New York, NY – June 26, 2012 – Clear Channel Media and Entertainment today announced an agreement to add 106 Cox Media Group and Emmis Communications radio stations to its iHeartRadio digital platform. The collaboration will result in more choices and greater programming options for iHeartRadio users and a comprehensive, fully integrated digital listening service for Cox and Emmis listeners. 

 

Under the agreement, 86 Cox Media Group radio stations from 19 markets and 20 Emmis Communications radio stations from six markets will be available on the iHeartRadio platform wherever it is offered including the web, mobile devices and in automobiles.  The new stations will promote iHeartRadio on-air. Cox Media Group and Emmis will continue to stream their stations on the respective station websites and mobile apps.

 

“Our goal is to make sure that iHeartRadio continues to provide the best and most complete online radio experience for listeners,” said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.  “Adding 106 great station brands from Cox and Emmis is a win for iHeartRadio users and we are really excited to provide major broadcast companies, such as Cox Media Group and Emmis Communications, a broadcast-friendly platform that has the ability to offer their listeners a fully integrated digital experience.  Our listeners are embracing iHeartRadio in ever-greater numbers as their digital entertainment destination and that is good for all of our iHeartRadio partners.”

 

“Cox Media Group is impressed with the progress that iHeartRadio has made over the last year,” said Doug Franklin, Cox Media Group’s President.  “Our strategy is to serve our listeners on as many digital platforms as possible.  We look forward to extending our reach in partnership with iHeartRadio.”

 

“Our team is excited to participate in iHeartRadio's explosive growth,” said Jeff Smulyan, Emmis Communications Corporation’s Chairman and CEO.   “By joining iHeartRadio, we offer our listeners - including listeners of our premiere hip-hop brands Hot 97 in New York and Power 106 in Los Angeles - a great way to continue to enjoy our stations’ content.”

iHeartRadio is Clear Channel’s free, industry-leading digital radio service that offers more than 1,000 broadcast and digital-only radio stations from 150 cities, plus user-created Custom Stations inspired by favorite artists and songs. iHeartRadio reached 10 million registered users this past May, a milestone reached in only eight months – faster than all other popular entertainment and communication platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Spotify and Instagram. Registered users are only a percentage of iHeartRadio’s overall listeners, since registration is only required for the Custom Station feature. iHeartRadio is available as a free application across multiple platforms including web, mobile, tablets, automotive, television and gaming devices.

Clear Channel also continues to be one of the most popular digital music destinations, given the 100 million listening hours a month, more than 45 million monthly digital uniques, more than 80 million downloads of iHeartRadio mobile apps, and more than a 15 million fan reach through its station and radio personality Facebook pages.

Cox Media Group is an integrated broadcasting, publishing, direct marketing and digital media company that includes the national advertising rep firms of CoxReps. Additionally, CMG owns and operates Valpak, one of North America’s leading direct marketing companies. With $1.7 billion in revenue, the company operations include 15 broadcast television stations and one local cable channel, 86 radio stations, eight daily newspapers and more than a dozen non-daily publications, and more than 100 digital services. CMG operates in more than 30 media markets and reaches approximately 52 million Americans weekly, including 30 million TV viewers, more than 4 million print and online newspaper readers, and 18 million radio listeners. For more information about Cox Media Group, please check us out online at www.coxmediagroup.com.

Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company, principally focused on radio broadcasting. Emmis operates the 8th largest publicly traded radio portfolio in the United States based on total listeners. Emmis owns 18 FM and two AM radio stations in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Austin (Emmis has a 50.1% controlling interest in Emmis’ radio stations located there), Indianapolis and Terre Haute, IN, including the country's two premier hip hop brands, Hot 97 in New York and Power 106 in Los Angeles.

 

Cox Media Group

Andy McDill – Andy.McDill@coxinc.com

678-645-0439

 

Emmis Communications

Patrick Walsh - PWalsh@emmis.com