HERE WE GO AGAIN OLD ASS PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE MOVES. JOHN CONYERS THIS GUY IS 80 YEARS OLD HE CAN’T EVEN HEAR THE MUSIC. I ADVISE ALL THE LIFERS TO HIT HIM UP WITH A NOTE OR SOMETHING LETTING HIM KNOW YOU DISAGREE WITH THIS BILL. PLEASE READ THE POST.
TO MY RADIO ONE FAMILY:
The Honorable John Conyers, our 80 year old African-American Congressman is the sponsor of a new bill that could put many black owned radio stations out of business. And force others to abandon their commitment to provide free music, entertainment, news, information, and money losing formats like gospel and black talk.
This is Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Radio One with an urgent call to our Radio Family.
The John Conyers Performance Tax Bill is the brain child of the foreign owned record industry who would receive at least 50% of the revenue that would be charged to radio stations in order for them to play music. The music that you now receive free from us – we would have to pay millions of dollars for.
And20in the midst of this economic depression, black radio stations simply do not have that financial ability.
There has been only one hearing on the bill and that hearing did not have any black ownership representation. Black radio owners and community leaders including Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dick Gregory, Tom Joyner, and myself have all begged Conyers to at least allow us the opportunity for a hearing. He has flatly refused.
We now ask you, our radio family, to assist us in saving the future of black radio. Please call or email or visit the offices of John Conyers today. His phone numbers are 202-225-5126 and 313-961-5670 and his email address [email protected]
TELL HIM that you oppose this bill that would murder Black owned radio and the free music that you now hear on all free radio stations. In the midst of an American economic recession, it is not the right time to send millions of dollars to foreign owned record companies that don’t even pay taxes like you and me in this country. This bill is not in the interest of Black people! Please help us save Black radio!
WANT TO LEARN MORE? See below why it is IMPERATIVE that we act to save Black radio:
1 . The promotional value of free local radio airplay translates into significant revenues for artists and record labels:
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), record sales in the United States in 2007 were approximately $10.4 billion;
Touring revenue in 2007 in the U.S. was approximately $5 billion;
The above figures exclude the several billion dollars derived annually from merchandise, songwriting royalties and licensing deals for commercials, films, etc.; and
Also excluded is the boost that U.S. popularity provides for foreign sales and concerts.
2. Local radio also actively promotes artists by:
Devoting considerable and valuable airtime to promoting artists’ concerts;
Featuring artist weekends
Providing opportunities for live in-studio performances; and
Creating buzz through on-air ticket and album giveaways, helping to drive concert and merchandising revenue.
Without doubt, the engine driving these billions of dollars into the pockets of the record labels and artists is free, local radio promotion.
“Artist Examples of Increased Sales From Local Radio Airplay”
Each of the next graphs details and compares the spins on over-the-air radio (highlighted in red on each graph) with the retail sales and downloads of the artists’ releases (highlighted in blue on each graph). The results are consistent in every artist example: Significant play on radio results in si gnificant sales of the artist’s song, demonstrating the significant promotional and economic impact that free, local radio provides to the recording industry.
The recording industry suggests that the Internet and viral marketing is now the way to break a new artist. However, despite numerous new methods for artists to showcase their music, such as MySpace.com, retail outlets, etc., radio’s promotional value in spiking and sustaining sales is clearly demonstrated by the information included below.
Kanye West-
Kanye West is an American record producer and is a multiple Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer who rose to fame in the mid 2000s.
Albums:
He released his debut album “The College Dropout” in 2004, his second album “Late Registration” in 2005 and his third album “Graduation” in 2007. His first three albums have received numerous awards (including nine Grammys), critical acclaim and commercial success. The first two singles from “Late Registration” sold over 860,000 copies in its first week, and earned him eight Grammy Award nominations including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for the song “Gold Digger.” His first three albums have certified sales of three million, three million and two million copies respectively by the RIAA.
Tours
Kanye West headlined 190 concerts between 2004 and 2007, grossing an average of $244,669 and selling an average=2 0of 5,235 tickets per date. (Source: Pollstar Artist Profile Report, © 2007)
50 Cent-
50 Cent is an American rapper.
Albums:
He rose to fame with the release of his albums “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” (2003) and “The Massacre” (2005). Both albums achieved multi-platinum success, selling over 21 million records worldwide, including 11 million RIAA certified sales in the United States.
The lead single from “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” “In da Club,” which The Source noted for its “blaring horns, funky organs, guitar riffs and sparse hand claps” broke a Billboard record as the most listened-to song in radio history within a week.
Tours
50 Cent headlined 199 concerts worldwide between 2002 and 2007, grossing an average of $632,272 and selling an average of 11,406 tickets per date between 2005 and 2007. (Source: Pollstar Artist Profile Report, © 2007)
Mb carrera GT
man this makes no sense this is ridiculous why on earth would u want to put black owned radio out of buisness and hes african american this is damn near worse then the situation luda had with limp o reilly you kno nutthin about this generation music so just leave it alone young people like to call into radio and express how they feel about any situation thats on there mind and you want to pass a bill and take that away,wow thats that bullshit
Shadowstare
That is IN – Fucking – SANE. I know we are in a recession, but that idea of a bill in the Bull Shit.
TongaDude
Of the top I think its a mistake to do away with black radio @ the same time both parties need to sit down & figure out the pros & cons of havin the stations operating @ a profit & not a loss.. Open Dialog is all that’s required..
