Radio Facts has been bombarded with questions, complaints and comments about Radio One moving The Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) to the AM station WOL in Washington, DC and replacing him with industry vet Russ Parr. We’ve gotten the most complaints since this blog premiered in 2000. Unfortunately, we are not in control of what Radio One does with their shows but I will say typically there is an onslaught of disappointed listeners for a couple of weeks then they disappear.
We too are surprised that Radio One is using another syndicated show to replace Tom with a host who would be considered more of a competitor than a “new” show instead of trying out a local show. Unfortunately, it takes a while to develop a local show and DC is a market that is very loyal to vet radio hosts. It is also rare and perhaps even an insult to move a nationally syndicated FM show to an AM station in a market as AM has not been the focus of urban major radio outlets for years now (unless it’s a talk format which is rare).
In the radio industry, we understand that Radio One is most certainly moving TJMS to the AM format, instead of canceling the show in the market to fulfill their previously agreed to advertising commitments. Time will tell how Russ Parr fairs in his new slot but unfortunately it is highly unlikely that Radio One will put Tom back in the spot after making the decision to move him. Radio just doesn’t work that way. Nevertheless, stranger things have happened (Donnie Simpson’s resurgence).
“…how Russ Parr FAIRS in his new slot” ? Seriously, KevRoss, news journalist?
Really “Anonymous” Did you look up the definition of “Fairs” and “Fares?” it could be either one.
“Fairs:” pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality, Just or appropriate in the circumstances.
“Fares:” perform in a specified way in a particular situation or over a particular period of time.
102.3, Boy Bye……. Going with Tom
Radio One started its move long ago. Started with gospel music. There is no southern gospel on any Radio One Stations. They review the playlists and remove anything that is southern quartet or just down home gospel….now the Radio One gospel stations is just secular hip hop club music. A bunch of pronouns of the Gospel…he, him, you…no Jesus or Lord in it. All about money and no substance. So no real gospel and no real R&B. Goodbye Radio One. I don’t even listen to Yolanda Adams, Radio One. Secular, hip hop music. She even said on one show that she don’t like quartet and don’t play it. WHUR and all other non-Radio One stations are the place to by.
praiseDC 104.1FM plays gospel all day every day.
whur 96.3 plays gospel sundays mornings until 2pm with jackie gales webb.
what do you mean by ‘southern quartet’ and souther gospel’? yolanda/kirk/ tamela are from texas, that is the south. tasha cobbs is from georgia, that is the south.
Put Tom on SiriusXM.
I live in Germantown, MD. We don’t even get 1450 AM up 270. I have been a faithful Tom listener for about 20 years. There is no way I will listen to Russ Parr. I am too old for that. On Tuesday, January 19, I am done with 102.3. I will be listening on the app as well.
I am so confused and am really trying to figure this out. Isn’t Russ Parr already on another station in this area? If no longer, then why are they moving TJMS to replace with a show that is no longer on? If he is why are they competing with a local market with a show that is already transmitting? I didn’t listen to Russ Parr because I wanted to listen to TJMS (more) and Steve Harvey (less). Is Russ still on the other station? I don’t always get AM clearly in my car. I guess I will be listening to 107.3 or WASH FM full time now.
Tom is not going away he’s just being replaced with Tom Foolery!
They moved TJMS to AM here in Detroit and I have not listened since. He is also on an FM station (99.1) with a signal so weak it is ridiculous. They replaced him with local talnet on 92.3.
The only time I listen to the radio is for the TJMS. Other than that, I don’t listen to the radio at all. Forever TJMS! Now bring back J. Anthony Brown and ya’ll stop this foolishness!
I will be following Tom to A.M.
Thank goodness for the TJMS app
Sad situation. TJMS moving to AM in the DC market and being replaced by Russ? Nothing against the brother, he has his market… but 102.3? Tom, go Sirius and let J tell Radio One what they can do!
Completely agree with the above comments. But what I’m irritated about is that WOL and the HD stations don’t work in N. Va; Alexandria and Vienna, so I can’t even opt to the new stations. On top of that, I’m a federal employee in a secure location so listening on the app isn’t an option either. HATE Russ Parr.
I can’t believe that the Tom Joyner is moving to AM radio, the radio in my car only gave me static when I
tried to tune in 1450. This a great disservice to the black community in the Washington D.C. area.
I am a resident of Metro DC and I too will be following TJMS to his new location on AM radio or listen via the APP.
Also you can listen online to any of the other stations he comes on such as WHRP in Huntsville AL or WMGL in South Carolina. You can get a list of them on his website or this site called radioblack.com
I need that early morning funny pick me up, as well as that black news coverage that I get from the TJMS show. I have students and a young adult daughter who are fans of Mr. Parr, so he clearly has a strong following. His show is just not my taste.
But I am certain there is much more to this story than what we are reading and/or hearing, And it seems odd that his weekday show is moved but the weekend show will still come on WMMJ on Saturday from 6am to 8am.
Guess Mr. Parr doesn’t do weekends.
