March 23, 2004
NY's Black Talk Radio Bumped for New "Liberal" Network
For radio people like me this is big news. WLIB 1190 AM has been Black radio icon since before I was born, one of the two biggest Black-owned stations in the city, along with their FM sister station WBLS (originally WLIB FM, I believe).
WLIB has been best known for its politically oriented talk shows, and their owners Inner City Broadcasting have always promoted the station as a voice for the local Black community, much like my station WBAI provides an outlet for those shut out of the mainstream media.
Their most famous host was Gary Byrd, who collaborated with Stevie Wonder on "Black Man" and "Village Ghetto Land", plus his own Wonder-produced mid-80s rap record "The Crown." Byrd was seen hosting his WLIB show in Spike Lee's Bamboozled (since then he has moved over to WBAI).
As you can see on their (cheesily Flash-heavy) website most of their airtime goes to Carribean music nowadays. But switching it to a mostly white talk network is still a major shake-up.
Also note: In the NY Times insanely long profile of Al Franken, who headlines the new network, they mentioned that Chuck D would be co-hosting one of their shows alongside Daily Show creator Lizz Winstead, but now it appears he is backing out.
Air America Will Displace Black Talk On WLIB
New York's radio station WLIB-1190 AM has been loyally "serving New York's Black community" - as its logo states - for decades now. In the early '90s WLIB was lauded as a resource for "Afrocentric" programming and became known for featuring Imhotep Gary Byrd's "Global Black Experience" show.
The station was in many ways a Black activist outlet.
But by the end of this month, WLIB will be taking on a different hue, as it joins the launch of Progress Media's "Air America Radio," the new, predominately White, liberal talk-radio network. Air America has reportedly partnered with Inner City Broadcasting Corporation (ICBC), which owns WLIB.
"We are excited about the diverse and important voices Air America Radio is bringing to the airwaves, both on our own WLIB signal and others," said ICBC Chairman Pierre Sutton. "This strategic partnership allows both companies to combine our resources and deliver relevant messages to a broad and diverse audience..."
..."I don't get it. I mean, I do not get it," local activist Elombe Brath said about Air America Radio's takeover at WLIB. Reports are that WLIB's 40th floor station has been remodeled for Air America, and that the 30th and 39th floors are also being re-built to suit the needs of the new network.
Brath, who hosts and produces the show "Afrikaleidoscope" on WBAI-FM, and who played a part in the Afrocentric reorganization of WLIB's programming back in the early 1980s, complained that if listenership was down at WLIB, the station should have restructured from within as it did in the 1980s.
"All of the talk should be organic, from within the Black community," Brath insisted. "How can they think about coming into New York with a package program like this? We have people here already who know radio, who can do shows. And they want to come in with a program from other people trying to talk to Black people in New York City? [WLIB] is just a station that has been stripped of what it's supposed to be!"
Posted by jsmooth995 at March 23, 2004 06:24 PM
Well, you do get Chuck D out of the deal. I don't know if that's any consolation or not.
Posted by: Dandycat at March 23, 2004 08:41 PM
It's not a takeover, but a partnership. The Suttons only care for the bottom-line. That's why they cheated the Apollo Foundation all those years (giving a pittance of the profits from "It's Showtime at the Apollo" before they lost the keys to the kingdom to Frank Mercado's Heritage Networks).
Air America is mos def not geared to the "Black Community," but liberals in general. It won't work, IMHO.
Posted by: ronn at March 24, 2004 12:01 AM
The programming is going to strike out. Though some balance is needed I doubt the station will get the numbers.
Posted by: METALFACE at March 24, 2004 10:28 AM
It is a slap in the face of the black community! How long are we as a Black Nation going allow ourselves to be defined by what "mainstream" "liberal" aka WHITE America thinks we should be!
Posted by: Sistah at March 25, 2004 04:43 PM
it's a good thing frankie crocker isnt alive to see this.
Posted by: hadiya at March 27, 2004 01:11 AM
No caribbean should listen to wlib and wbls again
Posted by: brother at March 28, 2004 12:14 AM
The station will at least attract a more diverse population to hear liberal views, which are very bro-black and pro-diversity. It's not like Rush Limbaugh is taking over. This is a good thing. There are other black stations on the FM dial, but no liberal radio.
Posted by: Lala at March 31, 2004 12:09 PM
MAYBE if more of ya'll hadn't taken WLIB for granted, MAYBE if more of ya'll had actually LISTENED to the station and supported its advertisers, then MAYBE none of these changes would have taken place. But no, way too many of us are busy listening to Hot 97 and Power 105 to waste time with actual issues in the community.
