking at the changing face of NASCAR. It is something we are excited about."

LOL WHAT??? SMH (Shake my head) Debra, come 'on! You know it's shows like the upcoming "Frankie and Neffe." Admit it, what are you afraid of... Alright we get it, "original programming" is a code word for "Tanya and Toya", "College Hill" and the rest. I've never watched these shows but I know about them, great job of marketing BET (and from a sister who I get on for watching them). Read the rest of the interview here

Eavesdrop Radio... Now for Something Completely Different

A radio show I will decribed as "unique"... or as a smoothed out, funk-a-fied, chilled, downbeat, hip hop groove with a experimental, alternative, lyrical soul flow. Not quite sure what all of that means. It's like this millennium's version of the 70's-80's funk of George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic all wrapped up into a radio show. Well let DJ Junior describe it...

Eavesdrop, a weekly radio show on WKDU 91.7FM (with co-host Lil' Dave) is a staple for music heads tuning in for jazz, soul, hip hop, latin grooves, afro-beat, broken beat and everything in-between. Our focus has and always will be to present quality music to a culture that embraces it.

If you're looking for something different and independent in sound you might want to check out the Eavesdrop radio show on line every Friday from 6-9 p.m on WKDU. Now for all of you musicians who are creating something different and can't get airplay on corporate mainstream radio, here's an outlet for your music. Can you bring it?

Last Day on the Radio for Wendy Williams... For now

Wendy Williams will broadcast her last show of "The Wendy Williams Experience" on 107.5 WBLS today to concentrate her efforts on her TV show. You can catch the last radio show on line from 2-6p.m EDT.

I first heard Wendy, while visiting New York City in the late 80's. I was flipping channels from WBLS, Hot 97, and 98.7 Kiss FM. I was hoping to catch Frankie Crocker or Fred Buggs on the radio, no Frankie or Bugsy but it was cool listening to Vaughn Harper. Then I just happened across the lady down the dial, who was just bringing Hip Hop gossip and dirt on the radio. It was just straight up raw. My first thoughts were 'who's this women sounding like the Black version of Howard Stern'; 'you can't say words like that on the radio.' I was just shocked by the things she was saying. I loved it! I've been a fan of Wendy ever since. I'll always miss Wendy's early cutting edge and wild days on the radio.

For some reason, I do believe one day Wendy Williams will return to her first love, radio.

Dionne Warwick Attacks Cathy Hughes Over Radio Performance Rights Act

"Ms. Hughes now claims poverty, which is pretty amazing considering Radio One owns 54 radio stations and reaped $316 million last year alone. She even paid her own son, Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins, a $10 million bonus."

"Better women than Ms. Hughes have spent a lifetime toiling to ensure equal rights and economic opportunity for black Americans."

The Huffington Post has published a post from Grammy-Award winning singer, actress and activist, Dionne Warwick titled Big Radio's Attacks on Me Aren't Surprising. The following post is Warwick's view on the Performance Royalty Tax and Cathy Hughes' campaign to persuade listeners not to support the bill.

I was surprised when Radio One's Cathy Hughes added my name to the list of African American artists and civil rights activists she's attacked in her vicious campaign against fairly compensating musicians for their work. Then again, since smearing African American leaders to protect her profits has become Ms. Hughes siren song, maybe I shouldn't be surprised at all.

Every time we buy a CD or download a song, the artist is paid for their work. You might not know that this isn't the case when a musician's work is played on the radio. That's because corporate radio CEOs like Cathy Hughes are exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to play these artists songs without paying them for their work.

Ms. Hughes is now very angry with me, other black recording artists, and civil rights leaders because we support the Performance Rights Act, which many now call the Civil Rights for Musicians Act. This bill, which was written by the Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman John Conyers, closes the legal loophole the radio corporations and CEOs are using to ensure that African American artists receive fair pay for airplay.

In defending her refusal to fairly compensate the artists on whose back she earns her living, Ms. Hughes now claims poverty, which is pretty amazing considering Radio One owns 54 radio stations and reaped $316 million last year alone.

She even paid her own son, Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins, a $10 million bonus. Far from a struggling company, Radio One sounds more like one of those Wall Street rip off firms where executives pay themselves big bonuses while they rip us off and throw their workers in the street.

If their profits and the bonuses Ms. Hughes has paid her son are any indicator, Radio One is hardly struggling. But there are small stations, especially gospel stations, in our communities that we love and that deserve our help. That's why the Civil Rights for Musicians Act protects these truly small radio stations while insisting even a big corporate radio firm like Radio One would only pay roughly what they earn off of about five commercials each day.

You can begin to understand Ms. Hughes' willingness to rip off black artists when you take a look at who she attacks and the kind of company she keeps. During the last presidential campaign she repeatedly attacked Barack Obama, calling him "a dazzling deception" and implied that we supported him because black people are easily fooled. She has even supported the current chairman of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, who said he would attract more African Americans to his party by offering "fried chicken and potato salad." This is hardly a woman who is looking out for what's best for the African American community.

The struggling musicians who need the Civil Rights for Musicians Act don't want a handout from Cathy Hughes or Clear Channel or the National Association of Broadcasters, which is the mouthpiece of big -- largely white -- corporate radio. They just want to be paid for their work. This legislation would make sure that these artists are directly compensated, not the recording executives who may have stolen from them much as Ms. Hughes and Radio One steals from them now.

I am proud of my support for the Civil Rights for Musicians Act, even if it means suffering though the tirades of Ms. Hughes. I hope she understands that the struggle to pass the Civil Rights for Musicians Act isn't about us any more than Rosa Parks bravery was about getting a better seat on the bus.

Better women than Ms. Hughes have spent a lifetime toiling to ensure equal rights and economic opportunity for black Americans. There is nothing "stupid" about insisting that African American workers are paid for their labor. The Civil Rights for Musicians Act is about economic justice for African American artists. It's about what's right. And it's about time.

