Another week has passed and the weekend is upon me (tomorrow) the speed of the weeks going by, my mother states, indicates you’re getting older. She is right, I remember being in 2nd grade in the early 70s and we had to write the headline in our daily work assignment with the date. I remember writing 1972 and thinking “Damn, when is this year going to be over.” I hated school, it bored me and didn’t talk about the things I wanted to learn about. So I often entertained the class and the teacher by doing my stand up routine and telling dirty jokes…. at a Catholic school nonetheless (laugh) the teacher thought I was hilarious.
I was talking to one of 2 radio vets that I have great respect for this week. He called me out of the blue and we had a 2 hour conversation about the industry. He said “Kevin, you are very passionate about the state of urban radio. Is there anyone that you think is doing urban radio right?” I IMMEDIATELY responded V103 in Atlanta. That’s always the first station that comes to mind. I don’t like Atlanta but I think that station serves the community better than any other urban station in the nation. A lot of it has to do with the freedom CBS gives it by staying out of the mix and letting the staff do their thing locally and NOT PLAYING ANY FULL TIME SYNDICATED SHOWS.
I got an email this week from someone who told me to stop woe is me’ing about urban radio. syndication and Steve Harvey. He told me if I don’t like the way radio is change it and don’t hate the player, hate the game and stop complaining.
That statement “Don’t hate the player, Hate the game” irks me. it’s just the epitome of “Salty potato chips, kool-aid, hot dogs, what cho name iya, ramen noodles, sweat socks, flip flops, food stamps and Locked up Baby Daddy.” Motha fook the playa and the game and let’s face “REALITY.” I do get tired of talking about Steve and Cathy and Radio One and Tom and at times I don’t feel people are paying attention but they are. Have you noticed how all the other trades are jumping on the Radio Facts bandwagon and they too are now pushing local radio? It’s no problem, that message needs to be constantly driven home. To that man who sent that email to me, I’d like to say.. I AM doing something by doing the blog and woe IS urban radio, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s in trouble. Finally, I will NEVER sit back and not talk shit about syndication, I don’t like that shit and urban radio is drowning in it. I am pro LOCAL announcer, pro young announcer and pro FORWARD THINKING vet announcer but I am not pro syndicated announcer overpaid and inexperienced host. I can’t tell anyone they need to retire and I can’t blame them for holding on but I don’t want to hear my grandfather in the morning when I wake up with sidekicks so afraid to step out of their lane they are farting and shitting on themselves with fake giggling and uneducated banter in an effort to inhale the host’s ass to keep their job. I also REFUSE to be pussy like most of the other trades (except Radio Ink which I love) and suck ass for ads (well it depends on the campaign)(laugh) Stand for something or fall for it all. I could be making a LOT more money by being a passive publisher, kissing ass and insulting the intellect of my readers but if I had to do it that way, I would quit. I have one thing the other trades don’t have… passion for radio. If my passion pisses you off … then go find something to fook.
Great to see urban radio backing the Haiti earthquake with financial efforts and donations that goes to Radio One especially. I know, a compliment or Radio One from Kevin Ross, it happens every now and then.
Have a great weekend my friends
kevin ross
