Byron Allen, Allen's, media group, board of directors, 6, named

by Derek Major

December 26, 2023

Byron Allen’s Media Group Names 6 Executives To Board Of Directors

AMG has expanded its Board of Directors from three to nine members as it renewed its bid to buy BET and VH1

Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group (AMG) has expanded its Board of Directors from three to nine members, effective immediately.

Variety reported that the board of Allen Media has included founder, chairman, and CEO Byron Allen; Allen’s mother and film producer, Carolyn Folks; and chief operating officer Terence Hill.

Now, the board will include Janice Arouh (president, network distribution); Mark DeVitre (EVP, general counsel); Eric Gould (EVP of finance and chief investment officer); Sydnie Karras (VP, chief accounting officer); Chris Malone (CFO); and Andy Temple (COO, broadcast sales and syndication).

All six are members of AMG’s management team. The announcement of the new board members comes on the heels of Allen’s new $3.5 billion bid to buy Paramount Global’s BET Media Group — which, if consummated, would significantly expand Allen’s media holdings.

“For the past 30 years, I’ve been working with a small board of three directors, but now that Allen Media Group is much bigger as we’ve become highly acquisitive, I am excited to announce the addition of these six new board members,” Allen said in a statement.

“I am extremely proud of this board because it is diverse, and the people who make it up are simply the best because they know our business and the media space innately, which allows us to move quickly and efficiently in this rapidly changing landscape.”

In September, Allen also made a $10 billion offer to buy ABC Network from Disney.

AMG owns and operates 27 broadcast TV stations in 21 U.S. markets and 12 cable networks serving nearly 300 million customers, including The Weather Channel, Pets.tv, Comedy.tv, Recipe.tv, Cars.tv, ES.tv, MyDestination.tv, JusticeCentral.tv, HBCU Go and The Grio Television Network/website.

In addition to owning AMG, Allen is a steadfast supporter of Black causes and has also called out auto manufacturers and sued McDonald’s for not advertising with Black-owned media.

business, growth, new, year, strategies, 2024, customer service, technology

by Jeffrey McKinney

December 26, 2023

5 New Year Strategies To Help Black Businesses Flourish In 2024

Boosting digital presence and offering top rate customer service are among five ways Black entrepreneurs can grow this year. Check out the full list here.

Originally Published Jan. 6, 2023

With the start of a New year approaching, it offers a fresh vitality to motivate Americans to pursue new goals.

A solid growth strategy is a vital element that most successful companies have. Many use it to differentiate themselves from rivals and spur sales. Small businesses may do well to adopt such a plan in the upcoming year. With forces like COVID-19 surging, consumers keeping a closer eye on spending, and rivals hungry for customers, entrepreneurs must be open to new ways to flourish.

That may mean overhauling websites to lure a larger number of digitally focused customers and making your brand more compelling. And those fixes may be more true for Black entrepreneurs with less access to capital to expand. Given that, here are some tips based on Black Enterprise research that small business owners may want to consider implementing now that it could potentially help benefit their enterprises this year.

1. Go digital

It’s not rocket science to understand that being online is necessary now. Digital marketing should be very high on your priority list. Whether reaching more customers or learning what they want from your business, those can be game changers for your business. There are several options you can consider to get started. Some initial ones might include establishing branded social media content page profiles. Another might be ensuring your website has a call to action, like “Shop Now or Sign Up,” that is simple to reach and click on, including a mobile device.

2. High quality customer service

Whether times are good or bad, customer service is among the most essential facets of any business, particularly a small business. Providing top-notch customer service can boost sales with new customers, generate more sales with existing ones, and increase referrals from both segments.

3. Find new growth opportunities

Don’t become complacent or close-minded that there are no new ways to increase revenue or attract customers. It could be as simple as learning and building on what is working. Or it might mean teaming up with another business and selling products at both businesses to reach new customers. The bottom line is to be open to new ways to expand.

4. Investing in technology

Technology can be an asset to your business and help accelerate results this year. However, it can also be very expensive and a potential budget breaker. Look for ways to boost your tech knowledge.

5. Be aware of the latest industry trends

Another potential game-changer is to ensure that you’re on top of the fresh trends in your industry. That may mean you being active regularly on social media, going to industry events, and networking with other entrepreneurs. All can help you stay ahead of your rivals. This site shows some trends for this year.