Jay-Z Checks In With Big Boy's Neighborhood

Jay-Z phoned into Big Boy's Neighborhood and talked about the Blueprint 3 being his comfort zone, Chris Brown, The Game, and Drake (he will be on the new album despite rumors to the contrary).

Jay-Z also talks about Roc Nation and Twitter. So you can't follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/s_C_ because that's not Shawn Carter, it's a fake... sorry.

Listen to the interview here

Philadelphia Area Radio Personalitites Named as 2009 Sexy Singles

It's that time of year again... the 2009 singles are here!

The Philadelphia Daily News names this year's sexy singles and invariably the paper will include local radio personalities. "Having a face for radio" is not the case here.

The paper has chosen these radio personalities:

Bill Anderson, the morning host at 900 AM WURD.

Kendra G, the evening host at WPHI 100.3 The Beat.

Charles Williams or "Dr. Chuck", late evening talk show host on 1210 AM WPHT.

The list, compiled by Jenice Armstrong and her staff, has become a very popular annual feature with the readers. You can check out photos, bios, and videos of the previous mentioned radio personalities along with the other singles, that have been revealed so far at the Daily News website.

Please note that the Daily News and Philly.com now requires visitors to their site to register to view the articles and videos for the Sexy Singles online version.

D.L. Hughley Has a Fan at the New York Daily News, Not Among Our Readers

David Hinckley the media columnist at the New York Daily News yesterday penned an article "Comedian D.L. Hughley comes up huge on his 1st week as Kiss-FM Host." I thought in some way the article would reveal that Hughley had catapulted ahead of Steve Harvey in the competitive New York ratings race for number one morning show among African American listeners. That would be amazing after one week. So lets look for the proof that Hughley comes up Huge!

Here's a portion of the article "D.L. Hughley spent some of his first week at WRKS (98.7 Kiss FM) getting his radio sea legs. But he generally sounded comfortable at the mic as he took over the Kiss-FM morning show, and he brought along some extended thoughts and a steady blast of one-liners.

The California-dwelling Hughley repeatedly declared himself a New Yorker, a smart strategy. He made a running gag, however, out of his New York roommate, fellow team member Steve Wilson, who is crashing at Hughley's apartment while hunting for a place of his own. "I don't like him 'cause he's broke," said Hughley. "You gotta control 'broke.' It might spread." Here's more of the article

The article is simply a promotional piece for readers of the Daily News to tune into the new morning show over at 98.7 Kiss FM. Hughley's brand of morning radio shtick definitely struck a chord of inspiration and enjoyment to Mr. Hinckley. The article promotes a new morning show in a way I have not quite ever seen before, especially for an urban radio station.

Hinckley writes; "But his rapid-fire style - a big contrast to his colleague and rival Steve Harvey over at WBLS (107.5 FM) - put his stamp on the show." Sounds a little bias to me. I gather Hinckley is not big fan of Steve Harvey. Steve, did you piss somebody else off?

However I received a comment yesterday from one of our readers and New York area radio listener:

- "I am totally disgusted with KISS FM after being a loyal listener for too many years to count!!! Please bring Jeff Foxx back, the powers that be at the radio station should know that DL Hugley is a big mistake! Learn from past errors! Jeff FOxx was real and could relate to the average person who is the one that supports the radio stations. I will be listening to Ed Lover now because I cant take Steve Harvey and I am 41 years old! (see other comments at this link>) July 27, 2009 4:12 PM"

Well that's an interesting comment. A radio listener that is 41 years old would rather listen to Power 105.1, a hip-hop station geared towards 18-34, rather than the 25-54 age stations WBLS and WRKS. Why? I say because Ed Lover is local and not syndicated. No matter that Hughley is only on 98.7 Kiss FM for the moment, his voice is piped in from Los Angeles. Listeners know he's not in New York. Besides it's what the listeners think and choose to tune into and not a columnist at the Daily News, that counts.

The Big Boss Moves Up to "Inspirational Format Director"

Elroy Smith, the Operations Manager of Radio One Philadelphia stations WPHI, WPPZ, and WRNB will join Senior Vice Prez of Programming Jay Stevens and Jerry Smith Radio One's Gospel Op Manager in overseeing all of Radio One's Gospel/Inspirational stations in the newly created position of inspirational format director.

“Elroy’s success as a program director in the secular world is unparalleled,” said Stevens. “In his new role Elroy will work with each station’s PD and programming team to maximize ratings and revenue opportunities.” Elroy, known to many listeners as "The Big Boss" on the air, has done a hell of ... oops, heck of... opps, let's just say he has done a nice job of programming Praise 103.9 WPPZ in Philadelphia. The station is at #6 in Philly, right behind heritage station WDAS which is tied at #4 with a Classic Rock station WMGK. Also 100.3 The Beat has moved ahead of Power 99 in overall ratings. That's impressive!

Elroy Smith will remain the Big Boss at Radio One in Philadelphia, but a new program director will be put in place at 100.3 The Beat.

Pittsburgh's Last Urban Station 106.7 WAMO, Best Ratings Ever

The radio ratings are out in Pittsburgh and WAMO has gotten it's highest audience share since moving to 106.7 FM frequency 13 years ago. The station sits at number 6 in the city.



WAMO AM and FM and gospel station WPGR are slated to close down within the next month, as all have been sold and will leave Pittsburgh without an urban station. Those ratings are too good for another radio owner not to come in and revive the urban/hip hop format targeted to African Americans in Pittsburgh.


Here are previous posts on the sale of WAMO

and fallout from the sale of WAMO by Sheridan Broadcasting.

Legendary Soul Radio Personality, Jay Baby "Live And In Color" Passes in Florida

James “Jay Baby” Robinson passed away peacefully at his home in Winter Park, FL on July 27, 2009 at the age of 69. Born in Perry, FL, Jay Baby grew up in an era historically known as “race music” and throughout his life he was a key figure in promoting R&B music artists throughout the state of Florida.

