Should We Save Black Radio?
No Warning Shots Fired, Commentary , Paul Scott , Posted: May 13, 2009
"I can't explain why Hip Hop died or the fact that it did and no one cried." -- Big Swagg (local artist)
Funerals are funny things, sometimes. Never mind that the dearly departed cheated on his wife, borrowed a small fortune of unpaid loans from friends and habitually kicked his neighbor's dog, according to the pastor during the eulogy, the man was a saint.
I thought about that scenario when I heard folks mourning over the impending doom of black radio.
Radio One's owner Cathy Hughes was on the Tom Joyner Show this morning begging for a black community bailout of black radio because of a proposed bill by Rep. John Conyers that would make radio stations have to shell out some major dollars to stay on the air. The best part is when she mentioned that Conyers turned on his boom box during a meeting with radio execs, drowning out their whining.
She considered it an an insult. I call it karma.
For years, members of the African American community have begged "urban" radio stations to be more responsive to the needs of the community, especially highly impressionable black youth. Unfortunately, our cries have largely fallen on deaf ears. Seems that profit before people has been the order of the day.
The politicians are selling the proposed legislation, HR Bill 848, (the Performance Tax) as a way to put more money in the pockets of musicians who were forced to work at Mickey Dee's after their short careers were over but the radio folks are saying that it is a conspiracy to not only silence black voices but to prevent us from ever hearing good black music ever again.
Let's be honest. For many of us, black radio died a long time ago. We aren't producing any more Marvin Gayes and Stevie Wonders. What passes today as classic Soul music is Jamie Fox's "Blame it on the Alcohol." It's not that the black community is not full of talented, would be musicians singing and rapping on street corners in every hood but black radio is too busy playing Soulja Boy every five minutes to give aspiring artists a fighting chance.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the strong legacy of black radio stations, as the companies were instrumental in not only giving us the latest hits but giving the community critical, need to know info during the 60's and 70's. Ms. Hughes should be especially honored for her innovative approach to black talk radio with WOL in Washington DC.
But this ain't the early 80's and the days of radio hosts like Petey Green have long been replaced by the Lil Waynes of the world.
I find it very disappointing that while the Right wing media moguls are up in arms over the FCC's new diversity committee that could possibly break their vice grip on the air waves, black folks are concerned about whether or not they can get their hourly Beyonce fix.
As my grim faced college professor once told me when I ecstatically told him that I had scored an internship at the local station that would allow me to gangsta-rize the airwaves back in the late 80's.
"What our people need is information."
In all fairness. There are a few black radio talk shows in major cities and the syndicated guys do devote ten minutes or so every day with serious dialogue but these efforts are quickly negated by mind dulling music and slap stick comedy.
I must admit that when I heard Ms. Hughes' impassioned call to arms, this morning I was caught up in the moment as she, convincingly, warned that the end of black radio would totally devastate the African American community . I was just getting ready to grab my protest sign and bullhorn before reality set in.
If Fox News' top dog, Rupert Murdoch decided to start a new network of stations to target the urban consumer, would our children know the difference? Or would they even care as long as they could still hear T-Payne?
I didn't see too many of our people boycotting BET when it was bought up by Viacom. As long as they played the same gangsta videos and kept Comic View, life went on.
See, the execs are expecting the black community to exhibit a degree of cultural consciousness that has not been cultivated by black radio. You can't just push a button and expect the people who you have dumbed down for the last decade to automatically become Afro-centric scholars.
Just doesn't work that way.
What the radio folks have never realized is that we are all in this together and an enlightened community benefits all its members. If black radio had been fulfilling its duty of raising the consciouness of the African American community no one would have dared to even suggest a bill that would cut off their flow of information or good music.
So, do we fight against HR 848?
I say yes, especially since, as activists such as Davey D have pointed out, this could eventually effect the noncommercial stations that play progressive music. Also, the few black talk radio programs that we have are essential to our collective growth and development.
