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URBAN ONE INC

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Jun 7, 2024.

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About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Jun 7, 2024

UONE$3.95-2.7%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Item 1. Business

Overview

Urban One, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, (collectively, “Urban One,” the “Company”, “we”, “our” and/or “us”) is an urban-oriented, multi-media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. Our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise which is the largest radio broadcasting operation that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. As of December 31, 2023, we owned and/or operated 72 independently formatted, revenue producing broadcast stations (including 57 FM or AM stations, 13 HD stations, and the 2 low power television stations we operate), located in 13 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. While a core source of our revenue has historically been and remains the sale of local and national advertising for broadcast on our radio stations, our strategy is to operate the premier multi-media entertainment and information content platform targeting African-American and urban consumers. Thus, we have diversified our revenue streams by making acquisitions and investments in other complementary media properties. Our diverse media and entertainment interests include TV One, LLC (“TV One”), which operates two cable television networks targeting African-American and urban viewers, TV One and CLEO TV; our 90.0% ownership interest in Reach Media, Inc. (“Reach Media”) which operates the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and our other syndicated programming assets, including the Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell Show, and the DL Hughley Show; and Interactive One, LLC (“Interactive One”), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its iONE Digital, Cassius and Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company completed the sale of its investment in MGM National Harbor (the “MGM Investment”), a gaming resort located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Please refer to Note 3(q) –Investments of our consolidated financial statements for more details. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to communicate with African-American and urban audiences.

Our core radio broadcasting franchise operates under the brand “Radio One.” We also operate other brands, such as TV One, CLEO TV, Reach Media, iONE Digital and One Solution, while developing additional branding reflective of our diverse media operations and our targeting of African-American and urban audiences.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of Urban One and subsidiaries in which Urban One has a controlling financial interest, which is generally determined when the Company holds a majority voting interest. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Noncontrolling interests have been recognized where a controlling interest exists, but the Company owns less than 100% of the controlled entity.

The Company is required to include in its consolidated financial statements, the financial statements of variable interest entities (“VIE”). Under the VIE model, the Company consolidates an investment if it has control to direct the activities of the entity and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

Recent Developments

On April 11, 2023, the Company entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Cox Media Group (“the CMG Acquisition”) to purchase its Houston radio cluster. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to acquire 93Q Country KKBQ-FM, classic rock station The Eagle 106.9 & 107.5 KHPT-FM and KGLK-FM, and Country Legends 97.1 KTHT-FM. The transaction price was $27.5 million. The acquisition was completed on August 1, 2023. As part of the FCC approval of and closing conditions of the CMG Acquisition, the Company was required to divest two stations KTHT-FM and KROI-FM before it could close the CMG Acquisition. On June 7, 2023, the Company entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Educational Media Foundation (“EMF”) to sell KTHT-FM, and all its assets, for $3.1 million (“the KTHT Divestiture”). Immediately prior to the closing of the CMG Acquisition on August 1, 2023, the KTHT-FM assets were transferred directly into an irrevocable trust until the sale to EMF was finalized. On November 1, 2023, after the approval by the FCC, the KTHT Divestiture was completed.

In anticipation of the FCC divestiture requirement and the CMG Acquisition, the Company agreed to sell its KROI-FM radio broadcasting license along with the associated station assets from the radio broadcasting segment to an unrelated third party for approximately $7.5 million. The identified assets and liabilities of KROI-FM have a combined carrying value of approximately $9.9 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The major category of the assets included radio broadcasting licenses in the amount of approximately $7.3 million (net of impairment of approximately $16.8 million included in impairment of goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived assets, on the consolidated statement of operations). On August 1, 2023, immediately prior to the closing of the CMG Acquisition, the identified assets and liabilities were transferred to an irrevocable trust and removed from the Company’s ownership and consolidated balance sheet as part of customary closing terms. The identified assets and liabilities will remain in the trust until the transaction is complete, which is anticipated to occur in 2024. As the identified assets and liabilities of KROI-FM were held in an irrevocable trust and the respective divestiture had not been completed as of December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded a right to receive payment from KROI-FM’s acquirer as a receivable of $5.6 million within other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023.

Segments

As part of our consolidated financial statements, consistent with our financial reporting structure and how the Company currently manages its businesses, we have provided selected financial information on the Company’s four reportable segments: (i) radio broadcasting; (ii) cable television; (iii) Reach Media; and (iv) digital. Business activities unrelated to these four segments are included in an “all other” category which the Company refers to as “All Other - Corporate/Eliminations.” (See Note 15 –Segment Information of our consolidated financial statements*.*)

Our Radio Station Portfolio, Strategy and Markets

As noted above, our core business is our radio broadcasting franchise which is the largest radio broadcasting operation in the country primarily targeting African-American and urban listeners. Within the markets in which we operate, we strive to build clusters of radio stations with each radio station targeting different demographic segments of the African-American population. This clustering and programming segmentation strategy allows us to achieve greater penetration within the distinct segments of our overall target market. In addition, we have been able to achieve operating efficiencies by consolidating office and studio space where possible to minimize duplicative management positions and reduce overhead expenses. Depending on market conditions, changes in ratings methodologies and economic and demographic shifts, from time to time, we may reprogram some of our stations in underperforming segments of certain markets.

