Sheila Stewart: Can decisions cost you your life?

As I get deeper into the death of my sister Sheila Stewart, I want to tell you that she is not suppose to be dead! I am saying this in a humble spirit, because I am not God. We know that God is the ultimate authority on who stays or who goes. No one has power over how long they will live. No soul dies without the permission of God. Now that you know that I know, let's talk.

Choices.......You can forecast the future by the choices that we make....Look, I have only  one life to live and right now I am inspired to send this note to those whom I love.

 I was so hurt when they were rolling her casket out of the church. I did not go to view the body because I always like to remember people how they looked when they were alive. I never want to put thoses images of a corpse in my mind. Once the spirit is gone, there is nothing else to see. Just remember.

Sheila Stewart...full of life!

It was the first time I really lost it when they rolled that casket out of the church. It was not the emotion of the choir singing a powerful tribute that made me weep, it was me knowing what she was going through and why she moved to Atlanta in the first place and now she's DEAD!...It Should have never happened!

Man Damn!

I am telling you all this makes no sense...If she would have been mentally strong enough to stay in Washington DC, I believe with all my heart like many of you who know something of this tragedy, that Sheila would be alive today!  With all of her great friends who really loved this woman she would be alive today I believe! There are many of us who are grieving from the fact that we could not get there to be with her to comfort her and say something to help her.

She did not deserve to die like this. The sting of death hurts when you know it did not have to be this way.

Photo courtesy of Washingtoninformer.com....Sheila's casket about to be led out of church

Sheila Leigh Stewart BLACKSTOCK - Sheila Leigh Stewart, 44, 5078 Tara Creek, Ellenwood, Ga. formerly of Great Fall, S.C. a pioneer in the field of journalism, is fondly remembered for her joyous spirit. Sheila departed her life on Thursday, October 24, 2013, in Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She was born in Fairfield County (Blackstock, S.C.) on February 28, 1969. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charlotte/obituary.aspx?n=sheila-stewart&pid=167757246&fhid=8984#sthash.6iTNIuUD.dpuf I loved Sheila like a sister, and I was blunt with her in my assessment of things we would discuss. Problem this time is that it was hard to keep her on the phone to get into her mind the last 30 days. She said enough things to me to know that I wanted to come to Atlanta to see her and the baby.


Here is something that just came to my mind..."We should never be afraid to offend someone, if it will save their lives".  You may only get one shot!

Sheila Stewart lived a well lived life!

 I WISH THAT SHE DID NOT MAKE THE DECISION TO MOVE TO ATLANTA!  

That move cost too much!

My precious Sheila rest in Peace...but we will still be grappling with the loss of you....More to come

Sheila Stewarts Funeral 10/30/2013

from left to right Kiva Ferrer, Cheryl Girl, BJ Murphy,Diane Davis,Tone X, Tre Taylor Lori Mack...Alumni of Power 98

University Park Baptist Church Charlotte

It was truly a sad day on Wednesday 10/30/2013 to witness the last rites of our dear sister Sheila Stewart. Reverend Claude Alexander gave a great eulogy on "When Good people die too soon". He said we should live a well lived life. No matter how long we live it should be full of love and giving. Sheila was a true servant of the people. She will be missed.

                  

Sheila Stewart Laid to Rest in Charlotte

Check out more photos here....  http://washingtoninformer.com/photos/galleries/2013/oct/30/sheila-stewart-laid-rest-charlotte/

Back at WQMG again? What does this mean?

I am back at a familiar place in my career at WQMG 97.1FM in Greensboro NC.

I left here in August of 1992 to go to V-103 in Baltimore. I did mornings here at QMG from Feb 1990 to Aug 1992 with Jasmine James under the direction of my coach and mentor in the business Sam Weaver. .

Sam Weaver

Tony Gray

 Skip Dillard who is now the PD at WBLS in NY was a weekend talent. Consultant Tony Gray was our consultant too.  I first came to WQMG in October 1989 doing afternoons, then transitioning to mornings







 

Jasmine James

Skip Dillard

 Is this a scene from Ground Hog day?? LOL


I am so thankful to my program director Shillyne Cole for giving me this opportunity to continue my quest to become a World Class radio performer. You can hear me weekdays on www.WQMG.COM or on the Tune in app under 971QMG from 2pm-7pm eastern.

