This is a 6 year old article by Jacarl Melton detailing “The Case against WJLB”.
It could have very well been written about today’s FM 98, yesterdays 105.9 Jamz, or todays Hot 102.7. The claims of “We are Hip Hop” or “Detroit’s station for hip hop and R&B” evidentally don’t ring true when Detroit’s most successful artists haven’t been introduced by local radio and continue to be shunned for airplay. Sure Bushman had Big Proof do his show intro, Wax-Tax’n-Dre had Royce Da 5′9″ do his, but all of this only adds up to token support from low-level station employees. It seems the only time you hear Slum Village on Detroit radio is during traffic reports. The more things change…
Radio killed the underground star: The case against WJLB
By W. Jacarl Melton
Daily Arts Writer
On the seemingly rare occasions that hip-hop shows occur in Ann Arbor, I make a concerted effort to attend. Last Friday was no different. I, like the other hundred or so people in the audience, was at the Michigan League to see the night’s headliner, Detroit’s Slum Village. Although I enjoyed the show, I left a little discouraged by the crowd. Don’t get me wrong, people were feeling the show. However, interest visibly waned when the crowd didn’t recognize a song. Even worse, I could sense a “who’s that?”-type of vibe from a good portion of the crowd when talented opening acts like S.U.N., Athletic Mic League and Phat Kat graced the stage. I consider myself lucky not to suffer from this syndrome since I’ve seen every performer multiple times and/or own their work. I have to wonder, though, why so many folks are unfamiliar with artists from “around the way” when, especially in Slum Village’s case, they have a national, if not international, following?
The easiest answer points a finger at Detroit radio, especially WJLB 98 FM. WJLB is the target of what I think is a justified protest and boycott by the Detroit Hip-Hop Coalition. The Coalition consists of Michigan hip-hop artists, DJs and promoters, among others, who want to promote the work of local artists and bands. This Friday, the Coalition plans a protest at the WJLB studios to draw attention to the station’s weak on-air support of area artists while also encouraging a boycott presumably of the station’s musical events and programming. The Coalition contends that not only does WJLB stiff local artists by providing little or no airplay and denying phone requests for their music by fans, but WJLB also makes a profit off of these same artists when the station sponsors events at which they perform. All of this happens under WJLB’s proclamation that it’s the “voice of the community.” Obviously, if local artists don’t have a mass venue, like radio, to spread their music, how can the area’s number two station, according to the latest Radio & Records poll, make such a bold claim? My call to WJLB programming director Michael Saunders regarding this question went unreturned.
Before I go any further, I have to make some things clear. When I say “local artist,” I’m excluding Eminem, Aaliyah (yes, you ARE from Detroit) and, at this point in time, Mercedes. These three are getting more than their share of airtime and have the contracts to boot. Also, I’m not taking WJLB to task for its coat drives for kids or other programs of that nature. These are extremely admirable. My beef lies in the fact that I know there are artists in the Detroit area who have talent and are deserving of airplay…
Read the rest of the article at the Michigan Daily.
