What's Going On ?

Recently, the opening lyrics of Marvin Gaye's Classic song "What's Going On" have been on my mind. In Chicago over the weekend news of violence, violence and more violence dominated the top stories and the violence continued during the week with a UPS driver being shot in an attempted robbery. In the past two years nearly 40 innocent teenagers have lost their lives.
What's Going On?

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today.

What's Going On? Donnie Hathaway's Live Version is echoing in my mind too. Where is the good music on the radio when it's needed? Where is radio when you need it? The current wave of violence is not as important as the Jena 6? Oh, you mean death to innocent young people is not enough for Steve, Tom, Doug, Rickey and other syndicated show hosts to talk about. Radio being all over everywhere at the same time makes radio very ineffective in the local situations of Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Cleveland, and other metro areas because their focus has to be on national issues and millions of listeners. And no one in the local communities ever complains that they can't even hear the correct time mornings on the radio? The radio host always gives the time as so many minutes after the hour. A blind person listening to the radio will never know the correct time of day.

Whats Going On? The local issues are gone!

Back in the day, WVON the Black Giant, had a series of public service announcements called "Operation Crime Stop." They were only one minute in length and helped to stop some of the nonsense that occurred in the Black Community of Chicago. Radio cared then. Today the life or well being of a listener is not worth 60 seconds. Wow, look how far we have fallen.

One day last week a former student of mine wrote "Black Homicide is a pandemic in our communities and it needs to stop. We have died in vain long enough and I am sick of it. This country was built on the Blood, Sweat, and Tears of our ancestors. Everytime I read a story of the senseless violence in the black communities it makes me wonder, why? Everytime we do something ignorant that hurts the whole community I wonder, why? We need this crap to stop. It starts with the man or woman in the mirror then our families and communities.

Black Radio and Radio take a good look at yourself.

The Prime Minister.

Professor Miles Selected for Christian Tabernacle Gospel Supreme Gold Star Award

A pleasant surprise arrived by mail from the Christian Tabernacle Church where the Reverend Maceo L. Woods is the Founder and Pastor. It was a letter of Congratulations as a receipent of the 2009 Gospel Supreme Gold Star Award. The last thing on my mind was receiving an honor in my hometown. Oh but Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow. The last time I was recognized in Chicago was in 2000 and this selection is one that I will cherish becasue it speaks directly to my heart. "Your example of faithful and dedicated labor of love in the ministry has glorified God and edified God's people."

The Gospel Supreme will take place on Monday, September 21, 2009 at Christ Universal Temple, 119th and Ashland Avenue at 8:00 PM. Words can't describe how I feel. I give all glory to God.

Fight for Performance Royalities or Media Ownership?

Radio One Gets Heat For No-Show At Panel

Congress Daily PM, Judiciary

Thursday, July 9, 2009
by Andrew Noyes

Radio One, the largest U.S. minority-owned media company, came under fire from the House Judiciary Committee today for refusing to testify at a hearing billed as a forum to examine plummeting advertising revenues, increased media consolidation and pending legislation that would end a long-standing copyright royalty exemption for over-the-air radio, which broadcasters oppose.

Judiciary Chairman John Conyers and others scolded Radio One founder Cathy Hughes and her son, CEO Alfred Liggins, for being no-shows.

Other critics of the bill who Conyers said snubbed him include National Action Network President Rev. Al Sharpton; Rainbow Push Coalition President Rev. Jesse Jackson; syndicated radio host Tom Joyner; and the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council's David Honig.

Judiciary Courts and Competition Policy Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said broadcasters were invited to weigh in on the bill before it passed the committee in May, but their unwillingness to offer performers any compensation is unreasonable since Internet, cable and satellite services all pay.

Conyers and Judiciary ranking member Lamar Smith had amended the legislation to appease critics by delaying its enactment date and reducing the amount of fees radio stations would have to pay.

Their changes also directed the Copyright Royalty Board to consider the impact of their rate-setting on religious, noncommercial, minority-owned, and female-owned broadcasters.

They asked GAO to complete by November a study that would examine the bill's effects, particularly on minority, female and religious stations.

Liggins called today's hearing "misguided and disingenuous." He said he backed out as a witness after learning Conyers would focus on the royalty bill and had invited a supporter of the measure, R&B Foundation Chairman Kendall Minter, to testify.

"I'm not going to sit there and get beat up," Liggins said in a phone interview. Broadcasters urged the committee to hold a minority-specific hearing before marking up the bill but they were rebuffed, he added. That is when Radio One instructed its on-air talent at several stations in Conyers' congressional district to take to the airwaves in opposition.

Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, and Melvin Watt, D-N.C., tried to temper the royalty bill rhetoric by appealing to broadcasters who were not present. "We still love you, you are still our constituents, and we still believe in what you do for our communities," Jackson Lee said.

Watt added he was "not inclined to box with shadows" and wanted to concentrate on the stated purpose of the hearing, which faced a lengthy delay due to floor votes.

Minter was joined at the witness table by Media Access Project President Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Arbitron CEO Michael Skarzynski and National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters Executive Director James Winston.

The Prime Minister says,
While I am not a fan of the business practices(syndication) of Radio One, I do think that calling a hearing: "Trends Affecting Minority Broadcast Ownership" and then making a focus on the Performance Rights Act is a bit disingenuous and an outright ambush. The politicians on the hill need to focus on the issues affecting media ownership.