As of December 31, 2023, we owned and/or operated 72 independently formatted, revenue producing broadcast stations (including 57 FM or AM stations, 13 HD stations, and the 2 low power television stations we operate but excluding translators) located in 13 of the most populous African-American markets in the United States. The following tables set forth further selected information about our portfolio of radio stations that we owned and/or operated as of December 31, 2023.

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​ · ​ · Urban One · ​ · Market Data
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Entire Audience · ​ · Ranking by Size of · ​ · Estimated Fall 2023
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Four Book · ​ · African-American · ​ · Metro
​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Average Audience · ​ · Population Persons · ​ · Population Persons
Market​Number of Stations*​Share(1)​12+(2)​12+
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​African-
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Total​American
​FMAMHDLP/TV**​​(millions)%
Atlanta4115.425.236
Washington, DC4210.935.127
Dallas23.856.618
Houston5​421.166.218
Philadelphia2​24.574.720
Baltimore22113.1112.430
Charlotte51120.4122.523
Raleigh-Durham416.7191.821
Cleveland22112.2211.820
Richmond4218.0251.129
Columbus5​17.2261.818
Indianapolis512132.3301.717
Cincinnati2116.1341.913
Total4611132
(1)Audience share data are for the 12+ demographic and derived from the Nielsen Survey ending with the Fall 2023 Nielsen Survey.
(2)Population estimates are from the Nielsen Radio Market Survey Population, Rankings and Information, Fall 2023.
*19 non-independently formatted HD stations and 14 non-independently formatted translators owned and operated by the Company are not included in the above station count. Changes in the programming of our HD stations or translators may alter our station count from time to time.
**Low power television station
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​ · Market Rank Metro · ​ · ​
Market​Population 2023​Format​Target Demo
Atlanta7​​
​​​​​​​
WAMJ/WUMJ​Urban AC25-54
WHTA​Urban Contemporary18-34
WPZE​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
WAMJ-HD2​Urban Contemporary25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​
Washington DC​8​​​​
​​​​
WKYS​Urban Contemporary18-34
WMMJ/WDCJ​Urban AC25-54
WPRS​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
WOL-AM​News/Talk35-64
WYCB-AM​​​Gospel​35-64
​​​​
​​​​​​​
Philadelphia9​​
​​​​
WPPZ​Adult Contemporary25-54
WRNB​Urban Contemporary25-54
WPPZ-HD2​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
WRNB-HD2​Urban AC25-54
​​​​
​​​​​​​
Houston6​​
​​​​​​​
KBXX​Urban Contemporary18-34
KMJQ​Urban AC25-54
KKBQ​Country25-54
KGLK/KHPT​​​Classic Rock​25-54
KMJQ HD2​​​Contemporary Inspirational​25-54
WGLK HD2​Variety 80s/90s25-54
KKBQ HD 2​​​Country Legends​25-54
KKBQ HD 3​Texas Country25-54
​​​​
Dallas5​​
​​​​
KBFB​Urban Contemporary18-34
KZMJ​​​Urban Contemporary​25-54
​​​​
​​​​​​​
Baltimore23​​
​​​​
WERQ​Urban Contemporary18-34
WOLB​News/Talk35-64
WWIN-FM​Urban AC25-54
WWIN-AM​Gospel35-64
WLIF-HD2​​​Contemporary Inspirational​25-54
​​​​
​​​​​​​
Charlotte21​​
​​​​
WPZS​​​Contemporary Inspirational​25-54
WOSF​Urban AC / Old School25-54
WOSF-HD2​​​Urban Contemporary​18-34
WBT AM/FM​News Talk25-54
WFNZ​Sports Talk25-54
WLNK​Hot Adult Contemporary25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​
Cincinnati​33​​​​
​​​​
WIZF​Urban Contemporary18-34
WOSL​Urban AC / Old School25-54
WDBZ-AM​​​Talk​35-64
WIZF-HD3​Hispanic25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Cleveland​35​​​​
​​​​
WENZ​​​Urban Contemporary​18-34
WERE-AM​News/Talk35-64
WJMO-AM​​​Contemporary Inspirational​35-64
WZAK​Urban AC25-54
WENZ-HD2​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
​ · ​ · ​ · ​
​ · ​ · ​ · ​
Columbus​36​​​​
​​​​
WCKX/WHTD​​​Urban Contemporary​18-34
WXMG​Urban AC25-54
WJYD​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
WWLG​Hispanic25-54
WQMC-TV​​​Television​25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​
Raleigh​37​​​​
​​​​
WFXC/WFXK​Urban AC25-54
WQOK​Urban Contemporary18-34
WNNL​Contemporary Inspirational25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​
Indianapolis​38​​​​
​​​​
WTLC-FM​Urban AC25-54
WHHH​Urban Contemporary18-34
WTLC-AM​Contemporary Inspirational35-64
WIBC​News Talk25-54
WHHH-HD2/HD3​​​Regional Mexican​25-54
WLHK​​​Country​25-54
WIBC-HD2​​​Sports Talk​25-54
WYXB​​​Adult Contemporary​25-54
WDNI-TV​​​Television​25-54
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Richmond​53​​​​
​​​​​​​
WKJS/WKJM​​​Urban AC​25-54
WCDX​​​Urban Contemporary​18-34
WPZZ​​​Contemporary Inspirational​25-54
WXGI-AM/WTPS-AM​​​Classic Hip Hop​25-54