PrettyRikki
This sux!! One that Mr. Conyers is even putting forth a bill like this…and two the fact that he wont allow any representation from the African-American community! Im gonna do my part…sending that email now. Lets do it!! Let’s keep living the life!!
KENYATTA
THIS A BUNCH OF BULL SHIT!!! I BET HE WHITE IS HE WHITE I AIN’T READ THE FULL STORY! BUT I LOVE MUSIC IT’S MY LIFE I KEEP HEADPHONES ON MY HEAD WHERE EVER I GOOOOOOO I WRITE MUSIC I BEEN WRITEN FOR 8 YEARS BEEN IN LOVE WITH MUSIC SINCE I WAS LITTLE!!! MUSIC IS MY LIFE!! I GOTTA HIT THIS DUDE UP ASAP AND LET’EM NO WHATS REAL FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIFER!!!!!!!!
MoFresha
OMG! Are you serious??? This is why we aren’t as far as we need to be , because we can barely support our own community…WTF came up with this idea & WTF would he endorse this. Im flat out disgusted & I want us all to come together & make sure this doesn’t happen….
tony
Thanks for the hads up JD. That really is some bull shit, they dont want blacks to have anything. By not letting any black representation in lets me know that. can you make sure u touch on it on your you tube videos so thers can also know. we’re going to keep calling and sending emails until they get tired of it.
Nicky
i disagree John jus needs to relax and enjoy the rest of his life and STOP STRESSIN
Anjanette
I will do my part!!!
Charloetta
I’m emailing him..no black radio? i dont know if i could honestly do or want to do with out it…Greedy ppl always trying to get extra..We all have to flood this man’s email box and telephone number!
Andre
He must be getting cash on the side for this bill, or heck he may be just crazy. Well, I just emailed his crazy a…
Thanks for the post JD.
str8cash
here is a copy of my email
Hello Congrasman Conyers, i am writing you to inform you that, i highly disagree with this bill. I think if any thing the record companies should have to pay the tax, they are the ones gettin all the money, theradio stations are just making it for them, and as an independent artist myself, it would totaly crush my chances of breaking into the industry, because i know if this bill is passed then my local station will cut the unsinged hype session, if not the whole station. Please consider the little people that matter like me when making your final decision. Thank you for your time.
D**** Mag**
Sandi
Whaaat??!
Charloetta
Just sent my email…thanks Jd for letting us know…they need to be doing some kind of infomercial on radio stations about this…get ppl on the case!
Nia Haskins
Some of the greatest stations are owned by black owners. and why get rid of it when the majority of them try to help the up and coming aspiring rappers, future broadcasters, on tv personality. Some of these old folks so stuck in there own generation of living not knowing how much its changed since way back then.There is soo many other things in the black community that need to be solved way take away from it and make it worse..
aquachick22
I totally disagree with this bill. It’s completely messed up and unfair, that a bill passed would single-handedly effect Black-Owned Radio Stations. As I see it, the effect of this decision will cause fatal damage to music entertainment industry and put alot of artist into financial ruin. Also, the African American community will feel excluded from hearing the type of music they enjoy on a regular basis. John Conyers need realize, times are hard. Individuals these days are struggling to survive and put food on they’re tables. I suggest a meeting should be held to way out the pros and cons.
Kandi
I heard this on clear channel too. sounds like everyone is gonna get screwed on this one.
wndrlnd
the old man dont care he aint gonna live long enough to see the day come when the black stations go extinct. radio is the biggest promotion tool for all artists. cutting out the black stations would cut out the promotion of black music. the labels would make money selling the song to the stations. the more popular the song the higher the price. now with artists like kanye and fifty hitting big numbers, independent smaller stations would not be able to purchase the music that would get ratings. no ratings no commercial sales and with out commercial sales there is no station. the prizes, and concert events, would be cut back and dwindle to a free keychain for caller 20!
free radio being taken away? i dont like where all of this government involvement with every thing is going. all international, regulate this and that for profit or other reasons. even changed the name of the freedom tower monument to one world tower??
remember folks government doesnt like the word free they would rather regulate everylittle thing. land of the free? call this fool and tell him he is an idiot and that he is even more of an idiot for not listening to all parties involved before executing his decision. it is a lil past pros and cons. the pros are none cons are well regulation of free choice free music free everything.
Tonga dude how can you have open dialogue with someone who will not let you speak and when you do they dont hear you?
you put them on blast on the internet so then they are forced to listen!!!!!
Qudoubleen
I heard this on my local station it is bad. I called and left a message. Sound off Yall!
Mrs. Rodgers
Honorable John Conyers;
I am originally from the Motor City and I cannot fathom that we would go from free radio to being like sirius or pay xm. People pay to hear this programming and that is free will payment.
However if you charge the radio’s to play music, they have to make revenue some how, that means they would have to pass on cost to someonem thus making someone really really reach and it won’t be any of the current minority black own radio shows and what will happen when they go out of business, black music will not have a main stream media are you willing to be part of killing BLACK RADIO?
I officialy oppose this bill that would murder Black owned radio and the free music that you now hear on all free radio stations. In the midst of an American economic recession, it is not the right time to send millions of dollars to foreign owned record companies that don’t even pay taxes like you and me in this country. This bill is not in the interest of Black people! Please help us save Black radio!
