The Mutual Black Network (MBN) was an American radio network founded by the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1972 as the first national full-service radio network aimed at African Americans; it was initially branded as Mutual Reports Network (MRN) before the branding change to MBN. With 98 affiliated stations across the United States, including flagship WNJR in New York, led by journalist Sheldon Lewis, and an office in Washington D.C. led by Ed Castleberry. The network broadcast an hourly five-minute newscast at 50 minutes past the hour. It also aired sports and feature programs, and for one year beginning in the spring of 1974, a 15-minute daily soap opera called Sounds Of The City.
Some of its special programming focused on African-American history, much of which was researched, written and narrated by MBN news anchor Ben Frazier. Other MBN news anchors included Glen Ford, John Askew, Robert Nichols, Joe White, Gerald Bentley, Larry Dean, Abby Kendrick and Ed Castleberry; Castleberry also hosted a celebrity interview program, Soul of Entertainment.
In 1979, the Mutual Black Network was purchased by Sheridan Broadcasting, an African American-owned company which had been a minority stockholder in MBN, and renamed the Sheridan Broadcasting Network. In 1991, SBN merged with the rival National Black Network, forming the present-day American Urban Radio Networks.
