$1.3 Million for Public Radio Urban Alternative

CPB Awards $1.3 Million for Public Radio Urban Alternative Initiative

Today the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced grants totaling $1.3 million for three public media stations to implement Urban Alternative formats to connect with young, multicultural audiences. The grants to KPVU (Houston Metro), WNSB (Norfolk, VA), and KUVO (Denver) will support their transitions to new locally customized formats using Hip Hop and R&B.  The format borrows from the popularity of Urban contemporary music while remaining true to public radio’s values, ensuring thoughtful lyricism and storytelling.

“CPB is committed to partnering with stations to develop innovative ways to expand and grow the next generation of public media audiences,” said CPB Vice President for Radio Erika Pulley-Hayes. “The Urban Alternative format is a way for stations to capitalize on the growing appeal of this art form and build new connections with musicians and millennials in their local communities.”

Chicago Public Radio first launched the Urban Alternative format on its Vocalo signal in 2015 and has since seen growth in audiences, mobile app downloads, membership and online and in-person engagement. CPB recognized the format’s early potential and funded research by Paragon Media Strategies in Chicago and four other U.S. markets in 2016. The research demonstrated the format’s potential for national appeal. Informed by the research, CPB invited stations to apply for grants to create a more contemporary sound and develop deeper connections to local multicultural communities.

The three stations will also work with Paragon Media Strategies to test and refine the format in their individual markets. Paragon will conduct research to identify the music mix that has the greatest local market appeal and assist the stations with launch plans, implementation, and iteration over a two-year period.

Participating stations include:

  • KPVU, licensed to Prairie View A&M, is in the Houston metropolitan area, a top-10  radio market and the fourth largest U.S. population center that has the most equitable distribution of the nation’s major racial and ethnic groups.
  • WNSB, a mixed format station licensed to the Norfolk State University Board of Visitors in Virginia, has a coverage area population that is over 40 percent diverse.
  • Dual-licensee Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver will leverage Urban Alternative content across platforms, including KUVO-FM and HD, KRMA-TV, and Denver Open Access Media, a local partnership broadcasting at 100 watts.

 

SOURCE: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB)

About CPB
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services. For more information, visit cpb.org, follow us on Twitter @CPBmedia, Facebook, and LinkedIn and subscribe for other updates.

Meet Vet. Record Promoter Jesus Garber!

In this interview, Jesus tells us some incredible stories from his career, from being discovered while at Dorsey High School by Jheryl Busby, Clarence Avant, and Skip Miller to traveling the country with Jermaine and Janet Jackson.

Jesus Garber

Jesus Garber helped break records for many big artists including Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Rick James, Smokey Robinson, and Teena Marie. He has decades of experience in the record industry and has climbed his way up from sweeping a record shop at 11 years old to be the first ever Vice President of Urban Music for Disney. He has also worked with other big record companies including Motown, A&M, Casablanca, and Zoo Entertainment. Jesus started the Jesus Garber Company where he is able to spread his love for Urban Adult Contemporary music.

SOURCE: Common Sense Mamita

Donnie Simpson celebrates a 50-year career milestone…

Legendary Television and Radio Host Donnie Simpson celebrates a 50-year career milestone announcing his highly anticipated memoir

The Oracle Group International announces the publication of “THROUGH THESE EYES: An Iconic Memoir of Life, Love and The Man Behind The Music” (13th & Joan; Hardcover; On Sale: January 30, 2019; $25.99; ISBN: 978-1-7326464-6-9) by award-winning, influencer, humanitarian, and legend Donnie Simpson. Through his highly anticipated memoir, Simpson chronicles the highs and lows of his extraordinary career which in 2019 will commemorate 50 years of entertaining listeners on Radio and Television.

“Through These Eyes” takes us back to where it all began, his beloved hometown of Detroit. Joining the staff at WJLB radio at 15 years old, affectionately dubbed, Donnie “The Love Bug” Simpson, quickly gained popularity with his sultry voice, warm smile, and piercing green eyes. Relocating after 15 years to Washington, D.C., he continued dominating ratings and captivating audiences, which led to his most memorable role in 1983 as the host of BET’s primetime music video show, Video Soul solidifying his role as a pop culture icon.

Over several decades, Donnie has interviewed the biggest stars in the world, including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Sting, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Madonna, Smokey Robinson, President Clinton, Tom Hanks, Barry White, and so many others. Donnie has been inducted into the BET Walk of Fame and the R&B Music Hall of Fame. The only non-musician honored at that point.

“I’m always labeled as a trailblazer. To this day, so many artists talk about what it meant to sit on the couch with me, the effect that it had on their careers, and it’s a blessing to have been in that position,” says Simpson. “The most wonderful compliment I get is when people tell me they feel like they know me. They do know me; they know my spirit. I’m the same dude all the time. 24/7, always filled with hope and love, I’m Donnie. That’s my story.”

SOURCE The Oracle Group International

http://www.donniesimpson.com

The Prodigal Son Has Returned Home to 96.5 FM

Wednesday, August 1, 2018, Will Mark The Dawn of A New Era in Little Rock Radio…The Prodigal Son Will Returned Home to 96.5 FM The BOX

Ratliff has recreated a new sound for Arkansans listening pleasure. Little Rock, please welcome KBKX- FM, 96.5 THE BOX! Formally owned by Crain Media Group, LLC, 96.5 FM will be reintroduced by new owners, Joel Ratliff Sr. Chief Operations Officer/ Vice President and Al Bradford-Telecommunication Guru and Chief Executive Officer/President of Bradford-Ratliff Media Group, LLC. 96.5 THE BOX is a new CHURBAN format, with a pinch of Rhythmic music and the right mix of Hip-Hop and R&B. But, the focus will be on breaking the best Arkansas artist in Central Arkansas.

 

96.5 THE BOX will have a target audience between the ages of 18 and 44. 96.5 THE BOX will feature the hottest artists, interviews, and radio personalities! Bradford-Ratliff Media Group LLC welcomes nationally syndicated morning show, The Breakfast Club (DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlemagne the god) along with MAJOR radio personality out of Los Angeles, California…Big Boy in the afternoons! With the best local celebrities in Central Arkansas. Midnight, August 1, 2018, represents the switch of the dial for Central Arkansas radio listeners.

KBKX, 96.5 THE BOX will launch with over 70 years of broadcast radio, advertising/marketing and telecommunications experience under one roof. Al Bradford, Bradford-Ratliff Media Group LLC, CEO and President with Joel “DJ No Name” Ratliff Sr, COO and Vice President are ready to reestablish 96.5’s rightful place as Central Arkansas’ #1 for Hip- Hop and R&B!

SOURCE: Joel (Dj No Name) Ratliff Sr.

CONTACT: joel@ratliffmedia.com