WQMG PD Shillyne Cole

Knowing now what I did not know at 24 years old and now that I am 48 with years of experience under my belt what would you do differently?

At 24 I had the fire in my belly to succeed in radio, and now at 48 I have gotten the fire back to be the best! I love this business! This is what I was born to do. Now it is easy for me to express myself better and more meaningful every moment I open the mic because of my experiences. Thank you God for bringing me back full circle!

BJ Murphy

I will tell you more about my journey and my desire to help train and cultivate the next generation of of broadcasters and take it to the next level!

Sheila Stewart..You will be missed!!

The Loss of one of our great ones....Sheila Stewart

I last spoke with Sheila on  Thursday October 17th (2013) and she was concerned about her work and how it was being received by one of her co-workers. She let me hear a morning newscast and I said Sheila you sound fine. She said I thought so BJ".

  Sheila was a very proud woman. She always wanted to be the best! She was an outstanding organizer. She knew how to bring people together in a matter of hours. She trained people like no body's business. All of her interns grew under her leadership. I discovered Sheila's talent when she was working in Raleigh at K-97.5fm and I was starting my morning show in Charlotte on Power 98. Sheila joined us in the latter part of 1995 as news director at WPEG POWER 98. She was born to do what she did.

I always have to state that Sheila was a misunderstood woman, because people did not know how to admire brilliance in another human being. Some thought she was eccentric, I thought she was tenacious in making things happen. Wow I miss you Sheila! I always wanted to have some of the Umph! that she had in abundance.

I can't believe she is not here. She was a friend. She use to loan me money when I was out of a job and I loaned her money when she was out.

We confided in each other about stuff and I was so proud of her!  She is a major talent, and she filled a void in Washington DC because she wanted to do that. She loved to help people.

One thing that I know about Sheila is that she did not reach her full blown potential as a broadcaster. She was in the warm up stages in my opinion. Sheila is Big Time Media to me, but things happen to distract us and pull us off the path sometimes. She is suppose to still be here with us. I am hurt because she did not want things the way they currently were working out  for her, and she was trying to fix things. She has remarkable resilience as a human being. I am going to take pages from her life and apply them to mine.

National radio figure on the air, died Thursday after a car crash in Atlanta. She was 44.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/10/25/5340738/national-radio-personality-sheila.html#storylink=cpy

Sheila, Sheila, Sheila, oh how I wish you were still here. I know that God is pleased with her efforts to help the community in the way that she did. Sheila Stewart was action oriented and she did not shrink from a challenge. 

I am taking so many things away from the tragic loss of my sister and I am reflecting on how we should admire people for the gifts that God gave them and not be afraid of the brightness of the stars around us. Sheila gave you permission to let your light shine because she did indeed shine.

She wanted a family and she was proud of that fact. She was a lover and not a hater.

I just wish she was still with us. I miss you Sheila.... Dam! 

From every loss of life there is a story to tell. Death hurts, and is hard to take especially when those who try to do right leave us in a tragic way. Every moment that we are alive together is a sacred moment. We know not the time the giver of life will call the life that he gave back to him. No soul dies without his permission. So to Almighty God be the glory for those of us who really loved her for who she was.

I can hear Sheila saying to me.."Look yall we got to work together, I don't have time for all this pettiness BJ"..I said..."I know Sheila, I know" "What did I do wrong BJ?.."Nothing Sheila"! 

Wow this is crazy that she is gone! 

I just wanted to tell you how we were as friends and I will always carry her energy with me. I pray that God will infuse in me and all of us her passion for the community to make a difference in our suffering people all over America. Let your light shine like Sheila. May God be pleased with her.

Your brother BJ Murphy

Short Form Content is the Future of Radio

Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I am convinced that short form radio is the future. 4 hour shows and even 3 hour shows are not necessary  anymore. The audience is not paying that much attention! Too many distractions dictate a different way to communicate. What are my options? Many!!!

Look at the future of the car experience. People will be driving a mobile computer where they have access to anything they want. How will you as a brand fare in this kind of environment? Why would I turn on the radio? Who will be the most dynamic compelling option behind the steering wheel?

You have to think about what I am saying. If you want to remain or become relevant in today's media you have to make plans now. Radio will always be in the dash board but where will you be?

