Cathy Hughes
Keynote Speaker: Media Entrepreneur & Broadcasting Innovator; Founder & Chairperson of Urban One; Creator of the "Quiet Storm" Radio Format
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Cathy Hughes Biography
Cathy Hughes is an entrepreneur, media executive, and broadcaster recognized for her influence on African-American media. Hughes began her radio career at Howard University in Washington, D.C., joining the School of Communications and advancing to general sales manager of the university's radio station, WHUR-FM. In that role, she increased the station's annual revenue from $250,000 to $3 million in one year. Hughes later became the first woman vice president and general manager of a radio station in the nation's capital. During this period, she developed the "Quiet Storm" format, a late-night blend of R&B, ballads, and smooth jazz that became a staple of urban radio and was adopted by more than 480 stations nationwide.
Hughes purchased WOL-AM in Washington, D.C., where she introduced the "24-Hour Talk from a Black Perspective" format, guided by the theme "Information is Power." She hosted the station's morning show for 11 years, and WOL remains a leading talk radio station in Washington, D.C.
From this foundation, Hughes built Urban One, Inc., the largest African-American-owned diversified media corporation in the United States. Working with her son and business partner, Alfred C. Liggins III, Hughes expanded the company to reach more than 80 percent of Black U.S. households through subsidiaries including Radio One, with over 55 broadcast radio stations; cable television networks TV One and CLEO-TV; syndication company Reach Media; digital platform iOne Digital; and marketing firm One Solution. The company became publicly traded, making Hughes the first African-American woman to chair a publicly traded corporation. TV One, launched by the company, is the country's largest African-American-owned cable channel and features series such as "Unsung" and "Uncensored."
Hughes has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Radio Hall of Fame, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Her honors include the ADColor Lifetime Achievement Award, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Chair's Phoenix Award, the NAACP Chairman's Award, the Giant of Broadcasting Award, the Essence Women Shaping the World Award, the Madam C.J. Walker Award for Entrepreneurship, and the NAB Lifetime Achievement Award. Howard University renamed its School of Communications the Cathy Hughes School of Communications in recognition of her contributions to communications education. Hughes has also been listed among the wealthiest Black women in the United States.
Throughout her career, Hughes has focused on mentoring emerging media professionals and amplifying Black voices across radio, television, and digital platforms. Her journey, from overcoming multiple bank rejections to building a major media corporation, highlights her commitment to community-centered storytelling. As founder and chairperson of Urban One, Hughes continues to influence the landscape of African-American media.
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Cathy Hughes Videos
How do I book Cathy Hughes to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Cathy Hughes for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Cathy Hughes, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Cathy Hughes or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Cathy Hughes for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Cathy Hughes, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Cathy Hughes are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Cathy Hughes, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Cathy Hughes speak about?
Cathy Hughes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Broadcasting, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Influential Women, Business, Business Leadership and Host & Emcee.
Where does Cathy Hughes travel from?
Cathy Hughes generally travels from Maryland, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Cathy Hughes?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Cathy Hughes for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Cathy Hughes for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Cathy Hughes or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Cathy Hughes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity & Inclusion, Broadcasting and Entrepreneurship. The estimated speaking fee range to book Cathy Hughes for live events is $50,000 - $100,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Cathy Hughes generally travels from Maryland, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Carla Harris and Janice Howroyd. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Cathy Hughes for an upcoming event.
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Cathy Hughes Videos
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How do I book Cathy Hughes to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Cathy Hughes for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Cathy Hughes, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Cathy Hughes or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Cathy Hughes for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Cathy Hughes, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Cathy Hughes are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Cathy Hughes, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Cathy Hughes speak about?
Cathy Hughes is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Broadcasting, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Influential Women, Business, Business Leadership and Host & Emcee. -
Where does Cathy Hughes travel from?
Cathy Hughes generally travels from Maryland, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Cathy Hughes?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Cathy Hughes for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Cathy Hughes for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Cathy Hughes or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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