As a young entrepreneur, he opened Jay’s Records in Orlando, and along with Soul Train Record, Platter Shack and Jazzette’s Music, these “mom and pop” retailers served the local community. Jay’s Records provided a stage for the promotion of many great talents in their early careers, including James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Buddy McKnight, Marvin Gaye, The Main Ingredient, Johnny Mathis, Ella Washington and many others.

Jay Baby’s outgoing personality and growing reputation for music promotion led him into broadcasting, beginning as a local news broadcaster based in Clearwater, FL. He joined WOKB – Orlando as an on-air personality with TIGER IN THE MORNING, his daily broadcast. Along with the WOKB team, Joe Bullard, Marvin Zanders, Nick Mickels, Guy Rozier and Melvin Grace, they rose in popularity throughout the South East region where they utilized their voices to broadcast to the masses, uniting community action, promoting civil rights groups and organizations, advertising local businesses and joining with other community leaders in rallying the masses to “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud”.

"LIVE AND IN COLOR" was Jay Baby’s Moniker and connecting nationally with other great African-American broadcasters and promoters during the 1960’s and 70’s, Jack “The Rapper” Gibson, Rufas Thomas, Martha Jean “The Queen” Washington, Joe “Butterball” Tamburro, and Vonny Sweeny, collectively breaking down “race music” and creating the foundation for the introduction of the Soul Music format.

It is these black music pioneers of Soul Music that opened the doors today for the expansion of Black Music formats R&B, Gospel, Hip Hop, Blues and Jazz to become the most popular music formats worldwide. It is with profound sadness that we let go, but with great joy of what Jay Baby left behind…spinning records into gold.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at Stewart Memorial A.M.E. 1107 W. Hampton Springs Road, Perry, FL at 2:00 pm. A public memorial service is also being planned in Orlando and details are forthcoming.

Unity Day 2009 on the Parkway - City of Philadelphia will issue permit to community group despite Clear Channel's efforts to block it

Looks like the 30 year tradition of the Unity Day event will proceed and return to the Ben Franklin Parkway without any radio affiliation or major corporate sponsors. The organization is lining up independent artists for entertainment with local vendors providing food and other services.


Unity Day on the Parkway, Inc. received notice on July 23, 2009 that the City of Philadelphia will issue the “Unity Day” permit for August 23, 2009 after Clear Channel’s Radio Station WDAS 105.3 FM, attempted to stop the permit application last week.

Last week, Clear Channel attempted to claim Trademark rights to “Unity Day” with the City of Philadelphia, in an attempt to stop the City from issuing a Special Event permit to the local organization. Unity Day on the Parkway, Inc. requested the permit after Clear Channel announced cancellation of the Unity Day event on June 3, 2009.

"Run This Town" new from Jay-Z featuring Kanye West and Rihanna

The full version of the new single (explicit) "Run This Town" from Jay-Z's upcoming album Blueprint 3. The song features Kanye West and Rihanna.

Word has it that the rapper (fake) Drake did not make the cut on the new album. Oh well...

Urban/Hip Hop Radio needs Jay-Z to keep it real

Jay-Z keeps it real in the Hip Hop game. Who else can come out and condemn the auto-tune technology in a song and tell everyone that it's for Hot 9-7 and not Z-100. Take that "Hits and Hip Hop" and Top 40 radio. No doubt the album will be number one with or without a great deal of radio airplay just because of his knowledge of marketing his product. What makes Jay real? It's his ability to transcend the image of a typical rapper. And of course talent. However the average person in the neighborhood (I hate the word 'hood) knows he keeps it real. Jay does not take on that typical drama persona. "You know I got 99 problems but a..." (you know the rest). The perception is that Jay-Z has his own style. And with that, he gives everyone hope that they could do the same and be themselves. He openly admits that he sold drugs, but despite that he parlayed it into a huge music career and in his unique way he has defied the odds and has beat the system. What's more attractive than that.

He can split from Damon Dash, Def Jam's presidency; collaborate with Linkin Park or Coldplay; and still keep the Hip-Hop community on edge. He's Jay. Also it doesn't hurt that he's married to Beyonce either... when it's all said and done, Jay-Z will be thought of as the greatest Hip Hop artist ever.

Whitney Houston - I Look To You

Yes, Whitney Houston is back, and urban radio is a buzz about her new single, "I Look to You."

This video has been removed by YouTube, however the song and download are now available at WhitneyHouston.com for FREE!!!

Philly Kids Kicked out of the Pool Attend Special Workshop with Local Radio Stations

Power 99 FM and WDAS FM will partner with the Philadelphia NAACP to host students from Creative Steps Inc. summer camp for a special workshop on human relations.

Philadelphia NAACP President J. Whyatt Mondesire will lead the students in a seminar designed to put their widely publicized ban from the Valley Club swimming pool in the context of the Civil Rights Movement. According to Mondesire there is another key goal. “In the middle of all the media hype we wanted to pause and look at what actions these young people can take to turn what has been a deeply troubling experience into something positive,” he said.

Loraine Ballard Morrill Director of News and Community Affairs said, “We can’t be happier to partner with the Philadelphia NAACP for this event and give the youth a voice that will be heard through our airwaves and to have a thoughtful discussion of race relations in light of this incident and the recent arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates”

The kids will be greeted by Power 99 fm’s Shamara and WDAS FM’s Patty Jackson at a breakfast donated by John Dawkins, CEO and President of Jo-Dan Enterprises/McDonald’s Licensee. This will be followed by the seminar lead by Mondesire which will be recorded for airing on Power 99 fm and WDAS FM and posted on their websites. The stations will then sending the campers off for a trip to Dorney Park. A local clothing retailer is donating money to outfit the kids.

Lou Dobbs Puts Roland Martin in his Place?, Naahhh! Roland Martin Calls This Silly

My man Roll-LANNNNNNND Martin just got caught up the other day. That's all.

Roland maybe you just need to take a break, perhaps too much face time lately with all that Black in America 2 and stuff. After all you're the hardest working man in media. Buy another suit with matching tie and scarf. (yes, I'm jealous, keep it rockin'.) Relax. Chill. You're right, Obama's birth certificate is a NON-ISSUE! Let's give Roland some love. Here's a fist bump.

