Random Ramblings of a Radio Chick

What I've Been Up To

2011-11-16T15:23:00.001-08:00

Checking in to say that I haven't obtained gainful employment since 2008. Aint that some shit? That's right, I'm still not working.

I've done some odds and ends type jobs to keep bread on the table...but no one will hire someone with all of my experience and education in this industry.

Thinking about removing my college degree and dumbing my resume down.....all the way down.

The Difference Between Black & White

2010-10-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

If you're not familiar with the Opie & Anthony show, it's probably because you're not a white male between the ages of 18-49 from one of the 40 cities where their radio show aired during morning drive. I can't say that I've ever been a fan myself. I can't really accuse them of having a horrible show because I can't really say that I've ever given them the opportunity to "WOW" me. Kinda like how I'm not a fan of golf or skiing....I've never had an interest to play or watch either sport.

I'm not really interested in doing a history lesson on their career. You can read about the various controversies that they been involved in here. To sum it up, they are lastlucker at best, shock jocks who were making a shitload of money (at least 4 million dollars each) but had been fired from terrestrial radio. They basically skipped the unemployment line and were awarded a golden opportunity to do uncensored radio on Sirius XM.My brief research on these douchebags have revealed that they've even been suspended from work since their arrival on satellite radio. (how the hell does THAT happen?) But that's not the good part. The clincher is what happened just last week AND is a phenomenal example of the difference between Black & White.

Taken from Radio-Info.Com

"They grumbled about their lack of negotiating leverage on Friday’s show, but both Opie (Gregg Hughes) and Anthony Cumia did eventually sign. Opie says “I was just held up, to sign a contract. I signed a very mediocre deal and here he go: I'm back for another two years.” He says, sourly, “As soon as I signed, they ran away like [expletive] rats to wherever they go with the contract. I'm beyond pissed.” He says he didn’t sign until 5:40am Friday morning. Anthony says he'd inked his own renewal late Thursday evening. Opie bemoans the situation, saying “this [Sirius XM] is the only game in town.” How does it compare with the contract that just expired? Opie says “the original deal was mediocre, so this is mediocre. It’s about the same.” There no official release from Sirius XM about the status of the Opie & Anthony on the “Virus” talk show channel."

When you're white, you can get fired over and over again, get suspended for doing things that you KNOW are wrong, get paid millions and millions of dollars to do the same thing that others are doing for minimum wage, receive an offer to renew an employment agreement and publicly bitch and moan about how unhappy you are with the terms of that offer. (wow. just wow)

When you're black, well.......you know the rest.

Tired, Tired, Tired....

2010-06-27T10:47:00.001-07:00

I've been painfully quiet. I know. It's been MONTHS since I've blogged. Sometimes you reach a point where you're just tired. Tired of crying. Tired of whining. Tired of complaining. Tired of being tired. Tired of faking it. Tired of pretending like everything is alright....when it's not.

Wait....Then again, maybe I may need to clarify. I think what I mean is that I was tired of TALKING. I haven't given up altogether but again, I was just tired of talking. There's nothing worse than being passionate about a cause....about change...about progress and having an entire population of folk look at you all cross eyed and shit. In other words, the industry, particularly the URBAN RADIO industry is silent as hell - and quite frankly, their silence had silenced me.

Welp - I've had a change of heart. As my situation hasn't improved much, (in fact, it's gotten worse) I have decided to continue to blog about my experience, my feelings and my anger. I am even considering relaunching this blog to see if I can get folk to talk again. After all, aren't we in the business of COMMUNICATION? [insert crosseyed-confused look here]

I'm back.

Where I've Been...

2010-02-28T22:15:00.001-08:00

I gotta make this REALLY quick because I gotta go to bed.

I got mad and stopped blogging for a while because for the past 10 years or so, I've been incredibly frustrated with people stealing ideas/concepts from me. I found it happening over and over and over again. For instance, I could present an idea, a feature or a potential promotion to my program director for the purpose of enhancing my show. I would get shut the hell down....but they would jack it the concept, give it to another jock and totally disregard my efforts. It made me SO DAMN MAD.

So after being off the airwaves for a few years, I decided to blog about my experiences and the current state of radio in my own little space. Non stop freedom in my little piece of the world wide web with the right to say whatever the FUCK I want to say. But then, something happened.

The blogs/websites that I have constantly shown love and support to started JACKING my content AND images without giving credit to me as the original source. Perhaps I'll get specific a little later....but for now I'll just say, that shit aint right.

But let me clarify something. No - - it aint that serious....but the gumption of it all really got underneath my skin. It was at that moment that I got tired of people sucking my blood dry. I mean, what's wrong with crediting the source? In one instance, I blogged about a comment on another blog that the AUTHOR ignored for weeks. I brought it up....and suddenly, there was an interest.

Sounds kinda childish for me to even make a slight stink over it....but I just figured enough was enough.

I thought that when you show people love....people are supposed to show YOU love. But not so. What's wrong with you Black people?

Specifics will be provided later.

So here am I. Public once again. Filled with more hatred than ever for the radio game. I'm bursting with emotions thanks to the legendary 107.5 WBLS for letting Cedric The Entertainment scream and yell on the air, sounding like a fucking fool the other day.

I really must retire for the evening....But I'll be back.

PS- Lay off the copy and paste feature for a while. Please.

I Applied For The Job...They Gave It To Nick Cannon

2009-12-15T09:22:00.001-08:00

Yes. I FEEL like giving up. Hell, after nearly TWO YEARS of not having a job,you kind of become discouraged. You wallow in your sorrow. You stop applying for work because you figure, "what's the use". But I put my big girl panties on and I sent the CBS owned, 92.3 NOW my audition tape. As per the advice of a good friend of mine, I decided to attempt to go "f*ck with the white boys". I certainly could be successful if they were to give me a chance.

But instead of hiring me, they gave Nick Cannon the job. Nick is quoted as saying,

"I always wanted to do radio."

<>

WHY ISN'T ANYONE SAYING SOMETHING??

2009-12-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

WHY IS BLACK RADIO SO SILENT RIGHT NOW? IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION???

Arbitron was grilled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday over the Portable People Meter (PPM). Chair Rep. Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY) seemed certain that new electronic measurement tool could "drive minority broadcasters out of business." Not so, said Radio One President/CEO Alfred Liggins. In his opinion PPM is "neither affecting the diversity of our airwaves nor contributing to the decline of minority radio."
Liggins says that the problems faced by many minority stations were due to "poor choices," such as accruing too much debt and what he labeled as bad competitive decisions.
He also stated that technology changes are inevitable and that "short-term dislocations" and a "learning curve" are the products of these changes. But, he said, "PPM is the new reality," and that he'd rather move forward than creating delays that could "undermine advertisers' confidence."
After hearing testimony from witnesses, including Arbitron, Towns gave Arbitron 30 days to formulate a realistic plan to address the concerns of PPM critics, including sample size, training for PPM panelists and Media Rating Council (MRC) accreditation, which Arbitron only has in two of the 33 PPM markets.
"Arbitron seems to take the MRC's code of conduct as a mere suggestion. This approach must change," said Towns. "I'm willing to go to legislation, but I'd like us all to work together."
"The MRC has ongoing concerns," said MRC Executive Director George Ivie, who is also a panelist. In Riverside where PPM is accredited, the MRC has found that performance metrics have declined since it was accredited. "Arbitron needs to demonstrate it can sustain performance. Because it hasn't been sustained in Riverside," added Ivie. (12-02-09)

WHAT?!!?!?

I can't. I just can't. Maybe I'll muster up enough strength to expand on this later. (Maybe)

Deep Doo Doo

2009-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

I think I just found out why WBLS in New York hasn't technically named Wendy's replacement.

Taken from the New York Times:

"Inner City Broadcasting, which owns 17 commercial stations nationwide and was co-founded in 1971 by Mr. Sutton, faces a possible financial collapse because of pressure by Goldman Sachs and GE Capital to repay nearly $230 million in debt, Pierre Sutton, his son, said in an interview Wednesday."

read the rest, HERE.

This, my friends, is what we call deep doo-doo. Their azzes are crying broke. I guess it would defy logic to hire someone capable of improving the ratings in afternoons, huh? Traditionally speaking, great ratings equate to great revenue. New York radio is hopeless. It really is.

Free From Envy....

2009-12-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

Or shall I say, Free to Envy?

Just wanted to take the time to show my appreciation for Joe @ UrbanRadioNation. You be on it. :D Your latest blog about DJ Envy leaving Hot 97 got me thinking....

Do you ever truly think about how social networking has impacted us? Think about it. I used to constantly refresh my computer screen over on UrbanInsite, RRonline & AllAccess, anxiously awaiting all the news about new hires, promotions, relocations, station promotions & firings. Today, it aint even necessary to go the news for the news. Envy announced on Twitter that he's leaving Hot 97. Crazy.

So, you know me. After I heard the news, I went fishing. Although Envy really isn't considered a major player on Hot, I still couldn't help but to wonder why he would walk away. You see, people love being associated with Hot 97. Hot 97 is synonymous with Hip Hop. Hell, just being an intern at Hot can potentially boost you to the next level. (ask Tracy Cloherty) So why would Envy walk away? Especially since he was getting paid a full time salary to work in a part time capacity. (don't ask me how I know)

Word on the street is that DJ Envy will go over to Power 105.1 as the new afternoon host. This is what I heard YESTERDAY. And then, whattya know....this morning, Free tweets (there goes that Twitter again) that today will be her last day. (thanks for the tip MSW) My prediction: Mahlika will move to mornings to replace Free...and Envy will take afternoons.

