SOMETHING ON MY MIND 

To my friends and colleagues that have remained/sustained themselves in "radio" many many years this commentary is not directed at you. I respect the fact that you have survived changes in the "GAME." Today, though I wonder "Where is Black Radio?" does she exists anymore. And if she(Black Radio) does exist "Where is Black Radio Now?"

Especially in my home town of Chicago, - Back in the day the DJ's would talk about the gang Violence and the senseless murders like crazy. And things like that (murders and violence) did happen and the DJ's talked about it on the air.

Some of us can remember operation Crime Stop on WVON a series of public service messages designed to inform people in the community of ways to protect themselves against Crime. Are there any "Public Service" messages on radio anymore designed to help teenagers to see signs of violence?

And before the Quiet Storm "craze" hit the country, y’all remember "Herb Kent" when he played music between 7 - 11 PM nightly. I remember the Wahoo Man, Electric Crazy People, The Green Grunchen, The Gym Shoe Creper, Little Miss Cornshucks, Rudolph Browner and so many more of Herb Kent's genius on the airwaves. Herb's show on WVON sounded like a well-produced morning show. It just aired at Night..

DJ's once had a powerful voice in the community, back then DJ's were influential as well as popular that made me want to be in radio not only to play music but to have an impact in the community. It's not like that anymore (DJ's have very limited power because corporate ownership makes the rules) and as a result mayhem in the local community thrives.

In Chicago, I would dare to say that "BLACK" Radio has been missing in action since the folding of 1450 WVON and the Good Guys in 1978? But, I remembered that the 80's were glory days of Radio too in Chicago (with WBMX, WGCI, WJPC) competing for radio supremacy. At one time in Chicago there were four different morning personalities (O'jay, Joyner, Michaels, Wall) Hmmmm remember those days?

Today the same guys we hear in Chicago, we hear in DC, New York just about everywhere and their focus has to be on national issues. I guess? In the meantime -- the murder rate in Chicago rises? And chaos continues to spread like a wild fire in the local urban communities across the nation. And radio no longer helps or is in the business to put out local fires!!!

http://washingtoninformer.com/index.php/business/item/12400-where-did-black-radio-go,

I've Got A Testimony

Reggie Working on the Automation 

Ten years ago, I was teaching at Kennedy King College, station manager of WKKC FM and playing gospel music. The station continued being very popular and was a “household” name being mentioned in the same breathes as the "big boys" on the other end of the FM dial. The late radio personality - "Tornado" was always on the air joking about WKKC FM saying things like - "y'all a college station and only broadcast two blocks" but Tornado's jibes were really a compliment and respect to the station because the south side just wasn't the south side without WKKC.

Faculty and staff guided WKKC FM to a "community institution" producing talents like Greg "Guy" Black, Isadore Pink, Rory McKenzie, Khris Raye, Randi Knight, and many other former students who went on to make it in the industry. Through the years there has never been a time that someone from WKKC FM wasn't working somewhere in some radio station across the nation. WKKC staff personnel Kevin Brown and James Kelly did a marvelous job building and maintaining a solid foundation for WKKC FM a foundation that lasted 30 years. I am proud to have been a part of it.

At the end of the year in 2002, WKKC FM was broadcasting 24 hours daily. I was proud to have orchestrated the change under my tenure. I remember folk calling me "crazy" for changing the way we said 89 point 3 to 89 dot 3 on the air. There were two goals that I wanted for WKKC one, to place WKKC on the Internet and two, move the station to a 24 hour operation. Personally, I desired for the station to be "nationally" recognized and the students to have "hands on experience" with the latest technology of the industry. I submitted an advanced technology proposal and Kennedy King College invested in a digital automation system for the station.

When the new equipment arrived I focused on installing the equipment and like a mother with a newborn. I monitored the system sometimes spending nights at the station making sure that the automation program was running properly. Some people wondered if I had a life, I was spending so much time at WKKC. I was determined to tailor the system for operation with or without a human being.   

It was a journey toward the future. I researched another university station and discovered an automation system that fit within the budget. At my own expense, I traveled to Nashville visiting the college campus that used the system. Tennessee State University's radio station WTST used the digital automation system that I recommended and the journey to TSU was the start of a relationship that still exists today. Although I had reservations about automation, I knew that in the long run it would benefit the students. I needed to see how the system operated and the trip turned out to be an experience I would never forget. On that weekend when I traveled to TSU low and behold it was homecoming. And if you've never attended an HBCU homecoming weekend you missed an awesome experience.

The crew of students that manned the microphones at WKKC were a great bunch. We did things together as a team. I involved the students everywhere. They bought into the idea of getting an educational degree. Many of the students during my years earned their BA degrees
One of my students went on to earn their Masters degree. Each year in April, the students looked forward to making the trip to the Black College Radio Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Bruce, Kevin, Drewsean, Nicole, Latrice, Keion and many other students that were in my classes worked hard to maintain the positive imagine and broadcast excellence of WKKC in the community. We were SOMEBODY and I was really proud of the direction.

On January 3rd 2003, after completing the Gospel Express program, I was called to the office by my supervisor and told that I was being "let go". It felt like a blow to the "solar plexus" I couldn't breathe and I wondered what I had done. I had been working so hard to maintain the station and teaching. I couldn't understand. I was asked to resign. Of course, I refused to resign and was then fired. Well, immediately reality hit me in the face. My dream of being the first student to comeback to WKKC as a qualified teacher would not be realized. I had placed all my eggs in the basket of WKKC. I wanted nothing more than to be on the south side of Chicago at Kennedy King College and WKKC. I thought if I had went back to school to finish my Bachelors and Masters degrees I could earn my way into City Colleges of Chicago as a teacher. Hard work pays off right? Well, not in the case of being employed at Kennedy King College. God knew me and what I would do. The situation at Kennedy King College and WKKC was preparing me for something else that I would later discover.

As news of my dismissal found its way to the students and the community an incredible outpouring occurred. Not everyone though was sympathetic, some rejoiced and were making plans even before I left the building. My supervisor allowed me to gather my things and I left to go home, talk about a feeling of emptiness, well it was all over me. Calls started coming from everywhere many were suggesting that I fight for my job, however, nothing really mattered at that time because I thought I had failed. Several students came to my house to get clarity about the situation, see how I was doing and to comfort me. The first thing they asked was “Do you want us to do anything”? And I said “NO”! It was obvious that the college had made other plans and I did not fit into the future. I was used and let go.

Later on, I would discover that happens all the time in the City Colleges of Chicago. Although the dismissal itself was hard to take everyone treated me with respect. The next day Saturday January 4, I received a message from God in the person of the late Reverend James Frazier, who called me totally upset about what had happened. And like a "big brother" Reverend Frazier gave me a message that I would never forget and I love him to this day for. At that moment, I realized that God was moving in my favor.

There was a serious attempt being waged to destroy my character, which I did not understand. Rumors and innuendo flew around like planes coming in and out of Midway airport. Everyday it was something different. Two of my former students turned against me believing that I was not who they thought I was. I think that hurt more than losing the job but God was still working in my favor. Sometimes we go through things that we don't understand. God was working for my good. I did not see it then, but it is as clear as day ten years later.