What will be interesting to see is if this happens in any of Radio One’s other markets.
Their are a lot of us who enjoy ADULT radio. What are we left with, loud, silly slap stick nonsense with no informational or educational value. Just more of the same crap!!!!! This is what we are left with at 6 am, the morning drive. Russ Parr (MAJIC 102.3), Steve Harvey (WHUR 96.3) or Joe Clair (WPGC 95.5). I will be listening to the TJMS on 1450 AM radio.
TJMS Loyal LISTENER, WILL STAY AND STICK IT OUT ON AM, 1450 where Kathy use to sleep on the floor.
Glad Russ boring behind not on Raleigh any longer…Tom still has his FM slot here…
I will continuously boycott all of Radio One shows for the bone-headed decision to take the funny, political aware, beloved Tom Joyner, Show off the FM station. Russ Parr-give me a break!
BOYCOTTING ALL OF RADIO ONE’S SHOWS (eventhough I am a fan of Donnie Simpson). They disrespected Tom Joyner in the way they had ALL the other DJ’s welcoming Russ Parrs coming to 102.3, Total Disrespect!!
Who wants to Russ parr’s trash radio I’m done!!
Meant who wants to listen to Russ Parr’s Trash Radio!!
Just tune in and turn to the AM station.
U can’t even got wol am on the radio!
What a bumb stupid move by whur.
What were u thinking?
Russ Par was on the radio in DC before.
Didn’t look like him then, sure don’t care for his show today!
I will be tuning in to this on the internet!
What a dumb move to let TJMS go to WOL. I have listened to the TJMS for over 20 years. I will not be listening to Russ Parr.
Yeah, ya’ll done lost your mind on this one! Why in the world would adults who prefer to listen to adult radio like the Tom Joyner show decide to disgrace us with some ghetto, childish, silly radio show like the Russ Parr show? Goodbye radio one!
Where is Tom Joyner. You can’t even pick up an AM stations in this area, really Ms. Hughes. You could have done a better job than this. You need to bring Tom Joyner and the morning crew back as soon as possible
Why would you move a icon like Tom to a station with nothing but static. I couldn’t get no reception unit I got closer to the city.
Very dumb move after all these years most of the new cars don’t have no dam 102.3hd no consideration for the listeners cant even get am stations in my
modern car enjoyed TSJ if you want the listeners to partake consider getting a plan for better reception because right now it sucks.
I am so angry that they put Tom Joyner on AM. I can’t even get the station. It’s all static!!!! I’ve been listening to TJMS for over 20 years. Removing the show us a disservice to our community.
Bring back TJMS!!! All 1450 has is static in Northern VA. How disrespectful can you be by moving the show where people can’t listen.
This is what I have to say to Radio One (In my Fred Sanford voice…. YOU BIG DUMMIES!!!)
I will be changing stations…No longer listening to the morning show with Russ Parr
To me, Russ Parr is basically a younger, fresher Tom Joyner. Stop hating. If you don’t like Parr, don’t listen. Simply support Joyner. I’m a 36 year old, highly educated professional woman, that enjoys so-called “ghetto” conversation in the morning. It’s light-hearted and humorous, especially when my line of work requires so much responsibility. On the way to work, I simply want to laugh. To each, his own.
The problem we are having is “not” that Russ Parr replacing TJMS the problem I am having with Radio One is they completely took TJMS off the air and put him on a AM station nobody can even hear. What makes it worse is Russ Parr’s market and TJMS’s market have been on the air “at the same time” for years both under the Radio One umbrella. And they took TJMS off! And only left us with Russ Parr which gave thousands of people no outlet for early for morning radio entertainment to listen too!!! Russ Parr has his market and it is working for him and TJMS has his market and that is working for why disrupt that formula? They obviously did not fire TJMS but he was severely demoted at least in this market. I am really disappointed with Radio One; but I have the TJMS app so I am moving forward with that.
Well, unfortunately I can’t get 1450AM out here in Ashburn, VA! You really think I’m going to tune into those other urban stations while driving my kids to school, or for the matter, on my way to work!?
I guess I will tune into NPR until I can afford HD or streaming in my car.
Ridiculous!
Is there a petition for this?
I am so pissed at the decision-makers at Radio One!!! WOL is static-filled and useless in D.C. Who in the Hell thinks that either Russ Parr or Donnie Simpson can carry water for Tom Joyner?? I didn’t know that J. Anthony Brown quit on live radio, but who could blame him?? “It’s Your World,” Myra J., Miss Dupree, and now this!!! I am sick to death, and promise you Radio One, to bury my years-long interest in you from this day forward. Tom, I know that either you or your people are also reading these comments, so….
Kathy Hughes: to you and your son, your Board of Directors, and everyone involved in this asinine and stupid move, you have shown me the utmost disrespect and arrogance by shoving the TJMS to your AM station without doing extensive research to see how your listeners would feel about this. Without listeners buying the products pushed on your commercials, and contributing to the welfare of your business by supporting you in other venues, you would be working for someone else. So, despite the millions you have made since you took this station from Dewey, I hope that you learn your lesson about humility by again, working for someone else. Good-bye you dumb-ass and arrogant millionaires. I quit!