RELATED CONTENT: 5 Tips For Strengthening Your Personal Brand

by Derek Major

December 26, 2023

Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts Sets NFL Single Season Record For Touchdowns By A Quarterback

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts set the NFL single-season record for most touchdowns in a season by a QB

Quarterback Jalen Hurts scored on a 1-yard “tush push” in the first quarter of the Eagles’ 33-25 Christmas Day victory Monday night, setting the NFL single-season record for most touchdowns in a season by a QB.

With the first-quarter TD, Hurts broke the record of 14 rushing touchdowns set by former Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton in 2011. Hurts also moved two TDs away from the Eagles’ single-season record for total touchdowns held by QB Randall Cunningham with 35 in 1990. Hurts tied Cunningham’s record last season.

With the win over the Giants, the Eagles moved back into first place in the NFC East division, one game ahead of the Dallas Cowboys with two games left in the regular season. Both the Cowboys and Eagles have clinched spots in this year’s NFL Playoffs, but the division, which comes with a home playoff game in the Wild Card round, is still up for grabs.

Hurts and the Eagles have the advantage as their remaining two games are at home against the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants at Metlife Stadium. Meanwhile, the Cowboys will host the Detroit Lions, who have won the NFC North for the first time since 1993, before finishing the season against the Washington Commanders.

If both teams win their games, the Eagles would be the first NFC East team to win the division two years in a row since they did it in 2003 and 2004. This season, Hurts has completed 65.5% of his attempts for 3,636 yards and 20 passing TDs. However, his ball security isn’t what it’s been in the past, as he’s also thrown 13 interceptions and lost nine fumbles this year.

Hurts is one of several Black quarterbacks that will play in the NFL playoffs this year, including Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith could join them, but his team still has work to do to clinch a playoff spot.

Afghan Girls Distraught After Completing The 6th Grade As Taliban Ban Nixes Further Education

by Stacy Jackson

December 26, 2023

Afghan Girls Distraught After Completing The 6th Grade As Taliban Ban Nixes Further Education

Under Taliban rule, Afghan girls are banned from education above the sixth grade. The policy extended in 2022 to ban women from universities.

Teen girls at Kabul’s Bibi Razia School in Afghanistan finished the school year in tears on Dec. 11, sadly aware that under Taliban rule, sixth grade marks the end of education for females. The policy comes amid the Taliban’s regain of control in Afghanistan in 2021, following two decades of U.S. military presence.

According to PBS, many policies regarding women and girls were reversed, which brought about the December 2021 ban on education for females above the sixth grade. Under the rule of the Islamic fundamentalist group, the policy also expanded the ban to bar women from universities in December 2022.

Thirteen-year-old Bahara Rustam attended her last day of classes at Bibi Razia, but there was no graduation ceremony to celebrate the sixth-grade girls’ final day at the school.

“Graduating (from sixth grade) means we are going to seventh grade,” she said. “But all of our classmates cried, and we were very disappointed,” the teen said.

Similarly, 13-year-old Setayesh Sahibzada was saddened by uncertainty about her future.

“I wanted to be a teacher,” Setayesh said. “But now I can’t study, I can’t go to school.” Now, the young girl wonders how she will ever stand on her “own two feet” without access to education.

U.N. envoy Roza Otunbayeva says that an entire generation of Afghan girls risk falling irrevocably behind with each passing day under the Taliban prohibition. Analyst Muhammad Saleem Paigir warns that Afghanistan faces disaster if women and girls remain excluded from education, stating, “We understand that illiterate people can never be free and prosperous.” However, the Taliban seem unmoved and continue their severe restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms.

While the Taliban now claim that girls of all ages may attend all-female madrassas focused on religious education, Otunbayeva questions whether these schools actually provide girls with standardized, modern curriculum subjects.

As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Afghan broadcaster Tolo News aired an all-female panel on March 8 to discuss the position of women in Islam. The broadcast marked a rare event after Taliban bans forced many female journalists to flee the profession or move off-air.

Trump, Obamacare, insurance, replace, election

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 26, 2023

Donald Trump Still Thinks He Can Outdo Barack Vows To Replace ObamaCare

Trump is still talking like he has has an actual shot at being president again.

On Christmas Day, former President Donald Trump jumped on his Truth Social app, promising to cancel ObamaCare.

