Category: urban radio

aloe blacc, Beyonce, oprah winfrey, own-the oprah winfrey network, pharrell williams, radio playlist, urban ac, urban ac radio, urban radio

Radio if Not Hurting; is No Help for Black Artists

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Black artists such as Beyonce, Aloe Blacc and Pharrell have broken through to radio audiences and consumers of music despite no promotional push from radio. In the case of Pharrell we began posting stories and videos on this blog back in January on his hit song ‘Happy’ and the dances people were creating in their own cities around the world, when very few stations (most notably Black radio) even had the song on their radar. What took corporate radio management so long to get on-board with this song? Check out Pharrell’s comments on Oprah Prime on the OWN network [below]. … Continue reading Radio if Not Hurting; is No Help for Black Artists

Atlanta radio, baltimore radio, Black Radio, Black Radio DJ, Chicago radio, music industry, New York radio, Philadelphia radio, radio, Radio Facts, urban radio, urban radio nation, Washington D.C. Radio

Radio Website Continues to Grab Our Ideas

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Former logo of the site in question. Their newlogo and banner mirrors our color schemethat we designed in 2009. Coincidence?  Once upon a time a website offered us a writing position. (With one stipulation…) We would have to shut down this site. Thanks, but no thanks. The site in question recently complained and attacked the radio industry on their writing skills or as they put it their lack thereof. Yes, this blogging thing ain’t easy. Good writers are hard to come by. But we still think they think we write for them. When did we say yes, we will write … Continue reading Radio Website Continues to Grab Our Ideas

hip hop radio, south carolina radio, urban radioLeave a comment

SWAGGA 94.1 is the NEW Hip Hop Urban Station in Florence, SC

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Not Hot, The Beat, or Power, but Swagga!What do you think of the name? A new station has hit the airwaves in South Carolina as Qantum Communications has launched and branded itself as “SWAGGA” 94.1 FM  and 105.9 FM in Florence. It will continue to use the WRZE call letters to identify the station. The company has turned off the simulcast of the “Sunny” Adult Contemporary format on 94.1. The Sunny music format will continue on WDAR 105.5 FM while the former gospel format on 105.9 and 1400 AM has been dumped in favor of Hip Hop.  Denis Davis is the … Continue reading SWAGGA 94.1 is the NEW Hip Hop Urban Station in Florence, SC

Bob Law, FCC, New York radio, urban radio, wbls, wlib, YMF Media2 Comments

Bob Law Files FCC Petition Against Sale of WBLS and WLIB to YMF Media

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Long time New York based Black radio talk show host Bob Law is proceeding with plans to block the ownership transfer of WBLS and WLIB by filing a petition with the FCC: From RADIO-INFO – WLIB NY DJ Bob Law files FCC petition against sale to ‘white-controlled company’A petition to deny the sale of New York’s urban WBLS/WLIB to YMF Media has been filed with the FCC. The grievance: transferring ownership to a “white-controlled company.” That’s the phrase used by longtime WLIB (1190) personality Bob Law in an email inviting participants to join an “emergency national conference call” Friday morning (June 1). … Continue reading Bob Law Files FCC Petition Against Sale of WBLS and WLIB to YMF Media

alabama radio, Hip Hop, hip hop radio, no urban dictates, urban radioLeave a comment

Ratings Winner WGBZ The Beat Flips from Hip Hop to Classic Rock

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Sounds like the formula for success for any radio station. Get listeners to tune in and advertisers will promote their product by buying ads on the station, and revenues will increase. NOT the case in Alabama. Advertisers shied away from the station that billed itself as “Anniston & Oxford’s New Number 1 Station For Hip Hop and R&B. Listen to WGBZ The Beat in Anniston on 104.3 FM, 1490 AM, and in Oxford on 99.1 FM.”  At the time of the promising launch, the program director had these words to say: “Basically, our goal is to make radio fun and exciting,” … Continue reading Ratings Winner WGBZ The Beat Flips from Hip Hop to Classic Rock

98.7 Kiss fm, Arbitron, Michael Baisden, new york city, New York radio, PPM, Steve Harvey, Steve Harvey Morning Show, Tom Joyner Morning Show, urban ac, urban radio, wbls1 Comment

New York Radio Ratings Signals Gains for 107.5 WBLS

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The Steve Harvey Morning heads up the WBLS lineup Now the only daily syndicated urban radio show in NYC  WBLS is now the Number 3 ranked radio station in New York City according to preliminary Arbitron PPM ratings for May; Full ratings will not be released until June  Despite better ratings, which should mean higher revenues for the station- Urban radio stations still bill less per ad compared to other mainstream formatted radio stations. Fair or unfair- It is what it is… If ‘BLS continues to do well however, at some point a current radio owner may want switch to … Continue reading New York Radio Ratings Signals Gains for 107.5 WBLS

Black Radio DJ, CBS Radio, Clear Channel Radio, radio industry, Radio One, radio playlist, urban ac radio, urban radio2 Comments

Radio Exec Questions the Industry- Are you sure you don’t want Radio DJ’s to talk?

