Helen Little

Helen Little has always loved music. From childhood, she was inspired by a bevy of varied musical tastes that were sprinkled throughout the large family of which she is a member. It was required that she and all of her siblings learn to read music. For Helen however, it was more of a pleasure than a chore. Her love affair with music resulted in an over 20-year career, dedicated to her love for the business.

Little began pursuing her career in radio and music while at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has been heavily involved in the industry ever since. While in college, Helen joined an all female a capella group that she sang, wrote and arranged for. But behind the scenes was much more promising than the stage. So she pursued a position in radio, her field of study, and earned a shift as an announcer at WCHL in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Practical experiences in hand, Helen moved back to her hometown, Salisbury, North Carolina, for the opportunity to work full time in radio at a station she grew up listening to. These ventures were first in a long series of predetermined goals.

Determined to encompass more knowledge, Helen Little entered the record retail arena in order to learn other facets of the industry. Her time in retail management at Camelot Records broaden her scope of the music business. A natural born multi-tasker, at the same time she held down a position at WGIV in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosting and programming a jazz show. This opened opportunities at stations WFXC, WRAL, and WQOK in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. From there she was promoted to her first Music Director job at WPEG in Charlotte where she also hosted the midday shift. Her next move was to WCKZ in Charlotte as an early morning co-host. At this time she enrolled in studio recording technique classes to learn more about making the music she so loved.

It was then time to relocate outside of her home state of North Carolina. Ms. Little was hired to host middays in Dallas, Texas at KJMZ. Her hard work and determination again paid off as she went on to become the Music Director and later was promoted to Assistant Program Director. After being observed as a premiere talent in the radio industry, she got the call to go to the #1 market in the country. Little accepted a position in New York at WBLS to be the voice of the midday. Once again, her love for music and pursuit of excellence was noticed and rewarded as she was promoted Music Director. Later she joined radio legend Frankie Crocker in the afternoon as a co-host.

Helen Little had more goals to accomplish, however. She journeyed a short distance to Philadelphia as the midday announcer and Assistant Program Director at WUSL. In less than a year she proved worthy of a promotion to Operations Manager. Through her hard work and diligence the corporate officers of the station’s parent company recognized her efforts. When they created the Office of Product and Strategy, Little was the one they called to take the position as the Director of Urban Programming. She became involved with some of the country’s leading stations in markets like Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Boston and San Francisco, bringing her influence to their sound and their music. Throughout her radio career she garnered a reputation for introducing new artists and breaking new music. For decades this has remained on her daily list of things to do.

It was that relentless passion for the music that impacted Little to venture down a new career path. She set her sights on the record business and landed the position of President of U.S. operations at RuffNation/Warner Brothers Records. In an effort to be more involved in the music that she programmed and shared with audiences across the country for so many years, Little now worked in direct relationship to the developing, marketing, promoting and production of artists and music on the independent label. Her music industry experience also includes the distribution end of the business where she served as Vice President of Urban Marketing for Warner Music Group’s distribution division, Warner Elektra Atlantic Corporation as well. She was also heard occasionally on Sirius Satellite Radio and on Webb Internet Radio as an international correspondent.

Little returned full time to her first love of radio as Operations Manager for Radio One in Philadelphia overseeing the cluster of stations WPHI, WRNB, and WPPZ. All of her efforts lead her back to the number one radio market, New York, New York where she currently serves as Program Director for Clear Channel’s WWPR, Power 105.1.

Many times Helen has been recognized by the industry for her accomplishments. Among the numerous accolades, she has received awards for her work as a Music Director and on-air personality. In addition, Gavin Magazine, Impact Magazine, the National Black Programmer’s Coalition, Radio & Records, S.I.N. Magazine and Billboard Magazine have all named her Program Director of the Year. She has also won the 40 under 40 Minority Executive Award in addition to other community based honors. In 1999, she was awarded the prestigious Salute to Excellence award, given annually to a music industry executive that exudes excellence. It was at this time she was able to fulfill a life long dream of starting the Harlee H. Little Memorial Scholarship fund in memory of her father, a life long educator on the college level.

Little maintains several professional memberships including NABFEME – The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment. She is also a member of NARAS – The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, where she served on the Philadelphia Chapter board of governors. Little is also certified in the areas of sales, creative program solving and personal coaching. She has also been a regular guest lecturer on the subject of Radio and Music Marketing at St. Joseph’s University and Drexel University in Philadelphia, as well as a guest speaker at Hampton University in Tidewater Virginia and Fordham University in New York. In her spare time she still finds a way to volunteer with organizations like Recording For The Blind and Dyslexic and recently voiced an audio book for the Bonding With Baby Book Donation Program.

A genuine love for music is what fueled the career journey that Helen Little has traveled. Going from part-timer in radio to an Executive in the Broadcast and Music Industries has made Little a recognized trailblazer within her field. “It all started with the dream of being a part of something that I love. I’ve been fortunate to experience enjoyment even in the most difficult moments. I share my insights with others in hopes that their work will be as rewarding to them as mine has been for me.”