Radio One and its Reach Media subsidiary have announced it has signed Rickey Smiley to a five-year extension to continue hosting the Rickey Smiley Morning Show.
Smiley made his radio debut as morning host on Radio One’s “97.9 The Beat” KBFB Dallas in 2004 and entered syndication in 2008. At the start of 2020, his show was moved from Hip Hop stations to Adult R&B as Smiley took over the affiliate base of the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Comedian, actor, TV, and radio personality, Rickey Smiley, has signed a new deal with Reach Media and Urban One to extend his long-running and award-winning morning radio show, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, for another five years. The deal also includes the creation of The Rickey Smiley Podcast Network that will elevate voices in the black community, featuring storytellers whose crafts range from the comedic to the dramatic. The deal comes on the heels of Rickey winning his second National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Person of the Year in November 2021. Since Reach Media began syndicating his show in 2008, Rickey’s genuine southern appeal, playful comedic style, and his commitment as a community activist has made The Rickey Smiley Morning Show the most compelling, engaging, and inspiring show on radio.
“These past couple of years have served to remind us how important our relationships are in life,” stated Smiley. “Our families, our community, the people we work with every day have sustained us all, and I am no exception. I’m so grateful to my family at Urban One and Reach Media for the opportunity to extend my partnership with them for the next five years and beyond. Doing my show every day with such a talented cast and team doesn’t even seem like work. We share a lot of laughs together, but we also take seriously our role in the community to be a beacon of hope and a source of information and inspiration. Most importantly, we learn every day from our listeners who have been so loyal to us. Because, without them, we’d be talking to ourselves. I’m also super proud to be announcing the Rickey Smiley Podcast Network in partnership with Urban One and Digital One. The new network will give us the opportunity to tell relevant stories and elevate voices in the black community and beyond. I can’t wait to launch our first shows, I think you will love them. Finally, thank you to Ms. Cathy Hughes, Alfred Liggins and David Kantor for their trust and confidence in me – our journey continues together and I could not be happier.”
“Rickey has been a terrific talent for Reach for over ten years and we are excited to continue our relationship into the future with him. He is an outstanding talent, a two-time Marconi winner for best Syndicated talent, and he has a loyal and dedicated audience. He is committed to delivering an entertaining show to his listeners and almost 90 affiliates every day. Everyone at Reach is thrilled that we can keep working with Rickey,” said David Kantor, CEO of Radio One and Reach Media.
Rickey Smiley is a legendary comedian, actor, author, television host and award-winning radio host of the top-rated, nationally syndicated show, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, which is syndicated to more than 60 cities across the country. A comedian for more than 30 years, Rickey constantly tours the country. In December, he made a guest appearance in the Nick Cannon film, Miracles Across 125th Street, and he has been featured in urban classics including All About The Benjamins, Friday After Next, and Baggage Claim. For more information, visit Rickey’s website, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Rickey Smiley is represented by Paul Anderson of Workhouse Media, Inc.
