Can it be that it was all so simple then? There was a point in time where Black radio stations were the center of the community, dispensing information about political events, providing social commentary as well as playing the latest and greatest in music.
Brash and outspoken, radio personalities kept people dancing and informed in the same hour, and became celebrities in their own right, none more so than Washington, D.C.'s own, Petey Greene. Greene, (pictured) made famous by Don Cheadle in the movie Talk To Me, was just one of those celebrities. Outlandish and at times profane, Greene was also an instrumental voice in the inner city at a time of social unrest and chaos.
He and other DJs now seem like relics of the past, unknown to most modern listeners of radio. Today's radio is homogeneous, with little distinction between various "urban" stations, and totally devoid of political content. A sign of the times or a deliberate dumbing down of society?
Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of massive deregulation of the telecommunications industry. In short, it became more common for a few communications conglomerates to dominate the airwaves like never before. Local radio stations were bought up or bought out and in its place there was a replacement that was deemed 'safe' for the masses. The 80s (the heyday of Ronald Reagan and conservatism), saw conglomerates like Clear Channel wrest control of the radio airwaves, and although they're most popular genre of choice was what they deemed "Urban", it has now become what the Notorious B.I.G. used to call R&B, "rap and bullshit".
Fans of artists like Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Little Brother and the like had to search for alternative routes to find the music of their choice (e.g. Pandora and various downloading sites), while mainstream radio became the home of artists who were champions of capitalism, urban violence and individualism. What the radio decided was "hot" became so and propelled lesser artists to greater heights than their more "underground" contemporaries.
Radio play lists have now become homogeneous with the same 8-10 artists garnering all of the airtime. Political insight? Rarely if ever. Events that are trumpeted on local radio stations cater to entertainment. Morning shows have been overrun by gossip queens and rumor, adding to the negativity of the community.
Thankfully, there's always a solution. New artists not given proper airplay have become the fugitive slaves of modern music using the Underground Railroad of word of mouth to get themselves heard (thank God for Pandora). The younger generation who no nothing but the "what's hot" syndrome might never be saved, but then again, it might just be that I'm an old man.