Perhaps Roland thought he was on the Bill O'Reilly show or on Hardball with Chris Matthews. Roland, you have to admit, you did get a little too excited. The verbal back and forth started to degenerate into a bad episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Roland as Carlton Banks "It's silly, it's silly, I think it's HILARIOUS!", DAD! Lou Dobbs as Judge Phillip Banks, "the congressman might take your remarks a different way." "Again I remind you."

Or maybe this was a case of race, class and egos with Roland Martin playing the part of the uppity Negro not knowing his place. Roland as Harvard professor Skip Gates.

Next time Roland just ask Lou Dobbs and the congressman to produce an original birth certificate. Well, maybe you shouldn't. Is that like asking for a police officer's badge number when you're inside your own home? Watch out, don't step out the studio, they might put the cuffs on you!

BTW, I'm sure there's many of us that can't produce an original paper birth certificate. All I have is the same kind of document that President Obama has. No attending physician's name, no name of the hospital, just the fact I was born in Pennsylvania. Take that you "birthers." Silly. I guess there goes my chance to run for President.

Bill Cosby Shocked at Obama’s statement on Henry Louis Gates' Arrest

Cos is on a Classic Rock Station talking about race?

Did he just tell Obama to just shut up about it?

From the Christian Science Monitor On a Boston radio program, Bill Cosby suggested that President Obama spoke too soon on the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.

“I’ve heard about five different reports [on the details of the arrest],” Cosby said on Boston’s WZLX. “If I’m the president of the United States, I don’t care how much pressure people want to put on it about race, I’m keeping my mouth shut.”

“I was shocked to hear the president making this kind of statement,” Cosby said referring to the president’s remarks during last night’s press conference.
The comedian appeared to have dialed his comments back a bit in a later interview on Boston’s FOX 25 television station. Cosby cautioned those from coming up with their own conclusions, but gave the president some leeway.

“People who have not been there, people who don’t know are beginning to have their own personal feelings, but they weren’t there,” Cosby said.
“Does this include the president?” asked the FOX25 reporter.

“It includes everybody,” Cosby said. “[But] I would have to take into consideration that he lived in Cambridge for some time so he may know more than he’s saying about situations of that sort,” Cosby said.

To listen to the entire interview on WZLX, click here.

Omarosa is Back and Talking 'Sistas vs. Sistas': Are Black Women At Odds?

This interview doesn't start off real well for Omarosa

A recent piece in Essence magazine, "Black women Behaving Badly," claims African-American women are routinely mean to one another. But aren't all women capable of cattiness, or is this a unique phenomenon for black women?

Author Katrina Bell McDonald, a sociologist, and reality TV star and author Omarosa Manigault Stallworth, debate relations among black women on the NPR radio show 'Tell Me More" with host Michel Martin.

Here's some website comments:

Every single time I see or hear Omarosa in an interview (including today) she has a rude attitude (and I'm being very nice in my description). It's laughable that she would interrupt Michele and try to correct that perception that she indeed, seems to revel in. What a _ _ _ _ _!Jeesh.

I helped to produce a very large show in which Omarosa participated personally. She was JUST as mean in person as her "persona." Her complaint in the intro simply proves Michele's question about her meanness.

You can listen to this segment and Omarosa's interruption at the Tell Me More website.

Roland Martin Set to Discuss Black in America 2

Is there any doubt who is the hardest working man in not only radio, but in all of media. Sorry Tom Joyner, it's your senior contributor Roland Martin. Since his departure from 1690 WVON in Chicago last year, he's joined the TJMS, CNN, and TV One.

CNN Contributor Roland Martin will continue the discussion of Black In America 2 in an online streaming CNN Radio program that will be simulcasted on CNN.com/Live.

Roland will get viewer reaction tomorrow Friday, July 24 from 9:05 a.m. to 10 a.m. (ET). Listeners and viewers can call CNN Radio at 877-266-4189.

So apparently CNN Radio does more than just give hourly news updates, they do talk radio too. Who knew?

LaDawn Black and Karrine Steffans Back Together Again on 92Q

LaDawn Black, the Relationship Expert, Author, Radio Personality & Love Diva will be in the The Love Zone at 10 p.m. on 92Q (WERQ) Baltimore for a frank, funny and sexy conversation with her friend Karrine Steffans, the author of the Vixen Manual. They will discuss how to get the man you want and Karrine will offer up her views on the latest celeb relationship drama. She even dishes on Lil Wayne's baby mommas.

Just in case you wanted to know!

What is it about Lil' Wayne? Why are (some) women mesmerized by him?

This will mark Steffens' second appearance on The Love Zone with LaDawn Black. Videos of the appearance are on YouTube, I rather not post it here.

How You DOing? Wendy Williams is Leaving WBLS and Radio

We always knew it was just a matter of time.

Radio and now TV personality Wendy Williams announced today that she is leaving her syndicated radio show "The Wendy Williams Experience." The show's home base was at 107.5 WBLS in New York City. Wendy had been a part of the New York radio scene for more than 20 years having also worked at 98.7 Kiss FM and Hot 97 when she left in 1998. She returned to the New York airwaves in 2002 after working in Philadelphia as the morning show host at Power 99 FM (WUSL).

Wendy's TV show just launched on July 13 and is shown as part of the FOX Network's daytime line up and at night on BET.

Here's the official statement from WBLS and Wendy Williams:

New York, July 22, 2009 — Executives from WBLS and representatives for Wendy Williams today jointly announced Ms. Williams plans to leave her daily radio show at month’s end to dedicate herself full time to THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW, a nationally syndicated talker which launched July 13th. Ms. Williams, who has been a fixture on WBLS since 2002, has spent more than two decades on the air winning over fans and was recently nominated as a potential inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame. Her radio show has consistently rated as one of the highest rated programs on the station.

