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Charese Fruge’ (@MCMediaonline) Talks To Mehgan Sapphire
June 27, 2023
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Mehgan Sapphire represents the Black Information Network (BIN) in both Los Angeles and Riverside and several iHeart Media stations across the country as a Traffic Reporter. She was one of the first Reporters for BIN, the first 24/7 news station for Black Culture. She handles recording, editing, and mixing her reports, all of which she does from her home studio. She does a lot of behind the scenes work for this job, including sifting through police reports for incidents and adding them to the traffic system so that they can get to each individual’s car, phone, GPS, and even some television stations.
Sapphire also does voice acting on the side and has a few other passion projects she works on in addition to her responsibilities for BIN. “I’m currently a featured speaker on The Mōn App, a sex-positive platform where I host chats representing queer women of color and the polyamorous community,” she explains. Sapphire is also the host of a highly successful Podcast “Sapphire's Earplay,” which she started fifteen years ago and is now in the top 2% of podcasts worldwide with 98,000 monthly listeners. “I handle all production internally. Booking, recording, editing, and producing is all done by me,” she says. “I have never outsourced any of the technical duties. Everything from mixing to music to distribution onto every podcast platform available is all taken care of from my desk.”
“I started radio at 19 while studying broadcasting at San Francisco State University,” says Sapphire. “My college radio show was a huge hit, and a few internships brought me back home to Los Angeles after I graduated in 2012. I worked here as a phone and board operator for what was then CBS Radio (now Audacy) before becoming one of the youngest producers/on-air talents at Sirius XM. By the time I was 25, I was juggling numerous positions for five different stations while producing my own successful podcast, “Sapphire’s Earplay.’”
“I grew a little disillusioned with radio after a stint in San Diego, and in 2019, I almost walked away completely. But like many others, I can never fully leave this industry I love, so I evolved,” says Sapphire. “The next year, I returned to LA to work at my current position for BIN.”
According to Sapphire, one of her biggest accomplishments in the business so far is the international success of her Podcast. She says she did it with almost no social media at all. “I have managed to overcome the bans that most social media platforms put on sexual wellness content, and now over 98k listeners are tuning in each month,” she explains. “Keep an eye on it, because I have my sights set on making into the top 0.2%!”
“As a professional in radio, I’m honestly incredibly proud of my own damn hustle,” says Sapphire. “I’ve never gone more than a month without a job in this industry, and I’ve amassed a wonderful community who knows my reputation in terms of work ethic and technical skill. The sheer breadth of jobs I’ve performed and stations I’ve worked for, when I look back on my career so far, it’s a lot to have accomplished, but what I have ahead of me is even more so, and I can’t wait to show it. I’ve never really been one to rest on my laurels.”
Despite her conviction, Sapphire’s success has not come without its challenges. “The thing that’s been really discouraging is when I’m told that companies struggle to ‘market’ me because I don’t fit into the boxes that corporations insist on living by,” she says. “For fifteen years now, I’ve faced racism, sexism, homophobia, all because I refuse to live in the closet. Some of my early radio work was in the adult industry, and I’ve continued to be an advocate of sexual education and LGBTQ+ issues, and that makes some people uncomfortable, but I refuse to be ashamed of my career choices. I’m certainly not the first. Therapy, a strong support network, and just sheer damn resilience have enabled me to continue to find work where my voice has value.”
Sapphire’s voice definitely has value when it comes to the new focus of the broadcast industry: connecting with, engaging, and creating loyalty with younger audiences. “STOP MAKING SOCIAL MEDIA THE ONLY REASON TO HIRE PEOPLE!” she says. “Social media has a lot of applications, but someone’s status as an influencer is not a reflection of their skills as an artist or performer. I talk a lot about how Instagram, TikTok, and the rest have become popularity contests where fame is mistaken for talent. I get why companies do it, they’re desperate for the next dollar and nothing sells like ‘flash in the pan,’ but in doing so, media becomes a revolving door of pretty faces instead of an industry where individuals can grow.”
“And no one is addressing the long-term mental health problems that this constant struggle to stay relevant is having on radio personalities,” says Sapphire. “White collar folks like to complain about how younger generations have no brand loyalty, but when corporations have no loyalty to the employees representing them, why do you expect a different attitude from your audience? Rather than asking a prospective hire, ‘What’s your following?’ instead ask them, ‘What can you do to stand out and resonate with our audience?’”
