Dallas – Nationally syndicated radio personality Michael Baisden announced a hiatus from his radio show on his Facebook page last week that will begin on April 1, 2013. Baisden, who commands a daily audience of over seven million listeners, states he is unable to discuss the particulars but concluded that a deal could not be made on mutually agreeable terms. Recognized as one of the most influential men in radio, his “Michael Baisden Show” is one of the top rated afternoon drive radio programs heard in the top urban markets. He is also a TV talk show host, filmmaker and New York Times best-selling author with nearly two million books in print.
The Examiner.com reported: Within the span of 48 hours, The Michael Baisden Show went from a thriving, daily afternoon radio show to a cancel of controversy. Fans and supporters of Michael Baisden, the popular, nationally syndicated radio show host, took to the internet with petitions and boycotts of Cumulus Media in efforts to reverse the decision but Mr. Baisden pleaded for his fans to accept the fate that has transpired.
“We were unable to reach an agreement with our syndication partner Cumulus Media. This was not a hostile situation, sometimes parties have different ideas and visions about how to move forward. So, there is no need for petitions and boycotts”
This statement was just made on the Baisden Live Facebook page. Albeit the attempt to mitigate the contention between the two parties, the statement was immediately contradicted in its continuation:
“My only issue was that after 10 years of discussing important issues like domestic violence, missing children, leading civil rights marches like The Jena 6, campaigning for mentoring programs on a 70 city bus tour and donating 350,000 of my own money, helping to re-elect our President, and standing up to lead the rally for justice for Trayvon Martin, that I would at least be allowed to finish the show through next Friday. Now that is some Fragernackle bull!”
Cumulus Media still has not returned calls for comment on the complete removal of the Michael Baisden Show. Speculation calls that the end has completely caught Mr. Baisden off guard and was the result of a possible firing given Michael was “excited about next week’s interviews”.
Now in his tenth year on the air, Baisden wants his radio family to know he did everything in his power to continue his “Michael Baisden Show” without interruption. “We’re already planning to return to the air as soon as possible in a way that will give the ‘Michael Baisden Show’ a more direct relationship with our affiliates, and most importantly, our listeners,” cites Pamela Exum, his business manager.
Baisden began his career as an author, self publishing several best selling books including “Never Satisfied,” “Men Cry In The Dark,” “The Maintenance Man I and II,” and “God’s Gift to Women.” Two of his books were adapted to stage plays, starring such renowned actors as Richard Roundtree and Billy Dee Williams.
His radio highlights include one of his proudest moments when on September 20, 2007, he passionately and skillfully spearheaded the famous Jena 6 March in Jena, Louisiana. This historic and momentous occasion garnered tens of thousands of citizens of all races to peacefully march in support of six young men who had been unfairly treated by the justice system.
Baisden reflects, “”It’s not about the job, it’s about the journey. I have been grinding for over 10 years, fighting for the underdog, inspiring people daily on my Michael Baisden Live Page on Facebook and working my butt off to produce the best show on radio. I hope my fans miss me… because I’m definitely going to miss them,” Michael says. “But this is not the end, it’s the Next Chapter!”
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