'Black' Radio: Revisited

Several months ago, I wrote an op-ed countering the so-called demise of 'Black' radio in America.  Premiere Networks' (Clear Channel) cancellation of Michael Baisden's syndicated radio show, and longtime New York City Urban Contemporary outlet WRKS-FM's format switch to sports talk triggered the customary round of reactionary handwringing and conspiracy theories from industry insiders, activists, and critics predicting Black radio's iminent extinction.  I responded by first pointing out the number of radio stations -- broadcast and Internet -- owned or operated by African-Americans is higher today than at any point in history, even as growth among Af-Am owners of broadcast properties has roughly stagnated since the mid-90s.  Second, the number of Af-Ams currently working in the U.S. radio industry is higher today than at any point in history (racial/ethnic demographics of ownership notwithstanding).  Third, the cumulative total of radio programming inclusive of Af-Am themes and/or aimed at predominantly Af-Am audiences is also greater today than at any point in history.  It should be noted, however, that Af-Ams remain disproportionately underrepresented in all areas of the U.S. radio industry and underserved as a market.

I'm now following up on the first op-ed with a deeper analysis of the milieu as IMO the State of Black Radio sucks.  This time my observations are largely anecdotal and mainly concerned with aesthetics, especially the areas of marketing and programming.  Assuming Black radio to be programming principally representative of Af-Am culture, it does a terrible job putting the full range of Af-Am-oriented content on exhibit.  Black stations seem to come only in one of three flavors: R&B/Hip-Hop (more frequently marketed as 'Urban Contemporary' or 'UC'), 'Adult-oriented' R&B ('Urban Adult Contempory' or 'UAC' -- R&B for late Boomers and Gen Xers), and Gospel.  There are a handful of Af-Am news/talk stations, including WURD-AM in Philadelphia and Radio One's WOL-AM (Washington, D.C.) and WOLB-AM (Baltimore) scattered about the country, but in many cities where Af-Am represent > 10% the metropolitan area population Af-Am-oriented news/talk is practically nonexistent.  To be fair, there is a growing number of Af-Ams launching radio talk shows online, but the economics of Internet radio are such that it's doubtful many webcasters are building the audience needed for their stations to achieve financial viability.

I realize that business considerations influence radio stations' programming decisions, even for Black/Urban radio stations.  Yet, managers of these stations regularly complain they receive few ad buys relative to their ratings performance.  Urban radio's executives accuse advertisers and media buyers of redlining: fixing a percentage of the total ad dollars that are to be spent among all Af-Am-themed media.  Media buyers and ad agencies fire back by citing many of the listeners of Urban stations are young adults, < 25 years old, who aren't yet decision makers shopping for durable goods; i.e., cars, appliances, etc..  Therefore, the sponsors of Urban stations tend to be fast food restaurants, beverages, and toiletries/personal grooming items, along with other impulse buys (including entertainment media and lottery tickets) and special events. 

Many Af-Am-themed stations have chosen to brand themselves as 'Urban' rather than 'R&B', 'Hip Hop', or even 'Black' outlets to escape redlining, but the strategy has failed on two fronts: 1) programming remains narrowly focused on contemporary R&B content from a limited number of Af-Am content producers promoted and distributed by an even smaller number of non-Af-Am-owned media conglomerates, 2) stations' marketing efforts aren't in sync with their branding.  It stands to reason a generic UC station would feature programming with a greater mix of non-Af-Am artists across a similarly wide cross-section of music genres matching its local demographics.

It appears today's Black radio management simply lacks the imagination and fortitude for their stations to avoid appearing as anything but dull.  It's no surprise that so many critics regard Black radio as moribund.  Still, the potential for growth with Af-Am themed radio programming is vast and mostly underdeveloped.  It can and should be redefined in a way that results in more diversified programming and greater revenue streams for both individual stations and across the industry.

A good first step would be to distinguish 'Black' (or, 'African-American', 'Afrocentric', etc.) stations from UC, R&B, Gospel, and similar formats.  The hypothetical Af-Am station would feature content reflective of the African diaspora; a cross-section of several music genres; i.e., R&B, Jazz, Rock, International, etc., blended with local and regional news and public affairs relevant to Af-Am listeners.  Af-Am stations could further differentiate themselves from their UC counterparts by exhibiting content produced over a wider time period.  To counter tepid ad sales revenues, listener membership campaigns could be implemented as auxiliary (or even primary) revenue streams.  The added value from listeners having an interest in the station would also be a boon for its branding.  Many radio consultants recommend social media and digital content sales -- especially of metadata -- as revenue sources, but I believe event planning and production hold more potential as revenue sources for broadcasters and webcasters.