Radio is truly getting more and more interesting by the minute. Sidebar - They called DJ Envy -DJ Envy for a reason. He's a DJ. A freaking DJ. You know....one of those dudes who spins in a club? Don't get me wrong.....he is definitely one of the sweetest guys I know. He's a father, a loving husband and a serious hustler. He has lots and lots of money. He owns his own home, drives nice car(s) and isn't anywhere near thugdom. Just a sweetiepie. But radio personality - he is not. I won't list the reasons now. I'm off to a damn doctor's appointment. Never made it to my 10.00 an hour interview....because I got bad news from the OB GYN yesterday. I will spare you the details...but I have officially worried myself into a medical condition that may require surgery. (fuckin' great)

The bullshit never, ever ends and I'm starting to find it funny. I have to laugh to keep from crying.

Good luck Envy. I aint hatin' on ya.

PS- I e-mailed Cadillac Jack (the PD) about 6 times over the past 1.5 years...and I never got a reply. Even with all of my experience. Comedy.

EDITED TO ADD - 7 seconds after I submitted this blog, my friend e-mailed me to tell me that Envy is the new afternoon host at Power. Malikka Mahlette (sp?) is moving to mornings to replace Free. wow.

DL Hughley FINALLY Says Something Hilarious!

2009-11-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Taken from RadioInfo.Com

The comedian took on the “Kiss 98.7” morning role only this Summer. But just about 10 days ago (November 19) he dropped in on the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show, hinting that while Tom may be “getting paid” to work, D.L. isn’t. Hughley jokes that he’s been doing a movie to make money, because radio wasn’t paying him. Last week he was on vacation from WRKS, with Boyz II Men hosting. But he’s back today – and this T-R-I Newsletter suspects the folks at WRKS owner Emmis will be listening extra-hard to see just what he says on the air.

Oh-No-he-didn't

This C list, UNFUNNY negro was HANDED a morning show on a platinum platter - with NO radio experience - in the # 1 RADIO MARKET - and he's over there on the TJMS talking smack about not getting paid? Whoooooo Lawdy. I can GUARANTEE that his salary is more than what most EXPERIENCED personalities are getting paid now days and his ungrateful azz is on a syndicated radio program trying to be slick at the mouth?? Wow. Furthermore, has he been in the seat 6 months yet? Has he shown and proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in NY morning radio and therefore is DESERVING of a big fat pay increase?

Just imagine for a split second what would happen to my black azz if I got on a national stage talking crap about my employer and my pay scale. I would have been standing on the unemployment line like THAT SAME DAY.

I can't help but wonder about how hard DL works prior to each airshift. Does he come in an hour or two early to prep? Does he pick up a newspaper to see what's going on in that big ole' city of New York? Does he bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table? Does he personally answer text messages & e-mails from listeners? Does he have a facebook or twitter page? Does he blog? Does he upload a few video every now and then to YouTube in a effort to generate a little interest about himself, his co- hosts or the radio station even? Does he know when ratings are published and is he eager to find out how he's doing so that he can make improvements where necessary? Does he even KNOW what PPM is? Does he make a conscious effort to do something that his competition Steve Harvey CAN'T do....which is BE LOCAL? Does he meet with the PD for aircheck sessions on a weekly basis? Does this negro know ANYTHING about doing a compelling morning show?

Probably not. Just give him a couple of millions of dollars for basically SUCKING. That's all.

Emmis Communications - -I truly believe you guys deserve each other. This is what y'all get for hiring this fool. I hope he continues on this rampage...and I hope it spills over onto the WRKS airwaves.

PS- My production friend tells me that when Boys II Men sat in last week, it wasn't even live. The whole thing was prerecorded. They sat there for a few days, talked about having Spam for Thanksgiving and played Boys II Men songs all morning. THIS is what radio has turned into. Amazing.

PPS- I'm going for an interview tomorrow for a job that pays $10.00 an hour. Reminder: I used to make $4,000 every two weeks. Wish me luck.

What Charlamagne Tha God Won't/Can't Tell You....

2009-11-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

I wrote the following the same evening I heard about the Beanie Sigel interview:

"Dear Charlamagne:

I like you. I've never met you..but I like you. I didn't listen to your show regularly, but I know enough about you to like you. I admire you for being a personality who thinks OUTSIDE the box. I view you as being controversial...but not in a forced kind of way. You're a little obnoxious, but I still like you. Why? Because you ENGAGE the listener. You get it. You HAVE to give the listener a little more than the temperature and a liner in order to compete.

I checked on your well being regularly because knowing your R Kelly's boyfriend aka your former boss, the way that I do, I found it hard to believe that everything was honky dory every morning when you got off the air. In fact, after this 30 minute interview with Beans, I thought I heard ERCS screaming in his office all the way on the west coast."

On or around September 9th, about a month or so BEFORE Charlemagne was terminated at THE BEAT in Philly, I blogged the following:

Charlamagne Tha God has been doing exceptionally well @ 100.3 in Philly. A part of me can't help to wonder if Elroy is in his office pulling his hair out. (figuratively speaking, that is) Elroy likes manufactured, feel good, corny azz radio personalities that he can control. (hence the Miss Jones' firing) Tha God doesn't seem like "that dude". Elroy also will secretly wish death to anyone who says anything negative about his boyfriend, R Kelly. This will be interesting to watch. *sidebar* - Elroy...you can kiss my ass too. I'm thinking about writing a book about what a fraud you are.

You see, I knew Elroy wouldn't be able to last long. I.KNEW.IT.

C Tha God was not your typical radio personality. He was different. He knows and truly understands the importance of utilizing technology as it relates to keeping the listener ENGAGED. Even when I'm sure Elroy didn't exactly get it...and his bosses boss didn't understand....CHARLAMAGNE got it. In the few months that he graced the Philly airwaves, he made a TREMENDOUS connection with his listeners...and he did this not only through the traditional airwaves...but through the use of YouTube & Twitter. In fact, he was so good at it....until he easily drew attention and quickly gained notoriety among a ton of popular blogs and various print publications. He became popular really quick. Charlamagne knew how to push the envelope. He was the type of radio cat that you may talk trash about because of his on air persona....but you couldn't stop listening. He was good. He was DAMN good. So while the internets was buzzing about C's firing, assuming that Beanie Sigel had something to do with it, I knew in my heart what really happened. Since the radio world refuses to say anything anti-Elroy, I'll go ahead and break it down. Elroy is a bitch. He couldn't control C...and so C had to go. I am so serious. By the way, did he try to change your name when he first hired you like he did to "Beyonce Foxx" & "S Dot Carter" back in Chicago a few years ago? (more true examples of the Smith dictatorship)

If you're reading this and you are a part of the radio industry - - you already know. Stop fooling yourself. Elroy is a serious, SERIOUS media whore and a control freak. He would give up BOTH of his kidneys at the opportunity to be on the cover of somebody's industry trade. When celebrities come to the station and you would prepare to take a picture with them, he would literally jump in front of you and destroy the whole moment. By the time you get off the air, that picture is already on the homepage of Urban Insite & All Access. Always trying to steal the little bit of spotlight. He suffers from a condition called, Jackass-itis. Don't believe me? Watch this vid:

(*I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth*) Brand new morning show @ The Beat...and Elroy couldn't even let poor Charlamagne do a little intro video for the listeners alone.

And so....as I watched Charlamagne quickly grow....I knew that it wouldn't last. I too was independent and creative...and I didn't last either. I remember asking Elroy if I could incorporate certain elements into my show...and he downright refused. Why? I may have turned into a Charlamagne...that's why. Miss Jones didn't last 5 minutes with Elroy either. And if C expects to get another radio job, his best bet is to maintain his composure, refrain from bitch slapping Elroy and bow out and exit gracefully....which he did. Good for you.

Listen up Program Directors out there. You really need to stop resisting creative radio personalities. Try to learn about this little phenomenon called social networking and it's impact on the radio experience. Stop trying to tell artists how to paint. You will lose.

When Will This Shit End?????

2009-11-21T19:16:00.000-08:00

I honestly didn't want this blog to be a continuous whine-fest...so I've been avoiding it. I do have a couple of things to get off my chest...so here we go.

I didn't want to come in here. My situation hasn't changed....and I simply don't know what to do. I really think I'm suffering from depression. I have all the signs. I don't sleep. I've gained weight. I cry uncontrollably. I don't drink...but I think I may raid my mother's liquor closet to ease my non stop pain. I actually didn't pay my rent last month. I told my landlord that I need to use my security deposit for rent. He was very understanding. I actually had to call the corporate office of my part time gig and DEMAND that they send my check. Only God knows why they had decided to withhold my check.

I want to move to a smaller apartment...but I'm afraid that I my part time gig could dissolve at any moment...and then I'd REALLY be up shit's creek.

I spent 5 years strengthening my credit...and now it's about to be fucked up again before I'm literally living off my credit cards...and I can't afford to pay them.

I received an e-mail yesterday:

Dear XXX,

Thank you for taking the time to apply and/or interview with Sirius XM Radio back in March 2009. We regret to inform you that the Receptionist position for which you applied is now filled.

Sirius XM's staffing needs continuously change. We will retain your information in our recruitment database so please continue to look through our open positions for future opportunities.

Due to the large volume of candidates we receive, we will be unable to personally respond to replies to this email. If you would like to check your status for any other position you have applied for, feel free to visit our careers page at http://careers.xmradio.com.

We appreciate your interest in Sirius XM and wish you continued success in your professional endeavors.