Mrs. Rodgers
Atlanta, GA
SimplyyPrettyy&*
DIS MAN IS INSANE.. ii sent him a email i hope he gets it and reads it and feels how deeply taking these radio stations out of buissness means to ppls lives. CRAZy ! SMfh
Keera
SMH….THIS IS BULL SHIT….HE MUST BE GETTING SOMETHING ON THE SIDE FOR THIS.
Mrs. Rodgers
Honorable John Conyers:
I think we can’t allow bills to be passed that would help. What is up with a bill to make radio stations pay for playing records? What kinda non manufacturing BS this country going to come up with next trying to use the same $1 and put it in someone else pocket. Doesn’t create jobs it just moves money to the haves pockets, this is stupid.
SPOCK
First of all I want to say THANKS to JD for putting up something worth me thinking about. 2nd my birthday is tomorrow, I will be taking any donations via paypal to [email protected] LOL
This goes back to what I have been saying over the last few days on global. LEADERSHIP… What makes a leader a leader? Some people are in leadership roles but are not leaders. The first thing that LA Reid did when he became president of Artista was go back to school. A lot of the people in our community have the resources to make a difference but don’t because they simply don’t have enough education to understand.. Here is an example for you:
Here in GA we had that damn confederate flag!! In order for our current punk ass governor to get elected he promised to keep the confederate flag flying, he wanted all the good ol boys with the big tire trucks and shot guns to come out to vote for him and they did. But their was a problem. Someone started doing the math on how much GA makes off black athletes. Once the word got out that black athletes would not play under that damn confederate flag everything changed. Purdue was like damn, we would lose millions of dollars if all the college and pro games couldn’t not be played,,So they HAD to change that flag, not cause they wanted to but because they had to….MONEY TALKS…..
Now back to radio. I am happy to say that James Brown in my home town of Augusta GA owned many radio stations. He understood the power of radio. To get a licenses from the FCC is almost impossible, I have already tried…LOL but the question is why aren’t we in control of our own media?
Most of the images that we see of ourselves is by the permission of somebody else. In other words, Bet and Mtv will play videos all day long of niggas running around spending money and buying stuff from companies which they don’t even have shares, but we will be hard pressed to see niggas on tv spitting some real stuff. Between the JZ’s, JD’s, Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones, and many others why haven’t they come together to form their own radio cluster like Radio One, or Clear Channel? Or even their own Cable station? I know why. When Spike Lee came to Morehouse and start dropping bombs on us he said the hardest thing in the world to do is to get a bunch of black people with money together for a common cause. Niggas will be worried about who is doing what, who has what title, and who has more power and who ate the chicken. LOL
If we actually owned something John Conyers wouldn’t be able to do anything…OH well I guess we got some more tattoos and sneakers to buy!!
Spock
Kandi
this is his ghetto ass wife. smh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZQLxVO-qjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TvgtGlcdTE&feature=related
ConfessionsBurn
Damn, your last sentence is the truth Spock. Once again, team Spock!
1814
This is damn crazy !!!
TmusicmanimjusT
I definately do not support this bill this is the generation of change and action! Black media is already suffering this would just put the nail on the coffin! u rite jd that old menatlity and old way of doing this is not working it is tyme 4 new blood to stand up and fight and make things better! Support blk music! nxt month is blk music month! I totally disagree with the Congressmen proposal.
raven
First I will do my part by emailing and calling this guy. This will put a lot of people out of work, I mean the economy is already bad so you are going to put more people out of work thats real smart. This is a violation of the first amendment.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
JizzleBeatz aka Fie Traxx
This is some bulls**t!!!!! Why would this old koon want to give away so much money to foreign record companies when they have nothing to do with most of the radio play that goes on in America? See this is why i don’t like old people in high places. They are greedy and have the worst logic. Very stubborn individuals. At a time when the American economy is upside down, and the music industry is already not doing so hot, this fool wants to assist in running the music industry into the ground and contribute to the down turning economy?? Not to mention giving away our money to foreign countries? This country is full of shit …..straight up. These dumb asses got beef with damn near every country in the world but yet still trying to give them money. For example, Serbia. America has had wars with Serbia and numerous controversies including bombings, but yet still still they are providing them with $50 million a year of aide as we speak. For what!!!! Why are you beefing with people that you are helping at the same damn time? Our government is full of shit and i don’t care if one of them bitch ass mufuckers read this post either. Excuse my language but I’m pissed bout this shit here. This has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard of in the entertainment industry ever. JD you need to start a world wide petition to try to put a stop to this mess homey. Count me in!!!!!
Ayesha
Okay, I think I heard about this bill in my class this semester. I believe record labels (and to some extent, artists) have been trying to find a way to collect from radio stations. Songwriters (and publishers) already receive mechanical rights fees so artists feel they should get public performance rights. Thus this bill. Obviously, with deeper pockets, labels have better and more lobbyists than the broadcasters. I think the bill is off. As mentioned, the bill is short-sided. Labels want so desperately to find more money (due to slumping album sales) that they would possibly put their best source of promotion out of business in the process.
