The Peter Rosenberg Show
The Peter Rosenberg Show was a local talk radio show broadcast in the Washington, DC area on 106.7 FM WJFK. It was hosted by Peter Rosenberg and cohost Daryl Francis.
The Peter Rosenberg Show with Daryl Francis focused on various topics including politics, sports, professional wrestling, music, movies, TV, as well as Peter and Daryl's personal lives. In contrast to the conservative political leanings of two other talk shows in the WJFK line-up, Bill O'Reilly and Jay Severin, the show was much more liberal leaning and self-described as "humble."
In addition to rap artists and producers, the show also welcomed a wide range of guests including Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer of CNN, George Stephanopolous from ABC, Ricky Gervais of "The Office" fame, Michael Wilbon from the Washington Post and ESPN, and pro wrestlers Bret Hart and Booker T. ECW color commentator, Tazz, was a frequent guest.
Early days
Rosenberg grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase high school where he participated in Student Government and played on the varsity baseball team. Rosenberg often mocks his lack of playing time on the baseball team and admits that he was more focused on music and djing.
University of Maryland
Rosenberg did his first ever radio show on July 5, 1997--two months before his first classes at the University of Maryland. He would continue to do shows at WMUC 88.1 FM in College Park for the next eight years under the show name "From Dusk til Dawn". The show's first time slot was 3-6 am on Friday Night/Saturday Morning, but would eventually work its way to the 6-9pm Friday Evening slot.
WPGC and WHFS
Towards the end of his time at Maryland, Rosenberg (who started as an intern for BET's Big Tigger) worked his way on the air at the biggest station in Washington, and one of the most successful urban stations in the country, CBS owned WPGC 95.5 FM. While at PGC, Rosenberg went by his dj monicker, "PMD", and rarlely made mention of his race or background (something much different from his college show or later his shows at XM or WJFK).
Late in 2002, Rosenberg started picking up shifts at PGC's sister station, Alt Rocker, WHFS 99.1 FM. Without much background in Rock radio, Rosenberg held his own, again under his dj name "PMD". On many occasions he would do consecutive shifts on DC's biggest Urban and Alternative stations.
The City Paper controversy
In early 2003, Rosenberg was released from WHFS and suspended by WPGC (he immediately resigned after the suspension) after comments deemed to be inappropriate by management. In an article about a local R&B group, Rosenberg was quoted as saying "DC Radio Sucks". Though the quote was taken out of context (according to Rosenberg), the damage was done.
XM Satellite Radio
Just a few weeks after being let go by Infinity, Rosenberg picked up a new gig, doing mornings for XM 67 The City. During his year as morning host for XM's commercial hip hop station, Rosenberg (still under the name "PMD") did memorable interviews with Da Brat, Pharrel Williams, The Black Eyed Peas, Ghostface Killah, Joe Budden, and many others. Early in 2004, XM ended their programming relationship with Radio One, and Rosenberg again was forced to move on. For the next year Rosenberg did a mix show on XM 65 The Rhyme called "Nineseven" which focused on old school hip hop from the late 80s and early 90s.
WJFK
In July 2005, Rosenberg did his first on air shift for WJFK on a Saturday night at 11 pm. His original co-hosts were Terrell Battle (Two Rs), Bushhead Ed, and Big Skriv. In time the team would become just Rosenberg and Skriv. After a few late shows, Rosenberg was given the opportunity to fill in for talk radio vets Ron & Fez. When the duo moved to XM in September, Rosenberg began filling in on a daily basis for their 7pm show on WJFK. Eventually Big Skriv exited and Daryl Francis was brought on as the permanent cohost for the show. After five months of filling in, Rosenberg took over his own official two hour midday shift on January 3, 2006. After six months, he was moved to weekends. After starting a 'feud'* with Don and Mike who were WJFK's most popular and nationally syndicated flagship show, station bosses had no alternative than to fire Rosenberg.
Hot 97
On June 10th, 2007, Rosenberg did his first show on New York City's famed Hot 97. The show is called "Real Late with Peter Rosenberg" and features a mix of underground hip hop, serious talk, and interviews. In the first three months, the show's guests have included Talib Kweli, Saigon, Joe Budden, Q-Tip, Noreaga, Boot Camp, and more.
Low Budget Collective / Music
Rosenberg has been affiliated with MD-DC based rap crew, Low Budget, for many years. The crew is made up of MCs, Cy Young, Kenn Starr, Sean Born, Critically Acclaimed, IQ and Kaimbr as well as producers DJ Roddy Rod and Kenwood and MC/Producers Kev Brown and Oddisee, and DJs Marshal Law and PMD (Peter Rosenberg).
Rosenberg was the long time tour DJ for Kev Brown and regularly DJ'd for Kaimbr, Kenn Starr, and Oddisee as well.
He did scratches on "Hold Fast" on Kev Brown's debut album, I Do What I Do. He hosted Kenn Starr's "The Starr Report" Mixtape, and DJ'd and hosted the "Best of Low Budget" Mixtape and "The Best of Cy Young" Mixtape.
Rosenberg also executive produced Kev Brown's Jay-Z remix album, The Brown Album, a project that he often takes credit for "coming up with" and asking Brown to do.
His other official music credits include executive producing the classic 12" by his former co-host Daryl "Quartermaine" Francis' group Critically Acclaimed. The single was called "Wallflower" b/w "Flashback" and "Flashback Remix".
He also hosted an interlude on Little Brother's second album and Atlantic Records' debut, 'The Minstrel Show.'
Rosenberg managed Kev Brown, Kenn Starr, and Kaimbr for some time, but now has little day-to-day role with any of the artists, due to the pursuit of his own career. He still remains an equity partner with his brother Nick and Judson Coplan in B Side Management. B Side manages both Peter and Kenn Starr.
Present
Rosenberg spent much of late 2006 and early 2007 focused on making youtube parodies. His first, "Throw Some Cheese On It" received a great deal of discussion and praise. His third and most recent, "This is Why Duke Sucks" has quickly reached a million views on Youtube. His series of parodies of interviews and parodies on youtube have topped 2 million views.
He currently has a show on HOT 97 in New York City entitled Real Late with Peter Rosenberg. Real Late airs from 1am to 3am on Sunday NiGHTS. Its guests thus far include Talib Kweli, Just Blaze, Pharoahe Monch, and Buckshot.
On July 4, 2007, Rosenberg appeared along side the Legendary Funkmaster Flex in a special tribute to '90s Hip Hop.
Notable interviews
- Hip Hop
- 50 Cent
- 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, and Pete Rock
- AZ
- Cassidy
- Ghostface Killah
- Joe Budden
- Little Brother
- Pharoahe Monch
- Pharrell Williams
- Phife Dawg
- Raekwon
- Royce da 5'9"
- Talib Kweli
- The Alkaholiks
- The Game
- Sports and wrestling
- Bobby Heenan
- Bret Hart
- King Booker (Booker T)
- Michael Cole
- Mike Tyson
- Mr. Kennedy
- Taz
- Tony Atlas