Trump wants to replace the Affordable Care Act, signed by Barack Obama in 2010, with his own “much better” alternative program, pushing – again – to cancel the popular health care option used by millions of Americans. “Obamacare is too expensive, and otherwise, not good healthcare,” Trump said. “I will come up with a much better and less expensive alternative! People will be happy, not sad!”

Sixty percent of Americans now favor the law that gives consumers premium tax credits to lower insurance costs for households that fall between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Once a popular target for GOP voters and officials alike, they feel the program now is for the betterment of Americans. Republicans have vaguely given up on the issue after several attempts to “repeal and replace” efforts fell short. During Trump’s tenure, the Congressional Budget Office found repealing the law could potentially cancel healthcare for almost 25 million people.

The only GOP leader with his eye still on ObamaCare is Trump. A few GOP lawmakers support Trump but doubt he will come up with a better option. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), ranking Republican on the Senate Health Committee, said he doesn’t think it will happen with the state of Congress today. “It’s a narrowly divided Congress. It’s unlikely to happen,” he said.

In November 2023, the indicted presidential candidate rehashed his criticism of the plan but backtracked after the media pressed on what his alternative option was, saying he doesn’t “want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE.”

“Getting much better Healthcare than Obamacare for the American people will be a priority of the Trump Administration. It is not a matter of cost. It is a matter of HEALTH,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“America will have one of the best Healthcare Plans anywhere in the world. Right now, it has one of the WORST!”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 26, 2023

Lil Uzi Vert Wants To Shift Gears And ‘Make Women’s Clothes’

The rapper recently told fans that the next project being released, "Luv Is Rage 3," will be his last.

Some rappers, while they are in the prime of their career, never think it’s truly going to end.

Not Lil Uzi Vert, who told fans that the next project being released, Luv Is Rage 3, will be his last. While out on the town, TMZ questioned the rapper about immediate plans, and Lil Uzi said he wants to “make women’s clothes” in the future.

“I love making music, but I don’t really wanna make music like that no more,” Lil Uzi told the TMZ journalist.

When asked what he would do if he’s not recording songs, Lil Uzi responded, “I wanna make women’s clothes.” This apparently is not a big stretch since “I(‘ve) been working in the office in my house,” he told TMZ.

He reportedly lives with his girlfriend, fellow recording artist JT from the Miami group City Girls. When asked if she would be involved, he said that she has her own thing going on.

Complex reported that two months ago, while on a stop in Chicago during his Pink Tape Tour (in support of his current project, Pink Tape) he told the audience of his plans that Luv Is Rage 3 will be the last recorded project.

“I was gonna wait ’til later to say it, but, you know, I’m dropping Luv Is Rage 3, and Luv Is Rage 3 will be my last album. After Luv Is Rage 3, I guess I will go on another tour. … But after that, I wanna try to live a normal life.”

The upcoming Luv is Rage has no release date, but it follows 2015’s Luv Is Rage and 2017’s Luv Is Rage 2.

After that, the next chapter of Lil Uzi’s career awaits.

Jess Hilarious, Host, Breakfast Club, Loren LoRosa

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 26, 2023

Guest Hosting Pays Off For Jess Hilarious, Joins ‘The Breakfast Club’ Permanently

After months of rotating guest co-hosts, Charlamagne Da God and DJ Envy have officially replaced Angela Yee with comedian Jess Hilarious.

After months of rotating guest co-hosts on The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne Da God and DJ Envy have officially replaced Angela Yee with comedian Jess Hilarious.

The social media star announced the big news at an event in her hometown of Baltimore, just ahead of the Christmas holiday on Saturday, Dec. 23. DMV-based DJ Quiksilva shared the video announcement on Twitter/X.

“It’s official,” Jess said through cheers from the crowd. “I’m a put the fu*k on for my city. Specifically, West Baltimore.”

Congrats to the HomeTeam @jess_hilarious announcing she’s officially on @breakfastclubam 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/xY1nHxoK8O
— THE PARTY KINGPIN !! (@DJQUICKSILVA) December 24, 2023

Fans of the show reacted to the news with applause for Jess’ addition to the show.

“I liked her best go Jess I’ll be tuning in girl,” one person wrote.

“I was wondering when this was going to be announced cause she was up there like every other week,” added someone else.