As the weeks passed, I could not turn on the radio to listen to WKKC but I knew God was not going to let anything happen to the station the Lord was moving me on. I did not know where. I was looking everyday for a job in broadcasting. No jobs in my vocation were available, my savings were close to being used up and I was not receiving unemployment compensation. The situation looked bleak. The City Colleges challenged my request for unemployment compensation and I had to deal with an administrative hearing. The results of the hearing stated that the record was devoid however as an at will employee, I can be terminated for any, good, bad or no reason. Therefore I was entitled to unemployment compensation.  I felt better knowing that I was fired for political reasons not because I did anything wrong. Any bitterness at that point left me, all I wanted was to show my former students that I was not guilty of the rumors and everything that I had done at the college in regards to the radio station was legitimate and above reproach.

A song writer wrote, "On Time God" and on February 27 2003, I read an announcement for an assistant professor position at Howard University, however the deadline for the application was the next day. I called Howard immediately and said I could fax the materials by tomorrow but the hard copy would not arrive until Monday. They accepted my fax. I called my mentor Professor Virgil Hemphill and asked for a letter of recommendation and he penned a glowing letter. I reached out to my other mentor Professor Mel Muchnik and he wrote an outstanding recommendation. I wondered who this guy was they were talking about but it was God crafting those letters. I faxed the completed resume package. Howard acknowledged that they received it. I compiled the hard copy Friday and mailed it priority.

On that Monday March 3rd I received a phone call from Professor Ted Roberts of Howard University. I almost dropped the phone. He said "Howard University" wants you. We will fly you to DC, March 25, 2003 be prepared to teach two classes. At that moment, I was in shock. I called my wife Felicia and told her and she yelled Yes God and only to a select few did I tell of what God was doing.

Time seemed to accelerate and when I flew out to DC, I took everything to teach. I had a portable studio in my luggage. The Department of Radio Television and Film at Howard University booked my lodging at the Holiday Inn near the campus. For the first time in a while I felt appreciated. It was as if I could hear God say "I got you now!" The first day at Howard, I met the faculty in the Department of Radio Television and Film it was an incredible experience as they questioned me with everything. Here I am, among some of the most incredible thinkers in communications. I was in awe of the great faculty members and my responses focused on a commitment to students and the desire to be the best teacher for them.

I got the opportunity to show what I could do in the classroom the following day. I felt as if God was my assistant in the room. I set up my studio to the amazement of the students in less than 10 minutes. I was lecturing at every step. I produced and performed a commercial right before their eyes in less that 30 minutes. The professor of the class stepped back and let me demonstrate my teaching style. The demonstration turned out to be a very lively one. I felt God with me.

After the teaching demonstration, I toured other areas of the Department. When I arrived back in the department office. I was asked what did I do in the class because the students were so impressed that they were expressing their opinions and one student in particular went to both the department chair and dean to say "Bring him ( Mr.Miles) here, We need him." I was stunned. God was making everything right. The next day I left Washington, DC wondering if I did well enough. One the plane, I wondered why the faculty kept asking me about Howard. Then it hit me, I gave little or no responses on the history of the university. In an interview you should at least research your prospective employer. I was hoping that would not be held against me. I was so focused on teaching.

When I arrived back in Chicago, I revealed that I was interviewed at Howard University and the haters were still busy hating but this time there was nothing that they could do or say to stop what God was doing in my life. I called Reverend Frazier and told him what happened and he replied "you got the job, it's already done."

Weeks passed and a bit of doubt crept in my thought. I was thinking well I at least got a trip to DC all expenses paid. It was a Wednesday night and I was at Church being the audio engineer during the annual bible convention then in the midst of the service a phone call came. I thought it was from a gospel artist that lives in the DC area that I knew. I answered the phone as if I were talking to the gospel artist. Then my colleague said " No, this is Howard University" I said "what, what," My colleague replied "This is Howard University and we have selected you to join our faculty". Tears immediately poured down my face, God had stepped in and took care of everything. I revealed to my ministry mates in the Church that I had been chosen to teach at Howard University.

At that moment change happened, God made a statement. "He is mine and I got him.' I called Felicia to tell her and she was happy for me. It was a week later that I received the letter from Howard University confirming the selection. On Sunday at Church I presented the letter to my pastor the late Bishop Brazier. He read it and said. "So I'm gonna lose you huh Brother Miles?" then smiled.

The most awesome thing for me was being in the sanctuary of the Apostolic Church of God for both services and Bishop Brazier read the letter to the congregation. Bishop Brazier asked me to stand up as he read the letter not telling the congregation where it was from. When he got to the end of the letter he read it proudly saying to the congregation "Reginald Miles you have been selected to join the faculty as Assistant Professor at  Howard University in Washington, DC  that  brought a roar of bless God and Hallelujahs that I can still hear in my mind today. All I can do and say is Only God !!!

I AM BLESSED.

Your gift will make room for you, sometimes your plans are not Gods plans and what others intend for bad God uses that to get Glory out of the situation. Thank You God for getting Glory out of my life.

Thinking About Radio

I don't really know how much good it will do but I made a comment to the FCC about the proposed relaxation of the media ownership rules. For over a decade proponents for further deregulation of the media ownership rules argue that they will fair better if the regulation regarding cross ownership is removed . They(broadcasters) claim that they are losing money and to survive they need to own a radio station, newspaper, and television station (1996 Deja Vu).  In their arguments for deregulation, I have not seen or heard of any benefits to the people who own the airwaves? Will there be better programming, competition, employment, and ownership opportunity? Evidence (media consolidation) shows exactly the opposite, no benefits to the people who actually own the airwaves. Not to mention that the largest radio company in America is owned by a private equity firm. It seems that the FCC (For Corporate Control) only cares about the broadcasters making more money and the public not receiving a better service and  space for new voices (minorities and women) to be heard. You can read my comment here..... http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022092170.

It was amazing as broadcasting colleagues in Chicago related to me their new found awareness of the broadcasting industry "man you told us about this stuff happening in radio was going to happen" referring to the nationwide lay-offs of several radio staffers and personalities by the media companies.  I shrugged my shoulders and said "Amen." 

If we are not vigilant on media ownership, the African American community will find that there will be no messages brought to us by us. And that is a very scary reality to our culture and a threat to our voice in this democracy. Another sad reality is that several high ranking African Americans in the industry know of certain things and are powerless to do or say anything about it.

Many displaced radio personalities have relocated to the Internet. And many people claim the Internet which is marvelous levels the media landscape but I wonder about that claim. If that were so, why isn't the industry running to the Internet and giving back the frequencies? And why isn't the law being changed to move broadcasters toward Internet Broadcasting? Well the Internet has limitation as far as simultaneous listeners. Now my commentary is not intended to start a war with Internet broadcasters however, the reality is that it takes a tremendous amount of "bandwidth" to have as many simultaneous listeners. And "bandwidth" is costly. A radio "transmitter" is cheaper and can serve 6,000,000+ listeners at the same time.

I think the LOSS of LOCAL voice is the WORST tragedy in the African American community or any community for that matter. DJ personalities were once "somebody" in the community! Now a DJ is ? Well hell even I don't know. 

I was at a party with the family and "Pandora" the automated music service was playing. Ah the music was okay but Pandora could not feel the people in room. I took out my computer and hooked it up and the first song I played ROCKED the house. Before the night ended folk was asking me to do their parties. Talent cannot be programmed into a computer.

And my last point, I was listening to a syndicated show and after a few minutes I got so mad that I turned the radio off in the car off. Chicago has had over 500 murders (deaths), and the host of the syndicated show was focusing on something not remotely related to the Chicago Area. With that I quit listening and decided it's time to fight for what I want hear on radio and stop consuming the menu that the broadcasters serve. If "radio" does not show some concern for the people of the immediate community they serve and provide local content I won't  listen anymore. And the advertisers need to know that too... They are the ones that control radio...

