American Urban Radio Networks
American Urban Radio Networks, LLC is the only African-American-owned-and-operated Nielsen RADAR-rated radio network in the United States.
American Urban Radio Networks has been privately held since its founding, and it has not changed ownership since it was formed in 1991 through a merger of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network, previously known as the Mutual Black Network, and the National Black Network. AURN reaches an estimated 40 million listeners weekly on over 6,000 affiliates and provides the advertising community with multiple networks and marketing, gaming, and digital capabilities.
AURN is the only African-American broadcasting company with a desk in the White House and has offices in New York City, Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
History
American Urban Radio Networks, LLC was formed in 1991 from a merger of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network and National Black Network. SBN was previously known as the Mutual Black Network when it was founded by the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1972 as the first national full-service radio network aimed at African Americans. African-American media company Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation purchased 49% of MBN in 1976, followed by the remaining 51% in 1979, renaming it SBN.Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation owned 51% of AURN, until it was forced to give up its share in 2016, following a lawsuit launched by junior partner NBN. Sheridan Broadcasting later went out of business.