Just watch, the same thing is going to happen with black talker WAOK 1380 in Atlanta--no listenership, no revenue, no deal!
Posted by: The Plain Honest Truth at March 31, 2004 12:14 PM
Down south, we've been STARVED for some good liberal talk radio !~ Thank you,thank you,thank you for this station. Better still, I'd like a list of your advertisers. I want to buy from them instead of these lame,narrow-minded Republicans.
Also, I have an idea I'd like to share with you in re: Election 2004. Long and short,it's called "Adopt Whitey". Us southern Democrats "adopting" ANYone that's liberal from NY,Boston et.al. and bringing them south to "visit" before time to register to vote has ran out. make sense ? If so, drop me a note.
Posted by: Robert Butler at March 31, 2004 05:13 PM
As a second generation Caribbean-American, and a liberal, I am very disgusted with this shake-up at wlib. White liberals are always talking about changing society and helping the underprivileged and disenfranchised - and then they go and do something stupid, like kill the voice of the disenfranchised. They are hypocrites. And even though I am a registered Democrat and a self-proclaimed liberal, I will not be listening to Air America. I don't care what they're talking about, they certainly are not walking the walk.
Posted by: Michele T at April 2, 2004 11:26 AM
I have been a WLIB listener since I came to New York. My mother and father raised me listening to this radio station. I am 26 years old, I even listened to the station while over in Iraq since I came back I said I would never listen to these shukin and jivin radio stations like hot 97, power 105 and others that do not discuss issues because they are affraid of reprisals. It is clear to me that WLIB has been sold out be the owners Mr. Sutton and others. Do they not realize this is the only station that Africans, West Indians, Hispanic, African Americans all of these people migrate to for some sort of Radio based communities where we could learn from eachother and help eachother. Imagine I would only listen to LIB because I did not like the norm of hip hop that today that does not take about the issues but is brandishing a false sense that everything is alright that is just what the systems whats. This was one of the only black owned if not the only station we could listen to because it spoke about real issues. Since I came back I realized how long I have been gone, there was a distance that was placed between what issues Blacks had and issues whites have. How can Mr. Sutton claim that this is for the better? I can see he is blinded by the money and totally unaware of consequnces that his actions will lead up to we are under siege and soon all of the Black Voices will be taken away it will be just like the earlier days where blacks will only be listened to if the music is pop. I am very disappointed that our black people sell out so easily. It is still unclear to me as to how we can go about changing this because the climate of the communities is uncertain. Many of our young are blind all of the bling bling has caused a sense of false cofidence. I am going to get into broadcasting because I feel that people need a voice whites already have thier own we need to have a voice that represents us. Don't you all think that this is a plan out of all of these shukin and jivin radio stations out thier in New York that they would choose to take LIB off of the radio? I think it is a plan. The only radio station that talks about issues that deal with our Global Ghetto communities. Wake up black people slavery is upon us again.
Posted by: Edgar Pellew at April 2, 2004 08:39 PM
As Gary Byrd would say.They may come for me tonight but they will be comming for you in the mornning. think about it the very root of wlib's soul will be sold out to what? A world that will never feel see, and here Black. Sounds like we might as be back in south Africa in the 1980's What Does it profit a people to gain the world and loos it's soul.
Posted by: Carl at April 6, 2004 12:48 PM
On the WLIB/Air America issue, I admit I am conflicted. On the one hand, many of my personal political views are expressed on Air America as they are not in mainstream media. Without a doubt, there are many issues which deeply concern black and white people and have more to do with our common humanity. On the other hand, as a fist-clenched, black power young adult of the sixties and seventies, my heart would have longed to see black people establish those organizations and institutions which reflect our unique culture. However, as difficult as it may be, I have to ask if we have passed the point in history where black institution building makes sense or is even probable. Most young black people have no reference to black institutions for the most part except hip-hop if it can be thought of as an institution. Much love...and no easy answers
Posted by: Nancy at April 11, 2004 01:50 PM
"Sista", wake up and join the 21st century, the only "Black Nations" are in Africa.
Posted by: b real at May 10, 2004 03:12 PM
I wonder how the country listeners would feel if their station started to play all "gangster rap" for economical reasons. "The only Black Nations are in Africa"? That comment was as stupid as it was offensive. Something Rush Limbaugh would say. There are white africans living in africa by the way
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XM satellite radio has channel 169 - The Power. You can hear it coast to coast on XM. It is the best in Black talk radio. Owned by Cathey Hughes of Radio One. I listen 24 hours a day (almost). It's serious, no booty shake music here, you can get that on the other XM channels. I love XM. (DC, MD listener)Get it you won't regret, XM comes in lots of new cars too.
