Entrepreneurs of Profit and Pride: From Black-Appeal to Radio Soul

(Hardback)

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Description

Although much has been written about the golden days of radio, Entrepreneurs of Profit and Pride is the first book to examine the black radio industry. This book traces the development of black radio programming which began when the concept of black appeal first occured to certain entrepreneurs, a concept that played a pivotal role in the rise of cultural pride and soul. Through the case studies of three representative black radio stations, Newman reveals the evolution of programming practices dictated not only by pride but by profits gained through successful marketing. A unique feature of this book is the inclusion of business considerations into a cultural analysis of the medium. The book begins with a discussion of how poor communications to black audiences in early network broadcasting led to the creation of black-appeal narrowcasting. The author probes the patterns of development in black programming and assesses the impact of that programming on soul consciousness. In addition, the book discusses individuals in the history of black radio, marketing to a minority audience, and the role of media in society as a seller of products and culture.

Reviews

In this extensively researched, tightly written, and encompassing work, Newman has filled an important gap in the scholarship of media and ethnicity. As the sole work on the development of African-American radio programming, which began when the idea of black appeal' was initiated by eager entrepreneurs, the book complements such studies as Erik Barnouw's A Tower in Babel, and The Golden Web, Thomas Cripp's Slow Fade of Black, and Arthur Wertheim's RadioComedy. Furthermore, by concentrating on the role of entrepeneurship, the book examines the connection between business and culture. Newman terms the rise of black-appeal radio programming as narrowcasting'-in contrast to network broadcasting that held fast to a color line-and traces its development from Chicago to Memphis to Helena, Arkansas. The earliest program for blacks was pioneered by Jack L. Cooper in Chicago; station WDIA became the premier black station of the 1950's; and Helena has the longest continuous program that features the blues. As the author pointedly observes, the contrast between black appeal and white programming was marked, and led to two very distinct and different radio experiences.' A significant addition to recent studies that focus on African-American response to institutionalized racism and rejection. College, university, and public libraries.-Choice
Newman . . . in documenting for the first time in one place this long neglected and vital part of black culture and history, has produced some fascinating scholarly entrepreneurship' that one can only hope will pave the way to a real boom in the field.-Perspective
Nicely balanced between the tautly academic and the epically anecdotal.-People's Daily World
"Newman . . . in documenting for the first time in one place this long neglected and vital part of black culture and history, has produced some fascinating scholarly entrepreneurship' that one can only hope will pave the way to a real boom in the field."-Perspective
"Nicely balanced between the tautly academic and the epically anecdotal."-People's Daily World
"In this extensively researched, tightly written, and encompassing work, Newman has filled an important gap in the scholarship of media and ethnicity. As the sole work on the development of African-American radio programming, which began when the idea of black appeal' was initiated by eager entrepreneurs, the book complements such studies as Erik Barnouw's A Tower in Babel, and The Golden Web, Thomas Cripp's Slow Fade of Black, and Arthur Wertheim's RadioComedy. Furthermore, by concentrating on the role of entrepeneurship, the book examines the connection between business and culture. Newman terms the rise of black-appeal radio programming as narrowcasting'-in contrast to network broadcasting that held fast to a color line-and traces its development from Chicago to Memphis to Helena, Arkansas. The earliest program for blacks was pioneered by Jack L. Cooper in Chicago; station WDIA became the premier black station of the 1950's; and Helena has the longest continuous program that features the blues. As the author pointedly observes, the contrast between black appeal and white programming was marked, and led to two very distinct and different radio experiences.' A significant addition to recent studies that focus on African-American response to institutionalized racism and rejection. College, university, and public libraries."-Choice

Author Bio

MARK NEWMAN is currently Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.