Radio One gets in the mobile game.

story by Inside Radio

The urban media specialist inks a deal with mobile application developer AirKast to build iPhone and BlackBerry mobile apps for 51 of Radio One’s 54 stations in 15 markets by the end of summer. The companies say Android mobile apps will be available soon thereafter.

“Since the majority of our urban listeners are often ‘on the go,’ we knew Radio One stations needed to get into the mobile app game,” Radio One GM of digital Dan Shelley says.

Among AirKast’s 850 terrestrial and internet radio clients are stations owned by Salem, ESPN, Citadel, Greater Media, Millennium and other broadcasters.

Radio One considered developing apps on its own but found the barriers to entry too large, Shelley says. The company was also drawn to AirKast for “the features and monetization opportunities that our stations need to attract both listeners and sponsors.”

The free multimedia apps will let users listen to the stations live, view song lyrics, see artist and album information, read reviews, watch videos, listen to station podcasts, hear samples of recently played songs and buy music.

“Each Radio One station can maintain its own content and branding as well as control station event and sponsor information,” AirKast president and COO Simon Moy says.