AC-refers to Adult Contemporary

Old School - refers to Old School Hip/Hop

For the year ended December 31, 2023, approximately 31.2% of our net revenue was generated from the sale of advertising in our core radio business, excluding Reach Media. We consider our radio broadcasting segment to be our core radio business. Within our core radio business, seven (Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, and Washington, DC) of the 13 markets in which we operated radio stations throughout 2023 or a portion thereof accounted for approximately 76.6% of our radio station net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from the seven significant contributing radio markets, accounted for approximately 36.1% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023. Adverse events or conditions (economic, including government cutbacks or otherwise) could lead to declines in the contribution of Reach Media or declines in one or more of the seven significant contributing radio markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our overall financial performance and results of operations.

Radio Advertising Revenue

Substantially all net revenue generated from our radio franchise is generated from the sale of local, national and network advertising. Local sales are made by the sales staff located in our markets. National sales are made primarily by Katz Communications, Inc. (“Katz”), a firm specializing in radio advertising sales on the national level. Katz is paid agency commissions on the advertising sold. Approximately 57.5% of our net revenue from our core radio business for the year ended December 31, 2023, was generated from the sale of local advertising and 34.9% from sales to national advertisers, including network/syndication advertising. The balance of net revenue from our radio segment is primarily derived from ticket sales, and revenue related to sponsored events, management fees and other alternative revenue.

Advertising rates charged by radio stations are based primarily on:

●a radio station’s audience share within the demographic groups targeted by the advertisers;
●the number of radio stations in the market competing for the same demographic groups; and
●the supply and demand for radio advertising time.

A radio station’s listenership is measured by the Portable People Meter TM (the “PPMTM”) system or diary ratings surveys, both of which estimate the number of listeners tuned to a radio station and the time they spend listening to that radio station. Ratings are used by advertisers to evaluate whether to advertise on our radio stations, and are used by us to chart audience size, set advertising rates and adjust programming. Advertising rates are generally highest during the morning and afternoon commuting hours.

Cable Television, Reach Media and Digital Segments, Strategy and Sources of Revenue and Income

As a diversified media company, our operations include media forms that are complementary to our radio business. In a strategy similar to our radio market segmentation, we have multiple complementary media and online brands. Each of these brands focuses on a different segment of African-American consumers. With our multiple brands, we are able to direct advertisers to specific audiences within the urban communities in which we are located, or to bundle the brands for advertising sales purposes when advantageous.

TV One, our primary cable television franchise targeting the African-American and urban communities, derives its revenue from advertising and affiliate revenue. Advertising revenue is derived from the sale of television airtime to advertisers and is recognized when the advertisements are run. TV One also derives revenue from affiliate fees under the terms of various affiliation agreements generally based upon a per subscriber royalty for the right to distribute the Company’s programming under the terms of the distribution contracts. Our other cable television franchise, CLEO TV, is a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting Millennial and Gen X women of color that is also operated by TV One, LLC. CLEO TV derives its revenue principally from advertising.

Reach Media, our syndicated radio unit, primarily derives its revenue from the sale of advertising in connection with its syndicated radio shows, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Get Up! Mornings with Erica Campbell Show and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to being broadcast on 50 Urban One stations, our syndicated radio programming also was available on 224 non-Urban One stations throughout the United States as of December 31, 2023.

We have launched websites that simultaneously stream radio station content for each of our radio stations, and we derive revenue from the sale of advertisements on those websites. We generally encourage our web advertisers to run simultaneous radio campaigns and use mentions in our radio airtime to promote our websites. By providing streaming, we have been able to broaden our listener reach, particularly to “office hour” listeners, including at home “office hour” listeners. We believe streaming has had a positive impact on our radio stations’ reach to listeners. In addition, our station websites link to our other online properties operated by our primary digital unit, Interactive One. Interactive One operates the largest social networking site primarily targeting African-Americans and other branded websites, including Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire. Interactive One derives revenue from advertising services on non-radio station branded

websites, and studio services where Interactive One provides services to other publishers. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements. Advertising revenue is recognized as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered.