Oh and I agree with Spock. I remember seeing an interview with Bob Johnson and he essentially said the same thing. Though I have to question why a person in his position is not doing much to change the status quo but whatever. I really do wish there was more ownership. Every time I hear about blacks not coming together I am reminded of the creation of DreamWorks studio. We have to do better with pooling our resources.
peace and cheese
do you remember when bill cosby tried to buy nbc back in the 90’s and they wouldn’t sell it to him (either not enough money which would not have been a problem had others in the community chipped in or because they could not see a man of color with that much control)? do you remember the tavis smiley interview with prince from almost 2 weeks ago? prince said the same thing: if we buy the stations, we can actually have more control over our artistic rights and the quality of music which is played.
maybe it’s just me but if we are paying/charging people to play our music then how is this any different than payola?
radio is and will always be the greatest source of cost affective promotion for music artists, radio personalities, concerts, sport events and damn near any product you can pay for or get for free. it needs to be an equal platform for everyone. if it threatens to bankrupt 1 station then ALL stations need to get involved and back them up. this is the only way this bill can be stopped at the door.
Minnie
This bill is ass-backwards but I guess the lables figure they have to get the money from somewhere. The lables may have lobbyists, but we have votes. So lets get on the ball with those phone calls and emails.
With that said, if our communities combined both wealth and votes much the way the Jewish community does, we’d be unstoppable. As much as I hate to do it… I have to agree with Spock on this one. We’re never negotiating from a postion of power, not even with a black president, because we don’t make our money work for us.
peace and cheese
for those of you who want to read the official text of h.r. 848 for yourselves, check out the links:
this is the text of rep. john conyers’ bill. it basically says that broadcast stations will pay copyright owners a license fee $5000 per year if they make less than $1,250,000 in revenue (unsure if this means per artist). stations that are considered religious, educational or non commercial will NOT have to pay. 1% of the money that the artist gets from the license fee from the radio station has to be deposited into a fund which will then distribute that 1% to all of those who took part in the recording (background singers, musicians, etc)
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.848:
here’s rep. conyers speech before the house about the bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r111:E04FE9-0031:
turns out rep. patrick leahy sponsored a bill related to h.r.848 called s.379 which basically states the same info so i don’t understand why his name isn’t blowing up the search engines, too:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.379:
and here’s his speech in regards:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r111:1:./temp/~r111Au48zo:e12702:
Minnie
I had to look into some John Conyers a little bit more aside from what is posted here, because his name sounded very familiar. I posted this response on the youtube video but I think that it needs to be said again.
JD, I got luv for you but please don’t disrespect our elders like that. We can disagree with this bill and make our voices heard without being disrespectful. Especially considering that he has introduced a bill that should be far more imortant to us. And that is Universal Haelthcare in the United States. This is a situation in which we have to have our priorities straight. Get some background information on John Conyers here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Conyers#cite_note-4 He isn’t perfect but he has put in work for us. You have every right to make your voice heard but be respectful about it.
-The United States National Health Insurance Act (Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act) (HR 676), is a bill submitted to the United States House of Representatives by Representative John Conyers, Jr., D-MI.
-After Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, Rep. John Conyers introduced the first bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday.
-Conyers has proposed House Resolution 288, which condemns “religious intolerance” but emphasizes on Islam as needing special protection from acts of violence and intolerance.
vb
i don’t like this at all hear music that i don’t like too but i won’t tell people to shut down rock radio u have the power to what ur kids listen too mr.john conyers need to remeber they something then about r&b too.if u don’t like dont listen to it but dont take some else dreams away because u dont care for it
Charloetta
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPOCK!! I just want to say u have some very good points..i dont know all the negatives and positives to trying to start ur own entertainment entity, but i have always loved that comment by Spike Lee…I give props to Will Smith and Jada Pinkett (my bmore homegirl) for starting their own company Overbrook Entertainment so that they can bring the projects they want to the screen. I have always thought it would be a good idea for the major players in the recording industry to start their own company as well as their own stations…True, our voice is heard thru other controlling entities..Mtv ,,Bet etc..I wonder if the images we see would change if we had more control of the projects hmm thats food for thought…I think all in all in the industry now it all comes down to what sells..
,
LoveSongzYuuupp
Emailing Mr. Conyers right now. I am also passing this article on to all in my email contacts and calling them to action as well. Thanks JD for bringing this to our attention.
Tami
Why are folks making this seem like it an attack specifically on “black radio?” This bill will affect ALL SMALL RADIO STATIONS! not just black owned. Also it’s a yearly fee they will have to pay and to me it seems that they will just have to increase their advertising sales in order to pay that fee. Yes, it’s a bullshit bill they are trying to pass, but it won’t affect a specific ethnic group.
Flawless
There are so many incompetent people in our society. Why don’t he just sit the corner and shut up. That why he won’t he won’t expose his stupidity to anyone ever again. Always FLAWLESS
DJ WAYNE SKI
THIS IS FUCKED..GOOD LOOKING ON POSTING THIS. I WILL REPOST ASAP..
