The Tom Joyner Morning Show: A Requiem, Chicago Style

To: Sandra Coyle, Clear Channel

From: Alice Singleton

This morning I re-set my alarm clock dial from V103 to 94.7 Golden Oldies. It's the first time in decades that I have not had my dial set on V103.

I'm sure your decision to jettison the TJMS and simulcast Steve Harvey was purely a financial decision, certainly not a popularity or audience-preference decision.

If I wanted to listen to Mr. Harvey, I would be a regular morning listener (and sponsor-supporter) of WGCI.

I believe that you have made a dire mistake in replacing Mr. Joyner & Company with the presence of Mr. Harvey, and therefore I am no longer a dedicated listener of V103 and will never tune in to listen to the amazingly untalented Mr. Harvey.

I hope that Clear Channel management will reverse their decision, perhaps when after a few quarters you find your Arbitron numbers and attractiveness to current and new sponsors woefully inadequate.

Yep. I said it.

Tom Joyner is off the air in Chicago. After twenty straight years of broadcasting everyday to a city with one of the largest black populations in the country, Mr. Joyner & Company got snatched off the dial after Monday's show. Clear Channel executives didn't even give the team a chance to give a proper on-air goodbye. In his place on Tuesday, (very) loyal listeners found themselves with the choice of listening to the lame also-ran (the not very funny) comedian Steve Harvey - simulcast with WVAZ's sister station WGCI - or turning the dial. I turned away, and would bet many other TJMS fans became former listeners as well on Tuesday morning.

Tom Joyner has syndicated his show from Dallas for the last twenty-five years. Back in the day, before technology caught up with him, allowing his show to be in many cities at once, Mr. Joyner was dubbed "the Fly Jock", appropriately named by the late, great Richard Pegue, the Chicago radio giant who passed away in early March. Mr. Joyner spent years "live" broadcasting in Chicago, then heading to Dallas to do it all over again at the Chicago broadcast's end. Everyday.

Although technology and new business models allowed Mr. Joyner to spread his voice across the country, he stayed close to his Chicago roots, always close to the seventies DJ that played the best music, told the corniest jokes and graced us with endless radio theater on the long-gone WJPC-AM. He moved up and out, and along with his show, established the Tom Joyner Foundation, which gives out sponsorships to students at HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities), sponsoring the nationwide "Take a Family Member to the Doctor" event, bridging the gaps between the medical profession and the black community, insisting that African-Americans invest as much in their health as they do in other life essentials, and bringing emphasis to preventive health care in economically challenged communities.

He never forgot his Chicago radio family, keeping Chicago listeners dear in his heart and returning here regularly for live broadcasts and promotions. In the last few years, the TJMS and its sister website, BlackAmericaWeb, became social, cultural and political Mecca for those of us looking for clarity on events unfolding and soon to unfold. The TJMS show introduced a daily audience of eight million to presidential candidate Barack Obama, and allowed former president Bill Clinton to explain some questionable campaign remarks and make peace with an insulted black community during the heady and heated days of the presidential primary.

When mainstream political pundits "didn't get it", or right-wing demagogues attacked Mr. Obama, the TJMS always provided an open forum for both sides to come on and debate the real issues at hand. Mr. Joyner was the "anti-Rush," providing community organizing on the radio, with the community extending from Juneau, Alaska to Jupiter, Florida - 115 stations getting the information they wanted and needed straight from the horse's mouth. Sybil's book club and diet plans; J. Anthony "murdering the hits" and his weekly recap of Spike-TV's "One Thousand Ways to Die", an "all boy" show that even piques the girliest girl's curiosity by way of J. Anthony's unique spin. And of course the best musical mixologist on the planet - Steve "Silk" Hurley, taking an oldie and a brand new hit to make beautiful one-shot daily musical scores.

I write in past tense because I'm not very hopeful that the TJMS show will find a new Chicago home. We've lost some great radio personalities over the last couple of years, including CBS Radio's Steve Dahl, and our loss of radio talents and listening choices seems to stem from the failed business model of media consolidation by conglomerates owning everything from insurance companies to disposable diapers, and in the end taking away listener and viewer choice by inserting "tab A' into "slot B" in order to maintain obscene executive salaries and perks.

What hath deregulation wrought? Crappy radio "entertainment" from the same sardine tin that can be found on several stations in the same city. No matter how popular, or ad revenue-lucrative, the banking business model is nestled into every pore of media and it's all about filling space and not about keeping the customer satisfied.

