American Urban Radio Networks

What American Urban Radio Networks does

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is a privately held, African-American owned and controlled national radio network founded in 1973 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company operates as the only Black-owned national radio network in the United States and the only Black-owned broadcaster with a bureau in the White House press room, producing and distributing news, entertainment, inspirational, and public affairs programming to a network of affiliate radio stations nationwide. Its core product portfolio spans flagship news coverage (AURN News with Ebony McMorris), entertainment journalism (Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart), gospel programming (AURN Inspirational, Hezekiah Walker Gospel Countdown), public affairs content (Viewpoints Radio, Radio Health Journal), and syndicated shows via a partnership with Superadio including Ebro in the Morning and Cafe Mocha Radio.

The company's technology stack centers on digital audio streaming and podcast distribution infrastructure, anchored by its wholly-owned Amplified Voices podcast platform and the AVTV mobile application. Content is distributed across a national affiliate radio station network and through every major podcast platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Amazon Music), giving the network both broadcast reach and on-demand digital accessibility. AURN monetizes primarily through advertising sold to brands targeting African American consumers on radio and digital channels, supplemented by recurring affiliate programming fees from radio station carriage agreements, and growing podcast and AVTV digital advertising revenue. The company maintains a multi-channel GTM motion combining community-led audience development with a sales-led B2B advertising model, serving African American adults, urban communities, and the HBCU community as its primary segments.

Name

American Urban Radio Networks

Legal name

American Urban Radio Networks

Website

https://aurn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

American Urban Radio Networks is a Black-owned national radio network and digital media company founded in 1973, producing news, entertainment, and inspirational programming for African American audiences across affiliate radio stations, the Amplified Voices podcast platform, and the AVTV mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Radio Networks (National/Regional) (MPABABAA), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Urban radio network
• Podcast distribution
• Audio broadcasting
• Black media network
• Syndicated radio programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: National and local advertising sold to brands targeting African American audiences through the network's radio station affiliates and digital platforms.
2. Affiliate Programming Fees: Distribution of AURN programming content to affiliate radio stations, generating revenue through programming fees and carriage agreements.
3. Digital Content and Podcasting: Revenue from podcast subscriptions, AVTV app content, and digital streaming platforms through advertising and potential premium content offerings.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) operates a national radio network distributing news, entertainment, public affairs, inspirational, and cultural programming to a network of affiliate radio stations across the United States. The company complements its broadcast distribution with the Amplified Voices digital podcast network and the AVTV mobile application, enabling on-demand audio and video streaming of its original and syndicated programming across major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Amazon Music.

Product overview

American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is a Black-owned national radio network and digital media company established in 1973, operating as the only African-American owned and controlled radio broadcaster with a White House press room bureau. The company offers a multi-platform portfolio combining original podcast content, syndicated radio programming, entertainment news coverage, and digital video content. The core offering includes AURN News and On the Record with Ebony McMorris for political/current events coverage, Hollywood Live for entertainment journalism, and podcasts like City Limits, The Narrative with Sam Collier, TheSic60, and Yung Joc & The Streetz Morning Takeover for culture and celebrity content. These are distributed through the Amplified Voices podcast network platform and AVTV video app, supplemented by syndicated programming from Superadio (including Ebro in the Morning and Cafe Mocha Radio), plus specialty content through Radio Health Journal, Viewpoints Radio, and AURN Inspirational gospel programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Amplified Voices: Podcast platform featuring AURN-affiliated shows including news, entertainment, and culture podcasts.
• AURN Inspirational
• Hollywood Live

