Cathy Hughes

*In response to Radio One's (majority owned by Cathy Hughes and her son, Alfred Liggins) 51 percent purchase of Tom Joyner's Reach Media company (11-23-04 EUR), Bob Davis, owner of the Soul Patrol website (http://www.soul-patrol.com) has published an "open letter" to Cathy Hughes. He asserts that Radio One's programming policies have "set the freedom movement of Black Americans back by about 40 years." Read on for his exact thoughts.

There are some people who think that Soul-Patrol should be a big supporter of Cathy Hughes. After all, she is the owner of the nation's largest Black owned radio network (with 69 stations in 22 cities). That network is growing larger each day and she is to be commended for having accomplished that.

However we can't in good conscience support her radio operations as currently configured. It is my personal belief that her current programming policies have actually set the freedom movement of Black Americans back by about 40 years.

I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that perhaps she may not even realize that the overall net effect of what she has been doing in pursuit of more profits, has been to set back most if not all of the advances that our people have made over the past 50 years. It is in that spirit that I would like to propose a few concrete suggestions for Cathy Hughes that could help to reverse this trend. My belief is that the pursuit of these ideas could well postion Cathy Hughes to become one of the heroes of OUR freedom movement.

There are in fact 24 hours in the broadcast day. I would propose that a 3 hour block of time (just a little more than 10 percent) be devoted to the following format called:

:::UPLIFT BLACK AMERICA:::

This format would be composed of three distinct elements....

1. New music from our legends of the past
2. New music from younger artists that is directly influenced by past legends
3. Relevant information about both of the above

These three elements would be pulled together by a revolving crew of experienced radio personalities (ex: Kevin Amos - Pittsburgh, Gary Tyson - Chicago, Will Chill - New Jersey, Tony Ryan - NYC, etc). In every major city there are experienced radio hosts like the ones I have mentioned and others (operating mostly on college & community radio stations) who have existing formats of this type to draw upon. They know how to sift thru the vast amount of new recordings that are released each day and present to the audience the very best of it! Finding radio announcers for this would actually be the easy part. Making the commitment to the idea is more difficult, but I think that full blown support from Soul-Patrol can help to make commiting to the idea work for you from BOTH a business/cultural perspective.

We have now reached the point in our history where it is up to US to define our future. Black America is quickly moving towards a future that has much more in common with the dream of Jerry Springer (as we have seen from watching the news last week), than it does with the dreams of Martin Luther King.

As Bill Cosby has pointed out to us, we in fact have at our disposal the ways and means to change this situation if we want to. Cathy, people like yourself are well positioned to be at the vanguard of making that change into a reality. By establishing a radio format that establishes a DIRECT connection between the past, present and future of Black Culture in a positive manner you will be recognized as an innovator with an eye on the future. Heck, even white people would listen to such a format!

This can be accomplished easily, with very little risk to you and without any significant modification of your existing money making machine.

Imagine, just THREE HOURS PER DAY. Heck, I wouldn't mind if you chose to broadcast this block of time from 3 am - 6am. I'm quite sure that advertisers could be found that would support such a format. And in fact if you were willing to commit to programming THREE HOURS PER DAY, on your vast & influential radio network in this manner, here is what I would be willing to commit t

- I WOULD PERSONALLY OFFER TO HELP YOU TO FIND SUCH ADVERTISERS
- PLACE ALL OF THE RESOURCES I HAVE AVAILABLE TO MAKING THAT 3 HOUR BLOCK OF TIME AS PROFITABLE FOR YOU AS POSSIBLE

I would do this because it is just that important to me that Black Americans themselves be willing to start assuming the RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY for defining not only their history, but their future.

That's why I am approaching you with this idea. Keep in mind, I am NOT talking about playing "oldies". I'm talking about playing "new music", that reaches back our history to and extends those accomplishments into the future...

Cathy, I am a pragmatist, not an idealist and I realize that you are in business to make money. So I am willing to take whatever resources that I have available to me to help you to maximize your profits. So I'm willing to help you to do just that and I'm willing to do so at no charge to you. You see I don't want you to consider doing this for reasons of altruism, commitment to Black culture or any other reason other than to put more money into your own pockets.

You are in business and your number one commitment should always be to your shareholders. Your recent move to acquire the Tom Joyner family of properties does not seem to be one that is in the best interest of your shareholders.

