Cathy Hughes isn’t just a media mogul — she’s a living blueprint. As the founder and Chairwoman of Urban One, she became the first Black woman to own and operate a publicly traded company in the U.S. Her empire spans radio, television, and digital platforms, but Hughes insists: “I’m still a work in progress.”
In this candid conversation, she talks about sacrifice, Black ownership, young entrepreneurs, and the lessons that still matter in 2025.
On Her Roots
Kevin: Your parents set quite an example.
Cathy: My mother was a jazz musician. My father was the first Black CPA to graduate from Creighton University, and he ran his own firm. My grandfather founded Piney Woods Country Life School in Mississippi — it’s over 100 years old and still operating. So yes, I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. At 14, I was doing tax returns in my father’s office because he couldn’t afford staff.
On Seeing the Future
Kevin: I remember you warning folks at Jack the Rapper about deregulation.
Cathy: Absolutely. I told them FCC deregulation would crush Black ownership. At that time, we had a peak in Black executives and owners. People thought it would last forever. I told them a pothole was coming — and look at us now. Very few Black owners left.
On Why Ownership Matters
Kevin: Why is entrepreneurship critical for African-Americans?
Cathy: Because whoever controls the microphone and the camera controls the story. When we own, we greenlight projects like Selma or Fruitvale Station. When we don’t, we get stereotypes, comedy, and crime. That hasn’t changed — in 2025, it’s even more urgent.
On Struggle and Sacrifice
Kevin: There’s a story about you sleeping in a bathroom at the station.
Cathy: (laughs) That wasn’t me — that was Chris Gardner. I lived in my radio station office for 18 months. Slept in a sleeping bag, cooked on a hot plate, washed up in public bathrooms until I could afford plumbing. People think it’s suffering. To me, it was exhilarating. I was in a 24/7 business — so I lived in it.
On Passing the Torch
Kevin: What’s one mistake you see Black entrepreneurs make?
Cathy: Holding on too long. Too many wait until death to pass down assets. By then, the kids don’t need the house — or the business. Transfer earlier, when they’re in their 30s or 40s, so they can grow it. That’s how you build generational wealth.
On Young Entrepreneurs
Kevin: Do you see the same hunger in young professionals today?
Cathy: Honestly, no. Social media glamorized instant success. Too many act like they’re doing me a favor by applying. When I started, loyalty and gratitude were everything. I’ll always be loyal to Tony Brown because he opened the door for me. Hunger creates loyalty. Without hunger, opportunities are just stepping stones.
On Programming vs. Sales
Kevin: There used to be tension between sales and programming. Do you still see it?
Cathy: Oh yes. Programming says, “we make the product, we’re most important.” Sales says, “we bring the revenue, we’re most important.” In a good company, it balances out. But in radio, that tension never goes away.
On Quiet Storm
Kevin: Let’s clear this up — who created Quiet Storm?
Cathy: Me. Melvin Lindsey was my third host, not the creator. He became the most popular because he stayed the longest, but I started it. That myth has floated too long.
On Ebony, BET, and Trust
Kevin: Why did Ebony and BET lose trust with Black audiences?
Cathy: Trust. When John H. Johnson held Ebony, the audience believed in him. When he held on too long before passing to Linda, it was too late. With BET, people trusted Bob Johnson. When Viacom bought it, ratings never recovered. Black audiences trust Black ownership — plain and simple.
On Being Your Own PR
Kevin: What’s your best advice to new entrepreneurs?
Cathy: Be your own PR. Don’t tell people, “It’s rough.” Tell them, “It’s getting better every day.” First, because youneed to hear it. Second, because people believe what you project. Confidence attracts opportunity. That advice kept me going when I was broke and living in my station.
On Community and Giving Back
Kevin: You’ve always been tied to community. Why?
Cathy: Because community built me. D.C. supported me when I was just starting out. That’s why Urban One still prioritizes community connection over money. When we turned 30 years old, I didn’t throw a million-dollar party. I paid every employee to take a day off and volunteer. Some of them still work with the organizations they discovered that day. That’s the legacy I want.
Closing
Cathy Hughes’ story isn’t a fairy tale — it’s survival. She slept in her station, fought deregulation, warned about ownership, built Urban One into a powerhouse, and never stopped giving back.
Her message in 2025 is simple but urgent:
“Ownership is survival. Storytelling is power. If you don’t own your voice, someone else will sell it back to you.”