“We are saddened to lose one of our most popular personalities,” noted Deon Levingston, Vice President and General Manager of WBLS. “But we understand what it requires to put a live show on television each and every day and wish Wendy all the best in this new venture.”

“I want to tell all of my fans that after July 31st, I will no longer be doing a show with WBLS,” Williams said. “I really was blessed to have a broadcast home in NY on radio for the past 7 years and I want to thank everyone who supported me. I have one of the best jobs in the world, making a difference in the lives of my fans made all the difference to me and I look forward to doing the same thing in my new role as a TV host. My hope is that you will do your best to find me on your remote so I can continue to entertain and inform you each and every day.”

Clear Channel and WDAS Radio Claims “Unity Day” Trademark and Stops Philadelphia Group’s Permit for 2009 Event

It looks like Clear Channel Radio is pulling out all the stops to not see this replacement event take place later this summer.

It's kind of ironic, 30 years ago WDAS was not allowed to hold "Unity Day" on city property.

"The Unity Day on the Parkway" group seems to have done a lot of work within last week including getting their website up and running. The group may need to hearken back to Unity Day's history of 30 years ago. The City of Philadelphia did not grant a permit then because of the bitter relationship the administration had with WDAS radio. The first Unity Day was held in various non-city parks around West Philadelphia. ...and eventually grew to an event that estimates claim was attended by well over 100,000 people each year.

Clear Channel cancelled this year's Unity Day Event due to budget reasons. Last year the event moved off the parkway and became a two day concert at a waterfront venue featuring various gospel, R&B and old skool Hip Hop groups.

Here's the release:

- Clear Channel’s WDAS 105.3 FM radio station contacted the City of Philadelphia and claims Trademark rights to “Unity Day” after a local Philadelphia group: Unity Day on the Parkway, Incorporated - files for a Special Event permit to host: “Unity Day on the Parkway” for August 23, 2009.

The “Unity Day on the Parkway” event was Titled after the name of the Corporation. However, City officials refuse to budge on the organizations permit application.

Legal background on Trademarks:

The Lanham Act provides national protection of trademarks in order for owners of marks to secure the goodwill of their businesses and in order to protect the ability of consumers to distinguish among competing producers. See S. Rep. No. 79-1333, at 3, 5 (1946). Read more >>

A representative from Unity Day on the Parkway, Inc. - Mr. Kyle Davis, Project Manager, states that once clear channel cancelled the event for 2009, it was our responsibility to protect a (30) year heritage that been adopted by the Communities of Philadelphia as their own. A lawsuit is forthcoming against Clear Channel, and it is unacceptable for Big Business to bully the Little People, when clearly, the Law is on Our side.

We are asking Philadelphia to Support “Unity Day on the Parkway” for an August 23, 2009 event, by contacting Local Officials, City Council, Fairmount Park Commission and anyone else that the public can think of to support “Unity Day on the Parkway” by Telephone calls, Faxes and emails.

Their website has an interesting presentation with plenty of ad space to fill with some information, although at this point I'm not sure what would be the motivation for people to attend this event without the opportunity to interact with WDAS radio personalities and to see performances from a variery of musical artists, none of which have been confirmed, and no real theme for the event.

Steve Harvey Back on the Air in Los Angeles at Radio Free 102.3 KJLH

Urban AC station KJLH has agreed to begin airing the syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show. Harvey has been off the air in Los Angeles since being dropped by Magic Broadcasting's Urban station 93.5 The Beat KDAY a couple of months ago.

KJLH has suffered greatly in terms of listenership and revenue under the PPM electronic ratings system. Steve Harvey will replace current radio vet and local host Guy Black, who came to L.A. from New York's 107.5 WBLS midday slot.

This is a big move for the station, as station owner Stevie Wonder vowed NEVER to go syndication. But desperate times call for desperate measures, which this certainly is. The L.A. market which has a dwindling Black population, seemed to have a huge connection with Harvey, who for many years worked as morning man with Shirley Strawberry at the former L.A. heritage station 100.3 The BEAT after heading west from Chicago. Many listeners were upset when Harvey was dropped from KDAY.

For now it looks like Stevie Wonder's on-air run will come to an end as well. He co-hosted the Thousand Dollar Thunder Thursdays (...or something like that... lol) which is probably a good thing. Who's going to tell the boss that he wasn't a good radio host!

Bloggers Set to Respond to Black in America 2 with Live Chat

The Retort is a special blog series by several black bloggers meant to examine, discuss and dissect CNN's Black In America series as well as other portrayals of minorities in the media.

The contibutors are Jay Anderson of AverageBro, Danielle Belton of The Black Snob, Christopher Chambers of Nat Turner's Revenge, Cheryl Contee of Jack & Jill Politics, Charles D. Ellison of The Ellison Report, Gina McCauley of Michelle Obama Watch and What About Our Daughters, Vernon Mitchell Jr. of Negro Intellectual, Baratunde Thurston of Jack & Jill Politics, Lamar Tyler of Black and Married With Kids, Elon James White of This Week In Blackness Poet, and writer Bassey Ikpi.

While watching CNN's Black In America 2, on Wednesday and Thursday, the writers of The Retort will be in the chat room at theretort.chatango.com. The chat room goes live at 9 p.m. eastern standard time.

CNN's Black in America 2 - Will it be better than #1

Let's briefly take a look back at the first Black in America. As painful as that might be. The overall consenus was the two part series was unenlightening, superficial and negative.

The show started off with an African American family at a reunion tracing their roots to their white ancestors which brought together family members of different "races" who now recognized themselves as cousins. Another disappointing part of the show was the spoken word artist segment which gave the show a comical and non-serious tone for a show promised to be an historical television event during Barack Obama's campaign for President. The credibility was gone. The commentary from the forgettable young professor from Harvard who got just too much face time and encouraged elementary students to learn by paying them to study and get high test scores was just a little too much for me.

As a tweet on Twitter I follow said recently in anticipation of Black in America 2:

I'm just tired of seeing the same negative perspective being laid out like it's the gospel on black america... We already know the negative side, what about the good?...All black men aren't in prison and all don't have 10 kids that they aren't taking care of and all aren't uneducated bumpkins...There are too many AAs (African Americans) doing awesome things to be ignored.