Media Access Project President Andrew Jay Schwartzman testified,

Here are several of the most important things:

Reimpose limits on national radio ownership and strengthen existing caps on local and national broadcast ownership.

Reduce the license term to three years and enforce meaningful rules. This will create opportunities for minorities to obtain the licenses that will be forfeited.

Restore the tax certificate policy which was repealed in 1994.

Grant the pending application of Robert Johnson’s innovative Urban Television proposal, which would allow vastly increased minority ownership of digital TV multicast streams.

Enact HR 1147, which will expand the low power FM radio service and serve as a platform for training for a new generation of minority radio broadcasters.

I could not agree more.

As much as I want to help the artists/musicians I can't because what the performers and musicians want will only benefit the artists/musicians and not the community as a whole. The issue for me is more minorities being able to own a radio station. Musicians and performers are being just as self centered as radio. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. The argument by the performers and musicians is "The internet, cable and satellite radio stations already pay performance fees to artists." Therefore AM/FM radio should do so to. However, it seems to me that the argument overlooks the fact that these services(cable, satellite, and Internet) have a subscription fee. It doesn't cost these broadcaster anything because the consumer pays upfront. The Temptations sang "Don't let the Jones Get You Down."

Media ownership is the real issue where the focus should be and fight waged. The folks in Washington, DC messed up with the passage of The Telecommunications Act of 1996. Incidentally, the Telecommunication Acts was the most lobbied bill in history. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 is real culprit. Too few own too many. This act allowed unlimited media ownerships which is the real enemy to democracy and diversity.

Radio One and other Black media corporations are caught in the middle of a game they simply can't win. In order for their companies to stay alive during the economic down turn and lack of advertiser revenue, they must syndicate programming. It's terrible but because of the lending and banking systems Black owners must turn profits daily or lose their stations. Losing more minority owners is not acceptable. Did you know that there was a move for an increase in local ownership limits to 10 and 12 in a market?

And on the other hand, I have not heard or seen from one of the supporters of HR 848 anything about the state of media ownership being an important issue. More diversity in the media ownership landscape including females will be more beneficial to everyone including the musicians and performers. With more diverse owners more people can have an opportunity for employment and more opportunities for new music to be played.

At one time an announcer could lose his job on one station and be hired on another station in the same city. Today an announcer loses his job and 9 out of 10 time the company that fired him owns the station where he is seeking employment.

©1997 Bobby Ocean®, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Conyers should continue the fight he waged in 1996 as he voted against the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The FCC needs to be held accountable for the mess it created. The dismal state of minority and female ownerships need be addressed and solutions provided. The fight for equal access to media ownership is far more important to democracy and diversity. As Media Access Project Andrew Schartzman testified "A more diverse marketplace of ideas creates a more democratic society. Frankly, minorities know a lot more about the lifestyle, customs and traditions of the majority white culture than white people know about minority cultures. In short, I need widespread minority ownership at least as much as minorities do.


The Prime Minister.

What A Wonderful Memorial Service

It must be my old age because I did not have a dry eye during the entire 2:15 minute celebration of life for the World's Greatest Entertainer Michael Jackson.

I guess my eyes welled during the wait for the start of the program. When the gold casket was rolled in the flow began. Trying to watch the service with no emotion and staying strong was not going to happen with me. My hat is off to all the folks who held their cool.

Man, This was It. Michael is gone. God took him back from this mess and God doesn't make mistakes. The world will miss Michael and the world showed it on Tuesday. The Internet was jammed, folks were glued to the TV, and radios were tuned to the service. This was a massive show of Love. And it took God to do what he did to show the world the gift that he gave to us. Some folk should be holding their heads down in shame.

Everything during the memorial was magnificent, dignified, and professional. No one can imagine or feel the hole that is left in the Jackson family. Pray for them. In a few days the toxic sludge and media viruses will attempt to weaken the legacy of Michael Jackson. Marlon said it best "Maybe now they will leave him alone." Unfortunately, that is not going to happen.

Soon after Michael expired the media was repeating, Michael Jackson is in financial trouble with over a 400 million dollar debt. Michael was such a shrewd and intelligent businessman that his estate is worth billions even with the debt. The media stopped the debt mess after realizing that in death Michael was outselling all the current artists. Then oddly more mess is occurring with cries from folk saying the media has been paying to much attention to Michael Jackson.

Well Fox News continued with their reporting/distorting during the memorial. So as the late Clara Peller said "Where's the Beef?" Like I posted earlier, Mr Jackson made a lot of people rich and people will still be getting rich after his death. And according to the values of the celebrity media culture that we have in America. Michael deserved the attention and more. Barry Gordy said the label King of Pop was not big enough for Michael. He became the Greatest Entertainer of All Time.

I stood up for Reverend Al Sharpton because he kept it real. He said Thank You Michael. Although others in the media called his words "controversial." Reverend Al preached to the family like a "minister" should have.

What I hope that doesn't get lost about Michael Jackson is the fact that he "studied" the greats. He was always asking questions. He wanted to know everything about his craft. He became the best because he studied all the best and was willing to work hard to attain it. And most of all he kept loving even when many people turned their back on him.

The Prime Minister