I really miss the old fm format, I’m streaming from my computer until I pull the app up on my phone.
The TJMS is very relevant to Black America, to me, Tom and The Crew is my morning coffee, my newspaper and comics wrapped in one.
I have stayed with Tom Joyner via the internet, which has better clarity than my local 1450 AM, which has nothing but static and poor reception. I no longer listen to MAJIC 102.3. Another one bites the dust!
Omgoodnees,what are they thinking about I love TJMS…they were the most funniest ppl to listen to…. not to mention he keeps us abrasd with our community. It was so much they did that we truely benfited from.Who in this world listen to AM station unless we listening to WYCB…gospels!! The worse thing thy did was moving Tom for Russell Parr …I think he is so ghetto…not my caliber of music!!
Pls bring TJMS back!
I am tried to get into Russ Parr but I can’t. I hate that Tom and crew is gone. I am with the majority I am leaving 102.3 going back to 96.3 WHUR who is beating them in the ratings anyway. 1450 is a total joke, it sound horrible.
Listen Tom Joyner’s APP everyone.
Money over loyal listener’s win every time.
BYE MAJIC 102.3 I quit you like you quit me.
Live in the doc area and FM doesn’t come in clear not worth listening to static! Bring Tom & crew back or put him on an FM starion!
I I listen to the AM station and it sounds terrible I really enjoyed listening to Tom Joyner in the morning and listen to old school music on my way home from work this is a shame and a pity Russ Parr show is stupid never liked him
What is this world coming to? No Tom Joyner, I get to work 6:00am every morning and the first thing I do is turn on Tom Joyner, I love the people that work with him and now its just work. Please leave well enough alone. He is th
I wrote to Radio One’s GM and received a form response. I am currently streaming Tom in the morning as I cannot get the AM station at work. I have been a loyal listener to 102.3 at work for 25 years and will never listen again. No legitimate reason has been given for the change…so good luck to Ms Hughes but I am no longer a loyal listener.
WHUR CAME TO ITS SENSES BY HIRING TONY AND GEORGE. TC IS DOING HER THING BUT THEY DID INCLUDE ANOTHER FEMALE HOST. I CAN LISTEN TO DONNY BUT NOT HUGGIE LOWDOWN. THE BAD THING IS THEY ARE IN COMPETITION AND ARE ON AIR AT THE SAME TIME SLOT.
Because of Tv 1 moving Tom joyner show, adult mature music, hosts Tom joyner,sybil and J anthony brown. Laughing every day. J anyhony murdering the hits. I donot like the Russ Parr show. They need to move him back to hiphop station 93.9 kiss. I dont and have stopped listening to 102.3 . As long as Russ Parr and morning crew are on i will not listen to that morning show anymore. Its Ghetto,corny, cast of players. Please bring back TJMS. I have now tuned to 96.3 steve harvey in the morning.
Can someone please explain to me why in God’s name would move a syndicated radio show to AM station that no body can listen too ?
Would not listen to this Rus whatever show. Poor poor decision!!
Just got back in DC. Only to find no Tom Joyner on 102.3. Do they realize that Tom Joyner is our PBS…? Such a sad day in America.
When everything appears to be going well, we ALWAYS do something STUPID that sends us backwards. Radio One should leave well enough alone and bring back the TJMS.
TJMS loyalist moving to 96.3 FM.
First Donny Simpson then Russ Parr, both from WKYS…..hmmm.
I am so disappointed that Radio One has decided what I want to listen to in the mornings without asking me! You have got be kidding! Russ Parr can’t hold a candle to Tom Joyner. I’m used to being informed of what’s going on in the world with some level of intellect. Nothing against AM radio but the reception is awful!! I can’t even get decent reception at my house and the static really takes away from the clear crisp sound I’m used to hearing on the FM station. I thought I could get used to the change but this morning when I was driving into work I realized that I couldn’t just sit by and listen to this nonsense without voicing my opinion. Why do we as a people just sit by and say and do nothing when things make us unhappy? We just accept things as “this is just the way things are” and we just walk away! I listen to The Steve Harvey Show in the morning now, nothing against Steve but I like what I like. Come on Radio One! What are you doing to us? If you have an opinion its time for you to speak up. If nothing’s said, nothing will change!
Russ Parr is trash. If anything they should had replaced him with always got to be politically correct ass Donnie Simpson! Donnie get on my nerves with I got to always make sure I don’t offend nobody but he is lot a better than Russ Parr! And you might as well go to church and listen to a fake ass guidance counselor if you’re going to listen to Steve Harvey. He thinks he know everything. And that lady laugh at everything he say ain’t nobody that funny. I’m really going to miss Tom, Sybil and J. Anthony Brown!
Whomever made the decision to put Russ Parr on in the morning, you were wrong? We need TJMS back and not on a station you can barely hear, 1450 am. This was a stupid, stupid idea.