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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS- CBS Radio president/CEO Dan Mason said something in an interview with Radio Ink last week that touched a sore place for a whole lot of radio hosts. “Over the last 20 years the disk jockey’s role has been watered down so much,” Mason said, “by the dictate, ‘Don’t talk, don’t give the title and artist of songs, PLAY hit after hit, don’t give anybody any chance to tune out.’ ” Mason said this in a tone that suggested radio had lost something. We agree. It’s a shame that a whole generation (and maybe the next one too) that … Continue reading Radio Exec Questions the Industry- Are you sure you don’t want Radio DJ’s to talk?

dj clue, Funkmaster Flex, hip hop radio, hot 97, New York radio, Power 105.1, urban radioLeave a comment

Funkmaster Flex and DJ Clue Set Off New York City Radio Battle [AUDIO]

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New York City hip hop radio personalities Funkmaster Flex of Hot 97 and Power 105.1’s DJ Clue have set off a radio war of words over ratings and who gets the exclusive tracks to play over the Big Apple’s airwaves. Radio DJ’s going at each other, which was once popular across many markets, is now rare due to the simple fact that large media corporations have come to frown upon the negativity that comes from it. Also with many stations running syndicated programs the opportunities to engage in on-air battle are limited. Besides how many local radio DJ’s get a … Continue reading Funkmaster Flex and DJ Clue Set Off New York City Radio Battle [AUDIO]

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Old School Hip Hop… On the Radio… Why Not?

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From Guest Blogger: AKIEM BAILUM A debate is unfolding: Why Don’t You Hear Old-School Hip Hop on the Radio? I say this because when it comes to radio formats, Hip-Hop radio (Mainstream Urban/Urban Contemporary) is almost as bad as the Country music format is when it comes to giving the artists of the “past” a platform for their music to still be remembered. Most Classic Country formats are on AM radio which is said to be an out-of-date band for radio. More and more radio formats and programmers are putting emphasis of the “crystal clear” FM band. This leads some … Continue reading Old School Hip Hop… On the Radio… Why Not?

alfred liggins, Barry Mayo, Radio One, urban radioLeave a comment

Company President Barry Mayo Leaves Radio One

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The Mayo resignation goes down after some down numbers in the 4th quarter at Radio One  CEO Alfred Liggins has announced that Barry Mayo, president of the radio division of Radio One, Inc. has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Liggins says Mayo “has served the company with passion and distinction. I understand that there comes a time for change in a person’s career, and I fully respect Barry’s decision to undertake new challenges. I truly wish him well.” On his departure from Radio One Mayo stated: “Partnering with Alfred and helping to execute his vision has been a rewarding experience, … Continue reading Company President Barry Mayo Leaves Radio One

Clear Channel, Clear Channel Radio, hip hop radio, jonesy, Mikey Dredd, New York radio, Philadelphia radio, Power 105.1, power 99, rickey smiley, The Hot Boyz, Uncle O, urban radio, wuslLeave a comment

The Hot Boyz: Are they the New Morning Team at Power 99?

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No official word- A New Morning Team by Default Following the firing of former host Tarsha “Jonesy” Jones, Power 99 immediately replaced her on the air with their popular and long time night show duo “The Hot Boyz”, made up of Uncle O and Mikey Dredd. They have been filling in for Jonesy on an unofficial basis since November 2011. This week parent company Clear Channel posted a job listing on their website for a night host and not a morning host at WUSL Power 99 FM Radio. The listing pretty much makes it clear that The Hot Boyz will not … Continue reading The Hot Boyz: Are they the New Morning Team at Power 99?