"RADIO ONE SHARES FELL 17 CENTS, OR 1.3 PERCENT, TO $13.11 ON THE NASDAQ IN MORNING TRADING..."

I think that pursuit of an idea similar to what I have outlined here makes sense and would enable you t

:::"kill two birds with one stone":::

You would be able to establish a legacy that not only would be applauded by Black Americans, but one that Wall Street investors would also get behind in a tangible manner.

Please consider this idea. I would love to be able to support you and your media operations, in a manner that make us both proud. That would be a natural thing for Soul-Patrol to be able to do.

My apologies in advance for using this method to propose this idea, however it's the only method that I currently have available and this is something that Soul-Patrol members have been asking me about for a number of years.

Feel free to email me with a reply, I would truly like to establish a dialouge with you with respect to this matter. Additional contact information may be found at the following link: http://www.soul-patrol.com/bd_bio.pdf.

Thanks in advance for your consideration. -- Bob Davis / earthjuice@prodigy.net


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***

Whadayathink?

3 hours? hell, i'd bump it up to at least 10. other than that, every bit of this is right on.

This is one of the feedbacks about this news which I agree with:

Our youth know very little about American artforms that WE created: Jazz, Gospel (to a certain extent), Blues, R&B, the origins of Rock & Roll, etc. To some it may not matter, but this is a reality: when Rick James, Barry White, and Ray Charles died, VERY FEW BLACK RADIO STATIONS PLAYED THEIR MUSIC. It was downright dispicable that we had to turn into stations, other than black radio stations, to possibly find their music. Each one was an innovator of R&B music, without which, our young generation would have nothing period. I can only imagine if God-forbid Aretha Franklin, James Brown or Stevie Wonder died, we STILL wouldn't hear their music on Black radio stations. And let me clarify what I mean by "Black radio stations" - I mean TODAY'S SO-CALLED HIP-HOP/R&B STATIONS, not the few stations that still play the "old dusties." We have moved up and effectively ERASED our history at the same time. Perhaps the writer could have pointed out more, but I TOTALLY understand the writer's frustrations. Stephanie Mills, Regina Belle, Earth Wind & Fire, Anita Baker, The O'Jays, Lalah Hathaway, Teena Marie, Patti LaBelle, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, The Bar-Kays, etc. etc. etc. ALL have new music out right now, but where can I hear it? On the Smooth Jazz/Smooth R&B stations - and not even them on a regular basis. What the HECK is up with THAT? The Hip-Hop/R&B stations will RUN a song by OutKast into the ground, but not play a new Earth Wind & Fire song, where OutKast's "The Way You Move" CLEARLY was from. Nelly can remake a Patti LaBelle song and get played on ALL stations, but our LEGEND Patti LaBelle can't get a break on the Hip-Hop/R&B stations. Yes, we truly ARE being set back 50 years...and if our own black radio stations don't step up, who will? I encourage every person with a conscience to actually LISTEN to what is being broadcasted 24/7 to our youth - the messages, the images, and the total LACK of ANYTHING that will uplift the youth and encourage them to change their communities, themselves, and the future world for the good. Wake up people.

Very interesting letter. I have to say that I agree with this proposal and I also agree with everything Bill Cosby has been saying lately. I saw him on CNN last night and he has some very valid and interesting suggestions. I would love to listen to a black music station that played more older music and newer music other than the popular songs (Usher) or rap and hip/hop. I'd love to hear more Ella, Stevie, Sam Cooke, Marvin, not to mention all the old jazz greats too. I'm curious to see what other's on this site think.

My

thankfully the main black radio station here in mpls, kmoj, is still an independently-run community station. they sometimes play rap and all that, but that ain't their entire format unlike some other "urban" format stations here in town. they play a lil' bit of everything.

i grew up listenin to a similarly-formatted station back in my hometown, kucb. unfortunately they went off the air about 6 or so years ago, but when they were still on the air they were it within the black community in des moines. it's so sad to see that folks are latchin on to all this ready-made & loop-dependent clear channel crap, instead of lookin to the independents for where it truly is.

Harlepolis said:

-----
Bob is on point as usual. The weird thing is that Mrs. Hughes is suppose to be a Republican but you would never know it by the programming on Radio-One stations. No cultrual programming, nothing pro-family or positive. The oldies stations think that oldies are anything put out in around 1987.