Sincerely,

Sirius XM Radio Recruitment Department

I'm thinking about sending them an e-mail back.

Dear XM:

So nice of you to e-mail me about the position that I applied for back in March 2009.

Fuck You.

Sincerely,

The Radio Chick.

Radio colleague Mark Raymond passed away recently. I never met him...buy my heart literally broke when I learned of the news. I read the following on another industry blog and I felt compelled to share:

"...I think Mark Raymond died of a Broken Heart, not by some fine chick from Alabama where he was living and was once the PD of a Huntsville Urban AC , but by the business of radio that he spent most of his life in.

I remember a few years ago Mark wrote something about him getting out the business for ever and how he was frustrated by aolt of the things that were going on and shortly after that he got the PD position in Huntville.

I worked with Mark at the first station I ever worked and he and Chris Turner were PD and Assistant PD and they gave me my first fulltime job in radio at WGIV Charlotte. We were a struggling AM at that time and we were trying to stay afloat while the new FM at that time WPEG was emerging.

Mark, who was from Trenton, NJ and me from Philly were good friends and we both had big dreams of working in big markets, making alot of money and enjoy the life of radio business that we both loved. We often debated over who was the better station WBLS or WDAS. With Mark living in Trenton he heard both stations while I was very partial toward WDAS FM.
Mark left the station to be PD at WERD in Jacksonville, with Chris Turner and they wanted me to come, but I had a new born daughter and didnt want to move at time. I loss track of Mark for a few years and then he called me after hearing me somewhere in he told me that he was out of the radio business and working for Circuit City in the Winston Salem area. He later got back in the business that he loved, radio.

Mark, like me and others have spent almost our entire lives doing this radio thing in small towns like Winston-Salem, Sumter, Huntsville and other towns paying the socalled dues and dreaming of bigger markets and bigger things.

Mark never made it to WBLS like he always talked about but he did what he loved. He was a good kat who was serious about the business and I hope he was fullfilled.
I worked with some good kats and Mark was one of the good ones, and I just wanted to say that cause I havent seen anyone comment on him. Even though he wasnt one of those so called bigtime over hyped PDs or syndicated hotshot, I know he was a real black radio guy who worked in the trenches for little money , little hype, and he deserves his due."

RIP Mark. I honestly know how you felt. God give me strength.

KISS FM in NYC Makes Another WTF Decision

2009-09-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

click to enlarge

Just in case you can't read the small print, it says:

Raqiyah Mays

has just been fired from 98.7 Kiss FM's "DL Hughley Morning Show." Why? I was given a reason, but still not 100 percent sure...

Gosh Raqiyah. I know I've scolded you in the past on this blog for being a dummy....but I never wanted you to lose your job. You'll bounce back, I'm sure.

They could have at least let the coffin get cold. My gawd.

They aint waste NO TIME getting your azz off the website. Those bastards. On another note, what the FUCK is Kiss FM doing? Really. The only female that worked from sun up til sun down is gone? Who's gonna work weekends now? Who's gonna do free endorsements and $75 station appearances? Who's gonna wash the windows now? Ladies and gentlemen, KISS FM is about to self destruct in 3......2......

Urban Radio Nation Wins BLOG ENTRY OF THE YEAR....

2009-09-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

URN wins. You were SO ON POINT with your latest blog entry, I felt compelled to share it with the world. If your post were a sermon in church, I'd have the holy ghost. In fact, I was in the middle of writing my next blog when I decided to check you out. You messed me up. I lost my train of thought and everything.

WBLS, New York's Urban AC Radio Continues it's Search for Wendy Williams' Replacement

Is 107.5 WBLS running a contest that never ends? A better question might be what's the point of all of this?

So far WBLS listeners have heard on the air the last six weeks: Jeff Foxx, Osei the Dark Secret, Chubb Rock, Adimu and this week the afternoon airwaves are being graced by Egypt Sherrod. Oh and let me mention the leading vote getter is none other than Salt N' Pepa. Hey it's what the people want...

Maybe a name from the past such as this famous New York disc jockey might be on the air next week. Well that's what they use to call them.

Which one of those two men pictured here am I talking about? It has to be Ken 'Spider' Webb, (on the left) the former morning man on WBLS and 98.7 Kiss FM, who currently host mornings on Soul Town on Sirius XM radio. Not likely... The other guy of course is Frankie Crocker, who unfortunately died in 2000 and is credited with coining the phrase and the format known as Urban Contemporary in the late 1970's. However today we call it Urban "Adult" Contemporary.

Now if Frankie was still alive he'd probably die all over again and spin in his grave over what the format has evolved into. I turn on Urban AC radio nowadays and I almost have to scream at what I'm listening to. I always thought contemporary means modern and current. (Think of furniture. Urban AC radio is like a combination of Early American, Colonial and Pennsylvania Dutch.)

I'm sure that relatively "new", "cool", and "hip" was the essence of the format when Frankie developed it. Frankie Crocker received a lot of industry buzz for incorporating a mass appeal format. He was crazy enough to put Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" in rotation at the station. Of course that would only work in NYC, but at the time Sinatra's song was "current." So that type of out of the box programming with a strong roster of talent led to WBLS soaring to the #1 spot in New York until 'KTU and Kiss FM came along.

But now we have an over researched format that continues to push music from the likes of Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Sade, and most recently, thankfully Maxwell. All in all there's nothing wrong with these artists, but the continuous dose of this ballad laden music is monotonous. Meanwhile we see the rise of the Rhythmic AC format, also known as "MoViN" in various cities around the country. That format has seemed to tap into something that can be regionalized to the taste of the audience.

For my money I need a jock who shares his musical taste with me as the listener. The same corporate playlist emailed to program directors all over the country each week has taken a toll on radio listeners. I say leave the programming to the on-air personality. That of course is heresy. But if music radio wants to get out of it's dwindling and eroding listener base; then a return of the local DJ who is allowed to share his musical taste with his or her listeners is the way to go.

For the most part WBLS does a more than average job of staying out of the Urban AC programming rut and they sound like "New York." WHUR does a good job also for what they are- "Sounds like Washington." But in all honesty I still appreciate Donnie Simpson at WPGC, who programs his show with such songs as Kool Moe Dee - How Ya Like Me Now, Maxwell - Pretty Wings, Jay-Z - Run This Town (w/ Rihanna & Kanye West), Mary Mary - God In Me, Anita Baker - Sweet Love. It works for me and many other Washington area listeners. I would love to hear Donnie on an Urban AC station.

Now WBLS just remember you're not a reality TV show, a talk/celebrity gossip show, or a refuge for Old School Hip Hop artists. You're "in a class by itself", a radio station that plays music. Maybe the contest will continue until they find a radio personality that can get more votes than Salt N' Pepa...

Egypt's Got Next

2009-09-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Skip & Co have finally decided to let REAL radio talent take a stab at "auditioning" for Wendy's spot next week. Hip, hip, hooray. Maybe I do have a chance after all. Nah....who am I kidding. I don't quite understand the game of charades that they're playing. I'm sure they already know who they're gonna hire already.

Even in my darkest hour, I still can be happy for women in radio who continue to prosper. Knock 'em out the box babygirl.

Jack of all Asses - Another Amazing Job Posting

2009-09-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

*sidebar* - To all of my NON INDUSTRY friends out there - - please take my word for it. The following job listings are utterly ridiculous.

I wouldn't be surprised if they accidentally left out, "toilet cleaner".

Cumulus Media of Danbury is looking for a radio "jack of all trades." You'll quarterback our production department, back up the traffic & continuity department, and voicetrack a shift on one of our music stations. Experience with audio editing software is a must. Working knowledge of commercial traffic systems would be a huge plus as well. T&R to Tim Sheehan, Cumulus Media, 1004 Federal Road, Brookfield CT 06804

Here's another:

Want To Cut Some Commercials? We need some fresh voices. We're a small station that wants a big sound. Will pay $10.00 for a spot. You won't get rich, but you can make a few extra bucks. Send me a sample. Radiogpm@yahoo.com

East 2 Midwest Bits & Pieces

2009-09-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

Adimu Colon, after being missing in action for a really long time, resurfaced today on WBLS. I was able to stomach about 3 minutes of the staged, over processed, admiration of female listeners who claimed to" miss him SO HORRIBLY".

PS- BLS...fix your online stream in sucks.

Power 92 in Chicago has a Sunday program called "Teen Speak" where they are so graciously giving high school students the opportunity to get their feet wet in the radio industry. I didn't last past 2 minutes of the yelling, screaming and incoherent STREET speak. I'm in my 30's....but I aint THAT out of touch with today's teenagers. Power.....you get 2 thumbs down for that niggatry. Don't think that we can't see right through your 'efforts' to give these kids a chance. It's called free.labor. Get outta here with that bullshit.

An Epiphany...

2009-09-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Andreas:

Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your letter let me know that I am NOT alone. Damn. I had the double check your e-mail to make sure that it wasn't written by me. It is EXACTLY what I went through during my last years in radio. I'd also like to thank you for NOT being silent. A girlfriend of mine told me the following during a radio industry conversation:

It hurts to be vocal. It hurts to be the squeaky wheel, because everyone else is going along to get along and Its hard to understand why the rest of the world is raging against the same machine. Story of my life.

So, so true.

Although I'm unemployed, Andreas - - YOU are EXACTLY the type of person that I'd like to work with. I pray that the opportunity will present itself....one day.

