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 continued on the next page 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 40 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 June 2011 OTC Beauty Magazine 41