Comments on: Is Black Radio Poisoning Our Kids?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:54:33 +0000

Cal, It is cathy hughes who is the problem in itself, she is not going to stop the minstrel show when she knows it keeps her company afloat, this is a self introspect/mental issue many in our community have to address.

By: Cal

Cal — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 08:23:02 +0000

I don’t think it’s the artists’ fault. Many of these artists have always been one dimensional and can’t do much more than what you hear on the radio. They want a quick buck and will gladly do a jig for the dollars. It’s in their nature and it’s within their limits as far as talent goes. The people to blame here are the leaders of these radio stations. There’s thousands upon thousands of artists out there with many different musical backgrounds, skill levels, and subject matters, but only a select few get played. This is simply a way of monopolizing the industry at the expense of the music. Please don’t allow these executives to sway your opinions about African American music, by flooding the airwaves with the bottom of the barrel trash. As RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan said a few years back, “Hip hop music has many different faces, and they all should have their time at the forefront. Balance is the key…” I say the hell with black radio if it continues to be controlled by outside forces who don’t give a damn about African American culture. No one should have to hear the same 10 songs played time and time 24/7…365! Too much of anything is bad for you… Moderation my friends… And if Cathy Hughes really wants to save black radio, she should focus on the people who are belittling it from the inside.

By: Booster

Booster — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:56:48 +0000

Cheers to James Miles and to a Mike ….. We really need to examine the so called owners of these radio stations. They are as much to blame as anyone. Some of them want us to rally behind them when they have done very little for the community. Outside of street festivals, holiday concerts and the occasional community clean up where is evidence of a radio station’s contribution? The larger black stations that are “Number One” for hip hop and r&b, are the very stations that are playing Usher’s ‘Little Freak’. Still giving out movie passes but rarely encouraging good grades. Contests for America’s Next Model but what about the next bio chemical engineer. I may have stretched the point but the point is – yes, they are poison and they see anything wrong with it. Joyner is in Texas, Baisden is in NYC and so is Harvey, yet they represent our community? The concept is cool but there are way too many communities and issues for those guys to handle. Radio owners need to be reminded who they are supposed to be serving.

By: james miles

james miles — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:59:42 +0000

nycitiman, i don’t know if ur racist or not, but the black artists u mentioned have passed on except for smokey robinson, and i doubt some on here even have heard their music today unless it was an oldies music show even tho smokey records new music regualry u will be hard pressed to hear it on commercial radio most likely anywhere, i say that because those artists u mentioned in their time were played on radio when it wasn’t a fragmented and generational gapped media platform, as it has been since the early 90′s with the birth of mainstreamed hiphop and today’s r&b stations, and then for the 35 and older crowd it’s todays r&b and classic soul. I like how the author said it’s there right to make the kind of music they want, and then goes into how they have to monitor their childs music listening, because they felt a trey songz song shouldn’t of been played at 7 in the am, welcome to the world of today’s black music radio and black music. I’ll just say this how come groups like the 4 tops, jacksons, ojay’s never had 2 versions for their songs? how come early hiphop artists didn’t either, black radio has gone the way of the music business in general and the consumer of it, be it radio or music buying has to become a parental monitor and with that continues a 19 year old trend that was forstered back then, it’s just many were to busy booging in it until they woke up from the boogie, and are now just seeing how much damage has been done in that short amount of time. The question shouldn’t be “Is Black Radio Poising Our Kids?” The question should be “Why are we continually Allowing Black Radio To Poison Our Kids?” if we get caught up in what we know is the problem and what we should do about that prolem then todays children won’t be asking the same question 20 years from now, alot can be done in 20 years, just look at the previous 20.

Folks don’t fall for the cathy hughes trick that black radio will be introuble because of the hr848 bill, cathy hughes business radio one has been introuble for almost 10 years now, just like all other commercial radio companies in america, radio stations in america are over valued companies that have been inflated since the 96 telecomunications act thats how cathy hughes and pierre sutton were able to purchase the many stations that they have, and that many in the black community will defend and champion, but forget that those owners had a mission statement to serve the community, not wall street intrests that they went along with due to the 96 telecomunications act. All and all the black community has to rise up, that’s the only way black people progress in this country and history has shown us that time and time again, be a good start to remind those black radio corp owners where they came from and how they got there.