Happy New Year...

PS if you have not seen the Documentary CORPORATE FM -- Get the DVD 
http://www.fmfilm.com/

Something Good In The Hood

Congratulations to Dennis Snipe who was recently named interim Station Manager/Director of Operations of WKKC 89.3 FM that's good news coming from the hood. Mr. Snipe is a Kennedy King College graduate who was instrumental in developing "Knowledge Quest" a radio program that featured participation from Chicago high school students. Knowledge Quest exposed students to community college life and broadcasting. Dennis is an outstanding individual, announcer and radio host who also created a public affairs radio program entitled FOCUS TALK  that dealt with issues of the community.  Dennis whom I have known for nearly 3 decades is in my opinion the right person at the right time to lead WKKC FM. His history with the station and most of all dedication to the students makes Mr. Snipe the right choice in my opinion.

WKKC FM, Kennedy King College and the Communication Program has been major part of the Englewood Community over 40 years. Many great talents walked the halls of Kennedy King College. The former Speech, Broadcast and Theater program was the catalyst for the launching of several careers including my own both in radio and as a professor. The Theater Department can lay claim to a sitcom, "Room 227" which was a play written by former student Christine Houston.  Ms. Houston is now a professor at Chicago State University. You can create a who's who of students from WKKC FM who have excelled in media.  There is a WKKC alumnus working at many stations in Chicago regardless of the format.

What makes Kennedy King College and WKKC FM awesome is the access to quality training, instruction and faculty that care at an affordable price.  Although the industry of radio has changed and the job pool is shrinking a college program that offers access to a "live" on the air station with hands on training offers one of the best advantages towards a career in boradcasting. According to a very knowledgeable source, an education that provides real world experiences and theory will give students interested in broadcasting a leg up in the industry. Technology has changed radio tremendously and students with a degree will be looked at and those without a degree will be eliminated from the list of applicants immediately.

What made WKKC FM one of the Best Community College radio stations in the nation was the focus on students and the community it served. The format was eclectic, flexible and featured variety. Faculty participated in the programming. Students learned the art of broadcasting in a  free form setting that was structured. No, I am not suggesting a backwards movement to the "old days and the old ways". I am suggesting encouraging, empowering and training students to be all that they can be in the new paradigm of Social Radio. Challenging students to be innovative in broadcast and critical thought while at the same time broadcasting in the public interest. -a powerful challenge- I wish you well !!!

Professor Miles.

And They Still Remember Me..

It's been over 8 years since I've played Dusty Music on the radio in Chicago. Before I started playing Gospel music I was on the turntables playing Dusties. The reason why I am writing today is because I must have done something good as a Disc Jockey because several on-airs at the radio station tell me of how some of the listeners still recall - "Reggie Miles" playing music. And that just blows my mind.

Here's how it started. I was finishing edits on my research paper, I opened Facebook and a chat message appeared. It was from a DJ who I remember listening to the Dusty Show I hosted many years ago. The conversation was a written exchange of respect for both past and present.

The gentleman informed me that a listener stated she just loved the way I played music. I was amazed that after all these years a person still remembers the way I played music. And it made me wonder if I was just that good or is radio just that bad? And let me make this point clear, I'm not referring to the personality that informed me of the inquiry. As a matter of fact the gentleman is outstanding as a personality and a student of Dusty Music.

When I manned the tables and controlled the microphone -- Radio was different. Today with radio listeners have to digest what is served there are no choices on the air. Radio sounds the same across the nation. How boring. Back in the day, I was a "free form" DJ that tried to structure a presentation that was different from the rest. Man I hated to be a follower on the box. When I started playing Dusties, Richard Pegue and Herb Kent ruled. And I wanted a place among them. I had one mantra and that was to be Lottie Dottie able to play something for everybody. DJ's are not like that anymore they are specialist in specific styles. Entertaining a group from 6 - 60 is no more. You have to be one or the other. And I prided myself on being able to play something to move anyone whether if was Disco, Steppers, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Gospel or Blues.

What really separated me from other jocks on the radio and in the streets was not my knowledge of music but my ability to dance and party. I could dance with the best of them. I knew what it took to keep the party going. My mother was my biggest fan and teacher. I played the music that she liked even as a young child. The experience taught me how to read people and feel what they are feeling. Every now and then I would break a hit but that was not my strong suit, I played the hits on the box and kept the floor packed at sets. I tried to reach and connect with people (the ladies) that were in the set. First!

During the early days as a "steppers jock"and a radio personality, I was never intimidated by other personalities. As a matter fact, I would get fired up at the thought of being paired with the best of best. I loved being on box and in control of the party. People that did not know me, went around telling stories about me being "arrogant." Reality is I'm a kind person who can be a bit focused however some people did not want to understand that I was all about focusing on my craft and touching the individual. I put my heart into every moment of playing the role as a radio and DJ personality. There is a difference between a DJ and Personality. I am Blessed to be both.

So being remembered is such an awesome thing to me because out of sight means out of mind. And to have someone remember what you've done when someone else is doing the same thing. My God what a tribute.. To God Be The Glory.

My Love Letter to Disk Jockeying

I recently viewed one of my favorite films. I love the movie "Brown Sugar." Each time I see it I get misty eyed at the end when the main characters find their way back to each other. This time while looking at the movie "Brown Sugar", I kept hearing the question "When did you fall in love with "Hip Hop?"

Of course, I do not know one thing about hip hop today. The greatest rappers to me were the early radio announcers who talked or rapped skillfully to the beat of the music and the "Last Poets." At least when they cursed and said the "N" word there was something in their poetry that led a person to think about the social and cultural conditions of Black people as a whole. Wait a minute, before you dismiss me as a "Hater." I'm not making a judgment on the Hip Hop art form today. I've learned to live with it. Reality in music for me though is the Temptations, The Dells, The Impressions, The Emotions and other great groups. I do not have a frame of reference for Hip Hop other than the early artists like Kurtis Blow, Rappers Delight, and Kool Moe D. Now back to the movie.

I wondered why I kept hearing that question then it dawned on me to change the words from "Hip Hop" to "Disk Jockey" And the question became When did I Fall in Love with Disk Jockeying? As I watched the movie I began thinking of what attracted me to radio and the life of a DJ. I also thought about why I no longer listen to the radio. And just like the way the main character quit his job working for the record company. I compared his feelings to my feeling of why I don't listen to radio. As in the movie the main character thought the company that he worked for was not being true to what "Hip Hop" really is. And that's how I feel about radio today. Radio is not true to the people and DJing has become mixing to the beat of beats as opposed to mixing to the beat of life.

Radio is not true to what radio really is. And the Disk Jockey's too, if they are called that today? The DJ's certainly are not true to what Disk Jockeying really is/was. Well what is a Disk Jockey? According to professor Gilbert Williams, The radio disc jockey wakes us in the morning, puts us to sleep at night, and in between, his time, weather and music announcements take us through the day. But the black disc jockey has been more than an announcer. He has transcended his job as a radio station employee and becomes in many cases, a cultural hero, an individual admired and respected for his work in the black community, his concern for his fellow man, and his ability to effectuate changes in society.

