V-103 is a historic station in Atlanta, GA, and has seen many successful women work there, including Robin Roberts, who was a sports anchor and reporter at WAGA-TV in Atlanta from 1988 to 1990. She was also a radio host for V-103 on the Mike and Carol show. While V-103 is a legacy station, to our knowledge, they have never had a woman host the morning show.
Right now, many radio stations are struggling to remain relevant in an era of extremely successful podcasts, which have the same formula as morning shows but without the music. Streaming is also explosive, which challenges radio because listeners can hear what they want without hearing commercials or radio hosts. Many labels and industry pros state that hip hop is not radio-driven anymore and the younger generations are not listening to the radio, as their parents, often millennials, don’t listen as much either. Kids are in cars going to school with their cell phones, and parents driving them to school have many more options today than they did even 10 years ago as to what they listen to on the morning and afternoon commute.
iHeart Radio is the most progressive radio company in the industry, hosting The Breakfast Club, Bobby Bones, Elvis Duran, Ryan Seacrest, and other hit shows. They offer a variety of listening options and concepts like major award shows and premieres that other radio corporations are still trying to catch up on.
Ms. Pat made a few very valid points during her recent interview on The Breakfast Club about her being fired from V-103. Why would a station in a market with the most urban competition get rid of a star like her and keep Tigger instead? Could it be because they thought DeDe McGuire hosts a national radio show, and women are no longer willing to be in the background giggling and playing second fiddle to male hosts on radio shows in this new era. If you were a business and you wanted to succeed, would you have fired the star player in the morning when, as Ms. Pat said, people were tuning in to hear her? She is telling the absolute truth;
Ms. Pat attributes the success of her show to its relatability and truthfulness. She noted, “It’s the first time somebody like me ever been on TV to say what real people were thinking.” The show delves into deep and often taboo subjects like child molestation, abortion, and felonies, bringing humor and healing to viewers who have experienced similar traumas. Ms. Pat’s unique approach gives a voice to those who have never seen their lives represented on screen.
Reflecting on the emotional toll of revisiting her past, Ms. Pat discussed the healing process that comes with her show. She shared how filming an episode about her mother’s boyfriend’s abuse and her mother’s neglect was a significant breakthrough. “I dealt with my mom because my mom used to say really bad things to me,”
