Radio Silence, Dead Air and No More Nonesense

For over two decades, mainstream radio has been damn near dead to me; its heartbeat--rhythm and beats, has been beeping away on life support. Earlier this month, I finally killed it. It no longer exists in my life. It is now a, "was." 

What caused me to finally to finally end my relationship with the talking musical box? iHeart Radio's decision to remove The Tom Joyner Morning Show from its Savannah station, Love 101.1. All is not lost, because the TJMS does have an app. But in Zarmunda, a.k.a., Savannah ('cuz it's hot as Africa during the summer), wi-fi can be a sticky situation. And for those living in the outer counties, suburbs, etc., it can sometimes be non-existent.

While at first extremely displeased, disgusted, disheartened (pun intended) and downright ticked that iHeart Radio would pull the Hardest Working DJ from the airwaves in Georgia's First City, their decision gave me cause to pause. I've been a loyal TJMS listener for about 17 years (except for the 2 years I listened to Frank Ski in Atlanta, and the Pre-App Days when I was stationed in Germany). After some serious thought, I admit I have become dependent upon radio--too dependent.

Actually got to thinking about how much more time I would have in the mornings if I took back the four hours I faithfully, and freely gave to Mr. Joyner, Sybil and Jay. While they are on, I get some multi-tasking in, but not to my satisfaction. And carrying them around so as not to miss Chris, Huggy, Jackie or whatever guest is on, is not always the best idea; I've almost dropped my iPad in the shower twice.

And, whenever possible, afternoons for the past seven years have belonged to Michael Baisden (when his show was on), Doug Banks (alson on Savannah's Love 101.1) or D.L. Hughley. But I recently confided in a close friend that more often than not, I find the topics on these shows adolescent and repetitive. In the paraphrased words of Dead Prez, I had become a radio freak, mindlessly allowing myself to be programmed.

Yet even in my Drunk In Love with Radio Haze, I clearly recognize mainstream radio's horrible demise and that entities like iHeart Radio do not have the listeners' best interest at heart (again, a weak, yet painfully true pun). They are supporting area favorites like the late great Frankie Crocker, who blazed trails in NYC on WBLS (in stereo). Or, Donnie Simpson, who has a 35-year radio legacy in the greater Washington, DC area. Best known as the longtime VJ of BET's Video Soul (1983-1997), he started as a DJ in the DMV back in 1977. Simpson has managed to stay on the air despite all the bullshit (Note: Simpson officially retired in 2010, but returned to the airways August 2015).

In my humble opinion, iHeart is all about cookie cutter stations spinning whatsonever it takes, regardless of content to have butts shaking, and minds empty.

Moreover, I find iHeart Radio's mini-audio documentaries on various artists of color a joke and insulting. Most, but not all, artists of color featured has one issue or another, which is highlighted at some point in the audio piece. For instance, Kelly Rowland's absent father is said to be an alcoholic and abusive. The tragic automobile accident that Luther Vandross caused back in 1986 is damn near front and center on two of his three iHeart audio docs. The one on Marvin Gaye explains how the R & B singer's father murdered him, Gaye ran off to Europe to avoid tax evasion charges and mentions his drug problems--things we already knew, but damn! And at least two of iHeart Radio's mini-audio docs on hip-hop artists state that they have fathers who, "left the family."

We should never sugarcoat, or omit the facts. Ever. But these iHeart Radio produced pieces do little to inspire or uplift the race. They appear to have a slant that says, "Yeah, they made it despite all the bullshit." Maybe I'm too thin skinned, but I find that to be a backhanded compliment.

It has only been a few weeks, but so far, the limited sounds or silence in my hooptie has been a welcome challenge. I check out non-iHeart Radio stations, such as Savannah State University's WHCJ, or go through what's on my iPad. And out of sheer coincidence, I've cut my Pandora time in half.

But it's during the quiet that I am most creative. Driving through the south, that silence is eerie, especially for a Native New Yawker. While driving, I am usually accustomed to the sound of somebody else's vehicle bumping, sirens, subway trains, or something! No noise is quite overwhelming; but I dig it.