By: nycitiman

nycitiman — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:31:56 +0000

wbli is known for pushing this crap. its influencing 13 year olds to have sex and kill.
in addition the music is not good. its computerized trash by untalented black gangsters. jayz is one who cant sing. these guys are boring and annoying. the fray, knickelback, three doors down, train, maroon5 green day are all good bands.
and just so nobody thinks im a racist i loved marvin gay, smokey, billy preston
jimi hendrix ect.. i think wbli needs to be kicked off the air. these kids really need to go back in time and listen to the beatles, stones to learn what talent is.

By: LEROY | kids bedding

LEROY | kids bedding — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:52:09 +0000

No amount of prodding and conscious raising is going to change these guy…who profit handsomely by preaching violence and degrading women…it’s a bout the cash…I will keep listening to Steve Harvey…

By: Nwenna Kai

Nwenna Kai — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:12:55 +0000

As an entrepreneur when these types of blows affect your business, you have to ask yourself how can I triumph over this or how can I transform my business. Maybe this is a wonderful opportunity for Cathy Hughes Radio One network to play more positive uplifting love music by musicians that most mainstream Black America isn’t familiar with. Either the radio can pay them less fees or maybe these artists based on a mutual agreement would just be excited about having their music exposed to millions of listeners. Its an opportunity to repair our communities and transform our values through the music we listen to.

By: TheSoulMom

TheSoulMom — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:17:32 +0000

Thank you @22 bigguy75 for agreeing that black radio is worth saving. Everyone agrees that the music needs to change, I don’t think anyone will get on this thread and say otherwise. Maybe there needs to be a new definition of “radio version.” I swear I hear curse words sometimes! But the institution of Black Radio should remain. We may not think the best of all the personalities @BusyBee isn’t so hot on Baisden or Harvey, but they do serve as a voice to the community. Baisen took a HUGE stance against Jenna 6 ans we can’t turn a blind eye to the good that they do and the voice that they have. Tom Joyner is frequently called upon to provide a voice for our community. I have seen him on CNN several times. Are they perfect? No, but there is value.. I think.
.-= TheSoulMom´s last blog ..Disney Princess and the Frog DVD…Every House Should Have One =-.

By: Gigi

Gigi — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:50:42 +0000

You do not have to be a parent of small children to take note of the recklessness of the artists and the radio stations at times. I cringe at the thought of a chorus of “sex therapy” coming from the back seat. Little ones often times do not recognize what they are even singing about.

I wish some responsible adult would consider who is being exposed to these lyrics. To a small child it is the joy of music. A potentially beautiful song is tainted by adult themes and symbols. I have noticed that some of the offending artist, once they become parent change their tunes. Too little, too late.

I contacted my local station some time ago and requested that Myriah “Touch her body” after the kids have gone to bed. No long thereafter, another song with lyrics that leave nothing to the imagination, takes it’s place.

Perhaps the solution is a serious effort to rate music. (LOL) This would give radio stations concrete guidelines/perameters on acceptable/unacceptable music to play.

If these songs were not available on free radio, they would find their way into the mainstream. The onus is shared by the producer of this product and those that throw it to the wind in hopes of a huge windfall. Parents have just one more ‘worldly thing’ comprised of mixed messages and smiling faces to navigate amidst the media storm swirling around our children.

I love music, just about any kind of music. Someone is out of order, so we are forced to tune out. Maybe this is what will drive black radio out of business.

Lest we get it right.

By: Shawna Renee

Shawna Renee — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:19:44 +0000

My two cents: Black radio will change when the listeners demand nothing less. Since the introduction of ipods, satellite radio, internet radio, etc those with means have moved away from terrestrial radio and left it to rot in the hands of younger, less experienced folk with far lower standards. I liken to what is happening to Black radio to what happened in inner city communities when everyone started “movin’ on up” and never looking back. If you want to hear a change then you need to call, write, visit these radio stations and demand that they rethink their programming strategy. At least, start calling in to request the songs that you want to hear. It may take a while but eventually programmers are going to have to listen, because your ears equal dollars.