After 28 Years, Radio One is Headed Back to D.C.

CATHY HUGHES, Founder

Washington, D.C. – Mayor Adrian Fenty has signed off on a real estate deal that provides $22 million in grants and incentives to the project developer and will bring Radio One’s headquarters back to the nation’s capital where it was founded 28 years ago.  While the move from Lanham, Md., where Radio One occupies several floors of a golden glass suburban office building alongside a beltway exit ramp some 12 miles outside of the city, will not save Radio One any money, it will give the urban legend a new coat of luster and perhaps an emotional jolt that the financially troubled operation could use. 

Radio One will not own any part of the development, but will be among the many operations that lease space in the project near Howard University. It will include office space, retail and, possibly, some residential space.  Fenty said bringing Radio One back to the District was “a huge priority for my administration” and referred to the development as a “catalytic project.”   It is unclear when construction on the massive $144 million project will begin. 

Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) is the nation’s seventh largest radio broadcasting company (based on 2006 net broadcast revenue) and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. Pro forma for recently announced transactions, Radio One owns and/or operates 60 radio stations located in 19 urban markets in the United States. 

Additionally, Radio One owns Magazine One, Inc. (d/b/a Giant Magazine) (www.giantmag.com), interests in TV One, LLC(www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans and Reach Media, Inc(www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner. Radio One also operates the only nationwide African-American news/talk network on free radio and programs “XM 169 The POWER,” an African-American news/talk channel, on XM Satellite Radio. 

Source: Radio & Records

Keyshia Cole Delivers 3 Straight Top 3 Singles

Keyshia Cole collects her seventh Urban top 10 as “I Remember” vaults 11-7 with Most Increased Plays (up 507). The track is her third top 10 from the album “Just Like You” following “Let It Go” and “Shoulda Let You Go.” Cole also posts Most Increased Plays at Urban AC (up 289) with an identical 11-7 climb, making her the first artist since Alicia Keys in November to simultaneously have the top gainer on both Urban and Urban AC.

Source: Radio & Records

Atlanta Radio Station Retains Ratings Leadership

CBS Radio’s urban radio station WVEE, V-103 took a couple of clicks back (9.7-9.5), but retained its comfortable 12+ lead in the Atlanta fall 2007 Arbitron ratings. Cox news/talk WSB-AM remained firmly entrenched in the No. 2 spot (7.8-7.7), while urban AC sister WALR improved (5.4-6.0). Rounding out the top five, Cox AC WSB-FM made the market’s biggest jump for the period (3.8-5.6), and Radio One gospel WPZE also climbed (3.8-4.5).

Also worth noting is that Radio One urban AC WAMJ flew 3.2-4.1, and urban sister WHTA also improved (3.4-4.0), as did Cox classic hits WSRV (3.7-4.0) and its rhythmic clustermate WBTS (2.9-3.2).

 Source: Radio & Records

Celebrating Entertainment Southern Style

Wilson Named WBR Senior VP/Urban Promotion

By Gail Mitchell, Billboard

Ken Wilson (pictured) starts Monday (Nov. 26) as senior VP of urban promotion for Warner Bros. Records. The music indgail miustry veteran succeeds Cynthia Johnson, who exited the post earlier this year. Wilson most recently served in a similar position at J Records. During his seven-year tenure, he worked with a roster that included Alicia Keys, Cassidy, Fantasia, Heather Headley, Mario and the late Luther Vandross.Prior to that, Wilson held promotion posts at Columbia Records and Arista Records and also served as president of black music at MCA Records. Warner Brothers’ urban roster includes E-40, Mike Jones, Wiz Khalifa, Talib Kweli and Tyra B. Tyra B’s debut single, “Givin’ Me a Rush,” is currently No. 49 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Chris Brown’s Kiss’ Tops Urban Radio

Chris Brown earns his first Urban No. 1 as a lead artist, while featured act T-Pain lands his fourth chart-topper of 2007, with “Kiss Kiss.” With seven top 10s since his debut in 2005, Brown’s only other appearance at No. 1 was last December as a featured vocalist, with Johnta Austin, on Bow Wow’s “Shortie Like Mine.” T-Pain, who also debuted the same year as Brown, kicked off his list of career No. 1s on R. Kelly’s “I’m A Flirt” and had his first as a lead artist with “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin).