Disappearing Voices—The Decline of Black Radio

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Event Details

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Date: Sep 25 2009 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Disappearing Voices -- The Decline of Black Radio

Friday, September 25, 2009
3:00 PM-5:00 PM
Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.

Purpose of Discussion: To determine and explore the current state of Black owned radio stations. In addition, the discussion will attempt to examine factors that have led to the demise of Black radio, while simultaneously determining solutions to resolve this dire issue.

Moderator: Warren Ballentine

Panelists

Jim Winston, NABOB
Financial difficulties in radio business (Arbitron)

Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman
Minority ownership and broadband present within black radio

Skip Finley, Vice Chairman ICBC Broadcast Holdings, Inc.
Future of Black Radio

Paul Porter, Co-Founder of Industry Ears, Inc.
Syndication and local markets

Iyanna Jones, Executive Producer of Disappearing Voices—The Decline of Black Radio
Motivation and intent behind the production of Disappearing Voices—The Decline of Black Radio

Questions for Panelists:

What is the distinction between Urban Contemporary stations and traditional Black music stations?
What can be done to reverse the decline of Black owned radio stations?
What is the role that Black radio played in the 60s and 70s and how is it different today?
What functional adjustments should the radio industry make?
How has deregulation and mergers destroyed Black radio? And how has this affected the Black community?
Is social responsibility missing from Black radio stations today? Why is it that new on Black radio stations is centered around entertainment and not substance?
Where do you see the radio industry heading in the next 20 years?
The problem is the collaboration between Arbitron, which drastically undercounts Black listenership, and Madison Ave., which insists that if their clients are to advertise on Black stations at all, they will only do so at discounted rates far below what they pay to advertise on white stations. What is being done to counteract this and what should be done to resolve this problem?
What is the problem with radio today being more homogeneous than it was, say 20 years ago? Is it even a problem?
Who or what is the biggest perpetrator in the decline of Black owned radio stations?