21 Facts About Urban One

1.

Urban One, Inc is a Silver Spring, Maryland-based American media conglomerate.

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2.

Urban One was founded as Radio One in 1980 by Cathy Hughes, a then-recently divorced single mother, with the purchase of the Washington, DC radio station WOL-AM for $995,000.

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3.

Urban One changed the station's programming format from all-music to one that examined politics and culture from an African American perspective.

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4.

Under the guidance of recently appointed CEO Liggins, Radio Urban One went public on May 6,1999, while continuing to be controlled by the family.

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5.

In 2001, Radio One expanded into 22 markets, with 18 million listeners, making it the nation's largest urban-market radio broadcasting company.

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6.

Radio Urban One reached a peak of owning 70 stations in 22 markets in 2007.

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7.

In 1996, Radio Urban One moved its corporate offices from Washington, DC, to Lanham, Maryland.

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8.

In 2012, TV Urban One changed its programming, doubling the amount of original content, and changing the logo, while keeping its target audience.

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9.

In 2011, Interactive Urban One entered into an editorial and sales partnership with NBC News, aligning NewsUrban One with NBC's The Grio.

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10.

In 2015, Interactive Urban One launched HB Studios, a video production studio focused on creating scripted and unscripted programming about women and the diversity of their experiences.

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11.

In 1995, Radio Urban One purchased WKYS-FM in Washington, DC, for $34 million, and entered the Atlanta market by purchasing WHAT-FM for $4.

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12.

Urban One added numerous stations in the second half of the 1990s, including stations in Atlanta, St Louis, Boston, Cleveland, Richmond, San Francisco, Detroit and Boston.

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13.

In February 2001, Radio Urban One purchased rival company Blue Chip Broadcasting for approximately $135 million.

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14.

In June 2001, Radio Urban One purchased Georgia radio station WPEZ-FM from US Broadcasting for $55 million.

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15.

Also in 2004, Radio Urban One purchased country station WSNJ in Bridgeton, New Jersey, for $35 million.

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16.

In 2011, Radio Urban One changed stations in Houston, Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, from African American to general interest formats, due to low ratings.

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17.

In 2005, Radio Urban One teamed up with Reach Media to launch a new African-American-centered talk radio network, with programming hosted by the Reverend Al Sharpton, to be broadcast on up to 10 of Radio Urban One's stations, as well as stations owned by other companies.

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18.

That same month, Radio One announced that the following year, it would merge its Syndication One urban programming lineup with Reach Media.

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19.

In 2008, Radio Urban One acquired social networking firm Community Connect, the parent company of BlackPlanet, AsianAvenue and MiGente, for $38 million.

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20.

From 2006 through the beginning of 2008, Radio Urban One sold nearly $150 million in assets, primarily underperforming radio stations.

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21.

In 2007, Radio Urban One sold ten stations to Main Line Broadcasting for approximately $76 million in cash.

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