Ownership remains the biggest challenge facing Af-Am radio.  While Af-Am ownership of radio stations has exploded since the 90's, nearly all of the growth is in Internet radio with its relatively low barriers to entry.  Despite the growth, few online-only radio stations of any genre ever break even, let alone become competitive with their broadcast counterparts.  However, an individual webcaster's financial viability -- and their station's ability to compete with AM and FM stations -- is perhaps less important to the big picture of Af-Ams empowering the voices of our communities through the use of Internet radio technologies.  Considering also the standing opportunities for Af-Ams to launch or acquire AM and FM stations and networks through syndication, leasing, and investing to operate as low-power, full-power, commercial, or non-commercial entities, the conventional narrative describing Black radio's downfall is in dire need of a rewrite.

AMPLIFY DC Community Radio Mixers for July 2013

React Radio Network announces two July mixers on behalf of community radio for D.C.-based music and culture. These FREE events are open to the public and begin 3 p.m. Saturday July 20 and 7 p.m. Tuesday July 23 at the Fire Station Tavern, 8131 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring.

The F.C.C. has announced it will accept applications this October for Low Power FM radio stations as a way to promote the voices of our communities.   Individuals can contribute to our July goal of $5,000 with the purchase of a $25 ½-hour or $50 1-hour sponsorship; small business sponsorships are available from $100. All contributions are tax deductible.

The Demise of 'Black' Radio?

A meme lamenting the demise of 'Black' radio is presently circulating through the Afrosphere with the announcement Disney is switching the format of WRKS-FM (a.k.a., "98.7 KISS" to New Yorkers) from urban contemporary to sports talk.  In what some are billing as a "merger", 98.7 KISS' long-time UC rival, WBLS-FM, is hiring some of the former's announcers to fill time slots presumably occupied at the present time by WBLS employees.  One notable casualty of the format switch is Tom Joyner's syndicated morning show. 

The reaction I've seen from African-American media pundits has been predictably apocalyptic, if not a bit melodramatic.  Paul Porter, a radio industry veteran who maintains the blogs RapRehab and Industry Ears,  suggested on Facebook WRKS' format switch as another log added to 'Black' radio's funeral pyre.  My initial response was ambivalence: 98.7 KISS isn't owned by African-Americans, therefore "we" aren't losing anything of substance.  I wanted to say if by 'Black' radio we're describing a station, regardless of its ownership, that features content aimed at a predominantly Af-Am audience, then 'Black' gets reduced to a fashion statement subject to change on a whim.

Several people weighed in on Porter's thread attributing this development to several factors, including syndication, commercialism, and deregulation.  While all those factors (and others) collectively explain the current, non-competitive state of radio today -- including 'Black' radio -- I question whether a given station's format change by itself is a reliable reference point for measuring the presence of Af-Ams in the radio industry.  It's no exaggeration to state Af-Ams are underrepresented in every aspect of the radio industry.  However, relative to 1980 (to pick a year) and earlier, there are more Af-Ams working as talent, clerical staff, and managers; more Af-Ams are owners of radio stations and network groups than at any point in American history.  Af-Am professionals are dispersed throughout the industry with companies of various sizes.  Additionally, Af-Am-themed content and content created by Af-Am artists is being increasingly assimilated into the programming of other radio formats, i.e.; adult contemporary, Top 40, CHR, etc.  These facts suggest something contrary to 'Black' radio's demise is underway. 