Thank You,

The jobless one aka ImOffTheAir

To friends, colleagues and those that should know,

As of today (September 8, 2009) I am no longer the Executive Editor of Music at BET.com.
Upon entering the position at BET I said that I needed one year to see what really went on inside the belly of the beast. I needed 365 days to sleep with the enemy and infiltrate the system. One year to see if they REALLY wanted change at BET.
As someone who has been critical of BET for many years, it surprised many that I would leave my post at HipHopDX last year to take a position at BET. But it was an opportunity I absolutely had to take. I could no longer be critical of this company without accepting the opportunity to change it when given. Although I was hired to bring about change, I was systematically shut down. I wasn’t hired to make noise, I was hired to be silenced.
The truth of the matter is that everything that you thought was wrong with BET is true.
Over the past year I’ve seen a lot to reinforce my position that BET is too far gone in the negative to turn into a positive. We have all always thought the worst, but to actually see it in action is another thing in its entirety. The unprofessionalism, the tom foolery, the favors, the misappropriation of resources, the bad ideas that reinforce negative stereotypes, the emasculation of men, the meetings that break down in full fledged cursing battles, the unpaid overtime, the tears from employees scared for their underpaid and overworked positions and ultimately the unwillingness to change are all harsh realities that I’ve witnessed firsthand.
That is not to say that there aren’t some good people who have sat in the offices of BET. Unfortunately, the good people are not in positions of power to instill any change. Instead, they work their fingers to the bone just to keep their jobs in this harsh economic climate. The other good people ran out of the door as soon as an another employment opportunity presented itself. To say BET was a revolving door would be an understatement.
I came in with a plan to provide balance and to deliver good music to the masses and help make BET relevant again - at least in the dot com world. Those attempts were shut down by out of touch executives who run a dot com but could barely turn on a computer. By those who judge their metrics by page views over absolute unique visitors (that‘s ad sales talk). By those who simply don’t understand the internet.
They brought me in because of my track record but never once took a look at my body of work. If they did, they would have known that I was the pen behind editorials such as “BET’s Coon Picnic” or were aware of the many times I have been critical of their award shows and programming. All they knew is that I played a major role in making a once unknown website into a online media outlet that surpassed theirs and they wanted a piece of the action. Too bad they never researched who I really was.
During my tenure I worked long hours and sometimes succeeded at bringing in decent content to try to reflect the change I wanted to achieve. But it wasn’t without opposition. While some interviews and content initiatives were able to make it through, many others were either shut down or met with ridicule. I offered ideas to incorporate the blog world and to spotlight new talent before MTV did. Those ideas were met with comments such as “This isn’t HipHopDX” or “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
BET is not about the quality of your work. Rather, BET is about the relationships you have with powerful people within the company. BET is not about challenging. Instead, BET is about accepting and saying “yes.” If you have known or followed me over the years, you would know that these are things that simply are not in my character and ultimately resulted in my removal.
For the artists and labels that I have worked with for years, I tried. I did whatever I could to achieve that balance many of us wanted to see happen. To the writers who wanted to writer for BET, I made an attempt but was never given a budget to work with.
Upon my arrival, I was told I would be given a staff. Not true. I had a staff of one to carry out daily operations on a website. I fought tooth and nail to accomplish the minimum (an embeddable player and a site people could navigate) and was constantly brushed off. It was a position that was set up for failure. But I endured as long as I could.
Alas, I have been removed from my position after infiltrating the system and the timing was perfect. I wasn’t let go because the site’s numbers were down. Not because I didn’t work hard. Simply because of a personality clash with an individual whose proverbial ass I didn’t kiss enough. Again, not about the work you do but about the relationships you keep and the sides you take.
I’d like to thank BET for covering the cost of my relocation to bring me to the great city of New York/New Jersey. I’d also like to thank them for putting me in close quarters with people who think like me and will hopefully work with in the near future. I’d also like to thank them for providing me enough controversial content that I observed firsthand and will make for many tales to be told.
I said it and I meant in: One year to either make changes or move on. I left HipHopDX on September 16th 2008. Today is September 8, 2009. Eight days short of a year. Most thought I wouldn’t even last that long. But in that year I’ve had my greatest fears about Black Entertainment Television affirmed.
There is so much wrong with BET that I’d rather not break it down in a single email.
It is pretty good fodder for a book don’t you think?
As of today, Andreas Hale is a free agent.

Help Wanted! Salary Pay: FUN!!!!

2009-09-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

TalkRadioX is looking for new show hosts.

On the air since 2006, TalkRadioX is an all talk station that features a home grown lineup of shows. Currently there are some daily morning and afternoon slots available, as well as on the weekend.

There is no pay for hosts. But if you're looking to get on air and have fun let us know.

Send an email to dan@xxxxxxxxx

Dear Dan:

Fun don't pay the bills. GTFOOHWTBS.

Sincerely,

ImOffTheAir and I guess that's where I'll remain

My Sincerest Apologies...

2009-09-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

I started out this blog with such a BANG -then I disappeared into oblivion. I'm really sorry. Truth of the matter is, I'm still unemployed - and it's literally killing me. A lot of sleepless nights...random heart palpitations and countless tears. Feeling this way doesn't exactly allow me to have a clear mind nor a desire to blog. I've applied to nearly every station from east to west coast and literally contacted everyone that I know in the industry. My efforts have been unsuccessful. Some days, I seriously don't know if I'm coming or going.

A few random thoughts:

* I still haven't noticed radio react to the rapid changes in the industry as it relates to technology. Why don't they just kill themselves already?

* Barry Mayo's salary has been publicly released via a recent SEC filing. $500,000 per year and a 50K raise next year. Sham.Fucking.Wow.

* I tried to warn y'all that the DL Morning Show was coming. It is the most God awful show I've ever heard. Why do they have 30 people on the mic? Why is the most experienced cast member the newsguy? Why must DL comment after every.fucking.comment? Can Bob do the news without you interjecting every 2 seconds? He's like that little annoying kid in class with ADD. And furthermore, you're not funny. Never has been. Never will be.

* Skip Dillard? What the fuck are you doing up there? Seriously? Salt and Pepa? Chubb Rock? The 90 year old Jeff Fox? I should get one of my 'boys' to kick your azz on GP....just because.

* A huge FUCK YOU to all of my so-called friends in the industry. Wanna find out how many TRUE friends you have in the world? Try asking them for a job or a recommendation. I've received a hardcore reality check. Do me a favor....seriously. Don't even show up at my funeral. Fake azz bastards.

* I made contact with some folks @ Oprah radio. They said they would call...but never did. I'm hurt...but at least I made that initial contact. I actually feel like I've accomplished something.

* KDAY in Los Angeles removed all of their syndicated programming. Hooray. Now go and program that station correctly and most importantly, make it work!

* The Brian McKnight show with Lenny Green sounds really gay. Maybe some women enjoy hearing 2 men go back and forth, talking all soft spoken and shit about irrelvant topics...but I don't. I hear that the ratings for the daypart in New York have really hit bottom. That's good for y'all sorry azzes. That was a dumb idea to begin with.

* There have been a bunch of "pick our next radio personality" contests lately. Particularly @ WPGC in DC and POWER 99 in Philly. More stupidity...although I would have definitely taken part at a shot to get a paycheck. Kashon nor Robert returned calls although I know them both very well. Both of y'all can kiss my azz on a hot, sweaty day.

* And on that note, Miss Jones has officially secured the morning show spot on Power 99 in Philly.

Although she's bit much to handle in person....I am really happy for her. She's pretty good on the mic. Love her or hate her....she knows how to do compelling radio.

* We all have a love hate relationship with Wendy Williams. Call her what you want, she is the Queen Pimp. She has successfully pimped the game. If the TV show was cancelled tomorrow, she would be ok. I'm proud of that chick. With her crazy azz.

* Charlemange The God has been doing exceptionally well @ 100.3 in Philly. A part of me can't help to wonder if Elroy is in his office pulling his hair out. (figurately speaking) Elroy likes manufactured, feel good, corny azz radio personalities that he can control. (hence the Miss Jones' firing) The God doesn't seem like "that dude". Elroy also will secretly wish death to anyone who says anything negative about his boyfriend, R Kelly. This will be interesting to watch. *sidebar* - Elroy...you can kiss my ass too. I'm thinking about writing a book about what a fraud you are.

* Instead of doing the writing....I've been doing a lot of reading. Urbaninsite used to be the shit. For some reason, they've fallen off. I used to spend hours on that site...and now on most days, I forget to even check in. Seems as though they have forgotten to stay relevant. They have let other sources of industry news sneak in through the backdoor. (hmmmmm....sounds like the state of the radio industry. How ironic.)

-UrbanRadioNation - Great site. Again, comparing it to radio.....it's totally ok to be personal and editorialize at times. That's how you connect with your audience. It feels like an ACTUAL person it writing the blog. Love it. He's been slippin' up a little bit with regards to the timeliness of the news....but he makes up for it with the quality of posts. I don't understand why people don't leave more comments though.

-RadioFacts - I visit the site daily...but Kevin Ross the owner can really be a pig at times. He's horny and it shows. Will somebody please give this dude some azz? He always figures out a way to interject some stupid ass comment about a chick's azz or who he would or wouldn't "fook". Stick to the Radio Facts please. Kev....don't get cute and try to respond to me either. You owe me $150 from 10 years ago for writing for your publication. I still have the bullshit azz e-mail with the compensation agreement and will scan it for the world to see...with your lying azz.

-AllAccess.Com - I've been actively logging on to this website for over 10 years. What can I say? They are simply marvelous.

Well.....I guess that's it for now. Again...I'm sorry for the MIA status. I hope things get better soon. Pray for your sister.

