"Talk me down", DU -- The Tom Joyner Morning Show now gone

[CatWoman]

and has been replaced with Steve Harvey.

I DETEST Steve Harvey.

Tom Joyner was instrumental in the "get out the vote" drive in the black community.

Tom Joyner was instrumental in keeping African Americans informed of voting irregularities -- both during the primaries and the general election.

What the fuck has Steve Harvey done? His show is, in my opinion, on par with Flavor Flav, with its juvenile and minstrel-like humor.

This is bullshit.

COMPLETE BULLSHIT!!!!!!

[blogslut]

1. Is it just one market?

Or across the board over for Tom's show? I thought he had a large, loyal audience?

[CatWoman]

3. across the board

Why Was Chicago Fly-Jock Silenced?

The world wide web is buzzing over a decision by ClearChannel Radio to drop the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" from the Chicago airwaves on WVAZ-FM.

A press release is the only official word; no one would consent to an on-air interview.

"Tom Joyner has been a great partner with V103 for the past 13 years, making it difficult to part ways. We appreciate all Tom’s hard work and wish him continued success," said WVAZ-FM/V103 Program Director Derrick Brown in the release.

On the air, Joyner is being replaced by Steve Harvey.

"I feel like V103 just won the lottery! Steve Harvey is an entertainment and marketing juggernaut. There are very few entertainers who have successfully tackled radio, TV, film, stage, online and publishing," Brown added.

Chicago listeners don't seem to be happy with the way the switch was handled, expressing their feelings through e-mails, texts and phone calls.

On BlackAmericaWeb.com, which had a record number of people tuning in to hear our show yesterday, thousands of radio listeners are expressing outrage over the decision to drop Tom Joyner without notice, and the incident is mentioned in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/tom-joyner-reaction-032609.html

[rvablue]

5. This is just plain bizarre. He was just on Oprah for the entire hour this week and has a best

selling book out. And that was the second time he's been featured on Oprah in like 1-2 months.

Who knows?

Oprah is starting up her cable channel very soon.

He may have signed a contract with her. And, hence, why the Chicago media isn't talking about it. Because the powerful Harpo has asked them not to.

I can't imagine they kicked Joyner off. He was too popular.

[blogslut]

6. Well, that sucks

I haven't listened to him regularly since he was a deejay in the 80's but I have met him and know he is a kind and generous man.

Clear Channel has made a huge mistake. This will not sit well.

May the blowback result in that little monopoly being broken up, once and for all.

[pot luck]

2. Has his show been canceled nationwide? nt

[CatWoman]

4. see info above

[supernova]

7. Well, that's bizarre!

I thought Tom Joyner had god-like ratings.

:wtf:

OTOH, if ti's true he signed up with Oprah, that might be worth a shot.

Still I don't know if he would have easier audience access than he had at Clear Channel.

This whole thing just reeks.

[Jersey Devil]

8. Who the hell is Tom Joyner? Who the hell is Steve Harvey?

Who the hell am I and why am I in this string?

[KharmaTrain]

9. Another Sign Of Radio's Collapse

TJ is a class act and he'll be sorely missed here in Chicago. But it's part of a corporate game played by Cheap Channel that owns the station and, along with other radio companies, are circling the economic drain. The company is suffocating in debt, has seen advertising revenues vanish as well as most of its audience. This is just another move to reshuffle the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Bottom line was Joyner was "too old" for the station (as well as too expensive)...management wants to focus the station to a younger audience (many who have fled radio in droves) and moved Harvey over from WGCI...hoping that this will bring a strong 30-45 year old audience to the station. Meanwhile Cheap Channel announced hiring some kids to replace Harvey on WGCI...probably paying a lot less.

Eventually many Cheap Channel stations will be one national feed...almost no local programming and all fed from one central station/location.

[firedupdem]

10. My brother called me just sick about this. I can't stand Steve

Harvey either. It is complete Bullshit. What the hell are they doing?

[Overseas]

11. News story about this

Fans of "The Tom Joyner Morning Show!" are up in arms. The Joyner show is now gone from Clear Channel Communication's WVAZ-FM (102.7), abruptly replaced Tuesday by "The Steve Harvey Morning Show," which had been a fixture on sister station WGCI-FM (107.5).

Clear Channel isn't talking about why it dumped Joyner in Chicago and angered Joyner's loyal fan base. But a Clear Channel spokeswoman said it was "inaccurate" to suggest the broadcasting behemoth wanted to lure to WVAZ the younger demographics that the Harvey show tends to draw and that appeal to a wide range of advertisers. Yet, in announcing the changes, Clear Channel took pains to point out the Harvey show is the No. 1-rated syndicated morning show in the top 50 metro markets among listeners 18 to 34 and 18 to 49, as well as women 25 to 54. Clear Channel also did not mention other factors that may have played a role in the move to ax the Joyner show.

Here's what readers said about Harvey replacing Joyner:

I was sick to turn on WVAZ and hear the news that Steve Harvey has replaced "The Tom Joyner Morning Show." I have urged over 50 of my friends to protest and boycott this decision. Why can't African Americans have a radio show that uses correct grammar, keeps African Americans informed about health issues, provides news and politics and plays music that people over 30 can relate to. I pray Clear Channel will reverse its decision. Starting today, I'll listen to my CDs.

Lille Abbott

FULL STORY :
http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/1496593,CST-FIN-lew26.article

[madrchsod]

12. dupe......