Well let's move on tonight and tomorrow night's presentation. (From CNN) In 2008, CNN took a hard look at the myths, the facts, the stereotypes and the realities of being black in America. The response to our documentaries was overwhelming and created a dialogue across our country. We listened and what we heard sent us down a whole new path of reporting. This July, CNN continues this conversation with "Black in America 2." We want you to join this conversation at the Black In America 2 website and be a part of CNN's I-report. CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will hosts the show on CNN as well as host a five-part series featuring key stories from Black in America 2 on CNN radio affiliates across the country.

Among some of the stories that will be covered will be Tyler Perry's rise from homelessness to film and television studio mogul. His controversial portrayal of Madea will be discussed also and Tyler gets pretty heated by the discussion of a Black man playing a "mammy" character.

New York's Pulse 87 Ask for Money from its Listeners, Then Returns it

Mega Media’s Pulse 87 (WNYZ-LP)was selling "Lance Armstrong style" wristbands for a $10 donation, teeshirts, hats, messenger bags in order to raise money. The items say “Donate to save Pulse 87.” Pulse 87 said it needed money ASAP, to avoid going dark within the next week or so. Pulse 87 is a Dance format station that broadcast on 87.7 FM which is the audio portion of a low power Channel 6 TV station. Some radios however don't have a 87.7 frequency. That's a problem.

But now their website says: Because of your overwhelming response, we here at PULSE 87 have been given a reprieve from some of our creditors and now have some additional time to attempt to raise money through more conventional means to continue broadcasting. The outpouring of support from the PULSE 87 audience has been nothing short of remarkable! You have shown New York, our advertisers and the music community how important this radio station is to all of you.There are some who will say this was just some desperate publicity stunt. We assure you that was absolutely not the case! This was really going to be the end. We are going to take this reprieve and do everything in our power in order to raise the money to keep providing you, our loyal listeners, with the very best dance music in New York for free! Everyone who donated money will have their donations returned in full. Thank you! PUSLE 87 listeners - you are amazing! To all the artists who ran to our aid with their support, we hope to be here to support you and your music for a long time!

It seems that if Pulse 87 would bring back Star and Buc Wild that might solve their money crunch even though they don't quite fit their format. The station was home to The Star and Buc Wild morning show until last February.

Tyler Perry Sends Philly Kids Kicked Out Of Pool To Disney World, Reveals his Thoughts on the Media

From Tyler Perry.com

- This made me so angry.

Since Michael Jackson died I have not watched the news. I have just been so disgusted at how the mainstream media has riddled this family with disrespect, and no matter what anyone, you or I included, might have thought of him, the truth of the matter is this - the man was still a human being and his kids and family deserve some privacy and space. And I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way, so I purposely kept the TV off. Anyway, I was walking through the house, and I don’t know how this TV was on, but I saw a little boy on the news crying his eyes out. So I turned it up. Here is this kid talking about being kicked out of the Valley Swim Club outside Philadelphia because he was black. Did you hear me? I said, “No way, this can’t be! It’s 2009. I don’t believe this!” But, I know it happens even in this year of Obama.

As I listened to the story the anchorperson went on to talk about a woman named Althea Wright. This young lady started a non-profit called Creative Steps to help inner-city children. And apparently she had booked the Valley Swim Club’s pool and paid for it to be used by the children through the summer. As we all know, this is such a great thing. During the summer our kids can get into a lot of trouble if they don’t have something creative to do. Anyway, as the story went on I was shocked to find out that it wasn’t just him but 65 children in all, black and Hispanic kids, that were kicked out of the pool. You should Google this story and read it online for yourself. It’s crazy! I went from being mad to being furious.

The news reporter went on to say that the president of the club and its members said, and I quote, “We don’t want to change the complexion of our club.” The president refunded the money of the children and asked them not to come back. WHAT?! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I said I have to do something for these children. I can’t let them think that they are inferior because of the color of their skin. Then that night I saw the president of the Valley Swim Club on the news again saying that he misspoke and that it was a safety issue and the club wasn’t able to accommodate so many children. But the children themselves reportedly said that members were taking their kids out of the pool, and that they were saying things like, “Why are they here?” and “They’re black”, even insinuating that these kids would steal or maybe hurt their children. Now get this. A few days later I catch the story again on CNN. This time the club was inviting the kids to come and swim. WHAT?! I’m confused. If you refunded the money because there was not enough room in the pool and it was a safety issue then why are you asking the same 65 kids to come back?

This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life. These kids see the images of President Obama on TV and then they see the drug dealers and thugs on the corner. Which do you think is more their reality? One act of kindness, one person telling them that they are special, one moment of encouragement can make them move mountains. I know it to be true because I was one of them. They don’t need to be called names and be told that they are less than, because of the color of their skin or because of where they come from.

I was told that one of these children, a seven year old, asked her mother if she was “to black to be in a pool.” How do you answer that? How do you get a seven year old past that? Again, it broke my heart and I wanted to do something, and I feel like you all would want to do something, too. That’s why I’m telling you this. Since you all have put me in the position to be able to do something I feel like by me doing this we are all doing it together. So what I did was on Aug 1st thru 3rd I’m sending these kids to Disney World, and then to a Disney water park. I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. This is all about the kids. So, thank you for letting me do this. Thank you so much. And do me a favor please. When you see these kids coming through the airport, (I’m sure you won’t be able to miss them. I imagine they are going to be super excited) when you see them in the park and in the hotel, let’s show them a whole lot of love and respect. Show them that they are just as good as anyone else. And show them that they can do or be anything they want to be no matter what any one says!

Thanks,
Tyler Perry

President Obama Irritated by questions from the Black media

President Obama takes questions from seven reporters from the black press aboard Air Force One on their way to the NAACP convention in New York.