Comedy At It Finest

2009-08-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Salt and Pepa will sit in on WBLS this week at an attempt to grab the vacant spot left by Wendy Williams.

This radio stuff is becoming better the comedy night at Showtime at the Apollo.

Why I Will Never Get The Job @ WPGC....

2009-08-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm still unemployed.
Yes, there is an availability at WPGC as Donnie Simpson's co-host.
Yes, I did apply....and so did Toshamakia. (see picture below)

No, I won't show my azz for job....even as broke as I am.

Simply Not In The Mood To Blog

2009-05-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's been 2 weeks since my last blog. I honestly don't know what to say anymore....My job situation seems to get more and more bleak. I'm finding out that I actually have less friends than I thought I had to start with. I truly don't know what to do. Do I continue to fight? Do I continue to apply for jobs that pay $10.00 an hour? Do I try to sell drugs? What the fuck. I really hope that things get better because I don't know how much more of this I can take.

All Unemployed Radio Brethren...UNITE!

2009-05-01T07:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a few days because even though I'm trying to 'stay up' about my situation, (which doesn't seem to have the potential of getting better) I've been going crazy (again). Applying for job after job after job after job without any response can be incredibly depressing. I'll be back momentarily. In the meantime, check out the facebook page entitled, "I Got Fired By Clear Channel". Very cute.

click to view

Wendy Wants To Get Fired...

2009-04-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

PART ONE

PART TWO

HEARING ABOUT this was one thing...but actually HEARING IT gave a brand new perspective to the situation. I'm speechless...

Wondering Where's Wendy?

2009-04-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

Since no one seems to be talking about it, I will. If you've been wondering where Wendy is, she's been suspended from her radio show. Apparently, Wendy couldn't wait to celebrate her great ratings with her husband Kevin and former co-host 'Charlemagne Tha God' and decided to invite them both up to the radio station while she was on air. Her husband Kevin had been recently banned from WBLS as a result of an explosive lawsuit involving Wendy's former talent booker, Nicole Spence. Charlemagne, who has recently been given his own morning show in Philly, was fired recently as a result of 'budget cuts'. In spite of both circumstances, all three were heard on the air a few days ago, as if none of the above had ever happened.

Wendy had an extremely successful test run with her nationally syndicated TV show a few months back resulting in a renewal for a full 2009 run.

A few questions:

What the hell was Wendy thinking when she let her husband into the studio and on the mic?

Why would Charlemagne want to start some shit right before he embarks on his opportunity of a lifetime?

Radio is Wendy's heart and soul...but is she ready to cut it all loose for that TV money?

How many program directors across America really want her to get fired anyway?

Random Ramblings:

I love Wendy because she has accomplished so much in her career. Anyone as ambitious as me would understand and respect her gangsta.

I hate her because she is a mean, nasty, self absorbed witch who refuses to pay it forward. She has disrespected me on several occasions...and she doesn't even know me. Yet and still..I'm happy for her.

I had to laugh when I heard about the circumstance behind her suspension though. She aint scared of none of youse.

By George...I Think He's Got It!

2009-04-24T09:11:00.000-07:00

"...Remember black and white TV? Color came along, and now only those that WANT a black and white TV have one. Remember boradcast (sic) networks on TV? Cable brought the big 3 down. They still have not quite recovered, but the money is too big to just go away.

Remember good radio? Upbeat, positive, local and interactive? Well, computers, Ipods and the internet came along, and the industry has not countered. It cannot. It is full of linear thinking, INSIDE the box executing, "talent" and "management", and will falter because there is no true leadership.

The fact is, radio will NEVER be what is WAS, and may not be much more than what it is at any point in the future. Mass programming syndication and the general flooding of the talent pool has made it impossible for really talented people to excel, or even be able to work long anough to learn their craft. After all, who can survive on $15K a year?"

-Voxianguy

Sidebar - Different wording, same message. (Click HERE)

Critique Me Please

2009-04-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

click to view larger

I was digging through the crates and I found this today. It reminded me of the ambition that I once had. At one point, my drive literally drove all of my friends away. They called me crazy. I dedicated almost 80% of my day towards researching the industry. Finding out who's who. My network game was tiiiiight. I have no regrets. In a little under 10 years, I was able to maneuver through some of the top radio markets in the country. Most importantly, I was able to go from $6 dollar an hour to a six figure salary in 9.4 years. I was humble yet hungry.

The above image is a snapshot of something that I created called it a critique sheet. I mailed them to Program Directors across the country along with my audition cassette tape. I simply asked various people in the industry to review my tape and them critique it. I included a self-addressed stamped envelope (this was before e-mail & MP3s) to try to make it easier for them to respond. It was also a way to introduce myself in a non traditional way. Unfortunately, I rarely received a response. I remember being so angry as most PDs wouldn't give me the time of day. Furthermore, a bitch was broke and I had wasted postage and perfectly good cassette tapes on some of these assholes.

I thought it would be cool to share some of the results from mailing these packages to some of the industry's alleged finest.

Terri Avery - Never mailed the critique sheet back. I called to follow up and her response was, "I usually charge people to critique them". >>enter a WTF face here<< >

Russ Parr - Actually responded. Showered me with compliments. Insisted that I would make it 'BIG' one day.

Steve Hegwood- Ignored me in the worst way.

Vinnie Brown - Ignored me in a WORSER way.

Helen Little - Ignored my critique sheet..but eventually responded to my phone calls...but would never hire me.

Lisa Lisa (formerly of WKYS in Washington DC) - Crickets.

Lorenzo 'ICED TEA' Thomas - More crickets.

Toya Beasley (formerly of WRKS, NY) - Ignored me.

Tracy Cloerty (formerly of WQHT, NY) - Ignored critique sheet...but eventually met her personally. She told me that she only hired 'stars'. >>there goes my self esteem<<

Tony Gray (consultant) - Ignored me but eventually responded. Gave me a lot of empty promises.

There are probably more...but I'm gonna head for bed now.

SIDEBAR - I actually received a phone call today from a potential employer! Being unemployed for so long has definitely done some damage because I wasn't even excited when the phone rang. My heart told me that it was going to be about some bullshit. And it ended up being exactly that..Bullshit.

Radio Is Dead..Dead...Dead...

2009-04-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

I think that our fundamental belief is that for us growth is a way of life and we have to grow at all times.
~Muskesh Ambani

If you aint growing, evolving, expanding or improving, you're dead.

~Me

And this my friends, is my assessment of the state of radio. Radio has actually been on life support for the past 10 years...and I have finally come to the realization that radio is dead. This reality check may very well change my life.

I will NEVER forget the anger that I felt when I heard Alfred Liggins say (with my own two ears) that he didn't think that radio stations should waste money on building or maintaining websites. This was back in 1995. I sat in that conference room in complete and total awe. No one understood why I sat there with my mouth wide open in a no-his-dumb-ass-did-not-just-say that kind of way. Perhaps I'm just an overly-sensitive type of chick...but I was livid. I hate closed minded individuals. I really do. I remember being infatuated with the internet back then..and although I never had formal training, I loved surfing, discovering new websites and I even tried to self educate myself on HTML so that I could eventually attempt to build a website. It was fascinating to be able to instantly access information within seconds. I saw HUGE opportunity for a medium such as radio to capitialize. But here I am, with my $9.00 an hour makin' azz, listening to this self made millionaire COO say out loud that it's a waste of time and money to invest in a internet presence for the station that I was working for.

It's hard to explain...but I've been frustrated my entire career. I love radio…but the people who are in charge have made me hate radio. I've never been the type of radio personality simply to do my shift..and simply go home. I always, always attempted to come up with ways to make my show more successful, more compelling, more interesting and more relatable. I have been faced with more opposition than not. At my last job, I was adamant about doing an interactive hour with my listeners once a week via webcam. That was my way of attempting to connect with my audience. Deep down inside, I felt that I could actually change the way radio was being done. The station could have monetized the opportunity as well. I got into a HUGE argument with management because they refused to allow me to do it. Their reasoning for not allowing me to do it was RIDICULOUS. I fought and fought...and eventually lost. That argument created a stressful relationship between me and 'them' from that day forward. Like I said earlier, I hate closed minded people...and my hate erupted like Mount St Helens that day.

Unfortunately, Al isn't the only idiot out here who failed to comprehend that in order to keep radio as a relevant medium for music, information and entertainment – you must evolve it. Radio has REFUSED to respond to a wide variety of demands that have been put in place for the past 10 years. They refused to grow during the internet explosion. They wouldn’t listen. And now the consequence is death. Perhaps radio won’t become extinct, but it will certainly become irrelevant. I’ve read at least a dozen different articles last week about internet radio listening. The numbers are amazing. They had a 10 year headstart to figure it out…but they chose to sit back. And now they’re all blaming the diminishing radio revenues on the economy…but it’s bullshit. Don’t believe the hype. Radio is dead. And they killed it. So now they struggle to stay afloat by cheapening it by hiring kids off the street with no experience and by syndicating every daypart imaginable.

And so, here lies radio. He lived an amazing life…but got sick, refused to grow and eventually gave up the will to live. May God rest his poor soul.

Maybe God hasn’t allowed me to obtain my next radio job because terrestrial radio isn’t where I belong anymore. I am talented and the world is about to become my oyster. I need to define where my opportunities are and then I must learn how to exploit them. I know it’s going to be frustrating…especially when I need money so badly..but today I am making the choice not to give up because when you give up…you can’t grow. And when you don’t grow, you die. I’m not dead yet bitches.

Free Help Needed!