Well, I changed my dial Tuesday morning. It will stay that way. I'm sure Mr. Harvey is a perfectly lovely man, but I had my opportunity to listen to his show on WGCI, and I politely declined and kept the dial pin on V103. Well, back to TV and "Morning Joe." I'll catch Tom & Company via the web rebroadcast.

BTW, media decision-makers, the next time you wonder why your audience is leaving in droves to get their kicks on the internet, read the last line of the last paragraph. One Chicago-based caller on Tuesday summed it up perfectly, "glad you're back on the internet, Tom. I'll always be a loyal listener."

Your business schools should have taught you that money is made from a loyal clientele. Your insistence on greasing the wheels of radio's failure with junk-programming is quickly killing the industry. Continuing to replace real talent with the cheaper spread and auto-music will hasten the industry's demise. Radio's requiem is being written.

And then, where will you work? And what will "catch your ear?"

Comments

[champislove]

I hope the day come when congress pass the law that will stop one corporation from buying up all the radio stations in one market. Tom Joyner morning show is way better then steve's show. I am sure this will be seen when tom come's back on in chicago. Watch the rating then

[nowarpleez]

Wow, I remember the first day Tom Joyner's show aired in Chicago. I can't beleive that his show was replaced by Harvey. Personally I think Steve Harvey's show is embrrassing and ignorant.

[Thefamilyvan]

Bring back substance to radio. Bring back Joyner.

[REGONE]

I hate that tired V103, it's boring and I'm glad Tom Joyner is gone; he never played current hits and lost touch with the hip-hop audience. I haven't listened to regular radio since downloads and MP3 players became popular, plus satellite radio plays commercial free music, news and talk, so I 'm suprised any radio stations are increasing their audience. Alice Singleton this is 2009, maybe you should give other technologies and music sources a chance to grow; I think they are much better than Tom Joyner.

[robXdion]

I AM SO SICK OF THESE OLD DEEJAYS PLAYING 70's HITS FROM THEIR CHILDHOOD.

You can only listen to "Knee Deep", "More Bounce to the Ounce", and Frankie Beverly but so many times. There's an ENTIRE era (or genre's) of music (83-97) that never gets played because old over 40 DJ's can't relate. They keep crying about wanting more diverse listeners, but they don't play anything people want to hear. The music is OK and artistically sound, but it's too over the top goofy at times. Tom Joyner isn't alone in this. Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden force this archaic mess down our ears too.

[spark19me]

83-97 huh..the early 90's was full of gangster rappers and one-hit wonders...and dont belong on a todays r&b and old school type of station. You have plenty of those options on many other stations...I like Tom, which wa not just about music, but empowering the black community..they have mp3 player, ipods, and iphones for that crap u want to hear.

[spark19me]

for those who dont have satellite radio, and hd radio, they still need their type of music, this is just the beginning of the end of quality on public airwaves..thank goodness i can still get it on blackamericaweb.com

[robXdion]

Playah, play oooooooooo­oooooooonn­nnnnnnnnnn­nnnn!!!

[ddmiles]

Let's unite and fight; join Chicago Wants T. Joyner on Facebook.

[ddmiles]

Chicago Wants Tom Joyner Back!

We cannot allow Clear Channel to punish Tom Joyner, especially since what he deserves is to be
rewarded. We have to get everybody to demand that the TJMS be reinstated. We should all call and email Clear Channel, and we should ask everyone else to do the same.

Too, who runs Clear Channel and why would they do such a thing? Momentary popularity is just that, momentary. Tom Joyner deserves and has the respect and loyalty of the African American community.
Let's mobilize an outcry and see what we can do! At least, out of the effort we can come to know better what is trying to control our lives and for what reason. It is worth the effort for that alone.

[Classof89]

I agree with Ms. Singleton on the issue of the TJMS. I love what all he does to help HBCU's, and I especially admire his passion for the cause as well as the other daily wishes he grants for listeners in need.

I'm not a Chicago resident, but I have an aunt who lives there and tells me that Tom Joyner's basically become part of a Chicago institution. I have listened to Steve Harvey, and I have to honestly say that he is pretty much the most self-centered person I've ever heard/seen. Very egotistical and vain.

With Clear Channel's reputation as dominating just about every market in the country, this comes as no surprise. I know that Radio One/Reach Media, Inc. owns the TJMS. I'm not sure if the company has any radio stations up there in Chi-town, but if they do, I seriously hope they consider broadcasting the show. If they don't have any, note to Cathy Hughes: Please start up a Radio-One station for the Chicago market and bring back the TJMS.

