Ragashanti quits
Thursday, September 02, 2010
DR Kingsley Stewart, host of the hugely popular morning talk show Ragashanti Live, yesterday quit NewsTalk 93FM, ending years of what had been an acrimonious relationship with the owners of the radio station, the University of the West Indies (UWI).
To those with knowledge of the tug-of-war between the owners of the station — described as high-browed from the elitist, intellectual class — and Stewart, the self-proclaimed 'king of mix-up', whose often sexually explicit programme catered to the so-called lower class, the split came as no surprise.
So controversial has been the programme that occupied a two-hour slot from 10am to midday, that the station had on numerous occasions been cited by the media watchdog Broadcasting Commission.
Yesterday, Professor Gordon Shirley — principal of the UWI Mona Campus and chairman of Universal Media Company Ltd, operators of NewsTalk 93 FM — said in an afternoon release that he received an e-mail from Stewart in which he stated that effective yesterday, the programme would no longer air.
"The board of management of the station, after careful review of the matter, determined that in the best interest of the University of the West Indies, Mona, and the station, that the programme should be discontinued with immediate effect and appropriate music played until further notice," the release said.
With approximately an hour and 20 minutes left in the broadcast, the order was given for the microphone to be cut, angering listeners and betraying just how stormy the relationship between host and owners had become.
Hours later, Stewart told the Observer that he tendered his resignation as he was tired of the "continued harassment" and constant fight over the nature of his programme.
He admitted that the programme at times engaged in trash talk but was unapologetic, pointing to its financial success.
Ragashanti Live, Stewart said, has raked in well over $70 million between 2008 and now. Recent media surveys have in at the number two slot. Stewart, who started out with the station close to three years ago from Hot102 FM where he hosted the current affairs programme Upfront with Ragashanti, said that he had received a more lucrative offer elsewhere and had hopes of sealing that deal next Thursday with broadcast to start in October.
 
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9/2/2010
Why so many comments on this - No news !!
Typical Jamaica frenzy when it comes unto unimportant issues.
Look at the number of comments when the news is positive or enlightening .
9/2/2010
The problem with raga is not that he talks things as they are, it is that he does not encourage ghetto people to do better! That is why his show is so offensive to many. The most he will do is tell them not to resort to violence. But not once has he told ghetto people to stop breeding so much, to stop cheating so much, to push their children harder, etc. He is just interested in getting sus, mup-mup and getting paid.
9/2/2010
Here in the states there is a ton of talk shows that are considered trashy, but so long as they adhere to the FCC regulations they can stay on the air forever, in Jmaica you have a certain class of people, (you know who we speak of ) who believe say they must always dictate the course of everything. The bottom line is those who don't want to listen this guy, like myself, don't have to listen to him, but those who want to listen to him also has that right to do just that.
9/2/2010
Court controversy and rake in the profits. Its the oldest trick in the book.
9/2/2010
Cont..
YOur high horses we are asking that we respect each other's views as a society ye we continually to be condescendent to others and we wonder why the less educated dont want to strive. It's because of the middle class people who turned their backs from their origin. Alot of who criticise the programme is because you the programme reminds you of who you really are. MAnt tekker obeah worker Mixup and blenda person. You talk all sorts of rubbish but you know what I pity You all.
9/2/2010
You know I wasnt going to respond but now I feel compelled. Those of you who are condeming the show because it's inappropriate how do you reach that argument? Who decides appropriateness or standards? Is it because you cant stand something makes it wrong? what if I have different standards from you does that make 50% of the world wrong because they share a different view from you? You ppl need to wake up and realise times have changed and there are choices which ppl make nowadays. and get off..
9/2/2010
A symbol of what's wrong with our society is Raga giving voice to the voiceless? That's what went wrong with this country from day1.You mentally enslaved, "feel like u better than the less privileged", hyprocritical wannabees. Thats the same way your foreparents treated reggae music and some of our freedom fighters.
"You can take someone outta the ghetto but you can't make them think"...That right there is what's wrong with Ja. Try to unite not divide..but wat do i know, i'm jus a gheto yute
9/2/2010
Jerry Springer has the worst crap on TV, yet people from all over the world cannot resist watching his show, becaused it it a reality how the common people lived their lives every day.
However, Dr Stewart may be putting a little touch up to modify his next show.
9/2/2010
took them too long to get raga and his garbage off the airwaves ,for a man with his educational background you would think that he could come up with a more sophisticated means of reaching out and impacting our people
9/2/2010
My advice to Ragashanti is to grow and learn from this experience. Rise above the trash talk and elevate your program to a higher moral standard.