2009-04-17T22:08:00.001-07:00

And now for your viewing pleasure, another WTF job listing:

We've assembled a station that is gaining attention, and we're looking for talent to fill the schedule. Whether you're experienced and looking to try something new or starting out looking to build a resume and aircheck, all are welcome.

We need to be clear -- this is an unpaid opportunity. If you're interested, contact us ASAP -- jobs@radiogotham.com

Sidebar - I had a serious revelation today. This revelation may change the way I've been blogging - - FOREVER. To be continued...

Clear Channel Theatrics

2009-04-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Look what I found! An old issue of Radio Ink Magazine dated September 29, 2003. Funny, aint it?

And speaking of comic relief, remember when Chris Rock said in one of his stand up performances that he hates when niggas start wanting credit for something that they're SUPPOSED to do? And I quote...

"A nigga will say some shit like I take care of my kids! You're SUPPOSED to..you dumb muthafukka!"

Well...I immediately thought of Chris Rock after I read the following story yesterday:

Clear Channel Radio launched a new initiative to improve program quality at the company’s radio stations nationwide.

Clear Channel has ownership of five Dallas stations — KDGE-FM (102.1); KDMX-FM (102.9); KEGL-FM (97.1); KHKS-FM (106.1); and KZPS-FM (93.5).

The plan involves improving quality at each station’s day parts — the blocks of time stations use to sell broadcast advertising. Day parts are typically broken up into the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. morning drive-time segment, the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. mid-day segment, the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. afternoon drive-time segment, the 7 p.m. to midnight segment and midnight to 6 a.m. late-night segment.

Managers will have the latitude to choose content and talent for their stations as a way to generate more audience and ultimately advertising dollars.

“Our programming objective is to increase audience size and engagement across all day parts and all platforms,” says John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “At the same time, we face a particularly difficult economy that makes it extremely challenging for some local stations to invest in developing the highest-quality programming and talent. Despite the difficult economy, we see enormous long-term opportunity in investing in things that immediately improve the competitive situation of our stations.”

Now mind you, I read this article on nearly half a dozen radio industry websites. This means that somewhere deep down in the heart of Texas sits a publicist who is getting paid to paint a beautiful picture of Clear Channel's effort to survive the depression despite these awful economic times. They have distributed this press release announcing Clear Channel's 'new' initiative for all of the world to see. Awwwwwww! Isn't that special?

Kevin Ross over at Radio Facts.Com is impressed. He says:

"...For the most part, I’m impressed. I really like the local initiaitves to host more PSAs, community involvement and rewarding local, lesser known jocks reward initiatives for bringing results."

"Even more impressive is the company’s commitment to local artists and playing their music and having local boards in every market. Moreover their commitment and understanding of the importance of online promotion and audience are impressive."

I say:

"I hate when niggas start wanting credit for something that they're SUPPOSED to do. Clear Channel - You suck."

When Radio Gets Messy

2009-04-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a disturbing pattern occurring nationwide. Radio companies are hiring inexperienced on air personalities because they are cost efficient. But as Judge Milian from the People's Court always says, "The cheap come out expensive". I wonder how many listeners turned the radio off during this agonizing minute and 16 seconds of fuckery.

Take a listen to the above audio. Apparently, Shauna simply didn't know better and the inexperienced programmer who hired her didn't bother to be specific before instructing her to read the lottery numbers for the day.

Pure comedy at it's finest in my humble opinion.

PS- My check arrived in the mail yesterday. My mortgage is 16 days late.

Today's Sermon

2009-04-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

"...It pains me to say this but almost everyone on-the-air is mentally disturbed in one way or another. It may be slight - possibly even undetectable to the human ear - but the only reason anyone chooses to work in a business that chews you up and spits you out like the Slap Chop is because they have a brain defect. Nothing else explains why a human being would want to subject themselves to such pressure and competition.

Many don’t do it for money. They’re on the radio either because their ego is bigger than Rush Limbaugh’s formerly nicotine-stained jockey shorts or they are suffering from a personality disorder which they feel can only be treated by subjecting the rest of us to their neurotic nuances. They crave adulation and adoration and are attracted to fame – even if it means working the overnight weekend shift on AM 1030 in Cow Nuts, Iowa. They are the "weirdo-wacko-wannabes". (By the way: that’s a medical term.)..."

-Corey Dietz

As of 11:39AM this morning, payroll still refuses to pick up the phone. I'm officially freaked out. Like seriously. This doesn't feel right.

WE Are The Ones To Blame

2009-04-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

There are TONS of reasons why radio corporations don't respect 'THE RADIO PERSONALITY' anymore. The main reason is because, we (the radio personality) have personally invited them to devalue our craft. I've said it a million times - and I'll say it again. This mess is our fault.

The following has actually happened to me:

McDonalds decided to purchase advertising with the company that owned the radio station that I was working for. This company owned 5 stations in my city. McDonalds bought advertising on all 5 stations. As a part of their advertising campaign, one of the stations (which targeted white folk between the ages of 18-34) in the cluster offered the air talent $6,000 to do a couple of live commercials, a few pre recorded commercials and a couple of live 2 hour appearances at a couple of local McDonalds over the course of 3 months. They asked me do to the EXACT SAME amount of work - - but not for $6000 - not for $3000 - but for $450 and a few free cheeseburgers a few times of week.

please take a second to take all of this in

My radio station ranked top 5 in the market...my show was #2 in the targeted demo while the other station was a much lower rated radio station. In other words, they sucked. I innocently inquired about the low talent fee in comparision to my counterpart. I don't remember what they told me - - but it wasn't impressive and I politely declined the offer. The salesperson then made the exact offer to another air personality at my station - and she (with little to no hesitation) accepted the free cheeseburgers.

I also remember being asked to do an endorsement for free a few years after this incident. I professionally & politely declined....and so they approached the BOARD OP to read the commerical. He did. Didn't get paid and yet he was happy as hell. Why? Because his voice was now being heard on the public airwaves. He probably felt that this was he chance to break into the BIG TIME.

Now please don't get me wrong....I've always subscribed to the belief that folk should do what they gotta do in order to get ahead as long as it's moral. Making the sacrifice of doing something for free or low pay at the shot of getting that full time gig is simply a part of the game. Who am I to tell that streetteamer or board op not to voice that commerical? In their minds, that may be their big break! But at the same time - look what this has done to our profession! It has become common practice for companies to take advantage of young, eager talent. In the end, cheap labor always wins!

This is why I have never had a problem telling people how much I made as an on air talent or how much I made to host a club. Deep down inside, I thought that if I made it known that I was paid $1000 to appear at a club - that there would be NO WAY that someone else would do it for $150. But my fellow brothers and sisters in radio have proven me wrong. It's every man/woman for himself. This selfish behavior has destroyed us singlehandedly. This eagerness has cheapened us. And yes, it's OUR FAULT.

PS- As of 3:07 EST, still no check. Payroll refuses to answer the phone.

Still No Paycheck...Summmabitch

2009-04-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

My check didn't arrive today either. I haven't gone postal and most likely, I won't. (Contrary to my last blog entry, although I may seem a little off my rocker, I'm not that damn crazy) But as I sit here looking through the jobs on Craigs List, Entertainment Careers.Net and All Access, I am ALSO thinking about how much I can relate to Angela Bassett's character in Waiting To Exhale. As I previously mentioned, I'm not going to go postal, shave my head or hit the bottle or the crackpipe - - but I can sincerely appreciate the rage and nerve that Angela Bassett exhibited in that movie.

My career situation is parallel to Angela's situation. She gave everything to her husband and after being left alone and absolutely betrayed, her hurt was transcribed into anger. Being able to blog about the bullshit that radio has left me is my way of getting over it.

So with that I say, thank you for allowing me to vent. Being in radio for 10+ years has given me a unique appreciation for listeners - - but in this case, readers. I want this blog to not only serve as an outlet for me to vent - - but most importantly, I want it to be a source of education. I want people to know what REALLY goes on behind the walls of a radio station. I want other people in the industry to realize that they are not alone....

If I disappear, just know that my cable/internet bill did not get paid. Internet access will be the first thing to go if my check doesn't get here soon.

Oh yeah....One more thing...

*note to self* Never play with matches....

On The Verge Of Going Postal...

2009-04-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Yes...I lost my six figure year salary over a year ago...but I am extremely grateful for a part time industry gig which gives me $1900 per month. (a little less than 23k per year) My mortgage is $1700 and my other bills exceed $200 per month...but without the part time job, I'd have nothing. So believe me, a sista is blessed.

BUT...

I usually receive my check on or about the 30th of each month. Well...today is Apr 10...and I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CHECK! The mortgage was due on the first so as of today, it is 10 days late. But wait...that's not all. I called corporate to try to find out the status of my check...and I can't get a live person on the phone! An 'automated' operator answers the phone and insists that I hold if I would like to speak to a live person. I hold...and then it simply repeats the please hold message.

Would it be wrong to say that I now understand why folk go postal? This shit is out of control.
My bank account is at an all time low. $372.06. I didn't go anywhere today because I don't want to use any unnecessary gas. I'm already thinking about how to slip out of church service on Sunday during offering. I am falling apart.

CBS Radio Joins The Pimp Game

2009-04-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Jacked from Radio-Info.Com:

CBS Radio is now offering clients live spots on the internet at which are being offered at a "premium price”! But the CBS market manager tells the talent that there’s no extra money for the personalities who actually voice them. One reader says, “currently, we get money for live-read endorsements on-air. But with the stream – not going to happen.” He calls it "disappointing....but maybe that's the new way of doing business, when revenues are down 15-20%."

See what I mean? The pimp game is getting strong in the radio game.