I submit this slow assimilation of Af-Ams and Af-Am culture into so-called 'mainstream' radio is a net positive and represents not only the class' expansion into the industry, but an opportunity for Af-Am entrepreneurs and investors to make the leap beyond ethnocapitalism.  Perhaps the conventional model for what Porter and others call 'Black' radio has become an anachronism, and therefore requires a new, more accurate definition by which the state of the industry can be judged.  It should be noted that WBLS' ownership has transferred from the Af-Am-owned Inner City Broadcasting to a group including Magic Johnson -- who, the last time I checked, is African-American.  Even Radio One has taken steps to diversify its outlets' programming to offer rock and all-news formats.  I expect as Johnson's group adds to its portfolio of radio stations and other media properties, his participation alone will come to represent the archetype for 'Black' radio moving forward in time.  I'd like to see industry professionals like Porter lend their talents and expertise to this evolution by actively participating in organizational efforts that can become the basis for a new, proper 'Black' radio vanguard.

I'm skeptical whether this type of activism is forthcoming from the armchair pundits and those others protesting the loudest.  However... hope springs eternal.

A D.C. Radio Station by the People, for the People..

First, I can't overstate how strongly I feel this venture is about community. It's about organizing people around a shared interest in promoting music and public affairs of the Washington-Baltimore metroplex. It's about coming together, exchanging ideas, trying new ways of doing things, and learning from one another in the context of a viable business.

I want to thank in advance those of you who'll decide to give this project a spin. Starting a radio outlet is an ambitious challenge for anyone; I'm sure there'll be some who'll discover this is not for them, but will still get something of value from the experience. That's the exciting part about exploration, isn't it? Getting there from here is half of the fun.

To launch and operate our radio station, an energetic stream of input will be needed from musicians, students, record labels, music lovers, performing artists, IT and broadcast professionals, writers, journalists, event planners, civic activists, small businesses, marketing consultants... well, everyone and anyone. I've decided, half-jokingly, to call the project a Death Star because its business model will be a significant departure from broadcasting orthodoxy, and yet its organization will be so fundamental and transparent as to make the whole venture appear commonplace. Not only will the station's operation be influenced by you -- its supporters -- you'll share in the ownership of the venture.

My inspiration comes from many sources: years spent in and around non-commercial and commercial broadcasting; the evolution of the Internet and digital culture; the many D.C.-based musicians and performing artists I've met; untold hundreds of conversations with people from all walks of life, in a variety of settings, about music, media, and radio.  What I've discovered is there's a general consensus that believes mass media generally, and broadcast radio specifically, isn't about local voices anymore.  Radio programming has become increasingly centralized and homogenous... McDonald's-like.  Generic.  If you were to travel between cities, turn on your radio, and scan up and down the dial, it would be nearly impossible to tell you've changed locations.  Not only is the lack of programming diversity apparent across the dial nationwide, the individual stations within a market each feature tightly regimented playlists and syndicated content.   This is the state of the industry today as a result of its control concentrated in the hands of a few, as influenced by broadcasting deregulation and American-style economics.

Now, I'm not an opponent of commercial radio.  Neither am I categorically against a corporation holding multiple licenses, within reason.  I have no objection to a network of station affiliates. But it is clear the conventional point-to-multipoint (P2MP) broadcasting architecture is no longer competitive for content producers, broadcasters, sponsors, or consumers in a world of Web 2.0, digital content, and iPods.  A radical re-thinking of what a radio station does and how it does it is in order, and the solution's more complex than streaming broadcasts over the 'net and offering podcasts.

The Death Star project is my attempt at a solution.  It involves a fusion of various technological and business elements to be sure, but specifically, it's a listener-supported radio station organized as a cooperative.  A limited, and permanently fixed number of memberships will be offered by way of a direct campaign at $25 (student), $50, $100, and $250 (business/professional) levels -- securing for each member a part of ownership, with the more expensive memberships each conferring various privileges onto the member.  The members will collectively split a minimum of 50% ownership in the venture.   An annual membership dues schedule will be decided once a revenue model and budget has been determined through election by members.

The next step is to convene an organizational meeting so that a board of directors may be seated, and an organizational mission statement drafted.  It will be this initial group of organizers who'll help with the inaugural membership drive, as well as help shape the venture's operation and goals.  February 19, 2009 is the tentative date for the first meeting at a location to be announced.  Registration forms will be forwarded upon receipt of all e-mail requests.

Call for Organizers - Be the Future of D.C Radio

Group now forming to establish listener-supported, free-form, 'over-the-air' radio network in suburban D.C. featuring emerging local music and public affairs. Excellent opportunity for students, music and media professionals, performing artists, event planners, and political activists. Share in the profits! Send inquiries to neon_noodley2k@yahoo.com