Cute request, but I fail to see its success. The "Uplift Black America" title is already sketchy and problematic. Subjugating a three-hour block to "uplifting black America" is nothing more than another way to force listeners to adhere to a certain ideology. Music shows shouldn't be vehicles to push a particular platform or to promote what is "good to a select few" and school those who aren't "hip" enough to dig certain "uplifting" tunes. That's already haughty and a lot of people aren't going to buy it. That concept can be corrupted. Radio should be for the listener and the DJ -- not outside, special group interests. It's a business, so inherently there are going to be commercials. So what, pray tell, will be advertised in that three-hour "freedom block"?

If all music had to stem back to prior legends in order to be played on air, a lot of the musical movements of today would be nipped at the bud.

The "Soul Patrol" offers a novel request, but I don't see it working in the long-run.

Sounds great on paper, but so did Marxism.
[Edited 11/26/04 9:20am]

Harlepolis said:

JANFAN4L said:

Thats exactly why young white kids pay more mind to Billie, Louis Armestrong, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Marvin, and all the greats than our youth who seem buggin' out over Lil' John, Usher and blah blah blah.

Thats what I hate about my people, they're neglecting what they SHOULD learn from and pay attention to(In which they created in the 1st place, mind you).

laurarichardson said:

Now, that's a damn shame when you have an supposed oldies station that don't play any music before 1987. It's funny you mentioned that. I have been noticing a pattern here myself where I live.
[Edited 11/28/04 2:12am]

JANFAN4L said:

s'already happening in the here and now. besides, sometimes the truth needs to be shoved down the throats of the people. haughtiness aside, it still needs to be done somehow.

Harlepolis said:

I'm not going to be a crab and shoot it down before it gets a chance to get off the ground, but I fail to see it being anything other than talk. I'm black and I'm 22 years old. I have music by Miles Davis, Jack DeJohnette, Ella, Billie, Louie, Sarah, Mahalia, Marian Anderson, Duke, etc. My parents got me hip to doo wop, '50s & '60s rock 'n' roll, Parliament, Stevie, Marvin, Donnie, Tammy Terrell, Holland-Dozier-Holland, etc. As a matter of fact, I bought Billie Holiday's Greatest Hits on Decca when I was 16 and I know I was probably the only kid in Gardena to spin 45"'s from the 1930s & '40s that my parents bought at garage sales. So, I'm proof that there are kids out there who listen to and respect music from the past.

However, that message shouldn't be pounded into our skulls by a some special interest group called the "Soul Patrol." I appreciate and respect my past black musical greats. I wish more would, but the way the SP is going about doing it seems sketchy to me. We should maybe start by putting musical instruments back in schools and in the hands of youngsters. I know the last music class I had was in 4th grade (and they only let gifted/honors kids participate). Let's reverse Reganomics, for a second, and put instruments back in the hands of the young -- I'm pretty sure it'll yield diverse and more longer lasting results. That's more advantageous than telling a bunch of today's youth "okay, your music is sh*t, listen to what we spin and respect it." Not gon' happen. I can already foresee it becoming corrupted.

Harlepolis said:

JANFAN4L said:

But it could work tho, with the right accessible approach that could reach their minds and grab their attention. Why not? It could work.

Shiiiiit, if those mofos can spend their wealth into a promotional plan for an Ashanti album and brainwash the masses with it(I'm saying the masses coz you know old folks get caught up in that bullshit too) Then, they can do the same thing for the RIGHT kind of music.

I'm from the youth breed too(22 yrs old, same here) and I'm not speaking for them but the way I see it, they're being FED with tear-jerking crap and personaly, all I can do is vent about it(which is ain't shit). Its about time somebody's devoting to make an action about it and do the right thing.

Sure, the approach maybe a lil' bit too Bill Cosby-ish(okay, your music is sh*t, listen to what we spin and respect it) but its heart is on the right place. And like I said, with the right kind of marketing people,,they can make the youth dig it.
[Edited 11/26/04 10:14am]

I agree with JanFan, it won't work.

Harlepolis said:

JANFAN4L said:

I believe "Soul Patrol" suggested only three hours. That's hardly being "pounded into our skulls"

JANFAN4L said:

DJ's have less control over what mainstream radio plays nowadays than ever before. If they had the input they once did airplay would be significantly better in a lot of instances, and listeners would have more of a bond with a liaison between them and their community.


