Venting...Radio Without Tom Joyner Is Not A Change I Appreciate

***UPDATED BELOW

Okay, I have been out of pocket since last week’s birthday. Let’s add that with age come other things such as my back giving me the business for over a week. All I am going to say is if you have never had a back spasm before, you don’t realize you actually stop breathing when it happens.

However, I am not back to ramble on about things going on in my life. I am here to vent. Folks, I am mad as hell. On Monday, I made it to work, barely. When I turned on my radio in my office, which stays on 97.1 here in Montgomery because it is the old school, R&B station, I heard Steve Harvey. Now, I was off Friday and I thought for just a second that J, who cleans my office, had changed the station on my radio. I tried to find Tom Joyner on the radio thinking J had changed the station to our Hip/hop & R&B station 105.7, which airs the Steve Harvey morning show. Well, after 10 minutes, it finally dawned on me that Steve was on 97.1. I called my co-worker but she had no clue about what the heck was happening since she listens to the gospel station. I curse too much to listen to the gospel station all day. Well, I do.

So what is a girl to do when she doesn’t know what the heck is going on? I googled. I found the fb page and low and behold a few folks had posted the question what happened to the Tom Joyner Morning Show? No answer, but folks were mad. Hell, I was mad. One, because I don’t handle change well unless I am giving some notice. Secondly, Steve Harvey is now on 2 damn radio stations in the morning. Thirdly, I don’t like Steve Harvey in the morning. Yeah, I said it.

Seriously, change is scary for me at times. If I am given a forewarning, I can wrap my head around the situation and go with the flow. However, if you throw me in without warming me up to the situation I am mad. I struggle with change and even though one of my favorite quotes is “The only lasting truth is change,” by Octavia Butler, I struggle. Badly.

Look, this is my morning routine. I viggle the Today show at 7 am and watch either a Law & Order episode or A Baby Story as I get dressed and made up for work. I get into my car for the 10 minute ride to work and I listen to Russ Parr, because usually by this time they are playing mostly music and I don’t have to listen to silly chatter, gags and such because let me be real, I don’t officially wake up until 10 am. When I get to my office I usually have the last hour of Tom Joyner to listen to, which includes news, music and information. I can handle that before 10 am.

Steve Harvey on 105.7 was fine for me, because I didn’t have to hear him because I listened to TJMS. I give Steve respect for all he has accomplished; however, I ain’t no Stan. I lost a lot of respect for him after his last divorce due to the way he did his ex-wife and yeah his ex-wife had some culpability in the situation as well, but he made my stomach turn. So I am not watching all his shows and listening to him on the radio. Frankly, SH is too damn silly for me in the morning. The stuff ain’t funny it is more irritating. Now his ass in on two, count them two radio stations at the same time. Ugh!

105.7 and 97.1 are part of the iHeart radio thing so I have no idea who thought this was a sound decision. Folks are mad as hell on the FB page and they ain’t happy one bit about being subjected to the change with no notice. We understand the money thing, we understand the numbers thing but what we don’t understand is basically ignoring the demographics that actually listens to the TJMS. SH and TJ have different listening audiences. Just like publishers don’t know what African-American readers want to read the radio big wigs don’t know what we want to hear either. Money dictates so much in this society, it is no wonder there is so much discord and unhappiness. I just want my Tom Joyner Morning Show back.

After I wrote this, I checked the fb page and this is their response:

We have made a change concerning the Tom Joyner Morning Show on WWMG(Magic 97.1). We have nothing but respect and appreciation for our relationship with Tom Joyner and & his cast over these years. He’s a legend and we understand there are people what enjoyed his show. However, we’ve also heard from many folks who welcome the switch to the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Currently simulcast on both Magic 97.1 and Hot 105.7 for this week only. Next Week a new fast paced, entertaining, cutting edge, informative morning show that better reflects what the station is known for “Hip Hop & R & B” will debut on WZHT(Hot 105.7). The Steve Harvey Morning Show will settle in as the permanent morning show on Magic 97.1. It has been a ratings winner and occupied the #1 position in Montgomery since its inception 7 years ago. It is an amazing show that is humorous, entertaining, informative and fund with dynamic personalities Steve Harvey, Shirley Strawberry and Nephew Tommy, It’s already been proven to be a great Adult Urban Show. Thank all for being loyal listeners.

Just as I said…money talks be damned the listeners who don’t care for Steve’s brand of humor because he is #1. Sighing…any suggestions for online music?

P. S. Blogger is on my nerves!  All the symbols and stuff that is all blogger and because I can't really edit my stuff now because it has been acting weird for months now...I am thisclose to ending this relationship.  Yeah, I am mad!

9/24/13 - The Breakfast Club took over Steve's spot on 105.7.  Yeah, SH is still on 97.1.  However, to my delight and sadness yesterday was the last day for the Russ Parr Show and Tom Joyner has found a home on 97.9, which is really the Hip Hop station here.  I was so happy to hear Tom, my eyes welled with tears.  Then I thought about the young folks who listen to Russ and thought they probably feel like I felt last week.  There is no winning.  I am just so glad Tom is still here in Montgomery.  Yes!!!!!!!