The announcement comes one week after Jess had the morning radio show trending when rapper Sexxy Red visited and expressed her distaste for the comedian. Jess tried her best to get Sexxy to warm up to her throughout the interview, to no avail.

sexyy red was not feeling jess hilarious 😭 pic.twitter.com/AUq0KPYvHT
— ✰ (@SSZEXXYY) December 15, 2023

The Breakfast Club had been looking for a new host since Angela Yee announced her departure in August 2022. Yee exited the show to embark on hosting her own show through iHeart Radio.

“It is really exciting,” Angela said at the time. “I mean I honestly can’t believe it. I know it took a long time to make this happen so I want to thank everybody at iHeart.”

“I really want to thank, first and foremost, the listeners who are part of our Breakfast Club family. We’ve been doing this for 12 years now, and so this is just a tremendous opportunity,” she added.

All eyes will be on Charlamagne, Envy, and Jess as they look to introduce a new era of The Breakfast Club.

by Rafael Pena

December 26, 2023

The Truth About Gift Cards: Unspent Balances, Fees, And Scams

As Americans purchase nearly $30 billion in gift cards this holiday season, these convenient gifts bring forth challenges.

As Americans flock to purchase nearly $30 billion in gift cards this holiday season, the popularity of these convenient presents brings forth challenges related to unspent balances, expiration dates, and an uptick in scams, according to CBS News. With restaurant gift cards leading the sales, comprising one-third of the total, understanding the intricacies of its usage becomes crucial.

According to Paytronix, around 70% of cards are redeemed within six months, but a significant portion, valued at tens of billions of dollars, remains unused. The consumer finance company Bankrate revealed that 47% of U.S. adults possess at least one unspent gift card or voucher, totaling $23 billion. Federal law prohibits the cards from expiring for five years, but some state laws extend this period further. New York, for instance, mandates a nine-year expiration period for those purchased after Dec. 10, 2022.

Despite the longevity, consumers are advised to spend them promptly. Certain cards, particularly generic ones from Visa or MasterCard, may accrue inactivity fees after a year of non-use, diminishing their value. Inflation also contributes to the decreasing value of cards over time.

Furthermore, the gift card could become worthless if a retail store closes or faces bankruptcy.

While Jan. 20, 2024, marks National Use Your Gift Card Day, providing an opportune moment to clear out unused cards, there are alternatives for those who want to part with unwanted cards. Resale sites like CardCash or Raise offer options to sell them, typically yielding 70 to 80 cents per dollar, although not at face value.

The fate of unspent gift card money depends on the state where the retailer is incorporated. In at least 19 states, retailers must work with state unclaimed property programs to return money from unused cards to consumers. Companies often calculate “breakage,” the anticipated amount as a liability that won’t be redeemed, which becomes a profit-driver for some, like Starbucks, generating millions in revenue.

Consumers are also urged to stay vigilant against scams. In 2022, nearly 65,000 consumers fell victim to scams, losing over $228 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers often pose as legitimate businesses, charities, or government agencies, pressuring victims to purchase gift cards and reveal card details. To combat scams, consumers should report incidents to the gift card issuer and attempt to recover funds, as some companies are flagging fraudulent transactions and freezing gift card funds.

Pink Friday 2 World Tour, lawsuit, Kenneth Petty, Nocki Minaj, international

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 26, 2023

Kenneth Petty’s Accuser Amends Complaint To Remove Nicki Minaj As A Defendant

A lawsuit against Nicki Minaj and her husband has been amended to include evidence from the original case and remove Nicki as a defendant.

A lawsuit against Nicki Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, filed by the woman Petty pled guilty to attempting to rape in 1994 has been amended to include evidence from the original case and remove Nicki as a defendant.

Jennifer Hough has filed a new version of her complaint that includes some allegations made in earlier versions of the complaint along with new evidence from the underlying criminal case, legal journalist Meghann Cuniff reports in Legal Affairs and Trials. Among the new evidence includes excerpts from the transcript of Petty’s plea and sentencing hearing in May 1995 where he admitted to trying to engage in sexual intercourse with Hough “by means of forcible compulsion.”

“I attempted to rape her,” the transcript says Petty told the court.

The amended complaint was filed with exhibits from the 1994 case in which Petty pleaded guilty to attempted rape, including the full transcript from Petty's change of plea and sentencing in May 1995.