Finally, we have made other investments in the entertainment industry, such as our past investment in MGM National Harbor, a casino operation in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Our MGM Investment entitled us to an annual cash distribution based on net gaming revenue from gaming activities conducted on the site of the facility. In March 2023, the Company exercised the put option available to it and received approximately $136.8 million at the time of settlement of the put option in April 2023. Future opportunities could include investments in, acquisitions of, or the development of companies in diverse media businesses, gaming and entertainment, music production and distribution, movie distribution, internet-based services, and distribution of our content through emerging distribution systems such as the Internet, smartphones, cellular phones, tablets, and the home entertainment market.

Competition

The media industry is highly competitive and we face intense competition across our core radio franchise and all of our complementary media properties and investments. Our media properties compete for audiences and advertising revenue with other radio stations and with other media such as broadcast and cable television, the Internet, satellite radio, newspapers, magazines, direct mail and outdoor advertising, some of which may be owned or controlled by horizontally-integrated companies. Audience ratings and advertising revenue are subject to change and any adverse change in a market could adversely affect our net revenue in that market. If a competing radio station converts to a format similar to that of one of our radio stations, or if one of our competitors strengthens its signal or operations, our stations could suffer a reduction in ratings and advertising revenue. Other media companies which are larger and have more resources may also enter or increase their presence in markets or segments in which we operate. Although we believe our media properties are well positioned to compete, we cannot assure you that our properties will maintain or increase their current ratings, market share or advertising revenue.

Providing content across various platforms is a highly competitive business. Our digital and cable television segments compete for the time and attention of internet users and viewers and, thus, advertisers and advertising revenues with a wide range of internet companies such as Amazon TM, Netflix TM, Yahoo! TM, Google TM, and Microsoft TM, with social networking sites such as Facebook TM and TikTok TM and with traditional media companies, which are increasingly offering their own digital products and services both organically and through acquisition. We experience competition for the development and acquisition of content, distribution of content, sale of commercial time on our digital and cable television networks and viewership. There is competition from other digital companies, production studios and other television networks for the acquisition of content and creative talent such as writers, producers and directors. Our ability to produce and acquire popular content is an important competitive factor for the distribution of our content, attracting viewers and the sale of advertising. Our success in securing popular content and creative talent depends on various factors such as the number of competitors providing content that targets the same genre and audience, the distribution of our content, viewership, and the production, marketing and advertising support we provide.

Our TV One and CLEO TV cable television networks compete with other networks and platforms for the acquisition and distribution of content and for fees charged to cable television operators, DTH satellite service providers, and other distributors that carry our content. Our ability to secure distribution agreements is necessary to ensure the retention of our audiences. Our contractual agreements with distributors are renewed or renegotiated from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Growth in the number of networks distributed, consolidation and other market conditions in the cable and satellite distribution industry, and increased popularity of other platforms may adversely affect our ability to obtain and maintain contractual terms for the distribution of our content that are as favorable as those currently in place. The ability to secure distribution agreements is dependent upon the production, acquisition and packaging of original content, viewership, the marketing and advertising support and incentives provided to distributors, the product offering across a series of networks within a region, and the prices charged for carriage.

Our networks and digital products compete with other television networks, including broadcast, cable, local networks and other content distribution outlets for their target audiences and the sale of advertising. Our success in selling advertising is a function of the size and demographics of our audiences, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the audience of

each network, the perceived quality of the network and of the particular content, the brand appeal of the network and ratings/algorithms as determined by third-party research companies or search engines, prices charged for advertising and overall advertiser demand in the marketplace.

Federal Antitrust Laws

The agencies responsible for enforcing the federal antitrust laws, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) or the Department of Justice, may investigate certain acquisitions. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific FTC or Department of Justice investigation. Any decision by the FTC or the Department of Justice to challenge a proposed acquisition could affect our ability to consummate the acquisition or to consummate it on the proposed terms. For an acquisition meeting certain size thresholds, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 requires the parties to file Notification and Report Forms concerning antitrust issues with the FTC and the Department of Justice and to observe specified waiting period requirements before consummating the acquisition.

Federal Regulation of Radio Broadcasting

The radio broadcasting industry is subject to extensive and changing regulation by the FCC and other federal agencies of ownership, programming, technical operations, employment and other business practices. The FCC regulates radio broadcast stations pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). The Communications Act permits the operation of radio broadcast stations only in accordance with a license issued by the FCC upon a finding that the grant of a license would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity. Among other things, the FCC:

●assigns frequency bands for radio broadcasting;
●determines the particular frequencies, locations, operating power, interference standards, and other technical parameters for radio broadcast stations;
●issues, renews, revokes and modifies radio broadcast station licenses;
●imposes annual regulatory fees and application processing fees to recover its administrative costs;
●establishes technical requirements for certain transmitting equipment to restrict harmful emissions;
●adopts and implements regulations and policies that affect the ownership, operation, program content, employment, and business practices of radio broadcast stations; and
●has the power to impose penalties, including monetary forfeitures, for violations of its rules and the Communications Act.

