As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built overnight, and the same holds resoundingly true for Urban One, Inc.
But it’s taken a considerably less amount of time for Cathy Hughes to build what first started as Radio One into the formidable multimedia empire that it has become today than it did for the Holy Roman Empire to come into fruition.
Tuesday marks the 43rd anniversary of when Hughes founded Radio One, a project of her own passions that she turned into one of the top Black-owned businesses in the United States.
MORE: A Timeline Of How Cathy Hughes Built A Black Empire
From its humble beginnings as a broadcast radio-only business model to not only owning dozens and dozens of radio stations around the country but also making triumphant expansions into television and the internet, Radio One’s ultimate transformation into Urban One is nothing short of remarkable. Not only from a business standpoint but also from one that is cultural, as the umbrella company’s successful media outlets reach a stunning number of Black households — more than 80% of Black households, to be sure.
From TV One to Radio One to Reach Media to One Solution to iOne Digital — the company’s digital arm that serves as home to NewsOne and other popular websites with widespread name recognition such as Bossip, MadameNoire and Global Grind — Urban One’s evolution from its humble beginnings in 1980 is an inimitable accomplishment in Black-owned media and in Black business ownership in general.
“With great pride, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cathy Hughes, our visionary Founder and Chairperson,” Urban One said in a statement on Tuesday. “She fearlessly pursued her dream, giving rise to the extraordinary company Urban One. This remarkable collection of brands – Radio One, TV One, Reach Media, iOne Digital, One Solution, and One VIP stands as a beacon that not only informs but also inspires and educates our cherished audience of listeners, viewers,…
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