However, black radio must make a commitment to truly be the voice of the people. We must make Cathy Hughes and the rest of them sign a contract with black America that they will put the needs of the community first and foremost. They must immediately change their play lists and give artists with a positive message, both national and local a chance to be heard. They must also make sure that at least one hour a day is devoted to the dissemination of information. Also, they must set up community advisory boards that meet monthly to make sure that they stay down with the 'hood.
If this happens many of us will stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they fight the power.
If not, as the disgruntled airline pilot said as he saw a 747 plummet to the ground.
Crash and Burn!
Related Articles:
‘Missing' Black Males Missing From Media Coverage
Great News - Fewer Blacks Being Imprisoned for Drug Cases
Coverage of Chauncey Bailey Murder dramatizes Need for Black Media
Page
1 of 1
|
User Comments
david thompson on Jun 09, 2009 at 14:07:39 said:
the way HR 848 is being talked about on black stations here in Atlanta is "this has resulted in the closing of three black owned radio stations already, and the money gained from this tax goes to record companies overseas who don't give anything back to the black communities." well, i must say that i would fight this bill, but that the black stations need to start doing more in the black communities than at thanksgiving and christmas. use common sense when playing some records that have phrases that our young kids don't need to hear on the radio at 3:00 in th afternoon. stop worrying about the all mighty dollar and do more to make the people feel that you need to be saved.
CASSANDRA BROWN on Jun 08, 2009 at 13:59:11 said:
YES!!!!!!!!! I AM DOWN WITH FIGHTING HR848. THEY NEED TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE. IT'S ALWAYS THE BLACKS THAT GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK.IF IT WASN'T FOR BLACK RADIO STATIONS WE WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING OF WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON. HR848 FIND YOU SOME BUSINESS.
Priest Forever on May 28, 2009 at 12:01:34 said:
"the execs are expecting the black community to exhibit a degree of cultural consciousness that has not been cultivated by black radio. You can't just push a button and expect the people who you have dumbed down for the last decade to automatically become Afro-centric scholars"
As an artist who has worked in every capacity of this recording industry and who also does a college radio show, I cannot help but agree with the aforementioned statement. While I have to fight against this bill (although I would have given money to see John Conyers turn on his boombox with Cathy Hughes in the room) I do believe it is time Black radio is held accountable.
It was a Radio One affiliate in Wash DC that started playing "Wait Til You See My D*ck" at 3pm on broadcast radio. I swore I would never forget that. If they cant be more responsible to the community that they are supposed to serve then they have got to go.
Lynn on May 26, 2009 at 10:30:08 said:
this is crazy... keep black radio..
DryerBuzz on May 26, 2009 at 09:05:00 said:
to quote "the execs are expecting the black community to exhibit a degree of cultural consciousness that has not been cultivated by black radio..." this says it all. Same goes for the black community as a whole. We are depending on a "cultural consciousness not cultivated" by the black community. Same could be said for parenting, education, violence, jobs, etc. The list goes on. Great point.
The Woodchuck on May 26, 2009 at 06:04:17 said:
First of all, it's not a "tax", it's a royalty payment that would finally go to the artists. As for Karma, I can't help but think about all of the money, hookers, and drugs my label had to give program directors and dee jays just to get our records played back in the 80's. Also, I love how this has become a "black radio" issue, when ALL stations have to comply. Give me a break Ms. Hughes.
anthony david on May 25, 2009 at 23:22:14 said:
I don't know why you wrote all that you wrote, then went the direction of fighting the HR, and "making a deal" with the stations as if that is possible LOL. Look deeper- it's not a "tax", it's a royalty. I can only assume you want to fight the HR, cuz you think you are supposed to. I assume you work for NPR- a broadcaster-- a liberal one,and a great one,but still...
Allen Johnston on May 25, 2009 at 17:04:14 said:
In a nutshell LET URBAN RADIO CHANGE OR DIE !!