By that definition, that is why I fell in love with being a DJ. I thought that I would be able to make a career. When I feel in love with DJing and radio, my dream did not include syndication, deregulation, consolidation, and concentration. All I wanted was to help my fellow man and effectuate changes in the society. When commercialism takes center stage you can forget any lofty ideals. If it doesn't make money! Well it ain't happening! - Back to the question When did I fall in Love with Disk Jockeying?

I guess for me it was when I heard 1450 AM WVON and a talented man on the microphone named Herb Kent. Of course Herb was not the only DJ on the station he was just my favorite. Herb was the "Pied Piper" to the teenagers. I couldn't wait to get older and go to high school and attend one of those "Sock Hops" and a set at the "Times Square." Herb Kent gave the teenagers something to do at night. He would always tell the time like this It's 17 Tilden Blue Devil minutes after 8 o'clock. He gave the time like that with all the High Schools in Chicago. He also gave the teenagers entertainment, recognition, laughter, and encouragement. Who can forget the battle of the Ivy Leaguers and Gousters, the Wahoo Man, the Green Grunchin, the Gym Shoe Creeper and the Rib Supreme Commercials.

Before the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Banks and Company, Bob Wall and a host of others there were the "Electric Crazy People." Rudolph Browner, Orlando Reyes, Little Miss Corn Shucks and many other characters. Mr. Kent ruled the airwaves at night in Chicago. He made an evening show sound like a well produced morning show of today. Then suddenly technology entered radio and FM became the norm and with FM, a storm moved quietly across urban stations all over America.

Cathy Hughes after visiting a conference at the University of Chicago discovered "Lifestyle Psychology" and came up with the idea that "slow music" is what people want to hear at night. And at Howard University's radio station WHUR the "Quiet Storm" format was launched starting with the classic song "Quiet Storm" by Smokey Robinson. Needless to say, the rest is history and I stopped listening to radio after 7 pm. I was not and still am not a fan of the Quiet Storm format only because good slow music should be played within every hour not just at a specific time during the evening. A good party is combination of fast, medium and slow music.

Back to when I fell in love with Radio and DJing, on weekends at WVON, Richard Pegue who took radio to another level with a style and combination that no one other than WKKC's "P.J. Willis" was able to duplicate. Richard performed a unique combination of the classic golden era of radio with contemporary radio. Pegue's "Scandal Report" is often imitated through many of the television news magazine shows. His signature Be, Beep, Be Beep Beep lines and sound of the teletype in background imitated the golden age announcer Walter Winchell. The Scandal Report was filled with entertainment information of celebrities and local heroes. People could not wait for the weekend Scandalous Scandal report by Pegue.

The Quiet Storm format and the superior sound quality of FM along with other variables led to the end of Night Time Morning Style Radio of Herb Kent. The late 70's saw the beginning of the end of WVON, the Good Guys and WGRT/WJPC. Losing AM Radio WVON and WGRT/WJPC was my first heartbreak. I stopped listening to commercial radio and set sights on being my own DJ at WKKC. It wasn't until WBMX surfaced as the front runner in Chicago under the programming leadership of Lee Michaels that I began to listen to radio. FM radio really had good sound and it was competitive. The WBMX vs WGCI FM radio wars were great for Chicago radio. Today the same owner of multiple stations won't allow the stations to compete against one another and ultimately the listeners loose. What's the difference between WGCI and WVAZ?

Like the main character in the movie Brown Sugar, I wanted to "start my own" station because the industry has jilted me several times and forgot about what radio and the DJ really mean to the people. Unfortunately the American Dream was taken from me also and many other wanna be station owners with the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. One must have major capital to start and own a radio station and to compete in the industry today one needs at least to own 10 stations. Where will I get the capital I mean millions to start a station in Chicago? I've always thought I could program a station with the best of them. And now technology affords anyone with a desire to start a radio station on the Internet to do so. The problem is that there are so many available one doesn't know which to choose. It's like a DJ and radio has become a dime a dozen.

Forgive me, I'm just not as excited about all the choices. Many people are reveling in their efforts as owners of an Internet Radio Station however for me it's nothing like the thrill of a real time experience of answering a live phone call, sharing some advice and telling listeners what time it is, the weather or about something that is happening in the community. There is nothing like breaking a new song watching the phone lines light up and people asking "who is that, who is that?" The Internet is great but the thrill is gone/delayed. I like my thrills in real time. The fun is not there for me. Internet radio is a lot of work. And being a DJ is/was something that came natural to me.

So I fell in Love with Disk Jockeying at the home at a very young age when my mother taught me how to play her favorite records on the ancient stereo console. I quickly learned how to operate the 45 spindle and keep the red and yellow record disks available. My mom was truly a party person and I mastered the art of reading her and what she wanted to hear that was the only way I could stay up late past my bedtime anyway. We all know that is a child's desire to stay up late. I took that experience of learning to read my mother and worked that in the Clubs.

I mastered a unique blend of radio DJ and club/tavern DJ. The secret was my voice. I saw "DJ Scotty" perform one evening and when I heard him use his voice as an instrument to make the party. I was hooked on seeing a packed danced floor and people bobbing their heads to the music. DJ Scotty sounded professional and he could relate to people in the Club that was amazing. I fell in love with creating and maintaining the flow of the evening. 25 years of my life I partied not realizing the terrific cost of the journey. I tried to make my life a party.


So today I look at the craft very differently. I respect those individuals that took the craft to another level by making the "turntables" an instrument. More power to you. I can mix but I choose not too. The guys that inspired me used their voices as the instrument. I learned to use my voice as the instrument. I like the combination of good music and good conversation. When a Disk Jockey is on top of his game he makes the party not only with what he plays but also with what he says. As much as some people complain about DJ's talking the reality is Black folks like to be talked to. It's not what you say it's how you say it. Check out the Rappers? That's all they do is talk! And to be on the real some of the very first Rappers were the legendary DJ's of the 60's. Part of my technique on the box has always been talking to the rhythm of the music.

Finally, despite how the art of DJing and Radio has changed in my heart I realize. I miss her, still love her, and if I had the chance I would go back to her.

Real Radio that's what it is all about.

Learning By Experience Put the Students on the Air

It's a new year and I will be more aggressive writing about issues that touch me. After 12 years of teaching, I have learned and experienced enough about teaching to have something to say about what is a good education in media communications. Here is my first issue of the new year. Why aren't more students on the air at WKKC FM?

WKKC FM is licensed as an Educational Non Commercial Station. According to the FCC, 73.503 Licensing requirements and service. A noncommercial educational FM broadcast station will be licensed only to a nonprofit educational organization(City Colleges of Chicago) and upon showing that the station will be used for the advancement of an educational program. What that means is WKKC meets the FCC requirement by serving as a laboratory for students to gain practical experience that will benefit them in their careers. What students lack in ability should not be judged it should be the basis for the training program.

A college radio station is the place where the students can discover both freedom and responsibility in broadcasting. If students are not on the air how is WKKC FM meeting the FCC license requirement of an educational non commercial station advancing a program?

Here is what happens for students Howard University. Each year the General Manager of WHUR manager and the Faculty Adviser of the Department of Radio Television and Film chair a committee that selects student managers to run the station. The selected students are then trained during the summer in the operation of running a radio station. Each student manager is mentored by a professional counterpart from the station benefactor WHUR 96.3 FM, the 2009 Winner of the NAB "Urban Station of the Year" Award. The selected student managers are paid during the summer internship and receive a stipend for each semester.