John Dawson
Yo JD and all the Lifers, check out what I wrote this DoucheBag:
Good Morning Sir:
Let me start by saying How Dare You!! How dare you try to pass a bill to ban black-owned radio stations in America? We are living in hard economic times and by taking away those venues, you are creating less opportunities for individuals to receive employment. Also be banning the black-owned radio stations, you are getting rid of the only avenue that African American music styles and culture can be received. In today’s society, Pop radio stations do not play as much music made by African Americans and it has been a struggle to spread the Black consciousness around in America. You should know full well about it because in the past, radio had categories for African American music like “Race Music” or “Crossover Music”. It is racist terms like that that limit the amount of content and substanance that African American musicians can produce. Drafting this bill will bring back those limits and increase racial tension and segregation in American radio. By drafting this bill, you strive to diminish the African American way of life in America. Past this bill and you will further digest the Black community.,
Sincerely,
John Dawson
peace and cheese
@tami:
i agree. this doesn’t seem like a black radio issue but an issue of smaller stations who don’t have the muscle like major broadcast conglomerates (rupert murdock, anyone?). i agree that an artist and each and every person who worked on the project should be paid for their efforts, however, it knocks down the 1 sure entity that will get you those ends if you charge an ungodly amount of money just to get someone to play your work. i don’t get where the 50/50 comes into play here. it seems like that 50/50 doesn’t even go to the artist but to the label (correct me if i’m reading this wrong). so the station pays a license fee every year per artist then 50% goes to whom? and the other 50% goes to whom? and then the 1% of those fees are deposited by the copyright owner into a “fund” which is supposed to be trusted to distribute those funds to the other people affliated with that song? rep. conyers and rep. leahy have to hear the views from all involved in this because it can either bankrupt a station, force it to change it’s format to avoid the fees or it will wipe out potential consumers for the artist which will probably force a label to drop an artist because they aren’t recouping the ends spent putting that artist out in the 1st place.
ad revenue will have to be increased if this is going to work which means the station will have to play more ads which will be a turn off for the listeners and they, in turn, will change their station preference because no one enjoys listening to ads all the time on a radio station.
shannon
this is so wack this is what i email to Mr. Conyers
Hello Congressman Conyers,
I am writing to you as a tax paying american citizens, and I have to say that I do not agree with this radio station tax bill you are trying to create. Im sure that in your small tunnel visioned world of law making this bill seems to make sense to you but for the community at large this is a horrible idea, and the fact that you are trying to push this through without even involving those whoses lives this will affect shows your unbelief in the legitimacy of said bill. Now im sure you have had a wonderful career in politics, and i dont know you but im sure you made it this far by riding the backs of the civil rights movement and by making promises to that generation and their off spring. At 80 years old im sure this is not the type of legacy you will want to leave, and if it is you have a very misguided ideal of America and what it is believed to stand for. As you can see the greed of others always has a way of coming to light and for what ever reason you believe adding to the wealth of some company whose has no interest in you or whom it will hurt, but only in what you can do for them before you reach your demise , is riduculous and unjust. Now I am so tired of this age disremination that is going on within the African American community,,,now if your generation would have had half the vigor to oppose the drug push that destroyed our communities in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s, as you do to continue to attempt to destroy hiphop and undermind it followers our communities would be in alot better shape. So to you congressman i say this is a horrible idea and I am embarassed by you.
Thank you,
Shannon Brown
Royalty773
what up JD? this is just a copy of the Email that I sent to Mr. Conyers…
I am 100% percent against your bill. I don’t understand why with the present economic situation of the USA would somebody in a power position propose to make Foreign owned radio companies rich off of our people and our talent. This doesn’t make sense to me. Black people in America don’t have much as it is and you are trying to take that away. Every since our people came to this country one thing that has stood out and set us apart from any other people was our music/creativity.
This bill is just another way for YOU the government to kick the African American People while we are down!!!
bob steele
Tami, It’s Radio One that’s making it a black radio issue, I find it funny that to them their programming is never an issue, even though many have questioned ro’s programming and musical content, but when their money is in trouble then they become black again and not the safe “urban” slogan many have come to love.
blaze85
hey JD…….it’s ya boi Crimson Beast aka Blaze. and i totally agree with what your saying about this bill. i mean no more Black Radio???? i mean what the fuck???? why do something and you obviously know very little about???? i mean black radio has it’s purposes: providing music of every genre, gospel, r&b, rap, and so forth. i mean every music has a message that they are trying to spread to the community and for this guy to come and strip it away from us it is insane. so by all means necessary we have to stand up for this or else we will lose the very foundation of spreading the message to everyone. i mean it serves as a outlet for conversations of the intellectual purposes, radioplay of the top artists and new, and nobody should put the bind or limit the black radio enterprises. so JD u have my support on this issue and thats without a doubt.
Demetri
SMH the bill passed in the house today. I believe it still has to go through the Senate. I learned this from a white boy in a band and he seemed happy.
Demetri
Read this and you should have more clarity on exactly what’s going on. http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=1321633&spid=24698
Pingback: Necole Bitchie.com: Bitchie Linx…..
BadBoyE
i think it’s not fair what so ever? we all should be treated EQUAL! hell with the race, color, gender, str8, bi, gay, lesbian, religion, etc.! we all are EQUAL! i think it’s B.S. that they want 2 do this! I will pray that the bill don’t pass, and it get’s throwin out before it can even get looked @! i will pass this site out on all of my twitters, and will make a video about this site! i hope by us all standing together we can stop this bill, and any other bill from passing! Thank to SonnyMacWorld for this website on her twitter!
EWF
Not sure I totally agree with this. I don’t want black radio to disappear either, but black radio was being killed before John Conyers stepped in the picture. Stop with all of this syndication and hire or train some new up and coming talent.
How the hell is Radio 1 gonna complain about this when Russ Parr, Rickey Smiley, and Tom Joyner are in 100’s of markets? That’s supposed to be “2. Local radio “???
