Inner City Broadcasting Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, broadcasting |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Percy Sutton, Clarence Jones, Hal Jackson, David Dinkins, Wilbert Tatum, Carl McCall, Betty Shabazz, Marcella P. West, Billy Taylor, Roberta Flack |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States (major metropolitan areas) |
Key people | Percy Sutton (founder and former chairman), Pierre Sutton (former leader) |
| Products | Radio stations, cable television partnerships, Apollo Theater management |
The Inner City Broadcasting Corporation ("ICBC") was a pioneering American media enterprise headquartered in New York City, recognized as one of the earliest broadcasting firms entirely owned by African Americans.
History
Established in 1970 by distinguished African-American leaders from New York involved in commerce and public service, Inner City was guided by Percy Sutton, a lawyer and former Manhattan borough president, alongside Clarence Jones, who formerly published the New York Amsterdam News. The initial shareholders comprised notable personalities including disc jockey Hal Jackson; "Gang of Four" member David Dinkins, who later became New York City's first African-American mayor; publisher Wilbert (Bill) Tatum; future state senator and comptroller Carl McCall; civil rights advocate Betty Shabazz; journalist and activist Marcella P. West; as well as musicians Billy Taylor and Roberta Flack. Early involvement also included executive Dorothy Brunson, who would go on to be the first African-American woman to fully own a radio station in the United States.
The corporation’s inaugural purchase was WLIB in 1972, acquired from brothers Harry and Morris S. Novik. This transaction granted Inner City the right of first refusal on the sister station WLIB-FM, which was rebranded as WBLS and subsequently acquired two years later. While WLIB continued as a talk radio station, WBLS transitioned from jazz to a progressive urban contemporary format under program director Frankie Crocker, achieving considerable acclaim from the mid-1970s through the early 1980s and significantly boosting Inner City's reputation.
Inner City broadened its footprint by acquiring radio stations across key metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Detroit, San Antonio (the hometown of Percy Sutton), the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, Columbia, and Jackson. The company also engaged in cable television partnerships with Time Warner Cable located in New York City and Philadelphia.
Moreover, Inner City took charge of managing and restoring the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. In this capacity, it co-produced the syndicated variety television series It's Showtime at the Apollo.
Recent developments
Percy Sutton stepped down as chairman of the board of Inner City Broadcasting in 1990 but retained the title of chairman emeritus until his passing in 2009. His son, Pierre Sutton, assumed leadership until the organization’s eventual dissolution.
In 1999, control over the Apollo Theatre was lost following a New York State Attorney General inquiry that revealed officials from the nonprofit Apollo Theatre Foundation, led by Charles Rangel, had diverted proceeds from It's Showtime at the Apollo. Subsequently, Rangel resigned as chairman and actor Ossie Davis took over. Operational management of the theater was transferred to Time Warner.
In August 2004, ICBC executed a recapitalization involving GE Capital and private equity firm Alta Communications by redeeming nearly $140 million in accumulated value of redeemable preferred stock. By 2006, Inner City had divested most holdings outside its principal radio assets, including selling its remaining 60 percent interest in Philadelphia-based Urban Cable Works to Time Warner Cable in November 2005.
On August 22, 2011, creditors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for Inner City's subsidiary Inner City Media Corporation after company executives declined a buyout proposal. This resulted in majority ownership shifting to YMF Media LLC, co-controlled by investor Ronald Burkle and former NBA star Earvin "Magic" Johnson. YMF Media acquired 15 stations from Inner City for $180 million on October 19, 2012, subsequently dismantling the portfolio through sales between 2013 and 2014.
Stations
| AM Station | FM Station |
| Market | Station | Ownership period | Present ownership |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose | KBLX-FM 102.9 | 1979–2012 | Currently held by Bonneville International |
| KVTO 1400 | 1979–2012 | Now owned by Pham Radio Communication | |
| KVVN 1430 | 1997–2012 | Under ownership of Pham Radio Communication | |
| Los Angeles | KGFJ 1230 | Currently KYPA, owned by Woori Media Group | |
| KUTE 101.9 | 1979–1985 | Now KSCA, part of Uforia Audio Network | |
| Miami - Ft. Lauderdale - Hollywood, FL | WSRF 1580 | Owned by Niche Radio, Inc. | |
| WSHE 103.5 | Currently WMIB, controlled by iHeartMedia | ||
| Fort Wayne, Indiana | WOWO 1190 | 1994–1995 | Held by Federated Media |
| WOWO-FM 102.9 | 1994 | Now WJCI, under Calvary Radio Network | |
| Detroit | WLBS 102.7 | 1979–1988 | Presently WDKL, managed by Educational Media Foundation |
| Jackson, Mississippi | WJNT 1180 | 2006–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media |
| WJQS 1400 | 2000–2012 | Under the ownership of Alpha Media | |
| WOAD 1300 | 2000–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WJMI 99.7 | 2000–2012 | Controlled by Alpha Media | |
| WKXI-FM 107.5 | 2000–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WRKS 105.9 | 2000–2012 | Held by Alpha Media | |
| New York City | WLIB 1190 | 1972–2012 | Currently owned by Emmis Communications |
| WBLS 107.5 | 1974–2012 | Managed by Mediaco Holding today | |
| Philadelphia | WHAT 1340 | 2000–2006 | Owned by VM Broadcasting |
| Pittsburgh | WURP 1550 | 2000–2007 | Currently WZUM, operated by Pittsburgh Public Media |
| Columbia, South Carolina | WOIC 1230 | 2000–2012 | Defunct; ceased operations as WPCO in 2022 |
| WARQ 93.5 | 2000–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WHXT 103.9 | 2003–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WMFX 102.3 | 2000–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WWDM101.3 | 2000–2012 | Owned by Alpha Media | |
| WZMJ93.1 | 2003–2012 | Managed by Midlands Media Group | |
| "San Antonio" | KSJL760 | 1986–1993 | Currently KTKR, held by iHeartMedia |
| KSLR/KSAQ/KSJL-FM96.1 | 1986–1998 | Now KXXM, part of iHeartMedia |