At the beginning of the academic year the student managers select from a pool of over 125 applicants the personnel to man the station. This procedure though not perfect keeps the mission and purpose of the station in line with the mission and purpose of the Department of Radio Television and Film in that the student station is dedicated to embodying professional, ethical and legal standards while promoting a leadership experience for its students and providing broadcasting services to the Howard University campus and the world via the Internet.

The student managers along with the professional mentor and Howard University faculty work together in training the student managers to run the student radio station. Students run the day to day operation of the station and are accountable to the faculty adviser. Instructors who teach audio production classes assigns projects to produce content for the student station. Exceptional audio production students also are given extra opportunities to create and produce content for the HD radio stations of Howard University. There is a commitment to encourage students in the classroom to be "content" creators. In media today, the mantra is "content is king."

Student policies and procedures vary from school to school but educators agree that the student need is the most important. Every effort should be made to educate and train media communications students through hands on experience with an emphasis on leadership and critical thinking. The beauty of College Radio is that it is a place where desiring students can learn, stumble, fall down, and get up with the assistance of academicians and professional staff that care. Not the cold shoulder of the industry that will consolidate, downsize, voice track and syndicate operations closing doors of any opportunity. Teaching radio is more than preparing the student for a board operator position. There is still a need for communicators. It is the job of the academic institution to educate and train the students.

College radio may be the only place where a student can develop into a personality. Niche radio is for commercial radio stations. College radio can be eclectic. Why not encourage the desire of a young student or any student for that matter? Put students on the air and connect the faculty with the station to assist in teaching them. It's about teaching and "learning" the art of being a good broadcaster.

Here's a historical fact. Students in the early 70's at the old Wilson Jr. College worked together with faculty and petitioned the FCC to obtain the license for WKKC FM. Students wanted a radio station to learn and practice radio broadcasting in the program. Over the 35 year history of WKKC FM, the students desire to learn and participate on WKKC FM has not changed just the people and philosophies of those that run the station.

Thank God, that the Local Community Radio Act was passed and more "community stations" can surface in the area. Maybe some other schools will get a chance at owning a LPFM station.

Just my take.

An October to Remember

The month of October in the year of 2010 is one that will
not be forgotten. Two giants in their respective fields made their transitions both of whom I knew. One I knew very well. The sense of loss after a loved one is sometimes hard to overcome and when multiple occurrences happen restoration in more challenging. O but thanks be to God for grace, mercy and knowing how much each one of us can bear.

On October 8th 2010, Albertina Walker the "Queen of Gospel" made her transition. "Tina" as she was affectionately called was more than just the queen of Gospel. She was a star maker, humanitarian, and a down to earth individual who you could touch. Albertina Walker loved the Church, Gospel Music, and the Gospel Music industry. At this time, I'm not going to list all of the things that she accomplished. I'll say this there will never be another "Queen of Gospel" like Albertina Walker and the Queen that passed the crown to her Mahalia Jackson both of whom hailed from Chicago. Gospel music is one of the best things to come out of this great city. The history of the proliferation of Gospel music comes directly through Chicago with such giants as Thomas A. Dorsey, Sallie Martin, Roberta Martin Kenneth Morris, and a host of others all of whom helped to shape the foundation of Albertina Walker.

I had the privilege and honor to speak to her regularly being a member of Gospel Music Workshop of America and the vice president of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild. She was always at every major affair and attend the GMWA convention religiously. She encouraged the founder of the organization the late Reverend James Cleveland to start the organization. Her support of the GMWA was unyielding. Throughout my 15 years as a member of the GMWA Alberina probably did not know my name but she called me baby and that was good enough for me because she always smiled when I came around. Now that smile and her not knowing my name was not fake, when I got married in 2004 she did not attend the ceremony but she showed my family love with a generous gift. Three years later in 2007 when daughter Morgan was born she again showed her love and blessed us with another generous gift. I can't tell you a specific reason why she blessed us. Albertina was just that kind of person.

I made it to Chicago to look at her and say thank you one last time. My heart was very heavy as I stood there thanking God for knowing her. Albertina gave me a tremendous opportunity to produce a tribute of her life from photographs that was one of my most treasured moments with the Queen. Each year at the Gospel Festival in Chicago, I would see her smiling and would go to her just to hear her say "I'm Still Here." Yes Albertina you will always be in my heart. God Bless You Queen Albertina.



God does what he does, in the way that he does and no one can question his actions or his wisdom. God doesn't make mistakes. Two weeks later on Friday October 22, 2010. Bishop Arthur M. Brazier quietly went to sleep. Not since the passing of my beloved grandfather Jesse McGee Bey had I felt such a tremendous loss. Bishop Brazier I honored and respected as a man and my pastor.




The Apostolic Church of God where Bishop Brazier was pastor for 48 years changed my life. I remember like yesterday after becoming a member of the Church, it wasn't two weeks later that the head of the Church engineering staff saw me in the Church corridor and asked are you Reggie Miles? I said Yes, He went on to say "your reputation precedes you and we have something for you to do in the Church." The engineer took me inside the television audio control room and boldly told me. "This is where you will be working!" I was so stunned and overwhelmed at the hand of God working in my life at that moment I said, Yes and faithfully manned that post for 8 years becoming a qualified audio engineer.

Now Bishop Brazier is a very special pastor. The Apostolic Church of God has over 20,000 members. He was a good shepherd. Many people would say "with so many members how can he be a good pastor?" Bishop Brazier made it a point to return all of his calls. I called him in his office and he got back to me in the same day. One of the proudest days of my life happened when I received a letter from Howard University and Bishop read the letter to the Congregation telling everyone that I had been selected to join the faculty at Howard University.

The next proudest moment is when Bishop Brazier stood with me at my wedding in 2004 at my wife's church with her pastor doing the ceremony. Bishop Brazier with all his things that he had to do made the time to be at my wedding. In the 8 years since being in Washington there was never a time when Bishop would not tell me "Brother Miles when are coming back home. We need you!"

During the years of his illness I saw Bishop get weaker and prayed for more time with him. It hurt really deep to see him grow weaker but he prepared us. And he let us know that he wanted to see Jesus. However even with knowing and the preparation of the inevitable the sense of loss still has a way of making its presence known but the devil is a liar. Bishop Arthur M. Brazier lives in my heart and I will continue my support of the Apostolic Church of God and my pastor Dr. Bryon T. Brazier. This was an October that I will never forget !!

It Worked Out For My Good

It was in the winter of 1995 and one morning I turned on the radio to 89.3 FM and heard Gospel Music. I was shocked and excited because I was a new Christian and a member of The Apostolic Church of God. I was working at the Church in the audio ministry and attending Columbia College.

The morning I heard Gospel Drive changed my life. The next day, I went to see Kevin Brown and we began talking about the new "Christian" experience. Kevin invited me to join the Gospel Drive team and every morning at 6:00 AM "without pay" I faithfully made my way to WKKC FM and began producing the "Gospel Drive Show" and following the program I would head to Columbia College for school.

The Gospel Drive program exploded in Chicago. Now I can't give you any specific numbers regarding how many people were listening but I will say that program captured the South Side of Chicago took the reputation of WKKC in another direction and influenced the decision of some commercial station managers to consider the Gospel format in Chicago. Gospel Drive became so visible that the administration was worried that the playing of Gospel music on WKKC would violate the First Amendment of the Constitution and bring lawsuits to the station. The paranoia by the administration of Kennedy King College towards Gospel music became an issue and would ultimately lead to a management change in 1997.

