Radio One Programmers Not Talking to Labels

Radio One Inc., the largest broadcast chain serving African American audiences, has ordered its program directors to stop talking to record labels. On Saturday, Radio One executives informed employees of the new policy during a meeting at the chain’s Lanham, Md., headquarters attended by most of its top programmers, industry sources said.

Programmers were told to refer all calls from record companies in the future to its corporate office. The move follows a pledge last week by Radio One to clean up the music-promotion business at urban radio, which a Radio One executive told The Times was rife with illegal cash transactions. Industry sources say Radio One has put one program director under suspension.