CD
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about this bill. If we are going to talk about it and debate it, shouldn’t we know both sides of the issue? With that said here are five facts about this bill:
1. This is not a tax. Taxes go to the government, not to other businesses. This is a rouse intended to get people upset.
2. This bill is not specifically directed to “black radio” and WILL NOT kill black radio. What will kill black radio is over leveraging your business and debt- http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/17622/Bad+Reception+for+Radio+One+-+Analyst+Blog
3. The bill specifically states 50% would go to the COPYRIGHT OWNER. Nowhere does it say it “record label”. This means it could be a major, or it could be an independent many black owned label such as Dupri’s.
45% would go to the featured artist/s, and 5% to the background musicians.
4. Satellite, Cable and Internet radio pay performers. AM/FM radio is the only platform that doesn’t which is unfair. AND Radio already pays performers over the internet and they have recently negotiated a discounted deal with the music industry on rates.
5. Every industrialized nation in the world pays performers. Some of the ones that don’t are Iran, China, South Korea and Rwanda. Although the collect the royalties for our American artists, it can’t be recouped because of our trade agreements so that money ends up promoting that country’s artists or any other programs they wish to fund.
I know I came late to this discussion, but I hope before there’s anymore mud slinging about Rep. Conyers people would look at both sides of the issue and then come to a decision for themselves.
ed harris
EWF, because ro’s bottom line is to stay in the game with the cc’s and cbs’s ect’s to them this bill would effect their bottom line their dollar bill, many countries around the world already have this bill, it’s surprising here in the us it’s been a fight to get it passed, radio can’t have it both ways play the artist and just leave it up the record lable to pay the artists the history of the record company will never be clean and fair, that has been since the day of the early record men they were all u guessed it! lawyers, why? because they could reword things to work in their favor, the problem with cathy huges false crying that this will be a death nail in urban aka “Black radio.” is a nail she has been sticking in steadly since she began gobbling up black stations that couldn’t stay afloat without her aquiring them thanks to the 1996 telecomunications act, a fight about black radio should of took place as recent as 18 years ago. This reaction is only about cathy huges upholding to her dismal programming she calls black radio and to her stock holders, that is her bottom line.
Promitheus
I just wanted to say that this is a massive misinformation campaign. People need to actually go read the bill. Rhymefest, another Hip Hop artist wrote a blog entry about HR 848. It’s time that people hear both sides of the story. Check out his blog here: http://www.hiphopgame.com/index2.php3?page=rhymefestjournal
anthony
i am utterly disgusted with the notion of interfering with the way radion is ran and broadcasted. Free radion is the lifeline of several artist, not to mention a voice for people who have something to say. It appears that the government wants to interfer in an instution that is struggling at best. Their interference would only make things worse.
Stephen
I was lmao reading Cathy Hughes letter to John Conyers the part when she talks about doing it’s part to promote local artists, most of her stations run a sizeable amount of syndicated programming most of the day.
royalti
that email address to john conyers didn’t work.
lilbit
I think a certain radio owner’s campaign to pimp their listener’s doesn’t work either.
Mel
There is a solution. Stop playing 50, Kanye, and Wayne. Start playing local artist. The over-commercialized, Over-hyped artist signed to foreign labels can put pressure on their handlers. Case closed.
p.s. @ kenyatta . John Conyers is African American, and a long standing figure in the struggle for equality. Black Radio has made my ears bleed with Soulja Boy, now they want Sister Soldier listeners. Stop the madness.
Lindsey Dixon
I will post an article with more detail when I’m finished with my comment. I’ve never liked Cathy Hughes. I think she is a shyster who’s gotten rich off of pedaling trash to Black folks, with just a little substance sprinkled here and there (via talk radio and some gospel stations). And her account of this bill is totally dishonest and misleading. I hope that whoever she sent that crap letter to has the werewithall to research more, as you did Mocha. The reality is she and other radio people are only looking out for their bottom line. The songwriters have been jilted for years and years, while she and others like her have gotten over. And so f-ing what if she’s put out of business. The sooner the better for the Black community imo. Would love to see some more responsible ownership in the music industry anyway. If she went the way of Bob Johnson, I can’t say I’d cry a river. I rarely do this, but I’m posting the entire article to counter this lady’s dishonest tirade. The article: http://www.lohud.com/article/20090505/BUSINESS01/90505 0327/Bill+would+require+radio+stations+to+pay+record+l abels++artists+for+airplay
tlife
I think those that want to champion cathy hughes save black radio campaign should do alittle revishionist history on radio one and see why many feel this campaigns roots are really based not in hrh848.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/05/AR2006030500791.html
The Truth
