That's when music radio took hold. Interest in black music began to blossom. Black radio expanded from block programming to 24-hour status. Later, both Gordy and JB became role models and mentors, opening doors and helping other black people get directly involved in the music industry. In the '80s, black music divisions at mainstream record companies were very strong.
Today there are many boutique black labels, but very few black-owned record companies.
At the same time, black radio was delivering large profits. The two-fisted assault of deregulation and consolidation now has black radio on the ropes. Consolidation has led directly to downsizing, format changes, and the lowest number of black-owned stations in decades. Given the death of the minority tax certificate, the finite number of radio licenses available, and the banking industry's sole interest in funding multiple station deals, the possibility of increasing the number of minority owners is minute. There exist fewer opportunities than ever before and more barriers that have to be broken down, jumped over, or otherwise resolved.