The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of an FCC license, or the transfer of control of an FCC licensee, without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to grant or renew a radio broadcast license or consent to the assignment or transfer of control of a license, the FCC considers a number of factors, including restrictions on foreign ownership, compliance with FCC media ownership limits and other FCC rules, the character and other qualifications of the licensee (or proposed licensee) and compliance with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. A licensee’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Communications Act or FCC rules and policies may result in the imposition of sanctions, including admonishment, fines, the grant of a license renewal for less than a full eight-year term or with conditions, denial of a license renewal application, the revocation of an FCC license, and/or disqualification from acquiring additional broadcast properties.

Congress, the FCC and, in some cases, other federal agencies and local jurisdictions are considering or may in the future consider and adopt new laws, regulations and policies that could affect the operation, ownership and profitability of

our radio stations, result in the loss of audience share and advertising revenue for our radio broadcast stations or affect our ability to acquire additional radio broadcast stations or finance such acquisitions. Such matters include or may include:

●changes to the license authorization and renewal process;
●proposals to increase record keeping, including enhanced disclosure of stations’ efforts to serve the public interest;
●proposals to impose spectrum use or other fees on FCC licensees;
●changes to rules relating to political broadcasting, including proposals to grant free airtime to candidates, and other changes regarding political and non-political program content, political advertising rates and sponsorship disclosures;
●revised rules and policies regarding the regulation of the broadcast of indecent content;
●proposals to increase the actions stations must take to demonstrate service to their local communities;
●technical and frequency allocation matters;
●changes in broadcast multiple ownership, foreign ownership, cross-ownership and ownership attribution rules and policies;
●service and technical rules for digital radio, including possible additional public interest requirements for terrestrial digital audio broadcasters;
●legislation that would provide for the payment of sound recording royalties to artists, musicians or record companies whose music is played on terrestrial radio stations; and
●changes to tax laws affecting broadcast operations and acquisitions.

The FCC also has adopted procedures for the auction of broadcast spectrum in circumstances where two or more parties have filed mutually exclusive applications for authority to construct new stations or certain major changes in existing stations. Such procedures may limit our efforts to modify or expand the broadcast signals of our stations.

We cannot predict what changes, if any, might be adopted or considered in the future, or what impact, if any, the implementation of any particular proposals or changes might have on our business.

FCC License Grants and Renewals. In making licensing determinations, the FCC considers an applicant’s legal, technical, character and other qualifications. The FCC grants radio broadcast station licenses for specific periods of time and, upon application, may renew them for additional terms. A station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license renewal application is pending. Under the Communications Act, radio broadcast station licenses may be granted for a maximum term of eight years.

Generally, the FCC renews radio broadcast licenses without a hearing upon a finding that:

●the radio station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity;
●there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations; and
●there have been no other violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and regulations which, taken together, indicate a pattern of abuse.

After considering these factors and any petitions to deny or informal objections against a license renewal application (which may lead to a hearing), the FCC may grant the license renewal application with or without conditions, including renewal for a term less than the maximum otherwise permitted. Historically, our licenses have been renewed for full eight-year terms without any conditions or sanctions; however, there can be no assurance that the licenses of each of our stations will be renewed for a full term without conditions or sanctions.

Types of FCC Broadcast Licenses. The FCC classifies each AM and FM radio station. An AM radio station operates on either a clear channel, regional channel or local channel. A clear channel serves wide areas, particularly at night. A regional channel serves primarily a principal population center and the contiguous rural areas. A local channel serves primarily a community and the suburban and rural areas immediately contiguous to it. AM radio stations are designated as Class A, Class B, Class C or Class D. Class A, B and C stations each operate unlimited time. Class A radio stations render primary and secondary service over an extended area. Class B stations render service only over a primary service area. Class C stations render service only over a primary service area that may be reduced as a consequence of interference. Class D stations operate either during daytime hours only, during limited times only, or unlimited time with low nighttime power.

FM class designations depend upon the geographic zone in which the transmitter of the FM radio station is located. The minimum and maximum facilities requirements for an FM radio station are determined by its class. In general, commercial FM radio stations are classified as follows, in order of increasing power and antenna height: Class A, B1, C3, B, C2, C1, C0 and C. The FCC has adopted a rule subjecting Class C FM stations that do not satisfy a certain antenna height requirement to an involuntary downgrade in class to Class C0 under certain circumstances.

Urban One’s Licenses. The following table sets forth information with respect to each of our radio stations for which we held the license as of December 31, 2023. Stations which we did not own as of December 31, 2023, but operated under an LMA, are not reflected on this table. A broadcast station’s market may be different from its community of license. The coverage of an AM radio station is chiefly a function of the power of the radio station’s transmitter, less dissipative power losses and any directional antenna adjustments. For FM radio stations, signal coverage area is chiefly a function of the radio station’s ERP and the HAAT of the radio station’s antenna. “ERP” refers to the effective radiated power of an FM radio station. “HAAT” refers to the height above average terrain of an FM radio station antenna. The table below excludes HD Radio multicast streams and LPTV stations.