What most people don’t understand is that Conyers works for a group of people who I will call the ‘New World Order’. These are the same people orchestrating todays economic crash in America and the world. The same people whose money was made as far back as Slavery. The same people who give money to their banker friends and not to the people who will have to pay it back. The same people who made Jesus picked up a strap to whoop their asses. Two weeks later Jesus was tortured and hang. They have put plans in place to remove our ability to have ‘free TV’ and now they must remove the radio. This will make mass communication very difficult should we need it. This will make it even more difficult for black people to make a living in the music business. One of their main goals is to reduce our ability to be financially independent of them. When Tyler Perry made 50 million dollars without their knowledge it freaked them out. Henry Ford, founder of the Ford motor car company found out about this mafia. It pissed him off and he wrote a book about the history of this group’s behavior and put the book inside of every Ford car he sold back in the 1930’s. His wealth and financial independence gave him the freedom to expose these people. So they try to keep others from doing this. Blacks who own media and aren’t willing to be under their control are either pushed out of the business or killed. Imagine what took place for these people to remove the two stations owned by Cathy Hughes in Los Angeles. I think about when Cosby put the money together to buy NBC. Then his precious son was killed. Cosby no longer sought to buy NBC. Look what happened to james Brown after he released “I’m Black and I’m Proud”, all of a sudden James Brown started loosing air play and his radio stations, up until he was arrested and jailed in the 1980’s. Reggie Lewis the black billion from the 80’s who made his money legally on Wall Street, owned the Beatrice company. Then suddenly died from brain cancer in the early 90’s. I then saw a program on Cathy Hughes TV1 in which she was honoring Reggie Lewis. She was interviewing his “friend” Michael Milken, a crook who stole billions on Wall Street and went to jail. Michael Milken was supposedly Reggie Lewis’ friend. He said at the time of Reggie’s death he was in the process of purchasing Paramount Pictures cash. And then he suddenly dies from cancer. Johnny Cochran puts a trillion dollar case together for black reparations and suddenly dies of cancer. Mmm. Maybe your lawyer or manager really ain’t there to help you. Maybe he’s there to keep track of you. This Conyers ass is their fool and is doing their work from inside our community for years. It’s not the first time. Look up what this clown has done to our community over the last twenty years. We have to have some really serious but ugly conversations about what’s really controlling us and America. Lying to yourself that there is no elephant in the room doesn’t get rid of the elephant in the room.
bebe
and don king back in 1998 had a 5billion dollar letter of credit to give to dave mays from clear channel to have james mtume and bob law run a national black radio talk network, guess what? David Mays wouldn’t take the money, yes we have alot of ugly conversations we must talk about, but will we? this generations problem is the sence of we have arrived, but it’s really just acquessing, and that is what is the problem, until black folk like cathy hughes and others stand up instead of acquessing, the saga will continue on, but i won’t fret for black owned radio check the history of it the last 25 years and you’ll see why “acquessing for black folk ain’t no way to go in america.”
Charles
Dear JD
Have a little respect for your elders!
How in any way is your post a reasoned discussion of the issue. I’d bet my Earth, Wind and Fire collection that you can’t mount an intelligent posting. John Conyer’s bill is not an attack on Black Radio (whatver that is). It’s about fair compensation of artist in many cases Black artist. Cathy Hughes vicious propaganda campaign can’t hide the fact that [too] many musicians are exploited by media companies – of all stripes. What I find pathetic is many of your “lifers” are ranting and raving about the issue but show little understanding of it. Conyers may be ” too old to hear the music” as you state but at least he is smart enough to understand the problem. Maybe in 50-60 years you will be as wise.
Peace Out Youngblood
Conscientious Black
In his 80 years, Mr. Conyers (and the other younger members of the Congressional Black Caucus) has done more for Black people than “Black radio”. This is about money, short and simple and Kathy Hughes should be ashamed of herself for the tasteless, unfair and mean-spirited add that is running on stations that quite frankly aren’t even Black owned anymore! Shame, Kathy Hughes. Blacks can disagree without making it personal and unprofessional!
Betty R. Smith
Stop the madness, Save Our Voice “Black Radio”
shotyledge
tell cathy to stop the madness and pimping her listener’s to save her over billion dollar debt compaby she calls radio one, ever notice how our 60 somthing year old friend leaves out her company’s mounting debt, but wil pimp you her listener’s to keep her afloat, and what else does she do, she even now gets you to vote out local reps that if u had ur own god given commonsence you could of done on ur own without the help of cathy pimping u because u fear ur boogie being losted if cathy has to pay a preformance tax, I didn’t see people wanting cathy to step up when they knew she was in business that was unfair and unequal, but yeah I know cuz she is a sistah and she does provide us with the boogie, sprinkled with what she deems is black talk for u with al sharpton etc tokens, it’s good to see in the new century black people still falling for the okie doke under the guise of it being “Black” lol black radio losted it’s blackness due to people like cathy that were only willing to make money than to acutally change the system that she plays in and the end of the continues to play her.
Are you serious?
Someone please needs to tell Cathy Huges to shut the fuck up! Sorry for being so frank. I’m so surprised many people forget that shes the owner of many black radio stations and she’s only “concerned for the artists” because in reality its her own wallet that’s getting thinner.
If Cathy’s fucking radio station goes under, let it be. Big fucking deal. Maybe you should’t only market to african americans since we’re such a small minority in the total population AND we’re known for being cheap asses throughout history and only take stuff thats given to us. America is a free market economy and may the strong survive, and the weak go under. Amen.
tammie plummer
I feel that the black radio is a great way for communication i like that they are all over the world in each city. I love to get in mourning and hear the tom Jorner mouring show. I like to hear about the news and what they like to say. I feel that i would be a great lost for us to loosed them.
davey
no such thing as free market, stop with the white cliche terms, passing them off as negro intellect. If this was a free market there would be no proposed hr848 in the first place.
Candi
we should save blak radio. its not right for anyone to take that away. its a job for them just any other. i believe the bill should be passed to save it.
