KHVN-AM, the only 24/7 gospel radio station in the Dallas market has parted ways with longtime voice and former program director, Carmina Barnett. The news came as a shock to nearly everyone in the listening area as the radio and gospel music industry grapple with the news and its many implications. Barnett served as Program Director for nearly 10 years and was promoted to Director of Operations, last summer.
Barnett has been the voice and face of the station as of late but has been part of the station for nearly two decades. At present, there are no details available for the sudden ouster and calls to the station have yielded no formal statements from Mortenson Broadcasting, parent company of the gospel music station.
The ever changing world of radio is hard to keep up with. Advertisers, listeners or lack thereof and owners all factor in on the decision to axe staff or nix a show, regardless of its perceived popularity. This year has been brutal for even well known on-air personalities whose last segment came sooner than they’d liked. Last year, the “hardest working man in radio” Tom Joyner decided to call it quits this year and named Rickey Smiley as his replacement. Over the weekend, DL Hughley‘s nightly television show ended on TV One, though his show remains on UrbanOne (radio). In the wake of the news, the gospel music and faith communities have come together to express their support for Barnett and to issue a call for action to Mortenson Broadcasting.
In the years following the passing of the legendary Joe Bagby, KHVN has continued to thrive with Barnett at the helm, garnering a Stellar Award and a perennial nominee when not on the winner’s platform. The future is up in the air as the community and the only 24/7 gospel station in the number five media market in America prepare for a new normal.
We thank Carmina Barnett for her many years of service at KHVN and as this season closes, we are certain that her stellar work will speak for her wherever she chooses to further her career in radio. This is a developing story, check back for updates.
LEGENDARY TELEVISION AND RADIO HOST DONNIE SIMPSON CELEBRATES A 5O-YEAR CAREER MILESTONE ANNOUNCING HIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MEMOIR
‘Through These Eyes: An Iconic Memoir of Life, Love And The Man Behind The Music’ by Donnie Simpson On Sale: January 30, 2019
Legendary media personality, Donnie Simpson’s forthcoming memoir: “Through These Eyes”
The Oracle Group International announces the publication of THROUGH THESE EYES: An Iconic Memoir of Life, Love and The Man Behind the Music (13th & Joan; Hardcover; On Sale: January 30, 2019; $25.99; ISBN 978-1- 7326464-6-9) by award-winning, influencer, humanitarian, and legend Donnie Simpson. Through his highly anticipated memoir, Simpson chronicles the highs and lows of his extraordinary career which in 2019 will commemorate 50 years of entertaining listeners on Radio and Television.
Through These Eyes takes us back to where it all began, his beloved hometown of Detroit. Joining the staff at WJLB radio at 15 years old, affectionately dubbed, Donnie “The Love Bug” Simpson, quickly gained popularity with his sultry voice, warm smile, and piercing green eyes. Relocating after 15 years to Washington, D.C., he continued dominating ratings and captivating audiences, which led to his most memorable role in 1983 as the host of BET’s primetime music video show, Video Soul, solidifying his role as a pop culture icon.
Over several decades, Donnie has interviewed the biggest stars in the world, including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Janet Jackson, James Brown, Sting, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Madonna, Smokey Robinson, President Clinton, Tom Hanks, Barry White, and so many others. Donnie has been inducted into the BET Walk of Fame and the R&B Music Hall of Fame. The only non-musician honored at that point.
“I’m always labeled as trailblazer. To this day, so many artists talk about what it meant to sit on the couch with me, the effect that it had on their careers, and it’s a blessing to have been in that position,” says Simpson. “The most wonderful compliment I get is when people tell me they feel like they know me. They do know me; they know my spirit. I’m the same dude all the time. 24/7, always filled with hope and love, I’m Donnie. That’s my story.”
Through These Eyes, a publishing collaboration between Donnie Simpson Productions, The Oracle Group International, and 13th & Joan Publishing is available for pre-order at www.donniesimpson.com.
KRGN-LPFMan Award Nominated FM Radio Station is proud to announce it is now a Nielsen BDS (Broadcast Data System) Gospel Monitored Radio Station. KRGN-LPFM is dedicated to serving Killeen, Texas and the surrounding areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week playing the best in Urban Gospel and Inspirational music and programming.
Prosperity Broadcasting is honored to bring you the Kingdom Revelation Gospel Network (KRGN)
KRGN Radio 98.5 FM was founded by dedicated Bible believers and music-lovers alike and it has been a labor of love for us. Almost a decade into this journey it continues to bless us each time someone new chooses to make KRGN Radio part of their day.
“This new addition to our radio brand, places us in an excellent professional class in the radio industry.” states, Kevin James, PD.
Nielsen BDS is the only tracking monitor Data System that monitors airplay of songs based on number detection. It provides the basis for Billboard Charts and Media. Our family here at the SoulProsper Media Group would like to extend sincere congratulations to the staff at KRGN and Mr. James. We appreciate his hard work making room for, educating and creating opportunities for independent gospel artists! We’re glad to have him here as part of our radio landscape!
For More Information Contact:
Kevin James, Program Director
100 W Central Texas Expressway
Suite 307
Harker Heights, TX 76548
United States
Text (254) 307-0521
Call (254) 432-8176
Kirk Franklin has done it successfully for years and it has become his M.O. In his heyday, Kirk collaborated with everybody because as a gospel artist he was equally attractive to mainstream audiences! Who could forget the R. Kelly collaborations and interpolations of secular hits made his own! His biggest was “Stomp”, the remix featured Cheryl “Salt” James who dropped one of the hottest verses of the time on the song, part of Franklin’s top grossing album for nearly 20 years. On his next album, “Lean On Me” featured secular artists R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Bono. The world hadn’t yet known Bono as a believer so that was huge, especially to gospel music fans. His latest crossover offering? “God Help Us to Love” featuring Tori Kelly and the Hamiltones.