I continued volunteering at WKKC FM and in the summer of 1996, was given an internship at CBS during the 1996 Democratic Convention. I along with several other KK College students enjoyed the paid internship put together by the City Colleges of Chicago. In the fall 1996, because of my excellent work ethic I was given a part-time position as an audio engineer in the Theater.

Although my title was theater engineer, I was charged with assisting in the operations of WKKC FM under James Kelly who became the point person for the radio station. Mr. Kelly's new designation came from the Director of Broadcasting. I was being thrust in the middle of Kennedy King College/WKKC politics and did not have any interest in being part of the mess. I determined that I wanted to join my mentor and teacher Professor Hemphill as a colleague at Kennedy King College.

On Thursday June 5, 1997 everything changed for me at WKKC. Kennedy King college politics were raging like a forest fire. James Kelly had been suspended from WKKC FM over religious statements made by an announcer and there was student unrest over his suspension. At the City Colleges of Chicago board meeting several students protested the suspension of Mr. Kelly and other things. The actions of the students resulted in the resignation of the Director of Broadcasting. WKKC was in turmoil and at 5:30 PM the Director of Broadcasting resigned and I was asked to oversee the operation of WKKC FM.

The decision to accept overseeing WKKC was the best and worst decision I made in my life. The best part of the decision would be realized after I was terminated. The worst part was ongoing. I had just graduated from Columbia College and was very inexperienced. In the early days of managing I had to teach myself and learn everything about the business of commercial radio, non commercial radio, and educating students in a very short time. I was alone being baptized by fire, a real on the job training experience however Mr. Hemphill was there for me and held me up through everything.

Accepting the management duties of WKKC was the worst situation for me because my decision created many enemies. Every moment of my 6 year employment at WKKC was being scrutinized. I'm not sure if there was ever a day that I rested being in that position. I was never paid just value for my efforts or recognized for anything other than the last days at WKKC but that did not stop me from doing my best. I knew from the moment that I accepted the position that I could/would not be able to match the accomplishments of my predecessors however I envisioned my place to be in the classroom.

As the point person of WKKC I left the programming as it was. There was no need to change the format it was not broken. WKKC FM's programming was eclectic. I hated the urban radio stations in Chicago. They all sounded the same and I felt they were not serving the community. There was nothing unique about any commercial radio stations playing urban music in Chicago. Their uniqueness was lost due to the philosophy of media deregulation, consolidation and the pursuit of corporate profits.


The early days of managing WKKC were filled with challenges. The Dean instructed me to write a "Station Manual" to structure the operation of WKKC. Student access and participation was paramount. The procedures for being on radio were clearly defined. I believed in learning by doing. Any student who desired to be in radio, I encouraged to create and develop themselves into a unique personality and "not worship" anybody on the radio. And at the same I stressed the importance of being a critical thinker and innovator.

The opportunity to teach surfaced after enrolling in graduate school. I found solace in the classroom. Professor Hemphill guided me on being an instructor. It was in those sessions that I felt the magnitude of being a teacher and I relished the responsibility. Mr. Hemphill directed me in balancing the management of the station and the classroom experience. We talked on a regular basis and Virgil helped me to develop an educational framework for training and managing the station. Each semester students in the advanced radio production class produced a public affairs program. I was on a mission to involve as many students on the radio station that I could and everyone had to spend time in the news department.

WKKC became the "Station Making the Difference!" My perspectives about radio changed in graduate school as I began to look at radio's future differently. It was in a future of technology course with Dr. Mel Muchnik that I saw the future of radio on the Internet. Dr. Muchnik assigned a book entitled "Being Digital" by Nicolas Negroponte which had a profound effect on me. After reading the book, I spoke with my graduate adviser the late Professor Eli Segal and decided that I would write my thesis on "Webcasting" a project based on putting WKKC FM on the Internet.

The first changes were made to the station slogan and WKKC 89 point three FM to WKKC 89 dot 3 FM, the signaling of WKKC heading towards the Internet. Now back in 1997, people were deeply entrenched in terrestrial radio and discounted the presence of the early Internet. Most people called me crazy for making the change but today those same people realize I was being a visionary. Everything is on the Internet. Researching the Internet, developing the infrastructure for placing WKKC on the web, finding funding for the project then writing about it earned me a Masters Degree in Media Communications from Governor State University, unfortunately despite having everything technically to complete the project the journey stalled for numerous reasons beyond my control.

The students coming to the Broadcasting Department at Kennedy-King College were full of hopes and dreams. Enrollment under my watch tripled from 100 to 357. As I studied the broadcasting industry in graduate school. I realized that because of industry deregulation and consolidation that the job market would become smaller and smaller however that did not discourage me from telling students the truth of the industry and still encouraging them to be the best that they could be. Everyone one my former students will tell you that I said to them "kick everybody's a-- there is no one better than you on the radio!" Today several students under my watch are working or have worked in the industry.

WKKC was awarded the Black College Radio Station of Year and the award came as a surprise us. While I did not make the trip to Atlanta in 1997, the reaction of the students when they returned inspired me to continue the annual journey to the BCR. In traveling to the Black College Radio Convention the students met students from other HBCU's and built relationships especially with students of WTST Tennessee State University's Student Run Internet radio station. One of most rewarding things about the college experience is networking with students from other campuses.


The students of Kennedy King College continued making the trips to the Black College Radio Convention becoming enterprising and raising funds to help sponsor the trip. The broadcasting club organized fund raising activities during the basketball season. Everybody worked together. WKKC FM was broadcasting home games of the basketball teams and the Broadcasting Club was allowed to sell concessions to raise money for the Atlanta trip. As manager of WKKC FM, I had a focus on public affairs programs as well as music. I added several talk shows to the line up along with more gospel music and because of those efforts I received the "Station Manager of the Year Award" from the Black College Radio Convention in Atlanta.


The Kennedy-King College experience suddenly came to an end on January 3, 2003. It was a surprise to me, but insiders knew that the "termination" was going to happen at the beginning of the year. I was crushed. I remember the students coming to my house asking me what do you want us to do. I told them nothing. What it is, Is What it is. I'll be fine. I just couldn't understand why there was an attempt to "destroy" my reputation after I had worked so hard trying to develop a program to educate students and build the college.

In addition the dream of giving back to the community as a professor ended. Despite the accomplishments I made as a teacher/manger it amounted to nothing because I was an "AT WILL" employee which meant I could be terminated for good, bad, any, or no reason. However, the experience I gained from Kennedy King College prepared me for where I am today. I could not have had a better opportunity than I had at Kennedy King College. The experience lead me into research and scholarship on Internet radio, college radio management, media ownership and digital production. I managed a nationally recognized college radio station, taught in a Junior College completed an MA degree and established a reputation in the Gospel Music industry all at the same time. What others meant for harm turned out to be "for my good!"

In my years at Kennedy King College I met some very influential persons Alex Snipe, Drew Dawson, Chris Squires, Jamillah Muhammed, Lee Michaels(WCAO), Taft Harris and many other broadcasters. I authored how to set up an Internet Radio station, installed the first computer automation system for WKKC FM and began the 24 hour broadcasting schedule. Under my leadership, Crawford Broadcasting recognized the impact of WKKC's gospel programming and offered me a job on Power 106. I had the opportunity to go to many professional and educational conventions and met Sherman Kizzart, Michael Jaye Jackson, Dr. Turk Logan, Professor Shannon Levingston and Shirley Ellis. All of these individuals impacted my career in one way or another. When I arrived in Washington, DC I was hired at WCAO Heaven 600 in Baltimore and all of this came from the hard work during the WKKC experience. And most of all the students at Kennedy King College under my watch were some of the best students I have experienced. They cared for me and those that did not respected me.