If all of us should behave like you then there will be nothing better to aspire to. CRUDENESS, LEWDNESS, SLACKNESS, RAUNCHINESS, RAWNESS, BARE AS YOU DARENESS, VULGARNESS WOULD BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY.
I AM A PROUD JAMAICAN BUT THERE IS NOTHING IN MY BOOKS THAT SAYS BEING A JAMAICAN ENCOMPASS ANY OF THE ABOVE.
GOOD RIDDANCE!
9/2/2010
He shouldn't have been allowed to quit he should have been fired i am surprised the broadcasting commission allowed him to be on for so long
9/2/2010
Education is suppose to bring about a positive change in one's behaviour. Evidently, "Dr. Ragashanti" does not understand this concept. As the old adage goes a Bhutto in a prajero is still a Bhutto (IN HIS CASE SINCE HE OWNS ONE).
There is nothing wrong with embracing cultural identity or speaking Jamaican creole but like anything else, it has its place, context and its audience but not on day time radio! As a former University lecturer you should know that.
HE ADMITTED IT'S TRASH RADIO!
9/2/2010
Ragga just take it easy because there is better days ahead. I'm just hoping that the new station that you going to, broadcast live on the internet. Ragga is a 'Shock Jock' just like Howard Stern & Bubba the Love Sponge. Give the man a break. I love listening to Ragga show & mi caan wait fi next month when it resume. Jamaica is a classicist society & a lot of you that don't live Uptown don't know what they are saying about you. Nuff a dem nuh memba whey dem come from (country or ghetto)!!!
9/2/2010
@ Lady Drama
Do you think the gentleman has a more lucrative offer to deliver a different kind of show?
@ Brooklyn Jamaican
Your comments are food for thought.
9/2/2010
Jamaica has two social groups, the elite (Peter Phillips' crew), and the indigent (Portia Simpson's crew). There is no middle ground; you are one or the other. Raga's assumed name & preferred programme may have caused members of the elite boys club to take extra doses of blood pressure medication, while @ the same time, it brought a sense comfort to the masses from Majestic Gardens. In the final analysis though, the evidence is overwhelming that we are our most implacable enemies. Peace!
9/2/2010
This man called Ragashanti totally made a mockery of himself and I dont for one second wrong the station for pulling the plug on his show. I hope whosoever hires him will let him know from day one what is approriate for radio and what is not,,,,,caz clearly Ragashanti with all his degrees does not know what is appropriate for morning radio.
9/2/2010
Jamaican people love passa passa too much. You see how dem quick to comment on this one. We need a total culture and discipline transformation. Good riddance
9/2/2010
People talk about filthy dirty, while politicians and business leaders who prowl at beauty contests and marry silly girls to deceive the public about their orientations are lauded in society.
9/2/2010
i have wonderer from day one if all this young man with a masters degree could contribute to his country is the garbage i hear on his program in the days. the fact that people are clamouring for it to continue shows where we are as a nation, no coming back.
9/2/2010
Filthy Nasty Dirty!... Dr. Stewart has managed to lift himself up to some semblance of decency, however, it just goes to show that you can take someone out of the ghetto, but you can't make them think
9/2/2010
There is a device on my radio to change the channel. I have no fuss with Mr. Stewart. I just don't listen to this programme. Not my kind of show. For those who like it, it's their choice to listen. For those who don't, there is no need to listen. No fuss. What bothers me is that children some children also have a choice to listen (or not to listen).
9/2/2010
We luv u raga
9/2/2010
We luv u raga
9/2/2010
Not a frequent listener but i am sure getting rid of Raga was the only reason for the UWI to gain full ownership of the station. These people are prissy 'elite' scums who think that the program is beneath their stature. they should have tunned in while it lasted and gain some street smarts that their phd could not give them.
P.S.- i played fetch with my dog yesterday and he could not find the stick. but i have a pretty good idea of where it went.
9/2/2010
Ragga...trust me your show was harmless fun...and kept alot of people's mind occupied...knowing that they had a medium to vent...there has to be a progamme for people of all genre
9/2/2010
Ragashanti is the symbol of where our society is at the moment. Slack and nasty, where "trash" talk has become a staple. with such corrupted manners it's no wonder we're not being welcomed at so many ports of entry around the caribbean and elsewhere.
9/2/2010
Good for you Raga. Your programme which I myself only listened to at night when I can't sleep is quite amusing and harmless as far as I am concerned as it never tells anyone to go out and kill anyone, as some of those songs which are played on the minibuses carrying school children, sometimes do. I think a lot of the "mix-ups" are just fantasies and figments of the imagination and gives some people the opportunity to get on air which they would not have the chance to otherwise. I wish the authorities would be as quick to pull the plug on those things which are causing real harm to the society.
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