“As far as diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry, I haven’t seen or felt much of a shift in hiring, etc. I’m not just speaking as an openly queer woman, I also still see a lack of Black representation when it comes to jocks, PDs, and more,” says Sapphire. “It’s even more discouraging to be an L.A. native when ‘Urban’ stations tell you you’re not Black enough for the airwaves, but other stations are telling you that you’re too Urban for Rock, Country, or AC formats. What can be done? Stop assuming all Black voices sound the same - that we represent one genre, or simply ‘do not fit’ the company format you’re accustomed to.”
“Recently, a colleague told me he was let go from his station for being openly bisexual on air. If we’re supposed to be such an ‘inclusive’ industry, why are voices like his or mine so unwanted by those calling the shots?” asks Sapphire. “Unless it’s PRIDE or Black History Month, it’s a slap in the face that we’re not valued 24/7/365 like our straight, White colleagues.”
“This is another reason my podcast is so important to me,” adds Sapphire. “On ‘Sapphire’s Earplay,’ I have the privilege of using my platform to change that narrative. To be honest, I think that’s what scares companies, including the ones I’m already a part of, because I speak on topics the average radio show is afraid to touch upon. And again, my focus isn’t on one’s following, it’s about the real stories that too often get left unheard.”
And the topic that’s on everyone’s mind right now: The use of Artificial Intelligence in the radio industry. “We’re in scary, dark uncertain times with AI,” says Sapphire. “Artificial Intelligence shouldn’t replace the realism radio STILL brings. I can’t see an AI talent being empathetic to a listener going through a divorce or mental health issues, let alone directing traffic over the airwaves. I’ve received communications within the industry telling me they’re looking into ways to exploit AI so they can stop paying us, and it’s insulting to be told shamelessly that your voice doesn’t matter, and a corporation would rather take a cheap route rather than appreciate the many talents and voices this industry birthed. Personally, I’m happy to keep my podcast because there’s no way my voice will be replaced by a robot there.”
“I’ve always wanted to use my voice to help others,” says Sapphire. “So, if I wasn’t in the radio business, I’d be eyeing a position as a 911 dispatcher aiding first responders. Actually, I am eyeing that right now. Even as a child, I knew my talents were destined to help people, whether it be public speaking, singing, or some other route. At one point in college, I considered becoming a television journalist, but my professor advised that it would be a waste not to utilize my voice in radio.”
“What keeps me up at night? Being enough,” says Sapphire. “Isn’t that a lot of us? Over the years, I have been shortlisted for morning shows and drive time hosts only to be left in the dust without explanation, when I’ve put in so much work over the years and accomplished so much. But every interview for a new job starts with ‘So, how many followers do you have on TikTok?’ It’s enough for depression and anxiety to get the best of anyone.”
“I cannot tell you how many sleepless nights I’ve had over the last decade trying to be ‘enough,’ and I need that sleep. Despite my work history, I have to fight tooth and nail for every inch given to me, and it’s still not enough. I work 16-hour-days as a traffic reporter, film editor, podcaster, and voice-over artist just trying to be seen and heard. My brain never turns off, and I’m always creating and plotting my next move.”
“As far as finding balance, therapy has helped me limit things like how much I engage in social media,” she says. “Instagram didn’t make me ‘Mehgan Sapphire’ and the struggle to stay popular enough for an algorithm (there’s your AI again) has had a detrimental effect on my mental health. I focus on my hobbies, like vinyl collecting, which grants me some peace and solace but is a danger to my wallet! I engage with my community in ways that are good for me, not through posting online. And I take time off for my health, which used to terrify me. Previous employers and colleagues shunned me for taking sick days/PTO no matter how hard I worked to earn them. In my position as a traffic reporter, I have for the first time no problem telling my supervisors I need a break. Especially if I’m getting paid to do so.”
“As far as what’s ahead for me in the near future, I have a few promising voice-over gigs for national ads that I’ve been shortlisted for, so fingers crossed!” she says. “After an almost non-existent break, ‘Sapphire’s Earplay’ is back to a weekly schedule with new episodes out every Sunday. And thanks to The Mōn App, I’m launching a new community space where I can speak to listeners directly and provide dating advice, host live exclusive chats, and break down questions and concerns regarding LGBTQ+ issues, polyamory, health, and everything else under a sex positive umbrella! And who knows, you might call 911 in the near future and hear my soothing voice there for you in your time of need!”
Follow Mehgan Sapphire on her website: @MsRadioSapphire.com. And you can find her on Instagram @MsRadioSapphire and @SapphiresEarplay. And you can download The Mōn App on IOS and Android, then follow @MsRadioSapphire there!
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