• The client benefits GREATLY by purchasing internet spots at a fantastic rate, having their products and services promoted WORLDWIDE and they will receive a professionally voiced commercial by the talent which will air LIVE (live spots tend to sound a little better because they sound more conversational than a prerecorded commercial)

* The company benefits by obviously selling the airtime and collecting the check

* The account executive benefits by closing the deal and by collecting their commission

* The client, CBS and the Account Executive will all benefit financially...

* But the air talent gets pimped. The air talent, the individual who will actually be responsible for connecting the listener with the product or service, is virtually being FORCED to voice the commercial live at no additional compensation.

Most of the talent who are approached to do these 'live spots' will feel obligated to do them in fear of losing their jobs.

Aint that something?

Awwwww...Poor, Poor Radio....

2009-04-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Although this blog was/is designed for radio industry folk, I realize that there are a lot of people who may not necessarily be familiar with the radio game. (and for that I'm grateful!) So before I go on my latest rant, allow me to give a brief lesson. (get comfortable)

THE BREAKDOWN
Arbitron is a research company that collects listener data on radio audiences. Arbitron conducts a series of surveys and then they market this information to radio companies. The data that they collect is interpreted into ratings. These ratings estimate how many people listen to each station. In turn, the radio stations use the ratings to determine how much they can charge for advertising in any given city.

For example....if you wanted to advertise on a radio station that is Arbitron rated # 1, ad prices will be far more expensive than a station that is rated #20. The more popular the station - the more expensive it will be to advertise. Think Superbowl. Millions of people watch and therefore advertising during the game will cost a pretty penny.

PPM
Whew. Ok....A couple of years ago, Arbitron developed a 'more modern' way to collect data called PPM which stands for Portable People Meter. It's a device that is worn like a pager and it detects hidden audio tones within a station or network's audio stream, logging each time it finds such a signal. It's SUPPOSED to be accurate than the old way that they used to collect data. While driving on the highway, it can detect what radio stations are being played in SEVERAL cars opposed to just what may be playing on your car radio.

THE PROBLEM

A lot of black radio stations have been screaming bloody murder about PPM because they claim that this new technology is full of flaws that have and will undercount minority audiences, doing damage to the amount of advertising that minority stations can sell. In other words, they aint giving folk in urban areas the PPM device.

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
An FCC advisory committee has asked the commission to investigate Arbitron’s PPM measurement system to determine whether the system is having, or will have, a detrimental effect upon stations targeting minority audiences. In other words, the gub'ment is getting involved to make ensure that radio stations that target Black & Hispanic folk get a fair shot at the ratings game. If something isn't done about these inconsistencies, urban radio could potentially go out of business! (GASP!)

MY TAKE

Let's see. Radio companies are pimping the HELL out of talent. (see my other posts) They are underpaying people, they have devalued the 'on air talent', and will get an intern or receptionist to voice a commercial JUST TO AVOID having to pay a talent fee. I know of a TON of instances where sales people make a deal with a client...then pocket the talent fee while getting the radio personality to do something for free or at a reduced fee. There's a lot of bullshit that goes on behind the scenes at a radio station...and I won't get into it now but - can I be sympathetic for these poor, poor companies that aren't getting a 'fair' shake at being accurately rated? Hell no. Would you feel sorry for someone who has done you wrong - AND continuously getting away with murder day after day after day? No pity from me. Screw y'all.

Radio Ramblings...

2009-04-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

* If you're a first time reader of this blog, a follower/subscriber, or if you're simply passing through - thank you for checking me out! I genuinely appreciate it. If the tone of my posts seem more negative than positive, well - they are. I'm an angry, bitter, broke bitch. I will continue to use this blog as a form of release. Welcome to my world.

* Nina Chantele, a very talented and deserving on air talent from Chicago was recently named 1/3 of 'THE MORNING RIOT', WGCI's brand new local morning show. The crazy part is, she will continue to host her midday show on WKSC. My estimation is that she probably working 8 plus hours on air. Should I send her congratulatory flowers or should I fly to Chi-town to punch her in the throat for allowing Clear Channel to pimp her? (but seriously...I'm really happy for her....but damn)

* Mister Cee @ Hot 97 is the most SLEPT ON radio DJ of ALL TIME. He's the ONLY reason why I would ever turn on a radio again. Which reminds me...why doesn't Hot 97 stream so that I can hear him everyday?

* About 2 years ago, Raqiyah Mays was a struggling part time talent begging for ANYBODY to give her a shot at a full time opportunity. Now she can be heard from 12AM-10AM Monday thru Friday on WRKS. She even works on Saturday. Raqiyah, don't be surprised if they ask you to do the GMs laundry next. Don't forget to separate the reds. (da'fuck is wrong with you?)

* Where in the hell is the union and are they being paid off?

* Where's Maria More?

* Whatever happened to Melissa Summers?

* Does Cathy Hughes sleep well at night?

* Does Ricky Smiley truly have a following?

* I have applied for 172 jobs over the past year. From gas station attendant to radio station general manager...no one has responded.

* After being rejected for Medicaid and literally bursting into tears right in the office, this lady slipped me her business card and told me that she would help me reapply. Apparently, she works for Medicaid. She insisted that she would get me approved because "all I have to do is lie".

* I wonder when will karma catch up with Elroy Smith? Does he still have a love affair with R Kelly?

* I hated Miss Jones on the radio...but now that she's gone, I miss her.

* Where's KJ Holiday?

* I used to have a ton of friends in the industry. Now that I'm unemployed, I just realized that I have NO friends.

* I heard that Crazy Howard McGee, formerly of WGCI is managing a Harold's Chicken restaurant in Chicago. How about I'm not mad at him.

* I wonder how much Michael Baisden is making?

* According to some random study, internet radio listening is at an all time high. Perhaps it's time to explore my options?

* My bank account just hit the under $1000 mark. I'm seriously in trouble.

Joke Of The Day

2009-04-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Rock AC In Need Of Out-Of-Market Voicetracker

We're a Rock AC station in search of a midday voice tracker. Females STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Pay is $200/month for 5 weekly shows, each show 6 hours in length (around 36 tracks per show). Perfect candidate will have experience in an Active Rock environment, but will know how to deliver the format in a Top 40 fashion.

The above is another ACTUAL listing that I found over at AllAccess.com. This one is so ridiculous, I couldn't have made this up. I decided to do some basic math on their generous salary offer.

$200 per month for 5 weekly shows, 6 hours in length equating to 36 tracks per show.

720 tracks per month. 8640 tracks per year. That's $2,400 per year. That's less than $50 per week. Less than $10 PER SHOW. That's somewhere between $1.60 and $1.70 per hour.

The travesty is not the listing itself....but that someone out there somewhere is actually going to take the job! Un-freakin'-belivable.

The Apocalypse Is Coming....or is it here already?

2009-04-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

I thought I had seen...I mean, HEARD it all.

Comedians like Steve Harvey, Mo'nique, Ricky Smiley and possibly DL Hughley

Singers like Al B Sure, Keith Sweat, Yolanda Adams & Donnie McClurkin

Authors like Michael Baisden & Michael Eric Dyson

Athletes like John Salley

AND NOW......(drumroll please)

ACTORS???

Ladies and Gentlemen...this shit is OFFICIALLY out of control. Seriously. Ok...maybe this is an April Fools joke. Yeah....that's it. April Fools...Motherfukka....

I Can See The Future

2009-03-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

Pardon me while I have my MISS CLEO moment...

(spoken in a fake Jamaican accent)

DL Hughley will be the next undeserving comedian to get his own syndicated morning show. Actually, DL was in talks with ABC Networks a few months back but apparently, CNN wasn't feeling the idea of him having a radio AND tv show at the same time. So now that CNN has canned the TV show, (thank the Lord) I'm sure the talks of having his own radio gig has resurfaced. A friend of mine called me from NY this morning to inform me that DL Hughley will be guest starring on the KISS WAKE UP club all week. This my friends, is what we call THE SET UP.

Wow. I'm thinking about becoming a comedian so that I can get a radio job. Bumbaclot.

Fake It 'Til You Make It

2009-03-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

This is EXACTLY what I've been doing. If you talk to me, you'd never know that I am in the absolute worst shape (financially, emotionally & professionally) that I've ever been in. I actually lost my job once before - and I simply got ANOTHER job. But this time, it's different. No one is hiring. NO ONE. Not only that, I'm not the only one who is unemployed. So I'm confident that if an opportunity did surface, I wouldn't be the first one that they would call. There's a shitload of unemployed, medium & small market talent out here who would gladly take an airshift at minimum wage. As ridiculous as it sounds, no one wants an experienced, polished, passionate talent such as myself anymore. It even seems impossible to get a 'regular' 9 to 5 out here. Once potential employers find out that my salary history includes $150K at my last position, they gently place my resume at the bottom of the stack. WTF?

But I've been faking until I can make it. I smile through the pain. In fact, my persona may even be a little sillier than normal as I attempt to hide how broken I really am. But faking it isn't getting me anywhere. So I humbled myself last week, put on a black hoodie and dark sunglasses so no one would recognize me, and went down to the local food stamp office to try to get assistance. They rejected me. I literally cried. My part time hustles which equate 20K per year put me in the 'you make too much money' category. I explained to the clerk that my mortgage is $1,700 per month...but she said that it didn't matter. She told me to move somewhere cheaper.

Then I went to see if I could get some free health insurance. Again, I get rejected because of my high paying part time hustle compensation of 20K per year. I guess if I get run over by a truck, I should be able to pay out of pocket for my medical care.

