From growing up in rural Alabama to constructing, owning and operating her own radio station is an accomplishment that Carol Moore Cutting has worked, sacrificed, persevered and persisted to achieve. A Tuskegee University and Springfield College graduate, her achievements are numerous, including winning many awards, recognitions and honors for her service, leadership and volunteerism.
She actively serves on the Board of Directors and is the Northeast Regional Representative of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), the first and largest trade organization representing the interests of African-American owners of cable, television and radio stations and other top leaders in the industry. Carol, who is the President, Owner and General Manager of WEIB – 106.3 Smooth FM (WEIB) radio station, overcame tremendous obstacles while dealing with the challenges of being a woman and an African American in a primarily male dominated, white industry.
This year, WEIB, the only locally owned and independent commercial FM terrestrial radio station in the Greater Springfield, MA Metro Market, celebrates 15 years of broadcasting and continues to create a caring, committed, concerned community radio station that is on air 24 hours/7days a week playing “Cool Jazz, Smooth Sounds & A Touch Of Soul”™ with a “Cutting Edge Blend”™ of programming.
When did you start your business and what was your motivation in doing so?
My vision for a radio station developed upon my arrival in Springfield where I found very little to choose from in broadcast programming. In fact, throughout New England there were only two AM daytime stations with a very limited coverage area. I began the research and groundwork in 1970, and in 1984, I submitted the application to the Federal Communications Commission for a Construction Permit (CP) to build a FM radio station. After over 15 years of endless legal proceedings and countless court appeals that went all the way to the Washington, DC Court of Appeals, I was awarded the CP and WEIB is celebrating 15 years of broadcasting excellence in 2015.
What challenges have you encountered as a woman-owned minority business?
The greatest, on-going challenges in this traditionally male dominated radio industry has to do with radio advertising—dispelling the myth that our listeners don’t have value, and in this day and age–―plain old racism. Today there are few independent radio stations with more large group corporations owning most of the stations. I’ve found that people will say and do anything to make sure you don’t get any of the advertising dollars so that you will not succeed in an effort to close you down.
Do you have a role model? If so, who and why that particular person?
Of course, there were the obvious role models of my mom, dad, husband and family. No one knew what I was attempting to do but my husband, my main confidante and supporter. My faith and many prayers for direction were also key. However, there is one person who probably has no idea of the pivotal role she played at a very critical time in my efforts to obtain the CP and that was Gayle King. I called her out of the blue and said you don’t know me and I’d like to meet with you for some advice. She agreed to meet with me at the CBS studio in Hartford and her kindness, wisdom, encouragement and objectivity was so very helpful.
How do you define success?
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” ― Booker T. Washington
This is how I’ve always defined my success. I was born, educated and raised in Livingston, Alabama, a deeply segregated town with many obstacles; I attended college with scholarships, work study and family sacrifices; I had the audacity to believe that I could own a radio station; and I built WEIB through my faith and the grace of God. This terrestrial radio station is now heard locally and globally on smart phones and the internet at www.weibfm.com. ■