I have to call out a few KK students especially Bruce, Kevin, Nicole, Drewsean, Traci, Latrice, Donnie, Paki, Karla, Arnetta, Shanaka, Richard, Tommy, Davonna, Tangy, Thomas, Fredrika, and so many others. If I forgot you (and I know I did) it's because I'm getting older. Also the high school students who were in the knowledge quest program.

"They Don't Know Who We Be" -- LOL !

Many thanks to Shannon Thomas, Maeola Davis, Chris Base, Rick Crum, Lamont Watts, Kevin Brown, Darryl Dennard, Fletcher Garrett, Derrick Smith and David Franklin for helping me out during my watch. Also, Al Greer who in his creative genius and amazing voice produced some incredible 89 dot 3 imaging drops. (We're 89 dot 3, because it's impolite to point!). Finally I have to mention a few of the WKKC Veterans who manned their posts and helped with the new recruits. Thanks Mike Brown, PJ Willis, and Keith Reed.

The WKKC experience was rough, but when I got the call from Howard University stating that I was selected to join their faculty the Kennedy King College experience was worth it! And I would not change it for the world.

Thanks KKC/WKKC -- To God Be The Glory!

WKKC - So Long Old Friend -Thanks for the Memories

This photo is just a memory of the location of Kennedy-King College. The place on 69th and Wentworth Avenue in Chicago where this building once stood is a pile of crushed cement and broken glass. The old Kennedy-King College was once a vibrant place that housed "Chicago Powerhouse" WKKC 89.3 FM.

Before the City Colleges of Chicago announced in December of 2004 the hiring of Marv Dyson former general manager of WGCI as its executive director. WKKC FM had a 30 year history of serving the community in the public interest. As one of the first on air announcers and a volunteer for over 20 years I'd like to share some history and say thanks to several people who deserve credit for doing an incredible job of making WKKC one of the best college radio station's in the nation.

I remember like yesterday in 1974 walking in to the radio station office of H.D. "Woodie" Briant and announcing that I wanted to be on the air. I was given an audition on the spot, told to rip some news copy and read a couple of stories. After the audition I was assigned to do news. When WKKC first started the news team was probably the best area of operation. On the news team were two experienced guys Earl Gilbert and Al Bethea. Those guys I looked up to. Earl did the mornings and Al did the evening news. Later on Melisse Robinson became a fixture and WKKC news provided something special in the community. In the early years of WKKC's history students were trained in all aspects of radio announcing and everyone had to do news.

WKKC was born out of a struggle started by the former Wilson Jr College students to get a radio station for the broadcasting and theater department of Kennedy King College. Dr. H Adrian Rainer and others were the catalysts for obtaining the license for WKKC FM. My first teachers were Winslow Jefferies and Virgil Hemphill. The station engineer was Mike Woodland. Francis Willoughby was the program director, Vernon Mullin was production director Earl Gilbert news director and Connie Hedgepath was assistant to HD Briant. I and fellow classmate Rory McKinzie were the first members of the on air staff.

In the early days not many students knew about the radio station in Kennedy-King College. I can't recall how I found out but I left another school to go to Kennedy-King college right away when I heard about the radio station. Radio and being a Disk Jockey was a part of my life that I was addicted to. WKKC FM was a blessing in disguise and I couldn't wait to get there and be on the air.

My first on air shift was Monday through Friday 6 to 8 PM. WKKC's first studios were located adjacent to the television studio classroom. In the TV classes you could see the station in full operation. I could not pay attention in TV class because I wanted to be in the studio. The original studio featured a McGurdy console, huge turntables with the 12 pound motors, studer revox tape recorders and cart machines. For years I performed faithfully at WKKC FM having a ball playing the "Best Variety of Hits and Dusties."

The first change to WKKC came with the arrival of student Kevin Brown whom I trained at WKKC FM. Kevin was a quiet student and always paying attention to what was going on around him. I respected him and he respected me. When Kevin arrived he was being groomed to be the engineer/manager of the station. Exactly how Kevin Brown became the point person for the station is a mystery to me. Soon after Kevin arrived in the late 1970's he went to work finding a counterpart to help him run WKKC FM and that counter part Kevin found at a local skating rink was James Kelly. These two young men changed the face of WKKC FM.

Kevin Brown became station manager and made James Kelly program director that was the best move ever for WKKC. Kevin and James were a great combination that produced a legacy of talent from WKKC FM. Kevin Brown dealt with all the politics of Kennedy-King College and the City Colleges of Chicago while building a strong relationship with the faculty to insure that students were getting both a classroom and practical experience. James Kelly went to work like a master builder constructing WKKC FM into a respectable and powerful community institution.

From 1977 - 1997, Kevin Brown and James Kelly led WKKC through power increases from 10 to 100 watts and 100 to 250 watts. James Kelly made sure that WKKC was sounding the best it possibly could at all times. James Kelly is a genius of an audio engineer who lived radio. It was James who modified the programming schedule to include more community involvement information with public affairs programming. James utilized his experience as a ham radio operator and DJ to make WKKC FM one of the BEST sounding College Radio Stations every. In addition, the list of students influenced by Kevin Brown and James Kelly is very long. He is responsible for the likes of Guy Black, Isadore Pink, Mike Brown, Khris Raye, Rena Garrett, Jonathan Hood, and many others. I can also include myself to the list.

Kevin Brown and James Kelly ran WKKC FM responsibly. The station was very well respected in the community. Under their leadership WKKC FM always had a policy against music with derogatory lyrics. Only two rap songs could be played an hour that was the rule. The format style of rap and hip-hop today was created at WKKC. WKKC FM broke the very first "Rap" records in the nation. While the big stations were arguing over the virtues of the new music. James Kelly found a place for it and instituted it on WKKC FM. It was common knowledge in the Chicago Program Director's circle if "WKKC breaks it, we'll play it!" During its time WKKC broke many artists and records. I remember the day when New Edition made their debut in Chicago and was not received well. Bobby Brown had quit the group that night, and the next day I saw them in Fletcher's Record shop and we were killing "Jealous Girl" on the radio. I called program director James at 5037 and told him I was bringing them to the station. Gaylon Hayes was on the air and started telling the listeners that New Edition was on the way and over 500 young people was outside waiting for them. Needless to say that sparked the spirits of those young men.

There are so many more stories that can be shared about Kevin and James and what they did at WKKC FM. I want to honor them for their dedication to WKKC FM and the work that they did. Today, I appreciate you.

Thank you Kevin Brown and James Kelly for putting up with me 20 years in my rants and raves and still taking me back. Thanks for doing the job that you did for the Englewood Community through the community calendars , remotes, and the students that were mentored. Thanks for giving  the students and community an opportunity to learn and appreciate radio and most of all thanks for instilling in the students the importance of an education. Thank you Professor Virgil Hemphill, Mark Lewkowich, Winslow Jeffries and the late Lennie Stencil, Margaret Stubbs for being both pioneering professionals, great college teachers and colleagues.

The new WKKC has a long way to go before reaching the legacy of the old WKKC. And to start on the journey it begins with teaching and training students, not only with a good staff but with academicians that care about the college and the program that they are part of.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM!