I'm feeling like I'm 5 minutes away from crazy.

The Art of Being Difficult

2009-03-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

...“I heard that she's difficult to deal with”.

I refuse to let those be the words to define me or my radio career. However, those were the words radio executive Steve Hegwood uttered to a friend of mine recently. I was stunned because I am one of the most non-controversial people you’ll ever meet. My friend continued to tell me all of the details of his conversation with Steve, but I blacked out and began to ask myself, “What kind of school girl gossip is going on here?”

In just 13 short years (from 1995-2008) I’ve had one of best radio careers in the game. My peers, both male and female, were amazed at how I was able to maneuver through the top markets in the industry. In between, there were many ups and downs, but nothing major. I’ve always carried myself like a professional. I NEVER slept with anyone to get a job and I never compromised my integrity. My talent and determination are completely responsible for my radio success.

So why is Steve Hegwood dirtying up my name and possibly preventing me from getting future employment? I’ve always looked up him...and always attempted to keep in contact with him no matter where I was located. What would make him utter the words, “I heard that she is difficult.”? Who told him this?

I’ve never had any shouting matches with my employers and I’ve never been insubordinate. However, I will admit that most of my bosses in the radio have been men and they were more driven by their egos than they were by the BUSINESS of radio. Is it possible that I hurt someone’s feelings because I would ask for our verbal agreements to be put in writing? Isn’t that the professional way to handle business and prevent confusion? Perhaps being the consummate professional is coming back to haunt me because obviously I’ve bruised someone’s ego along the way.

This Is My Prayer

2009-03-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Dear God,

Please make it possible for me to cross paths (at least ONCE) with Robin Bertolucci or Corny Koehl. I am confident that they would be able to see past a 2:30 minute aircheck and would give me an opportunity to do great radio once again. Just when I thought that there were no intelligent, progressive thinking radio professionals left, I read the following quotes from the R&R Talk Radio Seminar:

“PDs are chicken shits about trying new things. Not always, but generally.”

-Robin Bertolucci

"Radio management generally has no vision, which puts programmers in a bad position because they are not given the time to develop a show and the talent. Programmers ought to have a minimum of three years to develop top flight talent. I've worked with both Suzy Orman and the Satellite Sisters, and neither were given enough time to develop their radio programs. Orman went on to become a huge hit on cable news television and a bestselling author and is now fielding offers to do more radio. Terrestrial radio is toxic."

-Corny Koehl
Executive Producer for Harpo Productions Oprah Radio

"What we are doing on weekends, that’s toxic. It’s fundamentally destructive. If we can get management to not make us focus on crunching numbers or why there are so many part-time board ops working on Tuesdays. We’ve just got to get on good programming and people will listen, it’s as simple as that.”
-Robin Bertolucci

“The most wasted thing on this planet is talent,” Salley observed in his criticism of programmers and management who rush to pigeonhole a performer. Do what Paul Harvey said: ’Close your eyes and listen. Managers need to look beyond the obvious and find a performer’s hidden talent and exploit it."

-John Salley

So in closing Lord, I really need a job and I'm confident that Robin or Corny would hire me. Can you make that happen? Please?

Amen.

What Goes Around Comes Right Back Around Again - Please Believe It...

2009-03-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

I started reading at age 3. My mom took me to audition for Sesame Street at age 4. I was enrolled in the Astor Program for gifted children from kindergarten to 7th grade. I attended a nationally acclaimed High School for talented children. I graduated from college and was fortunate enough to find a career that I absolutely l.o.v.e.d.

Combine all of the above with an unexplainable amount of will, passion & determination and you end up with me. In 1995, I received my first job as an radio announcer at a small radio station in the South. I made $6.00 per hour. After receiving my first paycheck for $57.12, I wrote on the back of that paycheck:

"This is ONLY the beginning. New York City, here I come!"

Little did I know, my vision would come to fruition and it wouldn't take long. Not only was I able to work in New York, I ended up becoming a morning show personality in New York- which was something that thousands of people only dreamed of doing. My talent took me all over the country and I was living on top of the world. I remained humble; realizing that to whom much is given, much is required. What started out as a $6 per hour job, became a $150,000 per year blessing. I never felt like I was waking up in the morning because I had to "go to work". Work isn't supposed to be fun...and I was having a pure blast for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Fast forward to last Monday. I recently learned about a general manager availability at a college radio station in the south. I won't post my ENTIRE radio resume - but in addition to the above, I am clearly OVER QUALIFIED for the position. Long story short, I found out that the person who would be influencing the new general manager hire, graduated from my alma mater. In addition to that, a colleague of mine knew her personally and recommended me. I thought that the job was MINE. Also keep in mind that the job has been available for at least 3 months. Wrong. After she ignored my initial inquiry, she called me and was extremely nasty. "College radio is different from commerical radio." "I'm not going to want to train someone...the person that we hire needs to hit the ground running." "Well...just keep an eye out for the job posting on the university's website. You can apply. After all, I'm not the one who will make the decision."

Words can't describe how upset I was. Her tone was SO nasty - you would have thought that I called her mama a frog faced bitch or something. The sad part is, I also have an extensive marketing & fundraising background which this station could have certainly benefitted from. God made it clear to me that if I WERE hired, her poor bitter soul wouldn't have been able to sit in the same room as me for more than 30 seconds. Evidently, she has some deep rooted issues that require counseling and perhaps medication.

I hope and pray that our paths NEVER cross. I wouldn't give her a square of toilet paper if she needed it. Karma is a bitch and don't ever forget it.

The Joke Of The Day

2009-03-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

This is an actual job listing posted over on AllAccess.Com.

Seeking An Incredible Music Assistant

A new socially conscious, positive urban music station is seeking a music assistant. If you know urban contemporary, soul, neo soul and positive hiphop. If you have a sophisticated, progressive approach to music but a sensibility for the best tracks to appeal to the

audience, then email me with some info about yourself, and your vision of progressive urban adult radio. The position is unpaid at present (unfortunately) but if you've always wanted to bring new ideas to a broader audience, let us know.

Lord....give me strength.

Dark Clouds Rising...

2009-03-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

I just finished having another one of my emotional breakdowns. I try to convince myself that nothing can effect me the way things once did and then I begin to cry until I develop a damn headache.

Truth be told, I am ANGRY with the radio industry. It's dying and no one seems to care. But even with the steam that is coming out of my nostrils - I would STILL take a radio job if the opportunity presented itself. It's almost like being in a long time abusive relationship with someone. Rihanna is not going to leave Chris until SHE'S good and ready. I'm the same way. Radio has slapped me around a few times - blackened my eyes and has even made my nose bleed a few times - but I can't leave completely until I'M ready.

I really look forward to sharing my past experiences via this blog sometime in the near future..but as for right now, I can't keep my most immediate thoughts to myself.

First of all, I was listening to a local radio show this morning when one of the co-hosts deemed it necessary to make an "important announcement". I thought that she would be giving away some tickets to an exclusive event or would announce a major concert. Instead, she took that opportunity to confirm what her listening audience may have read in the local paper this morning. She said something like,

"Yes...It's true. Jeff Fox got caught up in the economy and is no longer with our station. His memory will live on. But stay tuned for the REMIXED Wake Up Club with myself, Talent & Bob Slade. That's right. We won't be going anywhere because we come cheap."

I swear to God. I looked for the rewind button on my radio and then suddenly remembered that my radio wasn't a DVR. Are you f*ckin' kidding me? His memory will live on? Did he die or did he get fired? We come cheap? I KNOW you didn't just say that. Furthermore, are you aware that you have opened the flood gates for listeners to start calling the front desk to confirm what you just said? Oh wait....you probably don't care because your purpose was probably just to inform your audience that this is YOUR shit now.

If your a REAL radio vet, you TRULY know how freakin' RETARDED this girl is without me having to throughly explain. What a sad, sad day in radio this is. I am working on getting the audio because her comments were just so outrageous to me until I HAVE to let you listen for yourself.

My head is spinning. I will stop now...when I return, I must share what happened to me today as I applied for a General Manager position at a public radio station. I don't think I've ever felt as disrespected as I have today. If I were within 50 yards of that bitch that I talked to today, I would have punched her dead in the throat.

?1995-2009? R.I.P.

2009-03-07T14:02:00.000-08:00

My feet became my carriage.

My hands became my guide.
My eyes became my vision.
My voice became my cry.

And though no one could see me
They listened as if they could.
And all the time I cherished
The moments where we stood.
In times of sometimes danger
In times of sometimes war.
I soothed their worn-out spirits.
I soothed them from afar.

It wasn’t such a challenge
That I could not control.
The early morning wake-ups,
The passion in my soul.

I gave it all my best shot
I gave it what I could.
And now I’ve done my duty.
For you, my neighborhood.

Life, now beholds a treasure
Of what we all have shared.
It’s not how long I’ve known you.
It’s just because I cared.
-Anonymous

Urban radio has been really, really sick for over a decade. (maybe longer) I have recently come to the realization that the illness was terminal and there's no cure. I did all that I could do to heal him....but nothing worked. Additionally, there were many, MANY people who purposely attempted to prevent me from nursing him back to health. My efforts have made me tired and weary and I think I'm ready to give up on him altogether.

This blog is dedicated to my 10 + year radio career. I have enough stories to make your head spin and I'm going to literally explode if I don't get it out. I'm sure that this blog is going to make a few folk angry - - because the truth hurts - but I hope that it will also inspire someone, somewhere, somehow. After all, that's all I set out to do when I got into radio in the first place. Thanks in advance for taking the ride with me.