Kirk Franklin performs in Dallas during his “Twenty Years in One Night” concert. Franklin combined 20 years of hits in one concert tour, performing with an incredible lineup of singers and musicians. Photo Credit: Fred Willis, SoulProsper Media Group
The trend continued as Donald Lawrence brought on Missy Elliot, Faith Evans and Kelly Price to sing along with the Tri-City Singers. Kelly Price was a professed believer even though she sang R&B but to see Faith Evans singing with the choir was a bold and daring move. We liked the music and we gave it a pass. Pre-dating Kirk Franklin’s collaborations with Chance the Rapper and Kanye West, rapper and Pastor Levy collaborated with Lil Boosie on “God Got Me“. The song is interesting because it was one of Boosie’s first recordings following his bout with cancer, which is referenced in the song’s hook. While many CCH artists are looked over for collabs with singers, an emerging sub-genre in the gospel community is trap gospel which puts gospel verses over a bed of “trap music“, like Erica Campbell’s “I Luh God“.
Other artists have done similar to varying results. Last year, Nicki Minaj joined Tasha Cobbs-Leonard on “I’m Getting Ready”. The song is great, so great that when Robin Roberts invited Cobbs-Leonard on the Good Morning America set, she performed it. I noticed that she performed the song without Nicki Minaj and I loved it! I really did…in fact, her entire time on the GMA set Cobbs-Leonard and her team were the embodiment of 21st century ministry.
Charlie Wilson openly talks about his faith, a second chance on life and how blessed he is to be able to do what he does. Last year he recorded a song called “I’m Blessed” that featured a verse by rapper TI. Problem is, on the rap verse, he uses profanity. Many of my internet radio colleagues added the song without the profanity edited out. What listeners heard on their station and shows was TI saying: “…devil you a d*mn lie…” during his verse.
Snoop Dogg Photo Credit: Earl Gipson III
Then, Snoop Dogg announced plans that he would be putting together a gospel album. The album is great. Sonically, it’s top notch. The production on it is superb, the songwriting is well crafted and the overall thought process behind it is actually genius. My problem with the album is that it’s more crossover than gospel. Of course, the way the industry would have it, it’s billed as a gospel album in part mainly to the contributions on the project…gospel royalty from top to bottom.
The songs on the radio gave me pause, though. “Blessing Me Again” with Rance Allen actually sounds like a Rance Allen song…the rap in my opinion takes away from the song. I’m a fan of Snoop Dogg but I like him more in the role of “curator” than collaborator on this song. “One More Day” with Charlie Wilson has an accompanying concept video that puts the two in a prayer circle around a comatose young lady with Snoop leading the prayer. I actually would like to see that song on urban adult contemporary radio and not the gospel channels.
Wait, does gospel crossover music even exist, anymore? It seems to have disappeared and everything is played on the gospel channel. The problem I have with these new crossover offerings is this: way too many of the secular collaborators apart of the song speak from a different context. For instance, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard speaks from a worshiper’s perspective and Nicki Minaj raps about boats, money and people talking about her. It’s purely conjecture, but I’m not exactly sure that’s what Todd Galberth had in mind when he wrote the song!
Here are a few suggestions I have:
“Blessing Me Again” with Snoop’s rap on it is sent to Urban/Rhythmic Radio, the version without the rap is sent to Christian/Gospel radio.
“One More Day” is sent to Urban/Rhythmic radio.
“I’m Getting Ready” without Nicki Minaj is sent to Gospel radio, the version with her rap is sent to Urban/Rhythmic radio.
Tamela Mann “Through It All” with Timbaland is sent to Urban/Rhythmic radio.
Perhaps I don’t understand radio, that may be true. However, consumers aren’t as “dumb” as the industry believes we are. Consumers speak by turning the channel and not buying product, sometimes labels and artists just don’t “listen”.
I believe that the slightest changes will actually help artists and labels create a broader audience, if only for the “life” of a single song. Who knows, you may even win someone to Christ or worst-case scenario, get a new fan for your artist.
What do you think about the placement of music? Should gospel radio play every version, or should artists create different versions for different radio formats? Add your take in the comment section, below!
**This is NOT a worship conference. This is for artists who want to use their music ministry gifts beyond their local church!**
The Incubator Creative Group presents the Ministry Entrepreneur Explosion Conference using Christian music as a tool of evangelism, encouragement and ministry beyond the conventional possibilities of Sunday church services. The Explosion is not another worship conference. It has a decided emphasis on the performance aspects of music verses the use of music in a worship setting. The Explosion also illuminates a perspective for making a music ministry work as a sustainable small business enterprise or self-supporting hobby.
You want information? We’ve got information, click here!
The Explosion is more than a conference. It is an experience. It includes not only the live event itself but also seven hours of pre-conference online training and interaction. This in-advance experience provides a unique vehicle to facilitate the development of a relationship between you as an artist and Incubator (the sponsor of the Explosion). The Explosion utilizes a proven system for growth deployed by Incubator over its 30-year history… Active Relational Training (ART). The result of ART is the establishment and deepening of a relationship between each artist and Incubator, which correspondingly creates a high level of energy and positive atmosphere among the registrants gathered for the live event. The Explosion may feel more like a family reunion than an educational event!
The Ministry Explosion will come to Dallas on Friday and Saturday July 27th and 28th. It’s a can’t miss weekend (Friday night and and all day Saturday) conference igniting Christian artists to take their music and message beyond Sundays! For more information and to start your conference track, today, click here!
