Ken Johnson

37 POSTS
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.

Reflecting on Radio, Accountability, and Change As I Sign Off

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"Outside of the use of AI, there is almost nothing truly new in all radio and music."

Christmas in Focus: What Radio Programmers Should Know About Serving Black Audiences

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"You don’t want to have your station's head in the sand."

Urban Radio Stations Can’t Ignore the Most Important Issues Affecting Their Communities

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"I’m not advocating for turning your music station into a talk station. However, you can’t keep your head in the sand and ignore the elephant in the community."

What Urban Radio Listeners Should Expect From The Format’s Best

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I’m comfortable making an educated guess about what listeners want from their adult urban station. But what they expect and what they deserve are not necessarily the same thing.

AI Music in Urban Radio Lacks Passion and Soul

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In case you missed my disclaimer in last week’s article, let me say it again: that piece was written entirely by AI. Its purpose...
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Breaking

Can Bussin’ With the Boys Be the Beginning of NASCAR’s Survival Plan?

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"What this partnership can do is give NASCAR another opportunity to reconnect with younger audiences through a more authentic voice than traditional television coverage often provides."

How ‘Sources Tell Jeff Passan’ Showcases a Different Side of ESPN’s MLB Insider

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"The suit is replaced by a hoodie, and he adopts a more conversational, relaxed style that adds depth to his on-air persona. On ESPN, it’s all business with reports, updates, stories, and rumors. The podcast feels more like a few guys talking baseball in a cool, entertaining way."

The Accidental Radio Career of 97.1 The River Morning Host Axel Lowe

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"I'm not one of those dudes that's so rock it's not going to be appealing to women. I'm a guy that's got a wife and two daughters. I know how to connect with women."

Why SiriusXM Is Investing Heavily in News and Talk Radio

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Its portfolio includes properties that reach tens of millions of listeners. That infrastructure doesn't just super serve music fans or sports bettors — it's tailor-made for talk.