Tom Joyner has been an iconic figure in Urban Radio for more than 30 years. When national marketers and their agency partners have asked my opinion of the TJMS brand, I’ve often said that Tom represents the best of what Urban Radio means to the African American community and that translates into results for advertisers.

I never thought that I would witness Tom Joyner tarnish his brand and consequently damage Urban Radio . How? Recently, Tom invited Mary Harvey(ex-wife of Premiere Radio Urban host Steve Harvey) on his show. Miss Harvey has been on U-Tube discussing the sad and tragic details surrounding the demise of her marriage to Steve Harvey. This matter between Steve Harvey and his wife is a very personal and private matter.

Airing Steve and Mary Harvey’s dirty laundry on Urban Radio airwaves isn’t against the law or a violation of FCC rules. The airing of Mary Harvey’s views to over 8 million African American consumers represents a greater tragedy. It hurts the brand of Urban Radio because of the standards developed by pioneers and icons such as Tom Joyner and the Urban Radio legends that came before him.

Urban Radio has to fight for every advertising and marketing dollar that we generate. Urban Radio continues to battle under-performing revenue conversion ratios. Urban Radio generates about 89% of the advertising dollars that it rightfully deserves. Why? National marketers and their agency partners haven’t valued African American consumers because of their perception of the African American consumers.

The Tom Joyner Morning Show interview of Mary Harvey is an example of how advertisers and their agency can rationalize that Urban Radio isn’t the best environment for family friendly advertising messaging. Urban Radio can ill afford to let national marketers off the hook that easily.

Let me be clear. Urban Radio should be as competitive as any other format or media. Tom Joyner’s recently announced return to the New York market represents a significant competitive threat to The Steve Harvey Morning Show. Steve Harvey’s national threat to “wipe the floor with Tom Joyner” didn’t help the situation. But, an on air interview with the ex-wife of your competitor crosses the line. Let’s keep the competition in the best traditions of Urban Radio.

Urban Radio and the African American community not only deserves better. They demanded it from the stewarts of Urban Radio yesterday and those demands continue today.

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Sherman Kizart is Managing Director of Kizart Media Partners. He can be reached at shermankizart@att.net or 312-421-4803.