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​ · ​ · ​ · ​ · Year of · FCC · ​ · Power · ​ · HAAT in · ​ · Broadcasting · ​ · License
Market​Station Call Letters​Acquisition​Class​Kilowatts​Meters​Frequency​Expiration Date
AtlantaWUMJ-FM1999C38.516597.5 MHz4/1/2028
​WAMJ-FM1999C233185107.5 MHz4/1/2028
​WHTA-FM2002C235177107.9 MHz4/1/2028
​WPZE-FM1999A3143102.5 MHz4/1/2028
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Washington, DCWOL-AM1980C0.37N/A1450 kHz10/1/2027
​WMMJ-FM1987A2.9146102.3 MHz10/1/2027
​WKYS-FM1995B24.521593.9 MHz10/1/2027
​WPRS-FM2008B20.0244104.1 MHz10/1/2027
​WYCB-AM1998C1.0N/A1340 kHz10/1/2027
​WDCJ-FM2017A2.216992.7 MHz10/1/2027
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
PhiladelphiaWRNB-FM2000B12.5302.0100.3 MHz8/1/2030
​WPPZ-FM2004A0.8276.0107.9 MHz6/1/2030
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
HoustonKMJQ-FM2000C100524102.1 MHz8/1/2029
​​KKBQ-FM​2023​C​100​585​92.9 MHz​8/1/2029
​KBXX-FM2000C10058597.9 MHz8/1/2029
​KHPT-FM2023C100579106.9 MHz8/1/2029
​​KGLK-FM​2023​C​98​601​107.5 MHz​8/1/2029
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
DallasKBFB-FM2000C10057497.9 MHz8/1/2029
​KZMJ-FM2001C10059194.5 MHz8/1/2029
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BaltimoreWWIN-AM1992C0.5N/A1400 kHz10/1/2027
​WWIN-FM1992A39195.9 MHz10/1/2027
​WOLB-AM1993D0.25N/A1010 kHz10/1/2027
​WERQ-FM1993B3717392.3 MHz10/1/2027
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CharlotteWFNZ-FM2000C310.515492.7 MHz12/1/2027
​WPZS-FM2004A694100.9 MHz12/1/2027
​WOSF-FM2014C151395105.3 MHz12/1/2027
​​WBT-FM​2021​C3​7.7​182​99.3 MHz​12/1/2027
​​WBT-AM​2021​A​50​N/A​1110 kHz​12/1/2027
​​WFNZ-AM​2021​B​5​N/A​610 kHz​12/1/2027
​​WLNK-FM​2021​C​100​516​107.9 MHz​12/1/2027
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ClevelandWJMO-AM1999B5N/A1300 kHz10/1/2028
​WENZ-FM1999B16272107.9 MHz10/1/2028
​WZAK-FM2000B27.518993.1 MHz10/1/2028
​WERE-AM2000C1N/A1490 kHz10/1/2028
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Raleigh-DurhamWQOK-FM2000C25014697.5 MHz12/1/2027
​WFXK-FM2000C1100299104.3 MHz12/1/2027
​WFXC-FM2000C313141107.1 MHz12/1/2027
​WNNL-FM2000C37.9176103.9 MHz12/1/2027
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RichmondWPZZ-FM1999C1100299104.7 MHz10/1/2027
​WCDX-FM2001B14.523592.1 MHz10/1/2027
​WKJM-FM2001A610099.3 MHz10/1/2027
​WKJS-FM2001A2.3162105.7 MHz10/1/2027
​WTPS-AM2001C1N/A1240 kHz10/1/2027
​WXGI-AM2017D3.9N/A950 kHz10/1/2027
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ColumbusWCKX-FM2001A1.9126107.5 MHz10/1/2028
​WHTD-FM2001A699106.3 MHz10/1/2028
​WXMG-FM2016B2123295.5 MHz10/1/2028
​WJYD-FM2016A6100107.1 MHz10/1/2028
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IndianapolisWTLC-FM2000A699106.7 MHz8/1/2028
​WHHH-FM2000A6100100.9 MHz8/1/2028
​WTLC-AM2001B5N/A1310 kHz8/1/2028
​​WIBC-FM​2022​B​13.530293.1 MHz8/1/2028
​​WYXB-FM​2022​B​50150105.7 MHz8/1/2028
​​WLHK-FM​2022​B​2322397.1 MHz8/1/2028
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CincinnatiWIZF-FM2001A2.5155101.1 MHz8/1/2028
​WDBZ-AM2007C1N/A1230 kHz10/1/2028
​WOSL-FM2006A3.1141100.3 MHz10/1/2028

To obtain the FCC’s prior consent to assign or transfer control of a broadcast license, an appropriate application must be filed with the FCC. If the assignment or transfer involves a substantial change in ownership or control of the licensee, for example, the transfer of more than 50% of the voting stock, the applicant must give public notice and the application is subject to a 30-day period for public comment. During this time, interested parties may file petitions with the FCC to deny the application. Informal objections may be filed at any time until the FCC acts upon the application. If the FCC grants an assignment or transfer application, administrative procedures provide for petitions seeking reconsideration or full FCC review of the grant. The Communications Act also permits the appeal of a contested grant to a federal court.