Listen to this audio... http://robgreenlee.com/mediafiles/mdl-episodes/ep7-MDL-FutureofRadioandPodcasting.mp3

Remembering Brian Carter on Fathers Day weekend

Remembering Brian Carter on this fathers day weekend....

Brian Carter was a dear friend of mine. Every time we called each other on the phone I would say Puerto Rico and he would say Hooo! LOL

We use to talk for an hour on the simplest things about radio, like walking up the lyrics to songs to working with an ensemble in morning drive. He was truly a student of the game. When I worked in Baltimore at V-103 in 1993 and Brian was at Power 99fm in Philadelphia doing the "Carter and Sanborn" show, I would take the train to Philly and visit Brian for the day. We would talk radio.

I admired him so much because he was a big time DJ to me working at a station at that time I wished I could just stand in the lobby area. I was so in awe of "Power 99fm".

Did you know that my name BJ was taken from my favorite morning dj "BJ in the Morning" who did mornings on Power 99fm back in the day. I use to get my college buddies from Philly to tape him for me and bring them back for me to study. I memorized his shows word for word...lol. Yes I loved Philly radio. How about Tony Gray when he programmed that station, and also the great Dave Allan. I sent him so many air-checks he could use them for furniture lol!

Brian was like a daddy for baby DJ's like myself. He gave me so much confidence in myself and he was never envious of my talent and never with held anything that would make me better.

He was proud of my accomplishments and I know he loved me like a brother!

I miss him and I wish we could still hear him. I thank Vinny Brown and Skip Dillard for allowing him to work at WBLS and do New York radio which was the ultimate for him in his career. To crack the mic in NYC was a proud moment for my big brother!

Brian Carter is still Alive in me!

In the name of Brian Carter, don't give up on your career path! Keep fighting!

Subscribe to my blog! Tell other media people about it!

Trainers of the next generation of Communicators

I often ask myself. When are we as radio veterans going to begin to train the next generation of broadcasters. Will we die taking all this knowledge to  our graves? I can think of countless veterans that have so much to give the world before we leave it. Who will be the next generation of Tom Joyner's and Skip Murphy's and Donnie Simpson's and Helen Little's and Doug Banks? Below are a few of the best minds in Black Radio. All of us including the top talent in is this article must duplicate themselves a couple of times over. If we don't train them then who will?

Skip Dillard..has had a great career  programming some of the greatest radio stations in the country. He has been humble during his meteoric rise to become  program director at the mother of black radio WBLS New York. He has
a remarkable story of courage and overcoming adversity. Staying the course and enduring till success is in sight.

Tom Joyner the Fly Jock we need your brain.
Tom is the ultimate business man who is a
DJ, community organizer and lover of
black people. He has built an empire!

Helen Little a North Carolina native made it to the Top in a male
dominated business. We need to hear her story. From an air talent
to program director in Philly and New York.

Donnie Simpson the great! He has been mostly secluded in a sense from the industry and we need to know
his mental toughness to get what you want in negotiating deals. He is a great mentor! We need Donnie to help us be brave in going for what we want in life. I believe Donnie is ready to share that wisdom with us.

Olivia Foxx...This woman has a backbone like no other. She is a multi talented broadcaster who is on her way to greatness. She can offer a wealth of knowledge to women.

Skip Murphy is a brilliant UN- assuming talent that is a nice guy but fiercely competitive. He has been honing in on big opportunities like his now syndicated afternoon show with Jasmine Sanders. A top performer and iconic morning man with great stories to tell of the ups and downs of success and how to overcome obstacles.

Just like we were 20 or 30 plus years ago, there are young men and women wanting the same dream. To be on the radio!

I am going to make it my business to interview the pioneers of our business and take in their knowledge so we can gather the nuggets of wisdom we need to become great.

Doug Banks has so much wisdom and if you have ever gotten a chance to speak with him one on one , he loves to take is time and explain situations that you should be aware of in this business. Doug is a comforter!

Candy Eastmon has one of the best voices in our industry. She and Michel Wright  from WHUR are two voices that have stayed in one city and made a great name for themselves.

Mad Hatta...left NC A&T and within 2 years went to a major market and stayed there till this day. He has held mornings down in Houston TX for decades and is still young and ready to do more.

