Open Letter to the Urban Music Industry from Ed Strickland

Before I get started, let’s ponder over some artists and tracks that have helped shape the music industry as we know it:

“Where Have All the Flowers Gone” by Earth Wind & Fire

“Love Wont Let Me Wait” by Major Harris

“Sparkle” by Cameo

“Easy” by The Commodores

“Outstanding” by The Gap Band/Charlie Wilson

“Free” by Denise Williams

“Creepin/House is Not a Home” by Luther

Maxwell, Tank, Tyrese, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, Levert, Dru Hill, Whitney, Mariah… Ballads | LYRICS | Music

These songs helped establish careers, moods, weddings, offspring (lol), divorces – YOU GET IT.

Way back when music that defined a genre and created a platform – “The Quiet Storm” was born. Behind the scenes there was Melvin Lindsey hosting, while Ms. Cathy Hughes provided unprecedented support, having the foresight to allow him to experiment and be creative. Those ingredients led to something extremely special, which remains the singular definition of the slow music mix to the day.

All that said, Music Executives, A&R, Promotional & Marketing Heads and record labels, please keep our culture alive!

Do your jobs!

Expose the public.to good/great talent! Help break talent! Make money, but do your jobs and while you’re at it, enjoy your work!

Look at the Rhythmic/Pop /Rock genres. Venture outside of what you know – what comes easy to your ear. Check for new slow music/ballads, new artists every quarter, Explore alternative sources such as Music Choice (R&B Soul Channel, XM Sirius, etc.) and accept a big THANK YOU from me in advance!

To the handful of Programmers who program music with their listeners in mind – do not be afraid to play something new.

My success over the last 30 plus years – and I am very proud to say it – was/is built on helping break and establish artists and trendsetters. From Tupac to De La Soul, Queen Latifah  Charlie Wilson, Lil Wayne and Arrested Development – I’ve been instrumental in breaking some of the most recognized and successful talent in the industry. To no surprise, their music, their talent, is still generating revenue… and like many of you veterans, the list goes on and on.

So I am reaching out to all – to let everyone know – there is a new platform to help break new artists and new music. Its mission is to expose old school music to younger demos –18-35 –along with music lovers over the age of forty. The familiar tunes you hear at weddings, family reunions, “Old Skool Saturday Night” and more.

DJ Young Music: Streetz Slow Lane – the brainchild of a trendsetter and incredible, talented businessman – DJ Young Music (www.djyoungmusic.com) – is a syndicated program that was picked up and now distributed by Eric Faison/Superadio. While it offers ballads and sweet music that soothes the soul, it’s not your mother or father’s Quiet Storm. It’s a brilliant blend of mixes that fuses new and old artists, which can be found here. From Aaliyah, Chris Brown, Dru Hill, Jhene Aiko, Jeremiah, Jodeci, Marsha Ambrosius, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige, you will hear the best of new, recurrent and old school artists.

As it stands, we need more slow tracks for the program, and that’s where you come in. While he has a listenership that boasts more than 15 million people each week, the need for more music and new artists is real. If you or someone you know needs to be heard, let this young man and his program help you and/or your artist. If we follow each other, my guess is the industry will in turn, expose more music to the masses. And that’s what we all want right?

Let’s break some artists together and bring music to the forefront that will be appreciated ten to twenty years from now!

Oh, did I mention that DJ Young Music: Streetz Slow Lane is on the same platform (Superadio) as the nation’s number one syndicated urban radio show host Michael Baisden?

Check out Micheal Baisden in the afternoon/evenings and DJ Young Music: Streetz Slow Lane at Night.

Peace,

Ed Strickland

General Manager, DYMG Entertainment LLC

[email protected]

[email protected]