Products and services

• Amplified Voices Podcast Network Digital podcast network and video platform operated by AURN, aggregating the network's original news, entertainment, culture, faith, and lifestyle shows into a single distribution destination available on every major podcast platform and companion mobile app. Target users are African-American adult listeners and broader podcast audiences seeking Black-oriented news and entertainment programming.
• AVTV Mobile Application Companion mobile app for the Amplified Voices platform providing on-demand streaming access to AURN's podcasts and Amplified Voices TV video content for individual African-American consumers and general podcast audiences.
• AURN News Flagship news service delivering current events, political coverage, and breaking news targeting Black America, including the AURN News with Ebony McMorris program distributed nationally to affiliate radio stations and across digital channels.
• Hollywood Live Entertainment news program and podcast covering celebrity gossip, red carpet events, and pop culture news for African-American audiences, hosted by Tanya Hart and distributed across AURN platforms.
• AURN Inspirational Gospel and inspirational music programming division, featuring Hezekiah Walker and The Hezekiah Walker Gospel Countdown, distributed nationally to affiliate radio stations targeting faith-based African-American listeners.
• Radio Health Journal Health information radio program and podcast covering medical topics, wellness, and healthcare issues relevant to Black Americans, distributed through AURN affiliates and the Amplified Voices podcast network.
• Viewpoints Radio Public affairs radio programming addressing community issues and featuring interviews with thought leaders, distributed nationally to affiliate radio stations and through the Amplified Voices podcast network.
• Superadio Syndicated Programming Distribution Nationally syndicated radio programming distributed through the AURN and Superadio partnership to affiliate stations, including Ebro in the Morning, Cafe Mocha Radio, The Marvin Sapp Radio Show, and other urban and inspirational programs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SuperadiocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAURN partners with Superadio to distribute urban and inspirational programming including Ebro in the Morning, Yung Joc & The Streetz Morning Takeover, Cafe Mocha Radio, The Marvin Sapp Radio Show, and other shows through the Superadio network to affiliate stations.
• Flying Free FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAURN partnered with Flying Free Films and AARP to produce 'Invisible Eagles: Bessie Coleman,' an original WGA scripted podcast series about the pioneering Black female aviator.
• AARPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAURN partnered with Flying Free Films and AARP to produce 'Invisible Eagles: Bessie Coleman,' an original WGA scripted podcast series about the pioneering Black female aviator.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Spotify: Spotify is the leading global audio streaming and podcast platform and serves as both a distribution partner and competitor for AURN's Amplified Voices content. Its scale, recommendation engine, and ad-tech stack shape the broader audio advertising market in which AURN monetizes.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster and podcast operator, owning hundreds of AM/FM stations and the iHeartRadio streaming/podcast platform. It competes with AURN for both Black audience listening time and national ad budgets, while also serving as a distribution partner via iHeartRadio podcasts.
• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media operates a large national footprint of AM/FM radio stations and Westwood One syndicated content, including news/talk and urban formats. It competes with AURN for affiliate carriage and national advertising in the urban and talk radio segments.
• Audacy: Audacy is a major U.S. radio broadcaster and podcast publisher with urban, news, and talk formats across owned stations and digital platforms. It overlaps with AURN in news/talk syndication, urban content, and podcast distribution to advertisers targeting Black audiences.

Emerging players

• Blavity Inc. Blavity is a digital media network targeting Black millennials and Gen Z with news, culture, and lifestyle content across web, podcasts, and events. It overlaps with AURN's digital and podcast expansion via Amplified Voices in audience targeting and advertiser base.
• TheGrio: TheGrio is a digital-first African American news and culture platform with original video, podcasts, and editorial content. It competes with AURN for Black audience attention in digital and serves overlapping advertiser demand for multicultural media.

Direct peers

• Westwood One: Westwood One is a leading U.S. radio network and podcast distributor, syndicating news, talk, sports, and entertainment programming to affiliate stations. It is a direct functional peer to AURN's affiliate network model and competes for syndication slots and advertiser dollars.
• Urban One: Urban One is the largest African American-owned and operated broadcast and digital media company in the U.S., operating TV One, Radio One, and Reach Media with urban radio and digital properties. It is the closest direct peer to AURN given its shared focus on Black-owned media serving African American audiences via radio, digital, and content syndication.
• Reach Media: Reach Media, a subsidiary of Urban One, syndicates urban talk and Black-targeted radio programming including the Tom Joyner Morning Show. It is directly comparable to AURN's syndicated programming and Amplified Voices podcast network in format, audience, and distribution model.

Regional players

• BLACK News Channel (BNC) / OWNZONES: OWNZONES operates digital-first Black-focused streaming and content platforms (including successors to Black News Channel-style programming), comparable to AURN's digital streaming push via AVTV. Both target African American audiences with news and culture content outside the traditional broadcast TV ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aurnonline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrkltJhZF8VocUF4IEJRfUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/aurnonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/aurnonline
• Pinterestpinterest.com/aurnonline
• TikToktiktok.com/@aurnonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aurn-american-urban-radio-networks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Urban Radio Networks