John Mason..Mr. Detroit. Any man that can walk away from a 1 million dollar deal and not blink..we need to talk to him. For Decades he has held one city down and he is still the jewel of the motor city.

I have just named a few of the greats of urban radio and there are many more that I will highlight in Insideurbanmedia.com.

Why is it important to compile this information before we leave this earth.

1. Our future broadcasters need to know what real black radio is. It is not what we are currently hearing on the airwaves. We need to raise up responsible broadcasters.

2. Tell the truth about what real black radio is supposed to be used for.

3. Take some time out and do something unusual with your day and talk to the young people at your station. Invest your time in a young person who has that fire for the business.


Subscribe to Inside urban Media!

What use to be is not anymore!

 Did you ever think that there would be a time in your career where you had no clue on what to do next? Well many of our radio friends are facing this dilemma. I recently had a conversation with a Million Dollar radio personality from a major market who told me, they did not know what to do. He told me "I have not received any calls". "Alot of people said that they could not afford me and they just don't know I am willing to do anything at this point". His love for the radio game is such that money does not matter, he just wants in.


All of you who are currently working a radio gig or TV or any other media, what is your next move? Do you know what a gig is? It's a short term job. Radio gig, tv gig, newspaper gig...it's all short term. Some last longer, 2 years 9 years,10 or 15, and maybe even 20 on one outlet in the same city, but nothing last forever no matter how good we currently have it. You and I must prepare for the future. When somebody decides they do not want to pay you anymore that poses a problem. We have relied on these salaries and when they are gone we are lost. Helpless Giants! There are several things we can do now to own our own media companies, and use the skills that you've acquired over your career to have your own stuff and not be controlled.

Arianna Huffington

What's wrong with being the first to do something and not be afraid?

I feel so strongly that we are about to explode into a whole new reality!  For the first time in the history of the world I can become known. The desire of every human being is to matter. Not be famous. Two separate things. If you have an inordinate self concept of yourself, my blog postings may not be for you. I have never been into that. I just like communicating with people in the way that I do. It makes me fulfilled as a human being. What we need now in Urban radio are people who are not afraid to journey out and create new media projects. When I read about Arianna Huffington and how she started www.huffingtonpost.com in her home, it tells me that this is so real and it can be done. Remember she sold her site to AOL for $315 million in 2011. It is a beautifully designed news blog.

Watch profile on Arianna Huffington

Look everybody let's try something.

For my Millionaire DJ friend this is for you!

1. You have been working in that city of yours for over 10 years and everybody loves you in that town. I told another Millionaire DJ friend this too. If people knew that they could listen to you everyday not like they use to, but online, you don't think they would love it. These people that let you go at these jobs did not start your career! You decide how you want to end it, not them!

2. Find a sales person you use to be close with at the station and you two or three hatch a plan to use advertisers that can't afford to get on the air but they would spend money with you, because they know you.
If they were willing to spend money on the station but can't afford it, then why not with you. You are going to help market their business now on your blog or podcast show.

3. Who is the big social media king or queen in your city? Contact them and tell them that you want them on your team for a new project. They will help you spread the word that so and so is back on the air on www.forgotendj.com. He's still crazy yall!

4. Make appearances like you were still working in that city. You have equity in that city!

5. Make an announcement in the media that you now have your own show online in a TV interview.

6. Get someone to interview you about your career and what you are doing now and market it online.

7. Get a TV spot produced on cable, they are cheap.

8. Hire some young cats to help you virally push your show on the web. Make flyers to pass out and get a street team. Let the politicians in your city know what you are doing. Interview them.

9. Stop sulking because nobody is calling you for a job. Guess what, they are not calling anybody! It's not because you are not good anymore, it's because this is not our business anymore. This is not Black radio! Create your own brand of it. You know what to do?

10. Give yourself a year to develop this and you will see that it is worth it. You will become energized again my friend!

11. Become an intimate marketing machine for a business. You help them get customers, they will love you!
With your big personality people will come and see you there at an in store appearance. Become the champion for the small business community in your city.

12. Learn to do production yourself, but get people to help you too.

13. Get out of the old school way of thinking. This is life with a microphone not radio. Communicate who you are not phony baloney radio stuff.

14. Don't be lazy! You must work at it everyday. This is yours, respect it.

15. Finally, everything in life that is valuable, has a difficulty factor attached to it. After difficulty comes ease and you will be happy.