Future of Media and Information
Needs of Communities Workshop


As I sat in the workshop, I was disappointed that I was one of a handful of African Americans in attendance. "The Future of Media and Information Needs" is a vital concern for all Americans especially minorities, females, and people of color. In a time where the law is regulated to favor a dominant "white male" ownership of the media I do not understand why a stronger African American presence was not at this workshop. It could be misconstrued that African Americans do not care about the media and accept the present state of the media as is. When African American need to make a strong showing of visibility and concern about media. African Americans are somewhere else. We cannot depend on others to fight for justice for us. We must stand up for our own concerns. Otherwise people will think that African American don't care and do as they wish.

The ability to own stations and transmit messages created for and designed by African Americans through audio,video, and print from the perspective of an African American is paramount to the culture of African Americans. Ownership of media and the right/ability to transmit messages should be at the forefront of the civil right organizations. The broadcast media is simply unjust too few own too many. I know that some would argue that it does not make a difference the "ethnicity" of the owner and I could agree with that if the corporate owners allowed the managers to manage then the ethnicity of th eowner doesn't make a difference but under the marketplace ideology decision making is out of the local programmers hand. In the corporate workplace you'll this "Corporate says we must do it this way!"

This workshop as with most others featured the typical debate between the marketplace ideology and the public trustee model of broadcasting. Let me say that I am on the side of the public trustee model because I have not seen the benefits of the marketplace ideology of broadcasting in terms of jobs, ownership, local news and information. I have witnessed losses in jobs, ownership, local news and information under the marketplace ideology.

As a matter of fact, the full enactment of deregulation(I mean changing the rules to favor a few) through the 1996 Telecommunications Act has many of my former broadcasting colleagues out of the industry or working in another career. As for ownership, African American owners are being crushed as media corporations dominate local markets and those African American owners that are surviving are imitators of the business model of the dominant white male ownership. There is a huge disconnect between Black Radio and Black People even when the owners of are African American. Syndication employed by African American owners is the worst thing to happen in Black Radio and localism but African American owners must employ the practice(syndication) in order to survive. Radio historically connected African American people and communities. A rising number of African Americans do not bother to listen to radio anymore.


On the positive side Commissioner Coops a warrior for the public interest did not hold back anything in his remarks. I suggest that you go to http://www.fcc.gov and download his remarks and read his statement in its entirety.


Finally, a stunning moment occurred when the minority and people of color media ownership question surfaced and no one the panel was a person of color who could actually address the question. There was glaring moment of silence until Andrew Schartzman of the Media Access Project offered remarks. I asked the FCC Senior Advisor to Chairman were there any people of color invited to the panel and he stated that the invited persons canceled. I did not ask who was invited and took him at his word however the entire world witnessed as Commissioner Coops remarked about the "sins of the commission's omission" in terms of minorities, females and people of color, where a workshop was held and only one person of color was present out of three panels. How change seems to be the same.

Peace

Media Ownership Workshop 2010 - Columbia South Carolina

On Tuesday February 23rd, I made a point to listen to the FCC's Media Ownership Workshop webcast. I guess I'm just a hopeless romantic about radio and what it use to be. I'm still not convinced that radio broadcasting today effectively serves the communities to which they are licensed to. The myth of the benefits of the marketplace ideology in broadcasting has not materialized for people of color. Exactly the opposite has happened. The 3% Radio ownership by African Americans has declined by 50% since 1998 that's half of what little was there in the beginning.

With the 2010 Quadrennial Regulatory Review – Review of the FCC Commission’s Broadcast Ownership Rules and Other Rules Adopted Pursuant to Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and a democratic majority I was hoping for a vibrant discussion between the Broadcasters, the citizens of South Carolina, and the FCC. What I saw and heard during the webcast brought more questions to my mind about whether or not a "change will come." It's sad but I must say it going to take miracle to take the airwaves back but I won't give up in the fight.

The workshop was dominated by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association who artfully made the case for the status quo. Their collective presentations turned out to be a forum to talk/blow their own horns about the virtues of their individual "public service" , public interest, community involvements and the struggles they face to survive in the current economy. All of the panelists (South Carolina broadcasters) raved about how they are helping the community in this poor "economic" environment and why the present marketplace model of broadcasting must be preserved and is the justification for their present operations. The South Carolina broadcasters went as far as making a case for "consolidation" they called it "centralization." The reality is the economics of broadcasters/business is not really the concern of the FCC.

A more vibrant dialogue would have solicited and included the input from the audience, listeners, and consumers of the region. As the broadcasters bragged about their individual public service campaigns, the place where the workshop was taking place was nearly empty. So much for the evidence of the public service! I guess the South Carolina Broadcasters forgot to let people know about the FCC coming to town. It was amazing less than 50 people were in the venue and the majority of people in the place were FCC members, panelists and invited guests. It made me wonder about how much the people knew, care about their media and media ownership in the region.

On the bright side there were several good questions asked by the few audience members that were in attendance. One former news announcer stated quite frankly "You people (FCC and Broadcasters) broke it, now were going to have to fix it. We had a good working model of broadcasting in this country that got broken. As it went (broadcast licenses) to the auctions and bidding up the prices for stations. You broke it, now it's going to have to be figured out how to fit it."

In my opinion that was the most compelling statement of the workshop because there was no definitive reply to the statement. The truth was being told by the individual. The present regulations regarding media ownership by the FCC is skewed toward "white male ownership" of the media. Too few own too many. Diversity of ownership is just a word to be kicked around. Telecommunications policy will have to be changed in a way that the marketplace can be opened up for more people to participate. In this depressed economy a failing broadcast company could not be bought by a minority, person of color or female because the market value of the property is too high and banks are not giving loans on media properties. This economy has the broadcasters crying broke and lobbying for further relaxation of the local ownership limits at the same time. Now that is a mean game and greedy game. One South Carolina Broadcaster went as far as to imply, "It is the right of a Strong broadcaster to Dominate the Weak." How unjust can that be?

Somewhere down the line grass roots people have to be protected from the greedy corporations and greedy individuals. In 1926, Senator Davis quoted Secretary of Commerce Hoover stating,
"It is inconceivable that the American people will allow this new born system of communication (radio) to fall exclusively into the power of any individual, group, or combination. Great as the development of radio distribution has been we are probably only at the threshold of development of one of the most important human discoveries bearing on education, amusement, culture, and business communication. It cannot be thought that any single person or group shall ever have the right to determine what communication may be made to the American people. We cannot allow any single person or group to place themselves in the position where they can censor the material which shall be broadcast to the public. Wow, that's something to think about.

My most pressing concern is the battle for more African Americans to have the opportunity to be like an Alex Snipe a local African American broadcaster with multiple stations in a market. Mr. Snipe's success cannot be the only story because then his success is just another token and the African American community doesn't need more tokens we need more owners.

Finally, the people of color selected by the FCC made great presentations and were very diplomatic and not radical. With diplomacy there is a need for some radical thought. All the questions regarding people of color and minority media ownership programs were answered lukewarmly with the promise of further analysis. The battle for more people of color and minority gains in media must go through the courts because any measure to help the less fortunate attain the American Dream must endure rigorous legal challenges by those who have beliefs in the marketplace ideology and the first amendment. Remember some people in American believe it is their right to own EVERYTHING. It may be in the best interest for the local communities to ask for more Low Power FM stations. I am creating a podcast called Reggie on Radio look out for it.

Peace