Entertainment

Blacks in radio industry C-suites

By Shimei Cook

During June’s annual celebration of Black Music Month, Shelley Wade, an afternoon host at New York City’s 94.7 FM The Block, and Dion Summers, Sirius XM’s vice president of urban music programming, told The Phoenix’s Shimei Cook about their workdays and relatively long careers and the impact of Black music on society.

For one, said Wade, also a guest on CNN, HLN, NBC’s The Today Show and CBS’ The Talk, public beefs like the recent ones between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake damage the culture.

Dion Summers, whose 10-person team of program directors is responsible for content on Sirius’ R&B, hip-hop, gospel and reggae radio stations, discussed trends in Black music and among Black music-makers.