Mike Johnson was living A COROPORATEpreneur’s dream…The one where you get paid by the job to do something and eventually your company’s clients like your work so much that they pay you on the side to do more of the same.
In his day job at RadioOne in Atlanta, Mike was responsible for producing radio ads, a ‘free’ option when you purchase radio time. But you know how the saying goes… “You get what you pay for.” So the better Mike got at producing creative ads, the more his ads stood out and the bigger his demand became. Companies began paying to ensure their spot was being produced by Mike…. Eventually, the side business became more lucrative than his day job. Of course the inevitable happened…..
“[Getting fired] was the best thing ever happened to me…..The day I got fired from Radio-One I sat on the couch in my living room for about 10 hours wondering if I had enough faith in myself to go into business for myself and something in me just snapped and said “If it doesn’t work out you could always get another job, but you will always wonder what would’ve happened if you didn’t try.” -Mike Johnson
Deciding to set up Groundrush media in June of 1999, Mike took control of his own destiny and quickly his firm became the go-to firm for, not only his radio work but for regional Advertising across all mediums. Now, 10 years, and numerous awards later Mike has his sights set on another frontier. Earlier this year, he launched the online radio station beehivefm and is now billing it as the future of radio. To some that statement would be laughable, however it is far from impossible.
(Now that is some irony. You get fired from a job and first you take some client work, and now you want the industry itself)
With radio production experience that puts them on par with terrestrial radio, Beehivefm has created a quality platform, from which new voices, and personalities have arrived on the national scene. Their roster of talent is made up of some Atlanta’s key tastemakers and is quickly becoming mandatory daytime listening for a growing internet audience. And with no corporate oversight they have the opportunity to create a unique programming experience. The only trick left to leverage Groundrush’s advertising experience to bring in ad revenue and sponsors.
Get to know Mike’s work at www.beehivefm.com or www.groundrushmedia.com
Very insighful…I listen to BeeHive raido when Kenny Burns had a show on there….WAAAAY better than traditional radio because they played GOOD music and not just top 40. Music from the 90s, early 2000s…from all genres. There was more talking than music too and the shows are very interactive due to ustream…which made the show kind of addictive lol because you felt like you were going to the coffee shop from the show “friends” or the after school spot on “saved by the bell” to hang out with your amigos for a couple hours! I enjoyed the experience
Wait a minute!!!! Is this MJ for 3?!? I would have never known…I’ve seen him on the show before…not knowing his background I thought he was just another personality….little did I know he is the one who launched Beehive itself! Never judge a book by its cover