It's 21 hours a week, the rest of the programming is for 147 hours. I don't think that's pounding something into people's skulls. Whether or not it'll work I have no idea. But radio needs a shake up out of its stagnation. Clear Channel has a monopoly on mainstream radio in general, why should they be the only company allowed to do the skull pounding?


Absolutely, I agree with you 5000%. But it's not an option that's going to have the immediacy of the idea presented by Soul Patrol.


Playing newer music by legendary artists and new music by younger artists that may be influenced by those legendary artist within a 3 hour block isn't exactly telling the youth that their music is crap.

It's about diversity, new ideas in programming, and getting people to remember that just because those artists outside of the BET and MTV demographic aren't seen in video rotation it doesn't necessarily mean they've retired, or never existed. Something Black radio used to flourish at.

it's hardly only a black problem. it's a problem with all radio and all artists. white artists like David Bowie and Elton John and Johnny Cash and the Cure have put out some pretty great stuff in the last 5 years, but the only place you're going to hear them is on an oldies station, where they're going to play Changes or Ziggy Stardust or Tiny Dancer or I Walk the Line for the 8 billionth time. none of their new stuff matters, as much lip-service as it gets paid, and even when they die (Johnny Cash), people go on and on about how great his career had been for the past decade, but you'll notice that in most of the mentions, it's montages of old stuff without anything approaching a new song getting any airplay.

JANFAN4L said:

I totally agree with you on this. I'm not thrilled with radio but this doesn't sound like the way to make progress. All music fans have to speak and I'm thinking that satelite radio will make an impact.

GrayKing said:

The youth obession is the worst but not close behind is the fact that everythign sounds the same. All the rap tracks, all the R&B tracks, all the pop tracks, all the rock tracks. It's disturbing. As a fan of alternative and "classical" (in the sense of classic artists like Aerosmith, Bowie, Heart, etc.) rock and dance music, I'm at a huge lose of knowing what is coming out and what it sounds like without having to do RESEARCH on the net. Radio is a joke and it hurts many (if not all) music fans.

New music from our legends of the past
If that music is up to par with what made them legends in the 1st place.
Bad music is bad music. Legend or not.

New music from younger artists that is directly influenced by past legends
How would that be determined? Just because they say so?

Relevant information about both of the above
Not a bad idea.

What would be even better is if skilled DJs were able to play some music of their own choosing.
A novel idea? No, it was almost like that "in a galaxy long ago and far away".

(yes, yes, along with payola)

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

2 words:

Wishful Thinking

Harlepolis said:

What's the alternative...righteous indignation?
The "Wishful Thinking"is at least a tad more positive, if not productive.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

Shiiiiit, I've heard discussions like these from RADIO DJs(not to mention: ON AIR). I mean really, DJs feel frustrated & disable to make an action, let alone us common folks.

These discussions are uplifting abit,,but I don't let 'em go to my head coz I know what will happen next.

Supernova said:

It's a shame that DJ's are becoming less "human" on the dial as the years progress. Radio managers, A&Rs and corporate playlists have more control over the music than the DJ spinning the record or the listener requesting a song does.

I miss the local color of regional radio. Here in L.A. you'll hear genres or artists on our stations that won't be spun in markets like NYC. You'd hear go-go faster on DC radio than in Seattle. Miami Bass more frequently when you're tuning in in Liberty City, FL. Old school house in Chicago. Techno in Detroit, etc. But that type of local color has either died off or is at an inch of its life. If its on BET or MTV, chances are it's fully intercepted our FM dials.

That's part of the reason why I never call to request a song anymore on a station. It's a waste of time. 9 times out of 10, if you ask for something that isn't on their set playlist they'll say "OK, thanks for calling, buddy" -- and never play it.

The current state of radio today reminds me a lot of the old payola system in the Alan Freed days. Newer system, same old tricks. Worser now -- at least back then you could still hear variety and the music of your region.



I really do think it's novel for the Soul Patrol to present an idea and try to have it come into existence. However, it's skewed too much on side of idealism and doesn't take in account changing tastes. Check: the Aretha Franklin of the '60s is not the Aretha of 2004. So should we spin her music (regardless of its quality) just because she's Aretha?

