The Mutual Black Network (MBN) was founded by the

Mutual Broadcasting System The Mutual Broadcasting System (commonly referred to simply as Mutual; sometimes referred to as MBS, Mutual Radio or the Mutual Radio Network) was an American commercial radio network in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the Old-time radio, golden ...

in 1972 as the first national full-service

radio network There are two types of radio network currently in use around the world: the one-to-many (simplex communication) broadcast network commonly used for public information and mass-media entertainment, and the two-way radio ( duplex communication) type ...

aimed at African Americans; it was initially branded as Mutual Reports before the branding change to MBN. With 98 affiliated stations across the United States, including flagship WNJR in New York, the network broadcast an hourly five-minute newscast at 50 minutes past the hour. It also aired sports and feature programs, and for one year beginning in the spring of 1974, a 15-minute daily soap opera called ''Sounds Of The City''. Some of its special programming focused on

African-American history African-American history began with the arrival of Africans to North America in the 16th and 17th centuries. Former Spanish slaves who had been freed by Francis Drake arrived aboard the Golden Hind at New Albion in California in 1579. The ...

, much of which was researched, written and narrated by MBN news anchor Ben Frazier. Other MBN news anchors included Glen Ford, John Askew and Ed Castleberry; Castleberry also hosted a celebrity interview program, ''Soul of Entertainment''. In 1981, the Mutual Black Network was purchased by Sheridan Broadcasting, an African American-owned company which had been a minority stockholder in MBN, and renamed the Sheridan Broadcasting Network. A decade later, SBN merged with the rival

National Black Network The National Black Network, or NBN, began operation on July 2, 1973 as the first coast-to-coast radio network wholly owned by African Americans. Early years The idea for a National Black Network was conceived by former ABC Radio and Mutual Broadc ...

, forming the present-day

American Urban Radio Networks American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned and operated Nielsen RADAR-rated radio network in the United States. Privately held for the last three years with new ownership, AURN reaches an estimated 25 million listen ...

Affiliates

* WNJR, Newark, New Jersey, in the New York City market -- flagship station *

KCOH KCOH (1230 AM) is a commercial radio station in Houston, Texas that airs an urban talk/urban contemporary format. It is a return to the heritage format that aired in Houston from 1953 to 2013 on 1430 KCOH, moving to this facility after 1430 wa ...

in Houston; Texas *

KJET KJET (105.7 Hertz, MHz) is a commercial radio, commercial FM broadcasting, FM radio station city of license, licensed to Union, Washington, and serving the Olympia, Washington area. The station airs a contemporary hit radio format and is owned by ...

in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Texas *

KOKY KOKY is a commercial radio station broadcasting from Little Rock, Arkansas (licensed to suburban Sherwood) on 102.1 FM. It airs an Urban Adult Contemporary format, and is owned and operated by The Last Bastion Station Trust, LLC. The station's ...

in Little Rock, Arkansas *

KPRS KPRS is an Urban contemporary radio station that broadcasts on the 103.3 MHz frequency licensed to Kansas City. The station's playlist consists of hip-hop, R&B, and gospel music. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), it is ...

AM‐FM in Kansas City * KYAC AM‐FM in Kirkland and Seattle, Washington * KWK in St. Louis, Missouri *

WABQ WABQ (1460 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Painesville, Ohio, currently carrying a gospel music format. Owned by Radio Advantage One, LLC, WABQ serves Lake County and eastern parts of Greater Cleveland, and is a local affiliate ...

in Cleveland, Ohio *

WERD WERD was the first radio station owned and programmed by African Americans. The station was established in Atlanta, Georgia on October 3, 1949, broadcasting on 860 AM (now used by WAEC). The National Black Radio Hall of Fame Atlanta Chapter is r ...

in Jacksonville, Florida * WIGO in Atlanta, Georgia * WRBD, Broward County, Florida and its sister FM station WCKO * WVKO in Columbus, Ohio *

WWIL-FM WWIL-FM (Life 90.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary Christian music format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, the station serves the Wilmington, Jacksonville and North Myrtle Beach areas. The station is ...

in Wilmington, North Carolina

References

Defunct radio stations in the United States African-American culture Defunct radio networks in the United States African-American mass media Organizations established in 1972 Mutual Broadcasting System {{US-bcast-stub

Affiliates

See also

References