Airwaves Women of the T

Urban
Call Briefs
by Lafayette Jones
Women of the
Airwaves
M u lt i c u lt u r a l s t a r s a r e k e y i n f l u e n c e r s
T
he presence of multicultural women in radio, TV and on the Internet
is increasing. As retailers, marketers and advertisers seek to reach
the ever-expanding segment of the multicultural consumer (on the
way to being 50% of the U.S. population by mid-century) it is important to
learn more about these media leaders. It is estimated that the annual sales of
beauty products for women of color is around $8 billion dollars. This figure
includes human and synthetic hair, retail ethnic hair care (wet goods), salon
services and the ever-growing ethnic skin care category. This is a market that
every retailer can learn more about through some key cultural influencers –
the women of the airwaves.
The pioneering work of the talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey,
opened the doors for others like model Tyra Banks who has her own talk
show on The CW Television Network and the comedian Mo’Nique whose
talk show is on cable TV’s Black Entertainment Television (BET). Former
radio personality Wendy Williams has turned her gift for gab to TV’s Fox
Network with The Wendy Williams show. With Oprah set to retire from
network TV after 25 years and turn to her cable network, OWN, she has
left a bevy of beautiful, smart, multicultural women to take on the tradition
for women of color on cable and on the networks.
Radio pioneers like Nancy Wilson set the standard in radio with
shows like National Public Radio’s “Jazz Profiles.” Gospel singer Yolanda
Adams took her fans to the Urban Gospel station with “The Yolanda Adams
Morning Show.” Radio comedy is the specialty of Shirley Strawberry on
the “Steve Harvey Morning Show” as she builds on Harvey’s own comedic
skills. She is also credited with contributions to his books and is famously
mentioned in his segment “Strawberry Letter” which gives advice to
women.
Satellite radio has been gifted with the talents of award winning
Angela Yee who is a featured morning disc jockey on Sirius Satellite Radio’s
Shade 45 station which can be reached all across the country. The Hip-Hop
genre is a specialty of Angie Martinez who fires up the airwaves at New
York’s Hot 97. Reality TV which has grown in size and numbers seems to
be replacing the soap opera as stars like model, author and fashion mogul
Kimora Lee Simmons put their personal lives on display in segments like
“Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.” Take a look at more details on these key
women below.
Angela Yee
Media Outlet: Sirius Satellite Radio
Imprint: Angela Yee got her start in the entertainment business interning for Wu-Tang
Management during her college years. Angela is a featured morning DJ on Sirius Satellite
Radio’s Shade 45 station. She was nominated Number One Female Air Personality by
the Southern Entertainment Awards. Her show “The Cipha Sounds Effect” has been
nominated for Satellite Radio’s Mixshow of the Year.
Website: www.shade45.com
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Lafayette Jones
Each month, Urban Call Briefs covers subjects that provide readers of OTC Beauty Magazine with information on multicultural consumers, Hispanics and African
Americans, who are the fastest growing consumer segments in the U.S.
The mission of this column is to build a bridge of communications and information between manufacturers and retailers and the ethnic consumers they wish to
serve better. The column offers resources covering marketing, retail merchandising, consumer research, purchase behavior, fashion and beauty trends, industry
events and people, trade association news, new product launches and a potpourri of information designed to help the readers make intelligent decisions about the
customers they serve. Urban Call is a registered trademark of Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. (SMSi).
For more information, call 336-759-7477 or visit www.segmentedmarketing.com.
The preceeding article is the property of SMSi – Urban Call Marketing, Inc. and June not be reproduced without written permission from the author.
June 2011 OTC Beauty Magazine
39
Urban Call Briefs
Yolanda Adams
Media Outlet: Radio One
Imprint: Yolanda Adams has attracted fans from all walks of life and remains rooted
in Gospel music. “The Yolanda Adams Morning Show” currently airs on Urban Gospel
stations owned by Radio One. She has four Grammys to her name, four Gospel Music
Association Dove Awards, one American Music Award, seven NAACP Image awards, one
Soul Train music award and three BET awards. She wrote a book, “Points of Power” about
living the Christian life.
