SLYOU Magazine Issue 1 | Page 67

quality. The team also assists companies with developing market plans and market research. If there is any truth to the premise that a successful startup is one that survives the three-year threshold, then VYBE Radio would b considered a definite hit. When the radio station opened its doors at Bois d’Orange upstairs the Tile World building, Williams and Griffith felt that broadcast media as we know it would not remain viable forever. They knew they had to adapt to remain relevant. They had to bring a different vibe. Indeed, they have. “We see this huge shift in social media and believe that’s the way to go,” Williams explained. “We’ve fused radio with social media quite nicely; however, we’re still trying to refine that fusion. I don’t think we’re at a point where we’ve settled just yet.” Whereas many media houses see social media as a complement to what they do on-air, VYBE Radio sees it in the reverse: that social media will eventually replace what happens on air. In the digital radio era, VYBE Radio has positioned itself strategically to capitalize on those benefits. “It’s a multifaceted approach. We don’t see ourselves as a radio station, but rather a media house that offers a wide range of services. We’re just trying to continue being innovative and always have a fresh approach. The way the market operates these days, with trends changing by the minute, you need to keep yourself fresh and relevant,” Williams explained. Speaking to the journey thus far, Griffith said it’s been quite a ride. Inasmuch as they knew what we were doing when they started out three years ago, he admitted that they were scared. Despite facing mounting challenges at the time, he said they poker-faced because they could not afford to fail since they had invested their life savings. During his days at RCI, Griffith tried to get management’s blessings to host a regular gospel programme but was met with resistance. At VYBE Radio, he was able to realize that dream, chalking it up to “the Big Man upstairs stepping in”. Today the greatest gospel show in the universe is one of the many blessings VYBE Radio calls its own. Griffith said VYBE Radio has been blessed with great staff, adding that the business has honed and made him grow into a different person. There’s also that fun/ work environment that exists at VYBE Radio which Griffith said is a perfect combination that creative people demand. “Prayer means a lot. Sometimes I wake up and ask myself if I’m really ready for this. That’s when prayer comes in,” Griffith said. Prayers and everything else good aside, there’s no denying that three years later, VYBE Radio still has us feelin’ the vibe. “Sometimes creative people need to breathe. Other times they need you to be on their backs to motivate them. But, at the end of the day, you need everyone having the same goal in mind,” he explained. According to Griffith, VYBE Radio is more than just ads and music. It’s a vibe, a movement, a lifestyle. Listeners can expect a few big things from the radio station soon, or as he puts it: “Something humungous. Compared to what’s about to come, Breakfast Fete is lunch.” Griffith expressed gratitude the radio station’s staff, many sponsors and fans who genuinely believe in what VYBE Radio has set out to do, adding that such loyalty is priceless. With listeners across the world tuning into VYBE Radio every day, he said that delivering a high quality product makes it all worthwhile. www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019 SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle 65