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Radio One Moves Out Gospel Format for R&B and makes room "Jack FM"

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Radio One, known as the Urban Media Specialist, have replaced the gospel music format for a mainstream format station in Columbus, Ohio. Urban AC station “Magic” WXMG, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, moves from 98.9 to 106.3 FM. Magic replaces the gospel format of “Joy 106.3.” Meanwhile 98.9 is now the home of “Jack FM playing what we want.” Jack FM is a multi-format platform that features music from artists mainly of the 80’s and 90’s. So you’re likely to hear anything as their imaging suggests. The Police, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder can … Continue reading Radio One Moves Out Gospel Format for R&B and makes room "Jack FM"

African American media, Black Radio, decline of Black radio, gospel radio, urban ac radio, urban radioLeave a comment

Guess What? People Listen to Black Radio More -According to Arbitron

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Arbitron Inc., the media and marketing research company that is the radio industry’s primary source of figuring out who is listening to which radio station and for how long via the Portable People Meter (PPM), has issued the following report regarding Black Radio. “Nearly 94% of Black consumers aged 12 years and over listen to the radio each week—a higher penetration than even the general radio market. Radio reaches Black audiences everywhere they are: at home, at work, in the car and in other locations.” The entire report BLACK RADIO TODAY 2011 EDITION How America Listens to Radio, is now … Continue reading Guess What? People Listen to Black Radio More -According to Arbitron

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V-103 Atlanta provides Public Service Programming (?) to Boost Web Traffic

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So what would you do to get listeners to come to your website? This is what they do in the ATL. We’re not sure how well this plays out on live and in living color radio. In any event this segment, “Wanda’s Playhouse”, seemed to be effective for V-103 (WVEE). This trio appeared on the Frank and Wanda Morning Show. Their segment was billed as a treat for the ladies… but wait this is Atlanta, so we’re not sure if they are the only ones who got a treat. Check out the studio appearance at V-103.com, as Frank Ski, off … Continue reading V-103 Atlanta provides Public Service Programming (?) to Boost Web Traffic

106.7 WAMO, pittsburgh radio, urban radioLeave a comment

Urban Radio format returning to Pittsburgh on WPYT 660 AM and 100.1 FM

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From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh has been without a full-time urban radio format for two years, but that’s about to change. In the next few days, the sale will close on WPYT-AM (660), and the new owner will launch an urban contemporary format there early next month. In December, San Francisco-based Radio Power Inc. announced that it would buy WPYT from Langer Broadcasting Group of Framingham, Mass., for $290,000. “When you go into a market with a station, you look at who’s doing what,” Tim Martz said. “WAMO had a big audience. Nobody has filled the void. It’s an attractive format.” … Continue reading Urban Radio format returning to Pittsburgh on WPYT 660 AM and 100.1 FM

Don Cornelius, soul music, Soul Train, urban radioLeave a comment

>Soul Train Coming to Radio

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>Soul Train is coming to radio to celebrate it’s 40th anniversary. SpotSet Radio Network will distribute :30 and :60 Soul Train radio vignettes with the distinctive voice of Don Cornelius. Soul Train Holdings has created the original vignettes for distribution among select radio stations throughout the country. The vignettes will spotlight the endearing and enduring relationships developed with generations of artists and guests from the Soul Train television era. Continue reading >Soul Train Coming to Radio

93.9 WKYS, Radio One, Russ Parr, syndicated radio, Syndication One, urban radio, Washington D.C. RadioLeave a comment

>Russ Parr Talks About His Success, Motivation and Urban Radio

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>Radio and television personality Russ Parr talks to the Washington Post about his success and motivation from his studio at the “Russ Parr Morning Show.” Russ Parr’s syndicated show originates from Radio One’s 93.9 WKYS in the Washington, D.C. market. http://specials.washingtonpost.com/mv/embed/?title=Russ%20Parr%20on%20what%20makes%20a%20radio%20star&stillURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Frf%2Fimage_480x270%2F2010-2019%2FWashingtonPost%2F2011%2F04%2F14%2FLocal%2FVideos%2F12142010-50v%2F12142010-50v.jpg&flvURL=%2Fmedia%2F2010%2F12%2F14%2F12142010-50v.m4v&width=480&height=270&autoStart=0&clickThru= Continue reading >Russ Parr Talks About His Success, Motivation and Urban Radio

drake, hip hop is dead, hip hop radio, Kanye West, lil wayne, Nas, NICKI MINAJ, record industry, urban radio2 Comments

>Nas-Hip Hop is Dead – Not Anymore, Now It’s Alive!

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>MTV interviewed Nas in wake of rumors of him joining the roster of G.O.O.D. artists that includes Kanye West, Common, and Mos Def. These are indeed interesting comments from an artist who is no doubt still hungry in the game for various reasons. Nas of course is speaking on the commercial form of Hip-Hop that has made Urban radio listenable again and has made pop stars out of Drake and Nicki Minaj on Rhythmic/Top 40 radio. “Nicki Minaj, Drake, [Rick] Ross and Kanye just came to just kill it off,” Nas said. “You know, they did they thing. They kept … Continue reading >Nas-Hip Hop is Dead – Not Anymore, Now It’s Alive!