Website: www.theyolandaadamsmorningshow.com
Wendy Williams
Media Outlet: Fox Network, BET Cable
Imprint: From radio disc jockey to talk show host, the irrepressible Wendy Williams
resume is extensive. She started as an intern for Kiss 108 radio in Boston and later
was DJ at WVIS in the Virgin Islands. After stints in Washington and New York, she
found her niche in dishing celebrity gossip which she continues to do on her TV
talk show, “The Wendy Williams Show.” She is the author of two New York Times
best sellers, “Wendy’s Got the Heat” and “The Wendy Williams Experience.”
Website: www.wendyshow.com
Nancy Wilson
Media Outlet: National Public Radio (NPR)
Imprint: An Emmy and Grammy Award winner, Wilson is a vocalist and all-around
performer. She’s been labeled a singer of blues, jazz, cabaret and pop; a “consummate
actress” and “the complete entertainer.” She hosted NPR’s “Jazz Profiles,” radio’s first
and only jazz documentary series. In more than 190 episodes she chronicled artists,
places, issues, styles and events in American jazz.
Website: www.npr.org
Tyra Banks
Media Outlet: The CW Network
Imprint: One of the world’s top supermodels in the 1990s and into the millennium, Tyra
Banks broke through as a compassionate, media-savvy television producer and host. She
started her own production company, Bankable Productions, which has produced the
Emmy Award winning “The Tyra Banks Show.” It features celebrity stories, experiences
of everyday people, advice on fashion and relationships. Banks also produces “America’s
Next Top Model” on which she serves as a hostess, judge and executive producer.
Website: tyrashow.warnerbros.com
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OTC Beauty Magazine June 2011
Shirley Strawberry
Media Outlet: Premiere Radio Networks
Imprint: Shirley Strawberry is one of the most recognizable names and voices in
radio today. Dubbed “The Best Voice in Radio” by comedian Steve Harvey, this native
Chicagoan is the co-host seat of “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” a nationally
syndicated radio show that has eight million listeners. She contributed to Harvey’s New
York Times bestseller, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.”
Website: www.steveharvey.com
Angela Martinez
Media Outlet: Hot 97 fm, New York
Imprint: Angie Martinez has been part of New York’s hip hop community for most
of the ‘90s, at New York radio station Hot 97 and is called the “Voice of New York.”
She has appeared in movies, videos, television and on her own album, but is best
known for her radio interview style which has been instrumental in securing big
names in music, film, comedy and politics including rappers Jay-Z and Lil’ Kim,
singer Janet Jackson and former president Bill Clinton. Her celebrity interviews also
appear on Latina.com.
Website: www.hot97.com
Mo’Nique
Media Outlet: BET
Imprint: The career of funny girl Mo’Nique began in her early twenties, when she took to the
improv comedy stage on a dare from her brother. The impulsive decision met with success,
and sparked a career in show business. This comedienne and actress gained notoriety from
sitcoms and various movies, but her most prized accolade came with her Oscar-winning
performance in the movie “Precious.” Mo’Nique is host of “The Mo’Nique Show,” part of Black
Entertainment Television (BET) late night programming.
Website: www.bet.com
Kimora Lee Simmons
Media Outlet: The E! Channel, Style Network
Imprint: The former model has been a judge on “America’s Next Top Model” and
MTV’s “Fashionably Loud” and is now featured on reality TV’s “Kimora: Life in the
Fab Lane” on E! Entertainment Television and the Style Network. Famous for her
clothing designs, she created the Baby Phat line and since has gone on to develop
her KLS Collection, a line of sportswear. She established The KLS Design Group for
fashion and beauty incubation. Through a partnership with Swiss skin care company
Makari De Suisse the group is planning to launch Shinto Clinical, a skincare line
inspired by centuries old Asian beauty regimens.
Website: www.kls.com
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