iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia, Inc.

Formerly	CC Media Holdings, Inc. (iHeartMedia, Inc. holding company)
Company type	Public
Traded as	Nasdaq:IHRT(Class A Common Stock) OTC PinkCurrent:IHRTB(Class B Common Stock)
Industry	Radio broadcasting Podcasting,Digital media live events
Founded	1972(1972)(Clear Channel Communications subsidiary) 2014(2014)(iHeartMedia, Inc. holding company)
Founders	Lowry Mays Red McCombs
Headquarters	San Antonio,Texas , U.S.
Key people	Bob Pittman(chairmanandCEO) Greg Ashlock (CEO, Multiplatform Group) Conal Byrne (CEO, Digital Audio Group)
Revenue	US$2.6 billion (2019)
Operating income	US$506.7 million (2019)
Net income	US$113 million (2019)
Total assets	US$11 billion (2019)
Total equity	US$2.9 billion (2019)
Number of employees	9,588(2021)
Divisions	iHeartMedia (sans "Inc." suffix; formerly Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Clear Channel Radio, et al.)
Subsidiaries	Broader Media, LLC iHeartCommunications, Inc. iHeartMedia and Entertainment, Inc. iHeartMedia Capital I, LLC Voxnest, Inc.
Website	iheartmedia

iHeartMedia, Inc.,orCC Media Holdings, Inc.,is an Americanmass mediacorporation headquartered inSan Antonio,Texas.It is theholding companyofiHeartCommunications, Inc.,formerlyClear Channel Communications, Inc.,a company founded byLowry MaysandRed McCombsin 1972, and later taken private byBain CapitalandThomas H. Lee Partnersin aleveraged buyoutin 2008.

As a result of the 2008 buyout, Clear Channel Communications, Inc. became a wholly ownedsubsidiaryof CC Media Holdings, Inc.On September 16, 2014, CC Media Holdings, Inc. was rebranded iHeartMedia, Inc., and Clear Channel Communications, Inc., became iHeartCommunications, Inc.

Overview

iHeartMedia, Inc. specializes inradio broadcasting,podcasting,digitaland live events throughdivisioniHeartMedia(sans "Inc." suffix; formerly Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, Clear Channel Radio, et al.) and subsidiaryiHeartMedia and Entertainment, Inc.(formerly Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.); the company owns more than 850 full-powerAMandFMradio stations in the U.S., making it the country's largest owner of radio stations. The company has also been involved ininternet radioandpodcastingvia the digital platformiHeartRadio(from which the company derives its current name).

In the past, the company was also involved in live events andout-of-home advertising.The company spun off these businesses in 2005 and 2019 respectively, as the present-dayLive Nation EntertainmentandClear Channel Outdoor.

History

20th century

Clear Channel's logo

Clear Channel Communications purchased its first FM station inSan Antonio, Texasin 1972.The company purchased the second"clear channel"AM stationWOAIin 1975. In 1976, the company purchased its first stations outside of San Antonio. KXXO (nowKAKC) andKMOD-FMin Tulsa were acquired under the name "San Antonio Broadcasting" (same as KEEZ). Stations were also added inPort Arthur, Texas(KPAC-AM-FM, nowKDEIandKTJM,fromPort Arthur College), andEl Paso, Texas(KELP, nowKQBU) from John Walton Jr.

In 1992, theU.S. Congressrelaxed radio ownership rules slightly, allowing the company to acquire more than two stations per market. By 1995, Clear Channel owned 43 radio stations and 16 television stations. When theTelecommunications Act of 1996became law, the act deregulated media ownership, allowing a company to own more stations than previously allowed. Clear Channel went on a subsequent buying spree, purchasing more than 70 other media companies and individual stations.

In a few cases, following purchase of a competitor, Clear Channel was forced todivestsome of its stations, as it was above the legal thresholds in some cities. In 2005, the courts ruled that Clear Channel must also divest itself of some "border blaster"radio stations in international border cities, such as thealternative rockradio stationXETRA-FM( "91X" ) inTijuana/San Diego.

In 1997, Clear Channel expanded and diversified its business, purchasing Eller Media, a billboard media companyled byKarl Eller.

