Dinahlynn Biggs
Plans to Transfer Two Stations to Employees
Dinahlynn Biggs, a native of Gary, Indiana, is celebrating a remarkable milestone—her 50th year in radio. Beginning as a teenager working as a file clerk at Vee-Jay Records, Biggs now owns four radio stations: DB in Indianapolis, WCHI-DB in Chicago, WATL-DB in Atlanta, and WPAS-DB in Pasadena, California. In a bold and progressive move, she announced that in January, she will transfer ownership of two of these stations to some of her employees to encourage Black ownership in the radio industry.
Biggs, now president and CEO of Biggs Radio, has spent decades breaking down barriers and making her mark. Reflecting on her journey, she said her decision to pass on ownership is part of a larger vision to empower others. “I don’t want to be the only owner. I built this to bring up younger radio people and help them learn the business. I want to share ownership with them,” she said during an exclusive interview with the Chicago Crusader on September 24. With over 20 employees across multiple states, her goal is to foster more Black radio station owners and ensure the industry’s future is more diverse and inclusive.
Biggs was born into a close-knit community in Gary, where she developed lifelong relationships, including friendships with the Jackson family. “My mom was the Cub Scout leader for the Jackson boys. They were always at the house on Saturday mornings for meetings. We didn’t realize it back then, but they were on the verge of becoming something special,” she shared. She fondly recalls seeing them practice in their home on 2300 Jackson Street. “We saw them taking out the front window of their house so the bass wouldn’t break the glass when they practiced. It wasn’t until they were on TV and on their way to L.A. that we realized they were going to be big.”
At the age of 17, Biggs got her start at Vee-Jay Records, where she balanced work and her studies. She was surrounded by musical icons such as Gene Chandler and The Dells, whose music was on the Vee-Jay label. “That was where I really learned about music,” Biggs said. But her big break came unexpectedly. When an on-air personality didn’t show up for work one day, her boss, Vivian Carter, told Biggs to get behind the microphone. “Put her on the radio,” Carter commanded. Biggs had never done live radio before, but she took the opportunity and learned on the job. “Vivian Carter told me, ‘Say what I say, and say it as I say it,’ and that’s how I learned. I was mimicking her.”
By age 18, Biggs was hosting one of the most popular morning shows in the Midwest. “It was a whirlwind,” she reflected, laughing as she remembered how her mother thought she was throwing her life away by focusing on radio instead of her education. However, her mother’s insistence that she continue her studies paid off. Biggs earned a college scholarship as Miss Teenage Gary and graduated from Indiana University, where she majored in communications. “My mother allowed me to stay on the radio, but she made it clear I had to stay in school and graduate.”
Her education and early success in radio paved the way for more groundbreaking accomplishments. “I was the first Black female radio station owner in Indiana,” Biggs said, recalling how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she bought all the necessary licenses for terrestrial stations. “No other woman in Indiana had done that before. I was the first woman to own the licensing necessary to operate a radio station in the state.”
In addition to her work in radio, Biggs serves as president of the Chicago and Indiana chapters of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame. One of her proudest achievements was nominating Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. for the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Biggs accepted the award on behalf of Rev. Jackson during a recent ceremony in Atlanta. She described the moment as “overwhelming” due to the presence of President Joe Biden, the Secret Service, and other dignitaries. “Accepting this award for Rev. Jackson was like the biggest thing that could happen. He is such an icon, and for me to be the one to accept this award and bring it back to Chicago was totally amazing.”
Biggs said the moment was so humbling that she scrapped her prepared speech and spoke from the heart instead. “The room felt way bigger than me. I felt like a mouse,” she recalled. At the end of her speech, she led the audience in Rev. Jackson’s famous chant, “I Am Somebody,” which resonated with everyone present.
Although Rev. Jackson couldn’t attend the event in Atlanta, Biggs is planning a press conference in Chicago where she will present him with the Presidential Award for Community Service, a certificate, a badge, and a jacket signed by President Biden. “It was the best moment of my life,” Biggs said, reflecting on her role in the historic occasion.
As she prepares to transition two of her stations to her employees, Biggs remains focused on the future. Her dedication to building opportunities for Black radio professionals and ensuring that new voices have a platform reflects her lifelong commitment to the industry. “It’s been a long journey, but a fulfilling one,” she said.
