Danielle Johnson couldn’t get an invite to their party so she decided to throw her own. Johnson has been in the radio business since 2009 and has seen firsthand the need for more Black ownership. Big media dominates the radio business, a fact that hinders a lot of Black voices from being heard. Johnson, in fact, applied several times for a job with iHeartMedia, one of the largest mass media platforms in the world. After several denials, she decided to launch her own. Spark FM will launch in April as the first all-digital radio station in Boston owned by a Black woman.
Johnson is committed to providing a platform for Black artists to be heard. She’s also aware that Black businesses need avenues to reach their customers, “a place where they can advertise their business to the local community and kind of circulate the Black dollar back into the community in which it would be needed,” as she told The Daily Free Press. Johnson hopes the new station will also serve as a platform to encourage wealth building in the Black community. She’d like listeners to learn how to build generational wealth, improve their credit scores and purchase real estate. There are an abundance of radio stations targeting Black audiences but few trying to empower them. Black ownership makes a real difference.
Black radio is still very important. There are a number of issues that impact Black communities and Black owned stations are critical in helping to properly inform them. Further, Black radio offers an opportunity for the community to more easily organize resources and highlight businesses within the community, in order to offer support. Ownership matters and when it comes to the airwaves, it means the difference between an informed and uninformed populace. It’s not just about spotlighting the next hot rapper — Black radio is a means to liberation, when properly executed. Spark FM is an effort to empower Black people in Boston in a unique way, one we should all support.
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In NY, Brooklyn Black did the exact same thing in 2010 with The PreGame Radio Network. Everyone is building their own tables now, there’s room for everyone we don’t need to invited to the mainstream table.
Yes your right about broadcasting its not enough black own stations besides internet radio. I would through my hat in about being black own radio station gibe me some input on becoming an owner
This is such a great story. I love the unyielding tenacity. BTW, how can an independent artist get my published music to Spark FM
I would love to interview you on our TV show statusnetwork.net I think its amazing what you doing any Tuesday 6pm
Not sure if she saw this but I’m sure she would love to. you should send her an email [email protected]
Where is the breakfast club interview? I can’t find it.
We need a news station on tv and the air to be informed. How can we come together n make it happen.
I strongly think we should start either a GoFundMe account page or some sort of crowd fundraising process in order to get those things off the ground.
Bravo.
This is exciting. Praying for a successful launch.
I wish that all these independent stations could unite and be a powerful influence in the Black/Brown community. Try reaching out to Tom Joyner the hardest working flyjock in the nation.
If you’re not sitting at the table
You’re on the menu
It’s time we sit at our own table
At Last!!!
I do my best to always support Black businesses!
Would love come audition/interview for a job,whatever opening you have,always wanted to do radio,I figure it couldn’t hurt to ask……
Love the thought of building your own table. We need to support those and others efforts with our “viewership ” and dollars.. would like to learn more and to have her as a guest on my podcast to discuss the drive it takes to create…
http://www.travisbridges.com
I still have radio skills and can start tomorrow.
-production
Thanks,
~T. Bridges
BLACK WALL STREET ON ITS WAY…FORWARD FAM!!!!!!!