EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE


Regent Communications, Inc. Adopts Stockholder Rights Plan

Covington, Kentucky - May 19, 2003 - Regent Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:
"RGCI") announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a Stockholder
Rights Plan in which preferred stock purchase rights will be granted as a
dividend at the rate of one right for each share of Common Stock held of record
as of the close of business on May 30, 2003. Each right initially would entitle
the holder thereof to purchase one-one thousandth of a share of preferred stock.
The rights will expire on May 30, 2013.

Terry Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Regent Communications, commented, "Since
Regent is one of the few public radio companies with a single class of stock, we
thought this plan was in the best interest of shareholders. This rights plan is
a prudent measure that will protect shareholder value in the event of a hostile
takeover, while not precluding a fair acquisition bid for the company. Many
public companies have rights plans similar to the one we have adopted and this
plan will not interfere with any potential merger or other business combination
transaction approved by the board."

The Rights Plan is similar to plans adopted by many other companies and is
designed to deter coercive or unfair takeover tactics including the accumulation
of shares in the open market or through private transactions. The Rights Plan
will assist the Company's Board of Directors in dealing with any future actions
taken by hostile entities that attempt to deprive the Company and its
stockholders of the opportunity to obtain the most attractive price for their
shares.

Initially, the rights are represented by the Company's Common Stock certificates
and are not exercisable. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or
group in the future becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of Regent's
Common Stock or commences, or publicly announces an intention to commence, a
tender or exchange offer which would result in its ownership of 15% or more of
the Common Stock. Ten days after a public announcement that a person or group
has become the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Common Stock, all holders
of rights, other than the acquiring person or group, would be entitled to
purchase Common Stock of the Company upon the payment of the exercise price at
one-half of the then-current market price. The initial exercise price of the
rights is $35.00. If the Company is acquired in a merger, or 50% or more of the
Company's assets are sold in one or more related transactions, each right would
entitle the holder thereof to purchase common stock of the acquiring company at
half of the then-current market price of such common stock.

At any time after a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more
of the Common Stock, Regent's Board of Directors may exchange one share of
Common Stock for each right, other than rights held by the acquiring person or
group. The Board generally may redeem the rights at any time until ten days
following the public announcement that a person or group has acquired beneficial
ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock. The redemption price
is $0.001 per right.

Further details of the Rights Plan are outlined in a letter that will be mailed
to all stockholders as of the record date. In addition, a copy of the Rights
Plan will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K.



About Regent

Regent Communications is a radio broadcasting company focused on acquiring,
developing and operating radio stations in middle and small-sized markets. Upon
the close of all announced transactions, Regent will own and operate 76 stations
located in 16 markets. Regent Communications, Inc. shares are traded on the
Nasdaq under the symbol "RGCI."

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements with respect to
Regent Communications, Inc. for which we claim the protections of the safe
harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve certain
risks and uncertainties and include statements preceded by, followed by or that
include words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect,"
"intend," "project" and other similar expressions. Although we believe our
expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements are influenced by our financial
position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, and plans and objectives
of management for future operations. Actual results and developments may differ
materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements based on
various factors including, but not limited to: changes in economic, business and
market conditions affecting the radio broadcast industry, the markets in which
we operate, and nationally; increased competition for attractive radio
properties and advertising dollars; fluctuations in the cost of operating radio
properties; our ability to manage our growth; our ability to integrate these and
other acquisitions; and changes in the regulatory climate affecting radio
broadcast companies. Further information on other factors that could affect the
financial results of Regent Communications, Inc. is included in Regent's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These documents are available free
of charge at the Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov and/or from Regent
Communications, Inc.


CONTACT:

Terry Jacobs
Chairman and CEO
Regent Communications, Inc.
859-292-0030

Tony Vasconcellos
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Regent Communications, Inc.
859-292-0030

John Buckley/Catherine Wang
Brainerd Communications, Inc.
212-986-6667
Wang@braincomm.com