In 1998, it made its first move outside of the US when it acquired the leading UK outdoor advertising company More Group plc, which was led byRoger Parry;Clear Channel went on to buy many other outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, and live events companies around the world, which were then re-branded Clear Channel International. These included a 51% stake in Clear Media Ltd. in China. R. Steven HicksandHicks, Muse, Tate & Furstbegan Capstar Broadcasting in 1996, and a year later had become the largest owner of radio stations in the country, with 243 stations in total. In August 1997, Capstar and Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst announced plans to acquireSFX Broadcasting,with the resulting company owning 314 stations in 79 markets and ranking as the third-largest radio group by income.A year later, Chancellor Media Corporation and Capstar Broadcasting Corporation announced a merger that would result in Chancellor Media owning 463 stations in 105 markets when the deal was completed in second quarter 1999. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst owned 59 percent of Capstar, with 355 stations in 83 markets, and was the largest single owner of Chancellor (which had 108 stations in 22 markets), with 15 percent of the stock.Chancellor Media later became AMFM Inc., which was acquired by Clear Channel in a deal announced October 3, 1999, and valued at $17.4 billion. The resulting company would own 830 radio stations, 19 television stations, and over 425,000 outdoor displays in 32 countries.

In 1999, the company acquiredJacor Communications,a radio corporation based inCincinnati.The company also made an investment in the newsatellite radioserviceXM Satellite Radio,giving it the rights to program a selection of stations on the service (which would be drawn from some of its stations and syndicated output).

21st century

In 2000, Clear Channel acquiredRobert F. X. Sillerman's SFX Entertainment, aconcert promoterthat had focused on consolidation of regional promoters under a national operation.In 2005, Clear Channelspun offits entertainment and live events business asLive Nation.

On November 16, 2006, Clear Channel announced plans to go private, being bought out by twoprivate-equityfirms,Thomas H. Lee PartnersandBain CapitalPartners for $26.7 billion, which included their assumption of $8 billion in Clear Channel debt.This was just under a 10 percent premium above its closing price of $35.36 a share on November 16: the deal valued Clear Channel at $37.60 per share.

In a separate transaction also announced on November 16, 2006, Clear Channel said it would seek buyers for all of its television stations and 539 of its smaller radio stations, because the private-equity buyers were not interested in owning television or small-market radio. Over a hundred stations were assigned toAloha Station Trust, LLCupon the consummation of the merger. The television stations were sold toNewport Television,a broadcaster owned byProvidence Equity Partners,on April 23, 2007.

Due to the credit market crunch of 2007, Clear Channel encountered difficulty selling some of its radio stations. Clear Channel's attempt to sell off over 100 stations toGoodRadio.TV, LLCwas rejected by the equity firm backing the deal.The deal then shifted to Frequency License LLC, but took longer to resolve itself as the two parties were engaged in lawsuits. On top of that, the sale of Clear Channel's television portfolio to Newport Television had also turned uncertain, as Providence considered other options, although this transaction was ultimately completed.

On December 4, 2007, Clear Channel announced that they had extended the termination date of the buyout from December 12, 2007, to June 12, 2008.On July 24, 2008, Clear Channel held a special shareholder meeting, during which the majority of shareholders accepted a revised $36-per-share offer fromBain CapitalandThomas H. Lee Partners,revaluing the deal at $17.9 billion plus debt.Shareholders received either $36 in cash, or one share of CC Media Class A common stock for each share of Clear Channel common stock held.The company announced that it would move to more centralized programming and lay off 1,500 employees, or approximately 7% of its workforce, on January 20, 2009. The reasoning was bleak economic conditions and debt from its transition to a private company.By the completion of the restructuring in May 2009, a total of 2,440 positions were eliminated.

In early 2010, it was announced that the company was facing the possibility of bankruptcy due to its "crippling debt".After 21 years, Mark Mays stepped down as president and CEO of Clear Channel on June 23, 2010.Mays remained as chairman of the board.On October 2, 2011,Robert W. "Bob" Pittman,who was then the company's Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms, was named CEO of CC Media Holdings.

In August 2013, Clear Channel sold its minority stake inSirius XMfor $135.5 million. This also resulted in the removal of most Clear Channel-programmed stations on the service, besides simulcasts ofWHTZandKIIS-FM.