Black Radio, hip hop radio, hot 97, New York radio, NICKI MINAJ, Power 105.1, urban radioLeave a comment

Nicki Minaj @NICKIMINAJ has a message for Black Radio

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For some unknown reason Nicki Minaj went after morning radio personalities on Black Radio. This is interesting given the fact that for all intents and purposes Black Radio doesn’t exist anymore (only in the mind of Radio One founder Cathy Hughes); but we figure she must be tweeting at African-American radio personalities on Urban/Hip-Hop/R&B Radio. Nicki Minaj tweeted ( @NICKIMINAJ ) a pretty positive message until SHE WENT LEFT on the last two tweets; She stated that Black Radio should F*** themselves, called them weak a** “bees” and (as we paraphrase) she did the act of pulling out an organ … Continue reading Nicki Minaj @NICKIMINAJ has a message for Black Radio

internet radio, internet streaming, mobile technology, Pandora, pandora internet radio, radio industry, technology, urban radio, urban radio nationLeave a comment

>Ando Media Reports More and More People Listening to Pandora Internet Radio

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>The best thing for sure about Pandora is the opportunity to hear music that is not played on terrestrial radio. Some tracks that we hear on our Urban Soul Mix station are quite good. It’s a great opportunity for artists to expose their music to listeners who enjoy a particular genre of music and ultimately purchase it. Pandora Internet Radio keeps chugging along in latest October and November Ando Media ratings. The Internet audio stats for “Average Active sessions” have steadily swelled from nearly 420,000 in June to 585,000 in November – with more than 214 million “Session Starts” monitored … Continue reading >Ando Media Reports More and More People Listening to Pandora Internet Radio

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>VIDEO: Wiz Khalifa – Black And Yellow – Pittsburgh Rapper with No Hometown Urban Radio Airplay

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> The song “Black and Yellow” has become a Top 10 Urban/Hip Hop hit all over the country but because 106.7 WAMO radio was the only Hip Hop station in the ‘Burgh and closed shop more than a year ago, the song is not heard on urban radio in rapper Wiz-Khalifa’s hometown. The popularity of the song is huge among the players with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and it’s become their anthem before games. It has even spawned remixes from Snoop Dog, Kanye West, Rick Ross and Meek Millz. The fact that this song is a hit confirms what many … Continue reading >VIDEO: Wiz Khalifa – Black And Yellow – Pittsburgh Rapper with No Hometown Urban Radio Airplay

amel larrieux, bryce wilson, groove theory, neo soul radio, urban radioLeave a comment

>Amel Larrieux says “Independent Artists Of Color Are Too Under The Radar”

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> The website Hello Beautiful recently interviewed soul songstress Amel Larrieux in New York City at a performance at the club S.O.B.’s. She, like many contemporary independent artists who sing the music that is unaffectionately known as Neo-Soul, doesn’t particularly like that label. We couldn’t agree with her, Corrine Bailey Rae, and others more. You might as well say Neo-Soul means no radio airplay. Amel also talks about her daughters joining her group and the upcoming reunion album for “Groove Theory” with Bryce Wilson. Has it really been 15 years since their hit “Tell Me”? Amel Larrieux is one of … Continue reading >Amel Larrieux says “Independent Artists Of Color Are Too Under The Radar”

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>Only Jack Can Say It

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> In the 1989 movie release of Batman, Jack Nicholson’s portrayed the role of “The Joker.” One of the best lines in the movie is from the following YouTube clip. The same could definitely be said for the programming that goes on in radio and in particular urban radio. Thank God for Pandora and other Internet radio stations that are available online, (most notably WENN in Birmingham), listeners have an opportunity to listen to NEW music. Surely it’s not available on urban radio or urban AC radio. The best variety on urban radio generally occurs on Sunday on various stations … Continue reading >Only Jack Can Say It

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>Cathy Hughes to be Inducted into Radio Hall of Fame

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> The Radio Hall of Fame will induct Cathy Hughes this fall. The Hall of Fame will be bestowing its Emerson Award to the founder of Radio One. Hughes is being recognized for her influence and lasting impact on the world of broadcasting. The annual Radio Hall of Fame ceremony will take place November 6, 2010 in Chicago. Continue reading >Cathy Hughes to be Inducted into Radio Hall of Fame