Cleveland’s Darvio Morrow Quietly Becomes One of the Most Influential Black Media Executives in the Country

In an era dominated by corporate consolidation and celebrity-led ventures, one of the most dynamic media empires in the country is being built quietly — and independently — in Cleveland. Darvio “The Kingpin” Morrow, a native of the city’s east side, is emerging as a first-of-its-kind Black media executive, with a career that now spans broadcast radio, music, podcasting, digital streaming, national journalism, and a rapidly growing social media platform that has generated more than 13.8 million views on X (formerly Twitter) in the last year.

At just 38, Morrow serves as Founder and CEO of First Class Broadcasting Corporation (FCB), which operates a growing portfolio of brands across audio and media platforms. FCB owns four digital radio stations distributed nationally via iHeartRadio, runs the FCB Podcast Network, powers two third-party podcast platforms (including the BeOnAir Podcast Network for Ohio Media School), and manages WOVU 95.9 FM, an FM station owned by Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc. In March 2025, Morrow became Operations Manager of WOVU, making him one of the youngest Black men in the United States to lead an FCC-licensed broadcast operation — a rare milestone in public radio.

His story, however, started long before that.

At 16, Morrow founded his first company, Untouchable Clique Entertainment. By 19, he launched First Class Hip-Hop, one of the earliest Black-owned digital streaming radio stations in Ohio — at a time when Spotify hadn’t yet launched in the U.S. and Apple Music didn’t exist. Three years later, at age 22, he secured a distribution deal with Sony Music for his imprint FCB Records Group, making him one of the youngest Black American men in history to launch a label and sign a major distribution deal.

In 2015, Morrow added another major pillar to his media portfolio with The Outlaws Radio Show, a program now heard on WOVU, iHeartRadio and the FCB Podcast Network. Morrow serves as both co-host and executive producer. The show has featured high-profile guests including NBA star Donovan Mitchell, country singer Kane Brown, and political leaders across the spectrum — from former Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and progressive activist Nina Turner to current U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The program has been profiled in Newsweek, Complex, The Source, XXL, and The Daily Mail.

Darvio with his Outlaws Radio Show co-hosts Dante Brye and Robin O’Malley

Today, the FCB Radio Network includes four digital streaming stations, all available nationally via iHeartRadio: the aforementioned First Class Hip Hop, FCB Cool — a smooth jazz/R&B hybrid hailed by Axios for bringing smooth jazz back to Cleveland — FCB Soul, and FCB Faith, a Christian pop and gospel hybrid that is a member of the Gospel Music Association.

In the music space, FCB Records continues to expand, along with Morrow’s Untouchable Clique Entertainment (now distributed by Roc Nation) and FCB Music Publishing Group, which is administered by Sony Music Publishing, the largest music publisher in the world. In 2018, Morrow released his own full-length album, The Journal, through his label — receiving acclaim for its introspective and independent approach.

Beyond content creation, Morrow is also shaping media discourse. Since 2021, he has served as a regular Opinion Contributor to Newsweek, publishing dozens of articles on media, culture, and politics. In January 2024, he was invited to contribute to the cover story of Newsweek’s print edition for the first time — a major milestone that underscored his growing national influence as both a thought leader and media executive. He is one of only a handful of Black media executives in the country to hold a recurring national editorial platform.

He has also served as a communications consultant for businesses, nonprofits, and political campaigns on both sides of the aisle, helping organizations sharpen their messaging and expand their reach.

His presence on X (formerly Twitter) adds another layer to his public impact. Over the past year, Morrow’s posts on culture, media, and current events have generated over 13.8 million views, establishing him as a real-time influencer whose voice helps shape national conversations. His growing impact was recognized in 2024 when Cleveland Magazine named him one of the city’s Most Interesting People.

With millions reached across the airwaves, in print, and online, Darvio Morrow’s growing media empire — and his commitment to independent Black ownership — stands as one of the most important stories in American media today.