# Radio One: Cathy Hughes

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2016-09-26
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes

## Summary

Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One, explains how she built the largest African-American owned broadcasting company in the US, starting with the purchase of her first radio station, WRKO (later WOL), in Washington, D.C. in 1980. She details the struggle to secure $1 million in financing against competitors like Muhammad Ali, relying on 32 bank rejections before securing a loan from a single female banker. Hughes describes living in the station with her son to save costs, managing the 'Quiet Storm' format, and later scaling to 75 stations through strategic acquisitions and an IPO, while navigating systemic lending discrimination.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=0) Introduction: Cathy Hughes and Radio One
- [2:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=132) Early Ambitions and Moving to Washington D.C.
- [8:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=520) Creating the 'Quiet Storm' Format at WHUR
- [13:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=789) The Decision to Start Her Own Station
- [16:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=1015) Securing Financing Against Muhammad Ali
- [20:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=1229) Living in the Station and Managing Debt
- [25:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=1537) Scaling to 75 Stations and Going Public
- [28:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-09-26-radio-one-cathy-hughes#t=1737) Navigating Lending Discrimination

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Radio One (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Howard University (company)
- WHUR (product)
- Clear Channel (company)
- WOL (product)

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## Citing this page

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