Text by Blake Morgan
Karoline Kramer-Gould & Blake Morgan (photo courtesy of Blake Morgan)
Back in October, Karoline Kramer-Gould, the courageous music director of WJCU in Cleveland made history and broke ranks with broadcasters by co-writing an open letter with me––to Congress––in support of artists’ rights.
She is the first radio-station music director to openly support artists’ pay for radio play, and she has paid the ultimate professional price, and left the station as a result.
(Remember: The United States is the only democratic country in the world where artists still don’t get paid when their work is played on the radio.)
Last week, we arrived in Washington DC together, where her courage and tenacity received the praise and honor they deserve.
This extraordinary woman has put her professional life in radio on the line to speak truth to power and push for artists’ rights. What’s more, she’s walked the courageous walk even further by coming to Capitol Hill with me to speak directly to our leaders and share her convictions with them in person.
No radio broadcaster has ever done this before.
In historic fashion, she’s proved that radio professionals and music professionals aren’t on opposite sides of this issue: we all love music, and we all love our country. We simply believe the people who make music should be paid fairly.
Karoline Kramer-Gould has my eternal respect, my love, and my admiration.
I’m honored to call her my friend.
And honored to be hers.
