Recently, on a drive and punching around the radio dial, I couldn’t find anything musically that held my attention. Back in the day, that was rarely the case in most major urban markets. And yes, I know music has changed. While I may not be in the target demo for a lot of new music, as a programmer, I believe my taste has adapted somewhat with the times.
That said, the song that sparked this writing was one from the ’80s — so this is less about the music and more about the station.
Now, before you get too excited, this isn’t about the GOAT debate in basketball. For the record, it’s Jordan No. 1, Kobe No. 2, and LeBron No. 3. This is about which city could be considered the GOAT for R&B radio. While I’ll admit this could be a bit subjective, since I haven’t lived or programmed in every city that I list in consideration, it’s still a fun debate.
Before I get to the top three, let’s start with the cities that round out the Top 10, and I’ll let you debate their order: Houston, Memphis, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Charlotte.
I know Boston’s presence on that list might raise a few eyebrows, but having lived and worked there, I assure you the city deserves its spot. WILD was the little station that could, and plenty of artists benefited from the exposure they received there. Most notably, Boston is the birthplace of one of the best R&B groups in music: New Edition.
Now, on to the Top 3.
At No. 3 is Philadelphia. Philly’s position on the list could start and stop with two of the most notable R&B stations in the country — Power 99 and WDAS. Plenty of artists and producers who form the foundation of urban music came out of that city. What those stations have done for R&B music and radio is only matched, and maybe bested, by the stations in the top two cities.
The No. 2 city for R&B radio is none other than my hometown — Washington, D.C. My personal connection to the city aside, what D.C. stations have done to promote R&B music and artists is undeniable. From WHUR, where artists’ careers were born, to being the home of the largest urban radio group in the country, D.C. has shaped the sound of R&B for decades.
The competition between WPGC and WKYS alone made radio in the nation’s capital sharper, more dynamic, and more compelling than most markets, and that’s why it ranks No. 2 on my list.
Finally, I’m sure few are surprised that the No. 1 city for R&B radio is New York City. For all the reasons the No. 2 and No. 3 cities earned their positions, New York perfected them all. New York became the standard. If you could make it there, you could make it anywhere.
It’s been the mecca for artists, radio personalities, and record executives for generations. Just the call letters WRKS and WBLS resonate with artists, the record industry, and broadcasters alike.
So, what city do you think is the GOAT for R&B radio? I’d love to hear your thoughts — email me or connect with me on LinkedIn.
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Ken Johnson is an Urban/Hip-Hop columnist for Barrett Media. Born and raised in Washington DC, his career experiences include serving as VP of Urban formats for Cumulus Media, holding the Director of Urban Programming post at ABC Radio Networks, and programming stations in Birmingham, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City. He has also managed affiliate relations for the Nick Cannon show, and worked as the Executive Producer of The Hughley Truth Podcast hosted by comedian DL Hughley. Ken currently runs Mean Ole Lion Media, a content creation company and podcast network. He can be reached by email at ken@kenjohnsonmedia.com.