The complaint quotes key passages such as this one. pic.twitter.com/HYcVwLv4TL
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 23, 2023

While the transcript was already public, Hough’s lawyer filed them as exhibits in August with a motion seeking to amend or correct his complaint. The new evidence also included a photo of the large knife Petty used to intimidate Hough along with images of her bruises after the assault.

In August, Petty’s lawyer made an opposition brief claiming Hough wanted to amend her complaint “to feed her and her counsel’s desire and need for publicity and to attempt to publicly embarrass Mr. Petty (and his celebrity wife).”

“Plaintiff publicly filed the unnecessary sixteen ‘supplemental’ Exhibits with her letter motion, fourteen of which concerned Mr. Petty’s arrest in 1994. Plaintiff and her counsel then gave interviews to the media and made numerous posts on social media concerning the Exhibits and the proposed Second Amended Complaint,” according to the letter from attorney Steven D. Isser of New York City. “That it is not necessary to include such ‘evidence’ attached to a complaint, combined with Plaintiff and her counsel’s public statements concerning the ‘evidence’ and Proposed Amendment, demonstrates that Plaintiff’s true purpose in making the motion was in bad faith.”

While Nicki Minaj is no longer listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, she is still heavily mentioned throughout the complaint for allegedly calling Hough in 2020 and trying to get her to recant her claims against Petty as well as allegedly sending people to Hough’s house.

Petty is currently on house arrest related to threatening remarks he made toward Cardi B’s husband Offset in September. It’s part of Petty’s federal case for failing to register as a sex offender when he relocated to California to live with Nicki.

by Rafael Pena

December 26, 2023

Choosing The Right Security Line: TSA PreCheck, Clear, And The Pain In The Arse For Travelers

The debate over which airport security line to choose has passengers weighing the pros and cons of programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear.

As holiday travel surges, the debate over which airport security line to choose has intensified, leaving passengers weighing the pros and cons of programs like TSA PreCheck and Clear. With millions of travelers expected to fly this week, the effectiveness of these programs, promising expedited security clearance, is under scrutiny, according to CNN.

TSA PreCheck, a government program introduced in 2011, has witnessed a surge in enrollment, reaching over 18 million passengers. However, with increased popularity comes longer wait times, prompting some members to express dissatisfaction on social media.

“It’s a judgment call when you get to the screening checkpoint,” said airport management consultant and a professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver Jeffrey Price to CNN. “Which line is longest, and which is going to make me do the least amount?”

The Transportation Security Administration acknowledges a slight increase in wait times for PreCheck passengers, attributing it to the program’s recent surge in enrollment. Despite this, TSA emphasizes that most PreCheck passengers experience minimal wait times.

On the other hand, Clear, a private security company, has gained traction due to its promise of speeding up identity verification using biometrics at airport kiosks. While Clear does not replace physical TSA security screenings, it enables members to move to the front of the security line once their identity is confirmed. Clear’s growth, reaching 6% of all TSA checkpoint volume in December 2022, is attributed to airline discounts and investments.

However, as more people opt for Clear, some travelers find it counterproductive compared to TSA PreCheck, especially at airports like Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and Chicago O’Hare. Security lapses have led TSA to increase ID checks at Clear, contributing to slower processes.

Amid the debate, travelers are advised to consider factors such as airport staffing levels, specific airport conditions, and whether the program justifies its cost. As holiday travel exacerbates these concerns, TSA PreCheck and Clear are implementing measures to address increased demand. Clear, in particular, has expanded staffing during the holiday season and plans to introduce more lanes and technology to minimize wait times.

The @Clear line is 4x the PreCheck line. Each person takes longer at CLEAR than the @TSA document check.

Learn how this works people. CLEAR is a great tool but use it situationally. pic.twitter.com/XxTWNGo95m
— gary leff (@garyleff) December 4, 2023

Gary Leff, an airline industry expert, emphasizes the importance of weighing the efficiency of Clear against the cost and occasionally opting for the less expensive TSA PreCheck, especially when the verification process at Clear takes longer.

As travelers navigate the complexities of airport security lines during the peak holiday season, the TSA PreCheck vs. Clear dilemma underscores the need for a strategic approach to minimize wait times and ensure a smoother travel experience.