WTLC, I'm Karen Vaughn, and today is truly a special day because I have the honor of welcoming a woman who has changed the face of media and opened doors for countless voices to be heard, including mine. She's a visionary entrepreneur, a trailblazer, and the founder and chairperson of Urban One, the largest black-owned media company in the country. And her remarkable journey from purchasing a single radio station to building a media empire has inspired generations of broadcasters, business leaders, and dreamers across America. It's truly an honor to welcome a living legend, the media maven, an icon, a woman whose impact continues to shape our industry every single day, and who also recently was presented the key to the city in Washington, D.C. Please welcome me in joining the incomparable Ms. Cathy Hughes. How are you, Ms. Hughes?
Karen, buddy, anytime I'm talking to you, I'm better.
I'm better too, because I just feel the knowledge and the wisdom pouring all over me. How was your day today?
My day is wonderful because I'm talking to you. I tell people when they talk to me about you that you've been in the company as long as me.
You coming up on two decades, girl.
I am. I am. And it's truly a pleasure. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work alongside you at Radio One from Baltimore to Cleveland, Philly, and Indianapolis not once, not twice, but three times. So, this is where the Lord wants me.
[laughter] That's right, because the Lord wants you there in Indianapolis spreading tender loving care. Okay, that's the reason they… Okay, TLC is tender loving care, and you are the voice of that.
Thank you, Ms. Hughes. Thank you. And listen, you have been the voice, I would say, internationally, just spreading not only the love but your knowledge of media. And recently, the mayor of DC presented you the key to Washington, DC. What was going through your mind when that key was placed in your hands?
The first thought was I wonder if this fit the door lock of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
I know that's right. [laughter]
I was like, 'Hmm, I wonder can I open the door over there? Okay.' It was a surreal moment for me because number one, Muriel Bowser did two terms on the city council and three terms as mayor. Over half of her adult life has been in public service. She was born and reared in this city.
And so, DC is her hometown. For the last, you know, 20-plus years of her life, she's been in charge of. And she was not real generous with the keys. She only gave out a total of six during the two decades of her being in power.
And for her to pick me as the only woman that has received one of these keys. Three keys went to African-Americans. Three keys went to white members of the community. But I'm the only woman. Okay.
Yeah, I was like, 'Oh, no. I'm just so touched.' But to be very honest with you, Karen, you know you've known me a long time. I know that I'm identified as the queen of the beehive, but I'm not one of the worker bees. Okay? I don't do the heavy lifting. You do. Those, you know, in TLC staff do. It's really our thousand-plus employees who really share in this honor with me. My name may be on it, but every… a little piece of this key for each and every one of you because it were it not for you… I was blessed by God with a vision to create an opportunity. But it's you all who keep that opportunity alive. It's you all who keep that door open for others to pass through it. And often times I'll get credit for starting someone's career when it was actually one of you all who started the career because you hired that individual. Okay? But they may not know who Cathy Hughes is, okay? But they'll say Cathy Hughes, you know, I started my career with Cathy Hughes when to be very honest with you they may be in a market that I haven't been to like Indianapolis in far too long. I'm coming to see you all because I really love Indianapolis.
They have that big festival each year, you know? And I love that. But anyway, a long story short, I don't see this as a celebration of me alone. I really do see it as recognition of the staff that I have been blessed to be the shepherd of for now 45 years.
Wow, bravo. October 3rd, 1980 is the day.
And you know… Throughout your career, I mean, whenever you come up to the mic, you always say…
First and foremost, I give praise and thanks to God.
Yeah, through whom all blessings flow.
Right. You speak openly about the importance of faith. How has your faith carried you through the highs and the challenges that came with building this company and your legacy?
