Detroit’s Sports Rap Radio, The First All-Black-Led Sports Radio Station In The US, Has Been Shut Down — ’I Failed My People’

Created with good intention, Detroit, MI-based Sports Rap Radio has been shut down.

As Blavity previously reported, it was the first all-Black-led sports radio station based in the United States. It was brought to life with the help of former Detroit sports anchor Rob Parker and his peers including former NBA player B.J. Armstrong and former college stars Dave Kenney and Maurice “Moe” Ways.

“[This is] history-making,” Parker told CBS News at the time. “[It’s] groundbreaking, [and] we just believe that the time has come.”

The need for a a fully Black-led radio station was essential, according to Parker, who considered it a “problem” the city didn’t already have one, when looking at its population.

“Just four years ago, there were no Black full-time sports hosts on the radio in Detroit,” he mentioned, per CBS News. “In a city that’s nearly 80 percent Black, I looked at that as a problem.”

The station launched on June 4, 2024 on AM 1270 leasing WXYT from Audacy, according to Barrett Media. It aired 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., notes Awful Announcing.

However within three months of launching on airways, the station reached its finish line at 5 p.m. ET on Aug. 27 due to lack of funding.

“Sadly, our second round of funding didn’t come through, making it difficult to continue,” explained Parker, according to Barrett Media.

Parker doubles down on the importance of launching Sports Rap Radio and notes the disappointment it brings to the community with its closing.

“Sports Rap Radio, the idea and concept, is viable and serves the under represented Black community in sports-talk radio,” Parker said. “I’m proud that we were able to launch the first all-Black sports talk station in this country. I’m proud of the product the staff delivered. But I’m devastated that I couldn’t deliver this for our culture. I failed my people.”

Employees of Sports Rap Radio will still receive their compensation, notes Barrett Media.