Finally, I have long admired your talent, and you are one of the greatest talents I have ever come across. Believe in yourself, because I believe in you! I pray these ideas will inspire you, myself and others to take charge of our careers!

Who will join us in being pioneers in urban radio's New Media space. Unless you are waiting for some body to start an internet company and hire you.? Are you?


Please Subscribe now and get Insideurbanmedia.com in your inbox

How this man made $1.5 Million a year Podcasting

How Leo Laporte made $1.5 Million Podcasting

How he Built a podcasting empire

Podcasting Interview With Leo Laporte Part 1 - YouTube

This is proof that it can be done!!!

Radio Without Rules’: Google Announces New Music Streaming Service

Google announced its subscription streaming service, Google Play Music All Access (wow that’s a mouthful), at Google I/O Wednesday. It’s all about harnessing the power of Google to provide you with stellar music recommendations, on your phone, tablet, or on the web.

All Access provides you with music recommendations, including curated playlists from Google’s music editors. Google’s Chris Yerga calls it “radio without rules.” Anything you see onscreen, you can immediately start playing. And if there’s anything you don’t like, you just swipe it away.

Listen Now, an aspect of Google Play Music, integrates millions of tracks music from All Access and your personal music library.

All Access is rolling out today for $9.99/month with a 30-day free trial. If you sign up by June 30, though, you can get the service for a discounted rate of $7.99/month.

Note ...I am working on an article called, "Do you listen to Radio for the music anyway"?

Stay tuned..will post on Monday

Doug Banks Versus Skip Murphy in Afternoon Syndication..or do you want Michael Baisden Back?

The Afternoon drive landscape in Urban radio is looking for the next dominate syndicated show post Michael Baisden.

I am so happy that veteran radio legends have the stage again. All these great radio people involved in this article are very very competitive people who know what it is like to win on a very high level in Black radio. Content is at a premium in this battle of supreme morning talents now doing an afternoon show where the dynamics are different in presentation. Who do you think will be the more dominate show?

Doug Banks wants the crown!!!
Chicago radio legend is gaining momentum every week adding morning stations like WHURWashington DC.

Doug

DeeDee

DeeDee is extremely busy and super talented hosting her own
high profile morning show on K104 Dallas Ft. Worth
as well as nationally syndicated with Doug.

George
Just completed a 10 year run on the Popular
Michael Baisden Show in syndication as comic relief.

Skip Murphy is a supreme morning show
host who knows how to orchestrate talented
people around him. He knows what success
looks like and he will make it work.


Jasmine is a refreshing talent who can make any
opportunity work. She is vivacious and engaging
on the air, a true super star talent.





Who do you think has the edge and why?

Leave your comments!

Hear DC Market Veteran Michel Wright on WHUR 96.3

Michel Wright is on WHUR 96.3 fm in Washington DC this week with comic Mike Brooks!
Listen to her at http://www.whur.com/ from 3p-7p

Michel is one of my favorite voices in Urban radio! A true star behind the mic and behind the camera!
Check out how she smoothly maneuvers between all the elements of her on air broadcast!

Twitter her Michel Wright ‏@IAmMichelWright

With a warm spirit and bubbly personality, Michel Wright is a DC market veteran with 20 years experience.  Her career includes host, entertainment reporter and features writer for CBS radio's WPGC, as well as being the featured lifestyle and entertainment reporter with Premiere Radio Networks and SiriusXM Radio.

She has voiced National television and radio campaigns for Mercedes Benz, Burger King, Colgate, BET Networks, HBO and Showtime television.

In addition to her Saturday Happy Hour show on WHUR, Michel hosts The Suite Spot on SiriusXM's Heart & Soul channel and is a lifestyle and entertainment contributor on various radio shows including SiriusXM's Stars channel and the syndicated Cafe Mocha Radio show.

Michel serves on the boards of The Washington Area Music Association, Youth In Media and Entertainment, Tigerlilly Foundation and is a spokesperson against Domestic Violence.

Kelly Mac Video Blog straight from the heart

Check out candid video of former V103 Chicago personality Kelly Mac. She talks about where she is now in her life after she was let go from V103 after only 90 days. Listen to her str8 from the heart segment.

Watch Video below!!

