-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 +AJkixMsx4L+RUBFg/4iZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001248936-09-000001.txt : 20090106
<SEC-HEADER>0001248936-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090106135940
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001248936-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STAKELIN WILLIAM L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248936

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29079
		FILM NUMBER:		09509330

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		REGENT COMMUNICATIONS
		STREET 2:		100 E. RIVERCENTER BLVD.
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41011

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REGENT COMMUNICATIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000913015
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO BROADCASTING STATIONS [4832]
		IRS NUMBER:				311492857
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 EAST RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		9TH FLOOR
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41011
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6062920030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 EAST RIVERCENTER BLVD
		STREET 2:		9TH FLOOR
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000913015</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REGENT COMMUNICATIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RGCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248936</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STAKELIN WILLIAM L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2000 FIFTH THIRD CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>511 WALNUT STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.09</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>728454</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7849</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>720605</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7849</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>712756</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15698</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>697058</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Owned by son</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Owned by daughter</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>63533</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63533</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>63533</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 2, 2009, 200,000 nonvested shares of Regent Communications, Inc. common stock were awarded to Mr. Stakelin under the Regent Communications, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, pursuant to rule 16b-3(d), and vest in four equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date specified in Item 2.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 11,242 shares of Regent Communications, Inc. common stock held for Mr. Stakelin in the Regent Communications, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and 37,123 shares of Regent Communications, Inc. common stock purchased by Mr. Stakelin through the Regent Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of January 4, 2009, 18,750 shares of common stock awarded January 3, 2006, 37,500 shares of common stock awarded January 3, 2007, 112,500 shares of common stock awarded January 4, 2008, and 200,000 shares of common stock awarded January 2, 2009 under the Regent Communications, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan remain unvested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On January 3, 2009, 18,750 shares of nonvested common stock awarded to Mr. Stakelin on January 3, 2006 under the Regent Communications, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan vested. The Company withheld 7,849 shares of the vested amount as payment for the tax liability due by Mr. Stakelin on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On January 3, 2009, 18,750 shares of nonvested common stock awarded to Mr. Stakelin on January 3, 2007 under the Regent Communications, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan vested. The Company withheld 7,849 shares of the vested amount as payment for the tax liability due by Mr. Stakelin on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On January 4, 2009, 37,500 shares of nonvested common stock awarded to Mr. Stakelin on January 4, 2008 under the Regent Communications, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan vested. The Company withheld 15,698 shares of the vested amount as payment for the tax liability due by Mr. Stakelin on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">One-for-one</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The phantom stock was acquired under the Regent Communications, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan at $0.09 per unit and are to be settled in cash upon the reporting person's separation of service from the Company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William L. Stakelin, as executed by Anthony A. Vasconcellos, pursuant to a power of attorney form previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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