Where is My Black Radio?
*When radio pioneer Hal Jackson died this past May at age 96, he took with him the critical element of delivering news, information and music to the black community, in his own unique way, about the black community and for the black community. Jackson began his radio career in the 1930’s, in Washington D.C. During the 1950’s he became the first black radio host on a national broadcast network and now, there are more than 165 stations that offer programming for and about African American culture, but Mr. Jackson’scontribution as an African American radio pioneer is quickly diminishing inmarkets across America.
The recent sale of KBLX –FM 102.9 Radio in the San Francisco Bay Area deals another blow to the once dominating Inner City Broadcasting Company and begs the questions; is black radio dying?
Recently, Inner City Media Corporation’s creditors filed for involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy against it. New York based Inner City Media Corporation is the holding company of Inner City Broadcasting, one of the nation’s leading black-owned broadcasters and owner of WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM in New York City. Inner City’s creditors claim that it owes some $254 million.
This spring, media giant Entercom Broadcasting Company acquired KBLX from Inner City, downsizing its operations and ousting beloved radio host “Cousin” Kevin Brown.
The move leaves Radio One as the sole dominate black owned and operated broadcast company in the nation, with a handful of others either struggling to survive or looking to take advantage of recent Obama Administration policy changes to bolster low-powered community radio.
Radio One owns 53 stations in 15 urban markets.
http://www.eurweb.com/2012/06/where-is-my-black-radio/