"As our first black president, Obama made a great point about the need for blacks to take more personal responsibility and stop making excuses for failure. But what some black Americans are skeptical about was the insinuation this is a big issue for African-Americans but nobody else." Read more from columnist Eugene Robinson

A day after his address Thursday to the NAACP on its centennial celebration, President Obama observed,

"I've noticed that when I talk about personal responsibility in the African American community, that gets highlighted. But then the whole other half of the speech, where I talked about government's responsibility . . . that somehow doesn't make news."

Obama made the comment in an Oval Office interview Friday. The website Journal-ism explores this issue. Look who's next to the President in the photo, my man on the scene, who seems to be everywhere, Roland Martin!

TV Host and Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Arrested Outside His Home, Victim of Racial Profiling

An officer ordered Gates to identify himself, and he refused, according to the report. Gates began calling the officer a racist and said repeatedly, "This is what happens to black men in America."

Police responding to a call about "two black males" breaking into a home near Harvard University ended up arresting the man who lives there — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the nation's pre-eminent black scholar.

Gates had forced his way through the front door because it was jammed, his lawyer said. Colleagues call the arrest last Thursday afternoon a clear case of racial profiling.

Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry."

By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside. Police say he refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.

"Why, because I'm a black man in America?" Gates said, according to a police report written by Sgt. James Crowley. The Cambridge police refused to comment on the arrest Monday (yesterday).


Tomorrow night's showing of Black in America 2 on CNN might need to be edited to include this incident.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is the director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University and is the editor-in-chief of the Washington Post's African American news website The Root.

Host Henry Louis Gates interviews Tom Joyner in 2008 during the PBS program African American Lives

Radio Talk Show Host Reggie Bryant Profiled

“I have had the pleasure of managing radio stations geared toward the African-American community for over 32 years,” noted 900AM WURD General Manager Kernie L. Anderson. “Reggie Bryant (Pictured here with radio legend Dr. Perri Johnson in a recent interview.) is the smartest, culturally sensitive and talented on-air personality that I have had the opportunity to work with.


The Philadelphia Tribune profiles long time talk show host "Dr." Reggie Bryant of 900 AM WURD Radio. Bryant's show "In Pursuit of Truth" is heard each weekday from 1-4 p.m.


-Long before Reggie Bryant became a radio staple, he was a community activist concerned with the direction African-American youth were heading during the turbulent mid-60s. When asked to share his comments with WDAS listeners, he was invited to come back again and contribute additional observations. That simple request lead to the beginning of a radio career that has now spanned uninterrupted for over 40 years.

WURD talk show host Reggie Bryant, shown here, will be celebrated at a tribute on July 30 at H&H Community Development Center. Read more

Big Boy's Neighborhood Bounced from Power 99

Citadel Media/ABC Radio's Big Boy's Neighborhood, syndicated morning has lost another major station on the east coast. Last month Hot 97 (WQHT) in New York dropped Big Boy from it's morning line-up from 7-10 a.m. and decided to add addtional hours to the Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg 5 a.m. Morning Show to better compete with the The Ed Lover Show on Power 105.1. Big Boy replaced Miss Jones in the morning after her firing at Hot 97.

Now Big Boy is gone from the airwaves of Power 99 (WUSL) in Philadelphia as of this morning. Big Boy came aboard in Philly to replace the Star and Buc Wild Show.

No word if this ends Big Boy's LIVE east coast syndication run as the show was on the air at 3:00 a.m. from L.A.'s Power 106 studios to broadcast to the east coast. Power 99 is going with all music and have not named a replacement show to compete with Charlamagne the local show on 100.3 the Beat.

St. Louis' Sports Station 1490 Drops FOX Sports for "Urban Sports"

Simmons Media in St. Louis will drop Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday, and go with all local talent focused on urban issues. WFFX will also go back its original call letters, WESL-AM, (for East St. Louis) which were dropped in 2007 when the station flipped from oldies to sports.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports the station will cut loose with the syndicated Dan Patrick & Jim Rome, and bring on all-local talk shows that have African-American hosts, focusing on politics in the morning, then morphing into sports the rest of the day. The weekday talk lineup will include Richard “Onion" Horton in morning drive, followed by Rob Desir & Robert "Moses" Knighten from 9am-11am, Charlie "Tuna" Edwards 11am-2pm, Craig Black from 2pm-4pm, and Maurice Scott in afternoon drive, who will be joined by former Olympic track star Jackie Joyner Kersee and Deneen Busby.

As to why the change, WFFX GM John Helmkamp told the St. Louis Dispatch, "There was no demand at all from a listenership standpoint and a revenue standpoint. Local is what drives things. Having Patrick and Rome never got us on the radar.”

That's a great comment by this GM, however it sounds like The 2 Live Stews out of Atlanta's 790 The Zone and The Sporting News Network might be a good fit on this station in a town like St. Louis, with two other sports station.

Charlamagne talks with Dr. Boyce Watkins; continues attack on Lil' Wayne

Dr. Boyce Watkins appeared on the morning show with Charlamagne. They discuss the destructive nature of Lil' Wayne's music. Callers chime in with their opinion also.

Backlash against Lil' Wayne coming from Charlamagne and New Blog "I Am Not Every Girl"

The "I Am Not Every Girl" Blog is targeting Atlanta's Hip Hop stations, V-103, 95.5 The Beat, and Hot 107.9 to remove "Every Girl" from the airwaves.

Ever since the BET Awards I've had such a bad taste in my mouth over Lil' Wayne's performance at the BET Awards. The f-word laced song, included bringing young teenage girls on the stage to dance during the performace. This performance mind you occured before Janet Jackson came out to give a message of thanks for the support the family had been receiving in wake of the death of her brother Michael. The awards show was supposed to be a tribute to Michael Jackson. That for sure was not the case. In large part due to this performance and many other inappropriate ill-conceived routines. Even though many tweets along with Alicia Key's declaration that there was such a presence of honoring Michael Jackson in the place, the TV audience was left wondering what kind of presence was she talking about, especially since the "bleep" guy had such a hard time preventing all of the curse words going out over the air.