Under the Communications Act, a broadcast license may not be granted to or held by any person who is not a U.S. citizen or by any entity that has more than 20% of its capital stock owned or voted by non-U.S. citizens or entities or their representatives, or by foreign governments or their representatives. The Communications Act prohibits more than 25% indirect foreign ownership or control of a licensee through a parent company if the FCC determines the public interest will be served by such prohibition. The FCC has interpreted this provision of the Communications Act to require an affirmative public interest finding before this 25% limit may be exceeded. Since we serve as a holding company for subsidiaries that serve as licensees for our stations, we are effectively restricted from having more than one-fourth of our stock owned or voted directly or indirectly by non-U.S. citizens or their representatives, foreign governments, representatives of foreign governments, or foreign business entities unless we seek and obtain FCC authority to exceed that level. The FCC will entertain and authorize, on a case-by-case basis and upon a sufficient public interest showing and favorable executive branch review, proposals to exceed the 25% indirect foreign ownership limit in broadcast licensees.

The FCC applies its media ownership limits to “attributable” interests. The interests of officers, directors and those who directly or indirectly hold five percent or more of the total outstanding voting stock of a corporation that holds a broadcast license (or a corporate parent) are generally deemed attributable interests, as are any limited partnership or limited liability company interests that are not properly “insulated” from management activities. Certain passive investors that hold stock for investment purposes only are deemed attributable with the ownership of 20% or more of the voting stock of a licensee or parent corporation. An entity with one or more radio stations in a market that enters into a LMA or a TBA with another radio station in the same market obtains an attributable interest in the brokered radio station if the brokering station supplies programming for more than 15% of the brokered radio station’s weekly broadcast hours. Similarly, a radio station owner’s right under a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) to sell more than 15% per week of the advertising time on another radio station in the same market constitutes an attributable ownership interest in such station for purposes of the FCC’s ownership rules. Debt instruments, non-voting stock, unexercised options and warrants, minority voting interests in corporations having a single majority shareholder, and limited partnership or limited liability company membership interests where the interest holder is not “materially involved” in the media-related activities of the partnership or limited liability company pursuant to FCC-prescribed “insulation” provisions, generally do not subject their holders to attribution unless such interests implicate the FCC’s equity-debt-plus (or “EDP”) rule. Under the EDP rule, a major programming supplier or the holder of an attributable interest in a same-market radio station will have an attributable interest in a station if the supplier or same-market media entity also holds debt or equity, or both, in the station that is greater than 33% of the value of the station’s total debt plus equity. For purposes of the EDP rule, equity includes all stock, whether voting or nonvoting, and interests held by limited partners or limited liability company members that are “insulated” from material involvement in the company’s media activities. A major programming supplier is any supplier that provides more than 15% of the station’s weekly programming hours.

The Communications Act and FCC rules generally restrict ownership, operation or control of, or the common holding of attributable interests in, radio broadcast stations serving the same local market in excess of specified numerical limits.

The numerical limits on radio stations that one entity may own in a local market are as follows:

●in a radio market with 45 or more commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to eight commercial radio stations, not more than five of which are in the same service (AM or FM);
●in a radio market with 30 to 44 commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to seven commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service (AM or FM);
●in a radio market with 15 to 29 commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to six commercial radio stations, not more than four of which are in the same service (AM or FM); and
●in a radio market with 14 or fewer commercial radio stations, a party may hold an attributable interest in up to five commercial radio stations, not more than three of which are in the same service (AM or FM), except that a party may not hold an attributable interest in more than 50% of the radio stations in such market.

To apply these tiers, the FCC currently relies on Nielsen Metro Survey Areas, where they exist. In other areas, the FCC relies on a contour-overlap methodology. The market definition used by the FCC in applying its ownership rules may not be the same as that used for purposes of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. In 2003, when the FCC changed its methodology for defining local radio markets, it grandfathered existing combinations of radio stations that would not comply with the modified rules. The FCC’s rules provide that these grandfathered combinations may not be sold intact except to certain “eligible entities,” which the FCC defines as entities qualifying as a small business consistent with Small Business Administration standards.

The media ownership rules are subject to review by the FCC every four years. In December 2023, the FCC issued an order concluding its 2018 quadrennial review, which retained the local radio ownership rule without significant changes. This order is subject to appeal, and in addition, the FCC’s 2022 quadrennial review of its media ownership rules is currently pending.

