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.

Simple Techniques That Will Make Urban Radio Contests Inclusive

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“Who is this, and where are you calling from?” For years, that was the standard lead-in for radio call-in contest executions.

Urban Radio Here’s Why Your ‘Why’ Matters

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One of the most valuable lessons I learned from both a PD and a consultant is this: Always know your “why.”

Radio: The Original Social Media And Community Centerpiece

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Radio shared comments live on the air, broke news in real time, reviewed movies and TV shows, and introduced audiences to new music.

It’s Time For PD’s To Move On From The Aircheck Session

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I’m no longer a fan of airchecks. I do believe critiques were valuable, especially for new on-air personalities. Back in the day, if you were a weekend jock looking to move up to full-time.

Urban Radio and Records Professionals Have a Friend in the Living Legends Foundation

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Looking at the radio business from the outside can seduce you. Even today, in the age of social media, there are people on the outside who still want in.
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Breaking

Laid Off By Innovation? Use AI To Get Hired Faster

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"Remember, your advantage is not what was listed on your business card. It is who you are, not what you do."

Live Music Revenue Plateaus After Years of Record-Breaking Post-Pandemic Growth

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Men..are redirecting discretionary dollars toward video games, spending double on gaming versus live events in Q1 2026.

KXnO Layoffs Highlight the Changing Reality for Sports Radio Talent

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"The industry has spent decades telling talent to be genuine, build trust, and create authentic relationships with listeners. Yet when those same qualities extend beyond sports and into the realities of the business itself, they can suddenly be viewed as liabilities instead of strengths."

Paul Finebaum Reflects on His Legacy in Receiving the Sports Media Lifetime Achievement Award

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"I, somehow, have been able to survive and adapt. My career is full of different chapters. Every one of those chapters, I never really knew if I’d make it out of it."