SILVER
SPRING, Md., Oct. 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban One today announced the
retirement of media executive David
Kantor, CEO of its audio division, Radio One and Reach
Media, effective January 5, 2025.
Kantor, who has been an integral part of Urban One since 2005, will
be succeeded by Eddie Harrell, Jr., currently Regional Vice
President and General Manager of Radio One-Ohio Markets, and
Deon Levingston, currently Regional
Vice President and General Manager for Radio One Indianapolis.
Harrell and Levingston have been named co-presidents of Urban One's
Audio Division.
"The radio industry is losing one of its giants, and Urban One
is bidding farewell to a venerable leader whose passion and vision
have helped to shape our industry, guide our company, and serve our
growing and diverse audience," said Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins. Kantor became CEO of Urban One's
Audio Division in 2015. He oversaw the division's syndication
growth, expansion into podcasting, and other new lines of business.
He was instrumental in executing the company strategy of acquiring
stations in key markets by adding additional formats.
Kantor's retirement marks the end of a distinguished career that
spans decades of success. He held executive roles at Cox
Cable, Satellite Music Network, ABC Radio Networks, and AMFM Inc.,
where he was instrumental in launching several influential radio
networks, including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Radio Disney, and
ESPN Radio. However, one of his most noteworthy accomplishments is
co-founding Reach Media with Tom
Joyner in 2003. Urban One acquired a majority interest in
the company one year later, and Kantor remained its President and
CEO, growing it to over 312 affiliate stations in 94 markets and
reaching 94% of the U.S. African American population.
Kantor's departure opens the door for two Urban One leaders to
rise in rank and move the company forward. Eddie Harrell, Jr., and
Deon Levingston will co-lead the
Audio Division at the top of the new year. Harrell, a seasoned
executive, is the Regional Vice President and General Manager of
Radio One Cincinnati, Cleveland,
and Columbus. He is a proven
leader with a track record of growth and success. Deon Levingston is the Regional Vice President
and General Manager of Radio One Indianapolis, the company's most
diverse collection of formats, including urban, talk-news,
top-forty, and Hispanic. Levingston is a seasoned executive in the
advertising, broadcast radio, and television industry and brings
over two decades to the role. This dynamic duo is poised to lead
the company into the future.
"Eddie Harrell, Jr. and Deon
Levingston are ready to take the helm and build on the
legacy David leaves behind," said Alfred
Liggins. "They understand our brand, our audience, and our
position in this industry. Their talent and experience are just
what we need moving forward."
As Urban One looks to the future, the company remains committed
to its mission of delivering culturally relevant content across its
platforms, ensuring that the voices of the communities it serves
continue to be amplified.
About Urban One Inc.
Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com),
together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media
company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers
in the United States. The Company
owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than
46 million households, and CLEO TV, its sister network with an
almost 41 million household reach. As of October 14, 2024, 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. Through its controlling interest in Reach
Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates
syndicated programming, including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, and the DL Hughley
Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets,
Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), our wholly-owned
digital platform serving the African American community through
social content, news, information, and entertainment websites,
including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired, and MadameNoire digital
platforms and brands.
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SOURCE Urban One, Inc.