The attribution and media ownership rules limit the number of radio stations we may acquire or own in any particular market and may limit the prospective buyers of any stations we want to sell. The FCC’s rules could affect our business in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:

●the FCC’s radio ownership limits could have an adverse effect on our ability to accumulate stations in a given area or to sell a group of stations in a local market to a single entity;
●restricting the assignment and transfer of control of “grandfathered” radio combinations that exceed the ownership limits as a result of the FCC’s 2003 change in local market definition could adversely affect our ability to buy or sell a group of stations in a local market from or to a single entity; and
●in general terms, future changes in the way the FCC defines radio markets or in the numerical station caps could limit our ability to acquire new stations in certain markets, our ability to operate stations pursuant to certain agreements, and our ability to improve the coverage contours of our existing stations.

Programming and Operations. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the “public interest” by presenting programming that responds to community problems, needs and interests and by maintaining records demonstrating such responsiveness. The FCC considers complaints from viewers or listeners about a broadcast station’s programming. All radio stations are now required to maintain their public inspection files on a publicly accessible FCC-hosted online database. Moreover, the FCC has from time-to-time proposed rules designed to increase local programming content and diversity, including renewal application processing guidelines for locally-oriented programming and a requirement that broadcasters establish advisory boards in the communities where they own stations. Stations also must follow FCC rules and policies regulating political advertising, obscene or indecent programming, sponsorship identification, contests and lotteries and technical operation, including limits on human exposure to radio frequency radiation.

The FCC requires that licensees not discriminate in hiring practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or gender. It also requires stations with at least five full-time employees to broadly disseminate information about all full-time job openings and undertake outreach initiatives from an FCC list of activities such as participation in job fairs, internships, or scholarship programs. The FCC is considering whether to apply these recruitment requirements to part-time employment positions. Stations must retain records of their outreach efforts and keep an annual Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) report in their public inspection files and post an electronic version on their websites.

From time to time, complaints may be filed against any of our radio stations alleging violations of these or other rules. In addition, the FCC may conduct audits or inspections to ensure and verify licensee compliance with FCC rules and regulations. Failure to observe these or other rules and regulations can result in the imposition of various sanctions, including fines or conditions, the grant of “short” (less than the maximum eight year) renewal terms or, for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application or the revocation of a license.

Human Capital

As of December 31, 2023, we employed 948 full-time employees and 450 part-time employees. Our employees are not unionized.

We believe that our success largely depends upon our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees. We provide our employees with competitive salaries and bonuses, development programs that enable continued learning and growth, and offer an employment package that promotes well-being across all aspects of their lives, including health care, retirement planning and paid time off.

As a business founded by an African-American woman, diversity and inclusion is engrained in our corporate history. Our Board of Directors is diverse; Catherine L. Hughes, our Founder and Chairperson, is an African-American woman, and four of our six directors are minorities. Our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), who is also a director, Alfred C. Liggins, III is an African-American male, as is our Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Kristopher Simpson. Further, Karen Wishart, our Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, is an African-American woman, as is Michelle Rice, President of TV One. As of December 31, 2023, 74% of our employees were racially diverse, and 46% of our employees were women. We are proud that our organization is governed and propelled by such a diverse group of individuals, which we believe contributes to our Company’s success now, and inthe long-term.

Our senior leadership team has introduced various initiatives to ensure that our Company remains inclusive and supportive for all, including: (i) conducting workplace training, which includes focuses on unconscious bias, discrimination and harassment; (ii) leveraging a diverse slate of candidates for all job vacancies, including senior leadership; and (iii) developing content across our multi-media platform that elevates the voice of minority communities tofoster equality and inclusion in both the entertainment industry and across the nation.

Environmental

As the owner, lessee or operator of various real properties and facilities, we are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Historically, compliance with these laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance, however, that compliance with existing or new environmental laws and regulations will not require us to make significant expenditures in the future.

Seasonality

Seasonal revenue fluctuations are common in the radio broadcasting industry and are due primarily to fluctuations in advertising expenditures. Typically, revenues are lowest in the first calendar quarter of the year. Due to this seasonality and certain other factors, the results of interim periods may not necessarily be indicative of results for the full year. In addition, our operations are impacted by political cycles and generally experience higher revenues in congressional and presidential election years. This seasonality and similar recurring fluctuation may affect comparability between years.

Corporate Governance

Code of Ethics. We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers (including our principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees and meets the requirements of the SEC and the NASDAQ Rules. Our code of ethics can be found on our website,www.urban1.com. We will provide a paper copy of the code of ethics, free of charge, upon request.

Audit Committee Charter. Our audit committee has adopted a charter as required by the NASDAQ Rules. This committee charter can be found on our website,www.urban1.com. We will provide a paper copy of the audit committee charter, free of charge, upon request.

Compensation Committee Charter. Our Board of Directors has adopted a compensation committee charter. We will provide a paper copy of the compensation committee charter, free of charge, upon request.

Internet Address and Internet Access to SEC Reports

Our internet address iswww.urban1.com. You may obtain through our internet website, free of charge, copies of our proxies, annual reports on Form 10-K and 10-K/A, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-Q/A, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this Form 10-K.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.