-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QEFrf5tPx1dG+sjbitmJNeI6D23HDPgtfx8xOVqeK0MtzsbgATfVI7g/0n6EG2FP
 gpnxzG2GdDZtxdIq4X//nQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-012874.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-012874.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702171211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-012874
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VILARDO LINDA J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219710

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25969
		FILM NUMBER:		03772805

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 PRINCESS GARDEN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		7TH FL
		CITY:			LANHAM
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20706

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RADIO ONE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041657
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				521166660
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 PRINCESS GARDEN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		8TH FL
		CITY:			LANHAM
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20706
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3013061111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5900 PRINCESS GARDEN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		8TH FL
		CITY:			LANHAM
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20706
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd12523.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041657</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RADIO ONE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ROIA/ROIAK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219710</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VILARDO LINDA J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP and Assistant Secretary</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>7.78</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>10000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.78</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-30</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2001-12-31</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2009-05-05</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>21077</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The options vested in four installments beginning in May 1999 and are now fully vested.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>/s/  Linda J. Vilardo</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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