                                                          Watch Kelly Macs Video

Build A Broadcast Organization Now!

I would really love to see the pioneers of urban radio develop media companies that will put todays media outlets to shame.

It is a lack of will power on our part to create and do something for ourselves. That statement was for people who still want to be in the biz.

You must know that "We can, and we should create our own media"!

The Case of Gary Williams

A young man named Gary Williams in Raleigh NC is my hero. While I was a student at Shaw University in Raleigh NC in 1984 Gary was an 8th grader who loved radio. He use to call the station everyday to speak with me or Tim Greene on WSHA 88.9fm (Shaw U radio). We became role models for his career. From 1984 to this day, I still talk with Gary at least twice a week. One day in 2007, Gary called me and said BJ, I have an internet station that is playing Gospel music and I am charging Pastors to air their sermons. I charge $100 a month x's 10 ministries. I said Gary this is a great business! Then he started an internet TV station, then one day he told me some engineers from WRAL in Raleigh gave him an Transmitter from Japan. He could not continue because of FCC rules and lack of money, but I went to Gary's house to my surprise he had the antenna on top of his house broadcasting at 91.7 or something like that.

Recently he tried to LMA an AM  station but I told him it was not a good deal. I have to credit him with sparking my study and research on becoming an Independent media company.

Gary has not gotten the experiences many of us have had traveling around the country doing radio, but his genius and belief in himself  fuels his passion to be a success. I said to myself why aren't we doing what Gary is attempting?

So how should we go about building our own broadcast organization?

Here are a few ideas.....

1. In your own city, look at what is not being promoted.  Let's take High School sports. Create a website that promotes local sports in your city. Interview players coaches, video behind the scenes footage. High School Football soccer and basketball. If you like sports this could be a great money generating business supported by business's that support the teams. Booster clubs in some cities have alot of money donated.

2. Create your own blog for news in your city. Create a team of Iphone reporters that send you video reports on what is  happening on their side of town. You could be a game changer in your city with exclusive footage of important events.

3. I know a young lady that created an online magazine that featured people from Charlotte. Local everyday people. A lot  of photo's and neighborhood stories. She interviewed people that just got out of jail, family reunions, local models, local events. She charged $2.99 to buy it online.

4. Become a talent coach. If you have been doing this for awhile successfully, then you know how to train people to become great communicators. Don't doubt your ability to do this.

5. Team up with out of work media people and brainstorm. Stop trying to do things all by yourself.

6. Again, there are so many brilliant broadcasters working at Sears or Macy's or sitting at home waiting for a mystery phone call for a radio job. Get started building your media empire!

7. Find like minded individuals who see this as a way to continue doing what they love. Be careful that you don't bring any spirit killers in your camp. This is not a paid gig yet, but it will be.

I don't care what the nay sayers say about making a living in the age of new Media on-line. Trust me, people are doing it. You just have to be patient to watch it grow.

There are 7 billion people on the planet. About 360 million in the U.S. and about bout 40 to 50 million black people in the United States.  Look at the population in your city and do the math.

Imagine charging $3.99 a month x's ,2000 people = $7.980 dollars a month. Use your imagination and go for it.People are doing this!

Subscribe to my blog today and email friends in the industry.

My email is bjmurphyshow@gmail.com

George Wilborne replaces Rudy Rush on the Doug Banks Show

Shocker!!!

Just learned that Comedian Rudy Rush who has been with the Doug Banks show for years is being replaced with long time comedian side kick from the Michael Baisden Show George Wilborne.
Both guys are funny so we will see how this works out.

Seems Doug Banks is making some moves since the departure of Michael Baisden. Will Skip Murphy add Rudy?

George

Rudy 

Doug Banks and Dee Dee Mcguire

The Boston Bombing and the creation of New Black Media

All throughout the media coverage of the Boston bombing did you notice that something was missing?Where was the Black media's reporting on this massive event? I am not pointing fingers at any media outlet, I am just saying what was our take? I am positive that people did cover it the best they could, and if you work for a mainstream media outlet, you were definitely restricted in what you could say. As I looked at the story with so many holes in it, it was a time to question some of the evidence especially about the how the man who found the suspect in his back yard (Tsarnaev, 19, who was charged with one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and one count of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device resulting in death, according to a statement from the Justice Department) in his boat. He looked inside and saw the suspect and you mean to tell me he just sat there and waited for the police to come? Really?

