There was a point in time where the only form of entertainment and news in the home was the radio. The radio was and still is a way to communicate to large amounts if households. The radio industry was controlled by some of the major companies that produce our tv programming today (NBC, & CBS-formerly Infinity Broadcasting). Black ownership of radio stations had little to do with the news reported. According to the National Association of Black-owned Broadcasters (NABOB), there were only 30 African-American owned broadcast facilities in the United States in 1976. Today, NABOB boasts 220 member stations - and local Black radio news is near extinction. To say that Black-owned radio stations are non-existent is incorrect. Radio One, founded by Cathy Hughes, has over 66 stations and the company is worth over $2 billion. Clear Channel operates 1,200 stations and only 49 are programmed to black audiences. There aren't any Black News stations. Not even BET (Black Entertainment Television) has news. The only t.v. station of its kind and no news show. Is there not any news for Black America? Where are the African American journalists that report the news that affects us? Not only has the news being reported on the radio be dried up, but the music has as well. Now radio is controlled by the 4 giants of the industry (Warner Music, EMI, Sony/BMG and Universal Music Group). They influence the radio play so much that radio stations only play what they are told. There are playlists they are told to play. For example, I live in Dallas. For those who are familiar with Hip-Hop, Dallas is most notably known as the birthplace of dancing music.  In Houston, there is a radio station know as The Box (97.9 KBXX) which is owned by Radio One. This station is the only one in Houston that only plays hip-hop all day. Now for a station that is supposed to be a hip-hop station how is it that the music style that originated in Houston not get any radio play? How is it that artist that are from Houston, who are successful and known around the world not get any spins in their own city? But artists like Drake, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Rihanna..etc etc get spins every hour! The music stations were are used to hearing from are gone. They have been replaced with these stone-washed stations that produce cookie cutter playlists every hour. The news were are used to hearing has been replaced with celebrity gossip. Since when has it been "news" to hear about this celebrity marrying this one? Or this person having a baby by this celebrity? If we continue down this path we will not be able to change course when its necessary.