Posted by: Maryam at July 24, 2004 04:43 PM
On the issue of WLIB the reason that the station was lost was because the political views that were expressed. The were many monorities of high stature on the station making very intelligent comments about the bush administration and its attempts to close the boarders of America to immigrants of color. Also the many logical conversations from people of color that are actually in the government meetings and view that way decisions are made. These conversations opened up the minds of diversed listeners. All that listened to the station would have to agree that WLIB was the only station that represented almost all of the minority community. I still do not see how this New radio station represents my cultural views, it has not mentioned any of the problems that have taken hold of the communities in I live and work. There can never be any white person liberal, democrat, or republican that understand what the black community is facing the fact is they can not say whats going on because the never go through it Police brutality, joblessness, health care, education etc... many of these issues that are affecting our communties can only be expressed by the people that look just like you and me. I would have to say also that I am disappointed in the choice to sell out to the powers that be and conform to what they want they want us to just listen to booty shake music, and watch sports without having an opinon aout anything worth discussing. For the individual that states that white people do live in africa that is true but it is just like that white poeple that live in israel and call themselve Jews that live a totally different standard than the native peoples of Africa in most cases they are there because of the colonial occupation and have never left and continue to make money or should I say obtain wealth on the backs of Africans while the Africans themselves are under constant downpression. Repartriation is a must we must never forget neither should we give up in struggling for our rights not matter where we are as displaced Africans. The realization that that we must should be constantly in our minds and in our hearts. The more and more we start selling ourselves out for money which as we all know is the route of all evil than we can nevver get any where. I call out to all of these right minorities to come together an form your own companies, distributors, music companies etc... that is the only way that we can own our culture if we don't they will be calling someone else the king of Rap, like they call Elvis the king of rock and roll. Well I hope I have not tureed off anyone reading this but as you can see we have alot of work to do.
Posted by: edgar pellew at September 10, 2004 11:19 AM
WLIB will be greatly missed!
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Posted by: buy order at October 12, 2004 02:11 AM
I miss the old WLIB and it is a shame that the NYC focus has been displaced by a collection of womanoids who frantically rant and rave about politics. Who cares about politics, it does not sooth our need for good music, it does not affect our daily lives, it does not tell us where to shop, where to eat, what roads will be impacted by construction, and so on and so on. Besides, they all thend to slant the truth in a vain attempt to make their own biased point. We do not need another set of political talk show liers joining their other fellow media liers.
Posted by: Robert at November 3, 2004 10:11 PM
Posted by: dental plans at November 4, 2004 02:40 PM
I am personnally pleased that Air America is on. 1190, as the African Community knew it, was a thing of the past. When Imhotep Gary Bryd and others were let go, the station went to nothing but a music station. Anything is better than what it had become. We definitely do need politics in our lives. It's in there whether we need it or not. I hope Al Franken and Randi Rhodes keep it strong like they started and do not let the 'intellectually savvy' Mark Riley dilute their intensity. We need the same kind of 'mudslingers' that are on the 'conservative(racist)' stations.
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Posted by: NBA Basketball Betting at November 9, 2004 11:43 PM
What about the publicizing of community calendar events?
Who is filling the vacuum left by the old WLIB?
Is Air America Radio doing anything in this area.
WLIB was highly effective in this area and people need a place to tune to to find out what is happening in their own backyard.
For example on November 22nd from 3 to 4 PM, American Idol Fantasia Barrino will make a Personal Appearance special event at the M A C Cosmetics store in Harlem to greet fans and launch two new Lipglasses, Fantabulous 1 and Fantabulous 2.
Now that the old WLIB is gone would Air America Radio publicize this event?
Posted by: Ezelle at November 12, 2004 01:53 PM
Posted by: Home Equity Loan Rate at November 16, 2004 08:28 AM
I miss WLIB much. I need Black information from the "Real Black" minds. I do not think that I should replace any White talk radio, where information is given to help White people. Neither should any talk be given to us that replaces our own thoughts. The second principal of Kwanzaa to Kujichagulia - To define ourselves, to name ourselves, to create for ourselves, and to speak for ourselves rather than being defined, named, created for, and spoken for by others. Think about that and let us recreate more shows like what WLIB had when I enjoyed them.
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