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Since we do not have news departments in Black radio stations anymore, we have to get back to reporting what is happening around us. Since we have the Internet we should use that medium to create news organizations that can compete with any news outlet in America.

I have some suggestions for alternative news gathering businesses we could start today.

1. An IPhone news gathering team. With this device and a great production person, you could create a news gathering team in any city that would knock the local 6pm news cast out the box. Create a website or a blog that is the go to site for news in your city. With your IPhone or Android reporters out in the field, you could get instant audio and video. You could have a daily newscast (video) that you upload everyday at 6pm or 7pm that people can watch at their leisure. Hyper local news reporting that goes deeper into any story your local TV stations cover. Example...if there was a police shooting in your city and people say that the youth who was shot, did not have a gun and there were witness's. You could interview each witness and get all the details. Mainstream media can't and won't do that. "If you want the truth about the (blank) story go to www.mynewscharlotte.com.  Create a mynewsChicago a mynewsDetroit a mynewsMiami a mynewsPhilly website and kill'em!

2. All newscast are determined by an editor that chooses which stories should be important for us to consume. Who said so? Why do you get to pick what is important for us to know? See this Internet has leveled the playing field. You want to be relevant in your radio career, then get busy doing something as simple as this. The days of waiting for a phone call for a job is OVER! (I will write more on that topic later).

3. Creating content is the business you want to be in. You and I should do this! Buy a domain name, build a website that you can update and upload content yourself!  Create a staff of creative people and teach them how to gather information.

4. Marcel who use to work with the popular Russ Parr show is pioneering on the web. He is creating his own media company called (www.wmarmedia.com).We will be creating a video blog soon so he can teach us how to capitalize off what he is learning how to master.

Marcel

5. Videocasting is the new radio!
Marcel is doing it! Check him out here (Marcel Video show).
YouTube is replacing TV watching, blogging is the new news source, especially twitter which gives you instant news within seconds. Podcasting is also the new radio without brick and mortar and radio towers. People are making a living off these pre-recorded shows that are uploaded for people to consume at there leisure.

Missed opportunities?

I hope this article is inspiring you in some way to begin your new media career online. Just like you were the hottest thing on the radio in your city, you can reinvent yourself and become even hotter, and best of all no one can tell you how creative you can be. Don't miss an opportunity to do something for yourself in the new media space!

To All of my radio friends out there I believe in you and I want you to use the God given talent that you have and shoot off like a rocket!!


Please if you have any creative ideas leave a comment!

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Rick Party:He's more than back on the air!

Congratulations to Rick Party  as he returns to Miami on Hot 105!

A well deserved opportunity has come around for one of our stars of Urban Radio Rick Party to take over Afternoons Hot 105 welcomes Rick Party on legendary Urban AC Hot 105.

It's about time!!!

Real radio people need to be given an opportunity to get back on the air and showcase  how it should be done! After sitting back for years  all of us have been watching the radio business change. Most of us say, when I get back on you watch how I do it this time!

Rick Party is a jocks, jocks! I remember watching video air-checks of this man in amazement! So talented, brash and brilliant! As Rick Party continues to do pursue his voice over career while on the radio,  (VO Demo of Rick) Rick Party will put on a clinic in Radio presentation that we have not heard in a long while.

Rick has personally done some things for me when I asked for his assistance and I have never forgotten his graciousness and kindness towards me. I watched how he was developing his business and staying relevant in the career he chose for himself. Rick is a text book case of how you should use the multitude of talent all of us are endowed with and do for self! (I will write on that topic very soon)

Here are my observations of Rick Party.

1. He is a very hard worker. He never gave up on himself when doors closed.

2. He used his production skills and networking abilities to be the voice of major advertisers and became the signature voice of BET and TV One.

3. I have heard countless stories of how Rick Party has helped other radio dj's develop themselves especially in voice over production.

4. Rick is always willing to give away knowledge talks about his career at no cost.

5. Rick Party is a student of the game of radio and a master of the most minute details and nuances of doing a radio show.

6. Major market high quality persona. He looks like a star in the way he carries himself.

7. Always respectful.

I would admonish to all you up and coming radio talents to study his career and become a student of Rick Party and ask him questions on how this brilliant talent went from Norfolk to Dallas to Chicago to Miami to New York and nationally known voice over artist!