Looking at Black radio within the United States many people seemed to forget exactly how Black radio assisted the recording artists and independent labels. In the beginning Black radio was concerned about the health and growth of independent Black owned labels and worked closely with them, at times in complete partnership, to create events, shows, in stores and remote broadcasts benefiting both parties. As revenues grew and more stations became popular the attitude of owners, sales people and eventually disc jockeys became more and more financially directed. What once was partnership creating revenue for both sides became a mandatory free show, promotion, in store or event FOR the station. Disk jockeys became PIMP jockeys and wanted money in advance of hearing the music that was offered to them for possible airplay. Research techniques were initiated to offer “scientific” excuses for not playing a song, while new systems were put in place to make the journey to the radio station more difficult.
Record pools, independent promoters, marketing experts, publicity people, ALL were started from the inception of artists creativity and expertise. Without the song NO ONE would be eating. Now that the United States wants to join the rest of the free world in assisting the artist acquire revenue that has been LONG denied them we hear from major and independent broadcast owners that this is a business threatening move.
We are now talking about paying recording artist direct for their contributions to the BILLIONS of dollars in revenue radio stations have all ready collected.
This is not the end of Black radio.
This is not the end of free on air time for non-profit organizations.
This is not the reason for firing announcers and other radio station people.
This is a call for station owners to become more attuned to their community needs, develop consistent sales programs that develop better usage of their staffs, stop doing business the way it was done years ago and step into the future. I find it really strange that the people speaking out the most against the Performance Act either work for a major radio network or have refused to embrace the new technological changes now available for supplementary revenue formation.
Interestingly enough radio stations outside of the United States have been paying publishing fees AND performance fees for years and it has grown there business.
Mel from B-More on May 19, 2009 at 06:46:55 said:
well said and i concur! i dont know about crash and burn but as malcolm said, the chickens have come home to roost. i'm for progressive black radio that provides the "right" information which retains the power that we already have. loved the article though. there's only one station here that we have here in baltimore - 1590 AM - with bro muhammad. he reminds us of petey green and the strong black men who are unafraid to confront issues and provide us with critical information that we never get from mainstream media. we get truth form his show. this is what true black radio is. this is what the people need. cathy hughes radio stations are watered down, diluted, and syndicated to keep the people dumbed down and comatosed. what a waste of black radio!
bernice on May 16, 2009 at 09:16:48 said:
what is black radio? where i live all we hear is Rush-Beck-Hannity-the best we can get is wtlc when i am in my car 10 miles from indinapolis.I live 80 miles north of indy.good luck to those who get some black radio.
J Smith on May 15, 2009 at 11:02:13 said:
OK, I'm not an urban music fan (or an urbanite for that matter), but I have a couple of thoughts.
Congress isn't proposing raising money to help down on their luck musicians. They're proposing raising it in dozens of areas because they're spending far more than they're raking in, and need more cash to pay for it. To them, that's more logical than cutting back on government spending.
"If Fox News' top dog, Rupert Murdoch decided to start a new network of stations to target the urban consumer, would our children know the difference?" No, they wouldn't, and why should they? Radio stations need to be customer-focused. Where they are, they are successful -- you make the same argument yourself. Mr. Murdoch's TV stations are indistinguisable from other stations, why should his radio stations be any different? Murdoch makes his money by providing his customers what they want -- that's the lesson for black radio to hear.
Side note: my small city had one good rock station and it changed to an "urban contemporary" format a year or so ago. I hope they change back.
Deacon Onair on May 13, 2009 at 20:02:48 said:
Wow! I can't believe what I just read. I happen to work for Radio One and I'm white. You have no clue what your talking about. Your a true simpleton.
Black Listener on May 13, 2009 at 15:53:34 said:
Well put. I listen to radio for the talk. I used to love music, I still do, but I find myself not being satisfied with the lyrics of popular R & B and Hip Hop. I tend to turn the station when music come on and return when talk starts again.
-->I do credit Black radio for our many cultural victories such as turning NC and VA Blue for the First Black President, but radio needs a revival in music. I look for R & B artists on line to fine music with instruments and quality lyrics. Otherwise, I just try different musical genres to satisfy that void. Rap is a different story. I loved Hip Hop of the late 80's and early 90's it was so politically conscious. I use to love HER, but now...
So yes, I am down with fighting HR 848, but this years theme is CHANGE. This it true for Black Radio as well.