Support Our People
As a people I think we have come a long way. We have struggled from time line to time line, yet we have given so much to a world that has yet to accept us as a smart well rounded race…Its the small things that we can call our own such as independent radio stations that do show how great as well as talented our people are…SAVE BLACK RADIO PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
Kristi
I want Black Radio to be saved. So I think Black Stations have Music that other stations do not play. SO I want to SAVE BLACK RADIO BLACK PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!
Carolyn
I don’t understand wh?y this is even an issue. Why should radio have to pay any kind of fees to the artist? who would not evn be know if it were not for radio. Radio is providing free advertisment which i know that all artist welcome. Are we a country of such illogical thinking that we have lost sight of the fair deal? Is it really all about the mighty dollar? We all know that it is. However, can our political leaders that we vote for and put in office understand that what we want them to focus on is the furture of our country. Focus on what will make us strong like our educators, our health care, and our children their mental and physical well being. POLITICIANS REMEMBER HOW YOU GOT WERE YOU ARE!! STOP JUST THINKING OF FILLING YOUR POCKETS!! YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE WATCHING. SAVE BLACK RADIO!!!!
norm
i personally like black radio even though it is mask termed urban radio today, and if u are 25 and younger u think urban radio aka black radio only means todays hip hop & classic soul, But i also like the fact many black people feel a kinship to the sellout factor of their own people just because cathy hughes says her business and way of making money would fail, and we should support her because at least she is a sistah one of our own? I also like the fact that street/hood life has become the defacto standard of black american culture since the mid 90’s I think blind black folks when they really wake up from the boogie and get some self confidence will see how foolish and weak minded they continue to be, aint it funny that hood culture has become the norm the rule, and striving without falling for every chase has become the exception.
peaches & creamz
I like black radio because i listen to steve harvey and tom joyner in the mornings back and forth and like to boogie down too and it keeps my hips movin and groovin I lost 100 pounds listening to black radio it keeps my body shaking without causing a earthquake.
Darrius
this blog needs a serious mental self introsepct.
Mz. J
This is outrageous!!!…This is already happening however. I live where there used to be a station called 100.3 The Beat, and one day I turned on the radio and all they were playing was Christmas music so I was like okayyy it was coming up on Christmas time however; after Christmas was over and the regular music didn’t return and you began hearing from other stations that the Execs just came in one day and gave everyone pink slips the listeners of this station was like WTF!!! And to make matters worse, I got on the elevator one day at work, there were two white females on there as well, and one said, “I found this new station at 100.3, and I really like the music they play” this made me sick to my stomach burned me up inside. It really makes you sad to know that this is only happening to black radio stations and music (I’ve since beefed up my CD collection) this must be stopped. Does anyone remember the time when there was nothing but RADIO and they were all white stations, and blacks had to fight for their right to be heard on the air now this Black man (African-American) wants to make you pay to listen. He deserves the call that I’m going to make. Please people let’s come together, speak up and be heard, have a voice, if you sit back and say nothing you’ll be sorry one day that you didn’t say anything. Let’s not forget when nothing was said about removing prayer from schools…look at them now. So please people let’s band together like we did in 2008 and stand up and be heard and stop this nonsense.
syriah
what are you doing black radio is a part of our live i live would not be shut with out it you no black radio got you were you at to day its a you know black radio is how most famos people made it were they at now so please don’t take a why black radio you’ll see the whole world walking a round like sad puppys music is how some kids stay of trouble like gange in stuff because instand of out geting in trouble you can be chilling listening to black radio its apart of black and whites PLEASE DON’T TAKE A WAY BLACK RADIO PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Amy Brackett
I feel that the music is for the generation today and we should not care what other people say. I like hip hop music. I feel everyone should not judge a radio station on stereo type. Everyone deserves a chance at their own music. Please don’t take away black radio stations then there would not be any music out there that I would want to listen to. Hip Hop music is the new generation today I hope that when I get old and still want to listen to the radio that I will be able to listen to hip hop music. So consider this everyone deserves a chance in radio so please don’t take it off the air.
Blair B.
i am a 21 year old black female and black radio has been a part of me and my family, no matter what age group they are all in..hip hop believe or not plays a big part in my life..and i can speak for the rest of the young inspiring artists when i say that black radio keeps me from being the streets..i love singing and i have friends that do the same, and if we didn’t do that we would probably be out somewhere robbing banks..seriously. all i’m saying is that black radio is very important and if Conyers do something so inconsiderate as far as taking black radio to make himself look high and mighty than i shake my head in dispair and sadness, but i bet you one thing black radio will never die..whether he knows it or not, black people will be everywhere and he will get a lot of negativity bestowed upon him for what he’s done..
lakim
Blair u were 1 st weened and hoodwinked no punn intended by the “boogie” if what parades around today as cathy hughes form of black radio and the trick 97 formats that tell you they are where hiphop lives but at the end of the day those who pump those formats laugh all the way to the bank while u stay dumbed down waiting for your next fix of the boogie and million dollar activist al sharpton, then you are in serious need if waking up and expanding yourself its called waking up from da boogie, and not selling yourself out because someone suckas u into thinking their stations will loose money if they have to pay a tax to artists, local artists in your communities can not even get radio play, but you are ol with that as long as radio deems whats good for you to hear, y’all niggas are sorry asses for black folk.
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Da-Mind
forget black radio they don’t look out for the indie artists at all now they want us to help them out fuck u guys ask the main stream to help u out.