On a side note: I have to slightly disagree with Ms. Singleton on one thing though. I'm not a fan of Steve "Silk" Hurley's 'Old School/New School Remixes' at all. It is a terrible mess. But I do enjoy listening to "The Celebrity Gossip" Huggy Lowdown, and CNN's Roland Martin has become a great daily addition to the show.

[cwajga]

write, call or email Clear Channel Communications
Corporate
Clear Channel
200 East Basse Road
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone [phone]
Communications / Media Relations:
Lisa Dollinger
1-210-822-2828
Bob Cohen
[phone]
At Clear Channel's corporate offices in San Antonio, TX
Radio
Sanda Coyle
Phone: [phone]

[cwajga]

i don't know how i made to the end of the week without TJMS. i have an hour long drive to work and it has been torcher without TomJoyner and his crew. By the time i would get to the office i was up to speed on all of the latest news going around in the black community. my co-workers and i would compare notes about what we had heard on TJMS. I learned something each and everyday from the TJMS and i was informed about history and current events. TJMS off the air in Chicago is huge loss and a void that will never be filled. i often marveled at how the TJMS ran like a well oiled machine. Tom is absolutely phenomenal at what he does. Tom and his crew gave there all every single day and with Tom at the helm they struck a delicate balance that educated,informed and entertained us. i admit i would check to see what steve harvey was doing from time to time but, i refuse to listen to steve harvey as a replacement to TomJoyner. there simply is no comparison. my radio is no longer on v103.

[Thefamilyvan]

Tom Joyner will be missed in Chicago. Short sighted money directed decisions are what sunk AIG and the rest. It looks like Clear Channel is heading down the same road. When will they learn that quality surpasses short term gain? Corporate America will never learn. If they sink, we shouldn't throw them a life preserver.....

[wmramlal]

I totally agree with your article and I refuse to listen to anyone but Tom. We need to boycott the sponsors of the show until Tom is put back on the air.

[cloudminder]

it is the Oprah effect

that Harvey light weight was on her show and she made a big deal over it

it was the most superficial coverage of the topic of dating, marriage, men and women

I love Tom Joyner for his coverage of issues in depth

Tom Joyner does not insult my intelligence

I don't think Oprah would be able to handle a conversation

-- it could also play into the whole Tavis Smiley -- Obama thing

so ridiculous

[momof3inGA]

Wow! That's shameful of the Clear Channel. I love Tom Joyner and you're right -- thought Steve seems to be a perfectly pleasant man -- I've always opted to listen to the TJMS rather than Harvey's. There's no comparison. Hopefully they'll get a clear message from listeners ans put Tom back on the air in Chicago.

Since we're on the subject of turning channels -- I also recommend that you turn away from "Morning Joe". They're childish, condescending views on Obama's presidency don't deserve our ratings points.

[eyepatch]

I like Steve Harvey but "the Fly Jock"
is the dude in my opinion...and if they
can't recognize that then they don't deserve
my listenership!

Clear Channel needs to understand
Chicago is a very provential city! Unlike
LA or New York! When Marshall Fields
department store was bought out by
Macy's and the store's officially became
Macy's Chicgoans stopped shopping there!
and the people at Clear Channel need to
consult with Macy and see how their sales
figures have been since the change of the
name to Macy!

Macy's has suffered since they moved here
and thats a fact and simialrly people in Chicago will boycot
V103 because of this obvious ill conceived business
approach! It just shows that Clear Channel does not
understand the Chicago market!

and in these tough economic times their ad revenues
will plummet!!!­!!!!!!!!!! GUARANTEED!!!!!!!

until Tom Joyner comes back I'm done with V103
See ya and wouldn't wanna be ya !!!!!!

[spark19me]

I agree with you Alice, completely. Except I was not surprised, I heard it on the local news cast 10pm Monday night. I was shocked and saddened at how everything transpired. Blindsided Tom.. as you say Chicago style. WGCI had always been the favorite of the "sister" stations, and every since they let Crazy Howard McGee go, they were itching at the bit to get a local dj on mornings.enter Tony Scofield, but what to do about Harvey...give him to the step-sister station, alas black folks are all the same you seen one u seen them all, but now it is clear to me it was about business, u see Tom's show is owned in part by Radio One, Clear Channel's rival. I will tune in to soul 106.3 for now. too bad because I liked Troi, Doug,DeDe and Rudy, Joe Soto and Ramonski Luv, and Irene Mojica.