EXHIBIT 10.28


                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$ 650,000.00                                              MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
                                                                 JANUARY 7, 1998

        FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, RECEIPT OF WHICH IS HEREBY
ACKNOWLEDGED, within thirty (30) days after demand, the undersigned promises to
pay to the order of HARMONY HOLDINGS, INC. the sum of Six Hundred Fifty Thousand
and no/100 Dollars ($650,000.00) with interest on the unpaid balance of this
Note shall accrue at the rate of 15% per annum from the date hereof through the
due date, and shall accrue on the basis of actual days based on a 365-day year.
The undersigned reserves the right to prepay all or any part of the principal of
this Note at any time without penalty.

        Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Note,
the undersigned shall not be required to pay, and the holder of this Note (the
"Holder") shall not be permitted to collect, any amount of interest in excess of
the maximum amount of interest permitted by law ("Excess Interest"). If any
Excess Interest is provided for or determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have been provided for in this Note, then in such event: 1) the
provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control; 2) the undersigned shall
not be obligated to pay any Excess Interest; 3) and Excess Interest that the
Holder may have received hereunder shall be, at the Holder's option, (a) applied
as a credit against the outstanding principal balance of this Note or the
accrued and unpaid interest (not to exceed the maximum amount permitted by law),
(b) refunded to the payor thereof, or (c) any combination of the foregoing; 4)
the interest rate provided for herein shall be automatically reduced to the
maximum lawful rate allowed from time to time under applicable law (the "Maximum
Rate"), and this Note shall be deemed to have been and shall be, reformed and
modified to reflect such reduction; and 5) the undersigned shall not have any
action against the Holder for any damages arising out of the payment or
collection of any Excess Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if for any
period of time interest on this Note is calculated at the Maximum Rate rather
than the applicable rate under this Note, and thereafter the Maximum Rate
exceeds the applicable rate, the rate of interest payable on this Note shall
become the Maximum Rate until the Holder shall have received the amount of
interest which the Holder would have received during such period on this Note
had the rate of interest not been limited to the Maximum Rate during such
period.

        The makers, endorsers and guarantors hereof waive presentment for
payment, notice of non-payment, protest and notice of protest, and consent that
the time of payment may be extended without notice. If any part of the principal
or interest of this note is not paid when due, then the whole principal sum
shall immediately become due and payable at the option of the holder without
notice. And the maker and all other parties liable hereon agree to pay the cost
of collection of this note, including a reasonable attorney fee.


                                          CHILDREN'S BROADCASTING
                                             CORPORATION

                                          BY:   /s/ James G. Gilbertson
                                              ----------------------------------

                                          ITS:  Chief Operating Officer
                                              ----------------------------------

STATE OF MINNESOTA)
                     ) ss.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN)

        On this 7th day of January, 1998 before me personally came James G.
Gilbertson to me personally known to be the Chief Operating Officer of
Children's Broadcasting Corporation and who executed the foregoing instrument
and duly acknowledged that he executed the same.

  /s/ Jill J. Theis
----------------------------
Notary Public