Some legends of the past made their best music during their prime and today it would be grating to hear some of these same singers 2000-now. All music is influenced by the past, anyway, so that's a given. But if their second request requires mimicking the sound structure of ole time artists in order to get spun in the "3-hour freedom block" then that's counterproductive. Let artists be independent with their creations -- "free."

I think the SP fails to understand that the music of today isn't "lacking in taste" just because there's no guitars or live bands. You can't circumvent the political climate of the '70s & '80s that went into forming the music we hear today. Hip hop came out of an impoverished, resource-deprived environment. That's why it tends to have a minimalist, stripped-down, beat-heavy sound (and is at times angst-ridden). Instruments weren't readily available, so many turned to break beats. Same with techno, it reflected post-industrial Detroit -- segregated and dystopian -- you can hear that in the music from early acts like Juan Atkins & Cybotron. Both genres reflected the cultural experiences of black America and you can hear it in the music. These folks created something out of nothing.



I feel you on that. I totally see where the Soul Patrol is coming from in that regard. But, with me, I feel in order for SP's idea to totally work it has to be implemented both on and off the dial. They should petition government, city council or at least try to get local school districts to get music back in classrooms.

One thing that the "legends of the past" had that kids today don't were instruments. That's when kids could start up a garage band or cook up melodies with a piano. Kids today don't have that. How are they going to create music that respects past legends when the system is already set up to counter that legacy by not providing kids with tools to create musical art? It's a societal problem. We're too hell bent on SAT scores and college prep to give a damn.

I know it sounds like I'm going off on another tangent, but all the weight shouldn't lie solely on radio or Cathy Hughes because radio ultimately reflects us, as a society, and our collective actions.

Kudos to the SP for getting dialogue sparked. A 3-hour-block won't completely solve the problem of the lack of variety on radio and musical creativity in the community, it will help, but in a small way.


.
[Edited 11/28/04 12:30pm]

Harlepolis said:

As VinnyM27 mentioned earlier, satellite radio might be a viable alternative.
(although not a free one)

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

I hear you, JanFan. I'm coming from this at the something different has to be tried to shake radio out of its complacency angle, I don't know whether or not this specific concept is a good idea. Especially considering I don't know what the new music of the legends they're talking about is like. Tho I don't take for granted that it can't be of any quality just because I haven't heard it. And you didn't hear this from me, but I don't think Bob Davis (Soul Patrol's founder) is a big fan of Aretha Franklin.

Hell, if it were up to me I'd incorporate Fishbone, Jimi Hendrix, Meshell Ndegeocello and Living Colour into some of these Black radio stations that generally shun them.

And in general the long time artists who have been around since the 50s and 60s DO deserve to be heard, even if only to see how well the audience will take to the newer music (or if they will). The same courtesy that younger performers receive.

The ageism in the music industry is completely blatant, and as GrayKing said, it's not limited to Black radio.

As a producer and musician myself, I must say I agree wholeheartedly with the article. Black radio plays too much negative sterotypical music. There are thousands upon thousands of musicians out there with way more talent then the talentless "superstar" musicians on the cover of our magazines. Clearly they are only interested in "sales" and not "substance". People don't even know how to read music or identify tones and pitches but they want a record deal! It angers and incenses me because they really don't "get" it. Radio stations work in affiliation with the Majors and actually hypnotize or control what people "think" they like. Anything consistently repeated will stay thoroughly ingrained into our mental. It has the same effect as someone getting over alcoholism or drugs. Many don't realize that they actually are brainwashed into a singular way of listening. Music is so diverse yet people are inculcated to only listen to "familiar" beat, rhythm and dare I say melody. If one wants to make people swoon through the usage of music then they generally have to pull out the old album collection going back to the early 50's and 60's. Everyone knows the type of feeling of nostalgia that genuine music brings. The overabundance of negative lyrics behind looped beats clearly have conquered youth and is slowing seeping to the end of an Era of heartfelt music production. Sexual innuendo in song has risen to an all time high and is degrading our youngsters and can easily be linked to the widespread of sex crimes by today's youth.
[Edited 11/28/04 14:36pm]

theAudience said:

I fear that somehow satellite radio will somehow increase in negative music being played. I think that it will be linked to today's cable television. There will be less censorship and vulgar lyrics will increase. It may have some small perks but I genuinely feel that it will turn over to the "dark" side once it takes off.
[Edited 11/28/04 14:42pm]