Since the performance, BET and Drake have apologized for the performance. However we have not heard anything from Lil' Wayne except for saying he would murder newborns: (explicit) audio After hearing this bleeped out interview played on Charlamagne's show, you have to wonder why Lil' Wayne deserves any support or respect from anyone. This has nothing to do with Hip Hop or Rap.

Charlamagne the morning show host at WPHI 100.3 The Beat, is on a one man crusade to reveal the true essence of Lil' Wayne, even though his station is promoting a concert featuring Wayne, Soulja Boy, Drake, and others at the end of the month, that hasn't stopped him. You can follow him on twitter and streaming online each morning. It has become must hear radio. We can only hope that management doesn't try to silence him. No doubt the record company is doing more than just sitting silently on the sidelines.

From listening to the show, Charlamagne has brought to the listeners' attention a new blog called I am not every girl.com created by Milan Ford. A Black man and writer from the Atlanta area, whose first words after watching the BET Awards and the Lil' Wayne performance were, "Enough is Enough" with tears in his eyes.

What's next for the blog, apparently some very big things. The blog has created some buzz by being featured in the blogosphere on Essence Magazine and the Huffington Post online. The blog also has a fan page on facebook and twitter page.

One of the site supporters Janay (Live Louder) Bazemore created the following video for an online communication class she is taking at Georgia State University.

I love the fact that this is an online grassroots effort through social networking to bring about some much needed changes in the way radio is programmed. More specifically the type of songs and the messages that are played on the radio. I hope to see many websites, along with facebook and twitter users pick up on this extremely important effort and cause.

V-103 morning co-host Frank Ski’s contract is up in October - Should he stay?

Do you think Frank Ski should stay at CBS radio's Atlanta urban powerhouse station V-103? Go to the AJC and cast your vote.

From Rodney Ho AJC - "This is a precarious time for radio stations. With revenues dropping sharply the past two years, stations have been cutting staff and trimming salaries. This is not a good time for radio personalities to be renegotiating deals. Given the circumstances, Frank Ski will likely face a pay cut from his estimated current high six-figure annual salary.

Ski, 45, is not universally loved. He finished No. 2 in a recent unscientific ajc.com poll of most obnoxious Atlanta radio personality behind only Neal Boortz of WSB-AM. But what matters are the ratings and he has brought home the bacon every year since he joined the station in 1998. He and his co-host Wanda Smith are usually No. 1 among 25 to 54 year olds, the bread-and-butter demographic for many advertisers.

V-103 has Ryan Cameron in the wings, holding the fort during afternoons, where he too is No. 1." ... Read more

98.7 Kiss FM Breaks the News, D.L. Hughley is the new Morning Host

Emmis Radio's Urban AC station WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM (New York) has named comedian and TV personality D.L. Hughley its new morning show host.

Hughley will be joined on his show by Jacque Reid (former news anchor at BET, co-host Steve Harvey Morning Show and contributor on the Tom Joyner morning show); comic Steve Wilson; Raquiyah Mays; and the news voice of New York's Black community, Bob Slade. The show debuts on Monday, July 20th from 6-10a. "I always wanted to do radio and having the opportunity to do it with KISS FM is truly exciting!" Hughley also stated, "I am going to work hard for the audience of New York... they may not always like what I say, but I promise to never play down to them and I promise to always work hard to keep them entertained."

D.L. Hughley previous stop was as host at CNN on "D.L. Hughley Breaks the News." His show to say the least caused much controversy on both sides of the political agenda. The Freddie Mac bit showed Hughley interviewing "Freddie Mac" the mortgage lender, portrayed by comedian Donnell Rawlings as a pimp causing the financial crisis in America. Also causing a stir was RNC chairman Michael Steele who said he and not Rush Limbaugh was the head of the Republican Party. OH BY THE WAY, Did you hear Steele has given all negroes an open invitation to join the Republican Party? He has all the fried chicken and potato salad you want. (Video) Mmmm... sounds like a KFC deal to me ...and smells like a mindless racial stereotype from an out of touch political party leader. But that's a whole other story.

One thing for sure, a story like this Michael Steele one would definitely garner attention from Hughley. In fact any issue that is politically and socially charged in nature, will be brought to the table with D.L.'s socially conscious comedic style. However I'm not sure how that style of humor will play out on morning radio in the long run. But for sure New Yorkers will let you know.

Now we all can figure out why 98.7 Kiss FM tapped Hughley to go up against fellow Kings of Comedy tour member Steve Harvey over on WBLS. As David Hinckley columnist at the NY Daily News puts it-- "Hughley's arrival marks the latest move in the long-running morning chess match between WRKS and WBLS to win the urban radio audience. Both stations hired syndicated hosts a few years ago when WBLS had Doug Banks and WRKS had Tom Joyner. WRKS then dropped Joyner to go with the local Jeff Foxx show and pulled ahead until WBLS hired Harvey, who recaptured the lead. Now Kiss has dropped Foxx to counter with Hughley. The only certainty is the match will go on."

But for the life of me I can't figure out why they need five, f-i-v-e people in the studio to do a morning show. Haven't we been there and done that. This style of radio was introduced by Howard Stern many years ago and radio executives/program directors have continued to copy this formula for the last 25 plus years. CBS Radio is still trying to find a solution to replace the revenue lost after Stern jumped over to Sirius Satellite radio.

When will radio executives stop trying to bring in stand-up comedians to do morning radio. The track record for Black comedians haven't been so great from Whoppi Goldberg, Mo'Nique, Guy Torre, Paul Mooney, and others. But then again there's always the chance you might hit gold with Steve Harvey and (some might say, but I'm not) Rickey Smiley.

All of these people are extremely talented, but doing radio, especially morning radio is just simply a different kind of grind. Many comedians know after a few months that it's a tough job, and hitting the road for the comedy club tour, movies and TV are always a viable option for them. I wish D.L. Hughley all the best, but how about giving a radio personality the opportunity to build a following and do what he or she is trained to do.