I salute you Rick. I bet you never knew I have been studying you too! (smile)

Please tell our radio media friends to subscribe to my blog. I am ready to share so much of what I think about the current state of radio and the future of black media

Who is training the next generation of broadcasters?

This is the question that we as black broadcasters must answer. Are we going to take on the responsibility to train the next generation of Black media people. Will these brilliant young people have to figure it out themselves? I sure hope not. All of the super talents that I have known through out my career can all point back to a long list of men and women who shaped their careers.

I started my career in 1983 at Shaw University in Raleigh NC. WSHA was our college radio station. Cathis Hall and David Linton were my instructors and Tim Greene was my mentor. While in school I worked part-time at WLLE 57am Raleigh NC under the guidance of Cash Michaels and WFXC Foxy 107 in Durham NC under the late Alvin Stowe all while at college. All these Icons in the industry helped to mold me while at Shaw U.

My first full time gig was with WQOK Raleigh NC under Vinny Brown who would later become the King of New York programming  98.7Kiss and WBLS.

I Left Raleigh in 1988 to work with Andre Carson at WWDM Columbia SC where I did Afternoons. Andre fired me  in 1989. We went out to lunch he Doug Williams and I the same day I was fired. It was not personal, the owner wanted to make a change. In the same building was the great Don Early Bird who did mornings on The Big DM. I learned so much from them! Andre, Doug and Don were like my big brothers. In 1995 Andre Carson rehired me to be his morning man at WPEG in Charlotte NC where I had the longest run of my career in any city.

Sam Weaver:
I could write a whole book on my experience with Sam Weaver. He believed in me so much and trained me hard core to whip me into shape as a broadcaster. He hired me to do Afternoons in Greensboro NC, then to mornings in 1990 where I became known in the industry. Sam hired me in three different cities, Greensboro NC, Kansas City MO and Dallas TX. I was with him from small to medium to major market. He introduced me to Jerry Boulding who helped me get to Baltimore MD to work for Roy Sampson at V103. Roy gave me my first shot working in a big city.  I was nervous working in an environment where I had daggers coming at me from inside my own camp but it helped me to grow as a morning man on how to manage people.

Radio consultant Tony Gray:
Tony has been my friend since 1991 when he was consulting WQMG in Greensboro NC. I use to read about him all the time, and to be working with him tripped me out. From programming the iconic 98.7 Kiss fm that he and Barry Mayo made an industry standard was always something I aspired to be a part of. We talk every week and his advice is always on point even though we all have gone against his better judgement and paid the price for it.

Charlotte made me!
From Andre Carson, Wayne Brown, Terri Avery's mentor ship I was able to make a name for myself and have a quality of life that was very rewarding in Charlotte. I really blossomed from 1995-2004 while in Charlotte and became nationally recognized. I got to know Jay Stevens and Reggie Rouse at WPGC Washington DC, because I use to fill in for Donnie Simpson when he was on vacation working with CBS radio.

Working in a top 5 market in Dallas in 2004 and doing a syndicated show through Superadio was a great experience and going to Chicago in 2006 to work with Elroy Smith at V103 was awesome. Elroy was one of my heroes and Chicago my favorite city in the world besides Charlotte, I was in heaven.

As you can see, I had so much help in my career and I will be sharing my experience in this blog on how to become a great communicator!

I wanted to share some brief history about my career to say that I was blessed beyond measure. Will we bless our future generations with our knowledge and wisdom we have acquired from the great ones of our industry? We should not take our knowledge to the graves and bury it. We must find a way to revive black radio and the new forms of communication that are before us.

What I think we must do?

1. Create a think tank of the great minds of our industry and set a road map for the new media that is upon us.

2. We must get back to having learning conferences or one day fly ins to teach and not party.

3. I would love to put together a panel discussion with veteran programmers on trends we should be looking for in the next 3 to 5 years online

4. Go on a speaking tour to broadcast students in area colleges and universities to lend your expertise.

5. Embrace the new media and use what we have learned from corporate radio to carve out a future.

In this blog we will be diving into how to transform Black radio and inspire the veterans of black radio and cultivate those coming after us! 

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Twitter: @bjmurphshow