On January 6, 2014, Clear Channel announced a marketing partnership withRobert F. X. Sillerman'sSFX Entertainment(a second incarnation of a live events company that had been sold to Clear Channel, which spun off to form Live Nation), to collaborate onelectronic dance musiccontent for its digital and terrestrial radio outlets, including aBeatporttop 20 countdown show.The partnership expanded upon the company's existing EDM-oriented outlets, includingEvolution.Staff, includingJohn Sykes,believed that the deal would help provide a higher level of national exposure to current and up and coming EDM artists.

In September 2014, it was announced that the company would be renamed from Clear Channel Communications to iHeartMedia, alluding to itsiHeartRadioplatform to reflect the company's growing emphasis on digital media andinternet radio.The previous name "Clear Channel" came from AM broadcasting, referring to a channel (frequency) on which only one station transmits. In the U.S.,clear-channel stationshave exclusive rights to their frequencies throughout most of the continent at night, when AM signals travel far due toskywave.CEOBob Pittmansaid that the company had been "doing progressive stuff", yet were still "named after AM radio stations".

Beginning in 2008, iHeartMedia struggled to pay down more than $20 billion in debt the company assumed from its leveraged buyout. Various media outlets, includingBloomberg News,Reuters,Radio Ink,and iHeartMedia's hometown newspaper theSan Antonio Express-News,claimed that eitherbankruptcyor a majorrestructuringwas likely.On April 20, 2017, the company warned investors that it might not survive over the following 10 months.

In 2016, one of the company's directors, Julia B. Donnelly, left the board of iHeartCommunications and was replaced by Laura A. Grattan, a director atThomas H. Lee.Grattan was named to the board of managers of iHeartMedia Capital I, LLC, the direct parent of iHeartCommunications, as well as the board of directors of iHeartMedia, Inc., the indirect parent of iHeartCommunications.

On November 30, 2017, it was reported that a group of creditors had rejected iHeartMedia's latest debt restructuring proposal, instead bringing out a deal where the company might file for bankruptcy.On March 15, 2018, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and claimed that it reached an agreement to restructure $10 billion of its over $20 billion in debt.

In September 2018, iHeartMedia acquiredHowStuffWorks'podcastnetwork Stuff Media for $55 million.On November 19, 2018, iHeartMedia announced its intent to acquireJelli,the provider of a programmatic advertising platform for radio stations.

In January 2019, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved a creditor-supported plan for iHeartMedia to exit bankruptcy, which would reduce the company's debt from $16.1 billion to $5.75 billion. The plan included the spin-out of iHeartMedia's 89.1% stake in itsout-of-home advertisingdivisionClear Channel Outdoor.In April 2019, the company also filed a proposedinitial public offering.

iHeartMedia emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2019, with a new board of directors and the spin-out of Clear Channel Outdoor, but maintaining its existing leadership of CEO Bob Pittman and president Rich Bressler.Rather than pursue its IPO (which was estimated to potentially be valued at $1.1 billion), iHeartMedia instead received approval for a direct listing on theNasdaq.

On January 14, 2020, iHeartMedia announced a major restructuring, as part of an effort to "modernize our company to take advantage of the significant investments we have made in new technology and aligning our operating structure to match the technology-powered businesses we are now in." This included the restructuring of its Markets Group into three divisions: the Regions division for its largest markets, the Metropolitan division for other major cities, and the Communities division for smaller markets and added a multi-market partnerships unit, and announced the development of centers of excellence that would use technology investments to "provide a better experience for listeners and business partners and a more efficient process for all of its employees".

The restructuring was accompanied by a major round of layoffs and displacements, with a large number of staff members and on-air personalities impacted.

Businesses

iHeartMedia has purchased interest in, or outright acquired, companies in a number of media or advertising related industries. This is not an exhaustive list.

Radio

iHeartRadio's offices and studios inDenver,which housesKTCL,KDHT,KBCO,KRFX,KOA,KBPI,KHOW,KDFD,andKWBL

With 855 stations, iHeartMedia is the largest radio station group owner in the United States,both by number of stations and by revenue. The 855 stations reach more than 110 million listeners every week, and 276 million every month. According to BIA Financial Network, iHeartMedia recorded more than $3.5 billion in revenues as of 2021,$1 billion more than the number-two group owner,Audacy.

In June 2012, the company announced that it would become the first U.S. radio group to partner with record labels to payperformance royaltiesdirectly to labels and musicians (in addition to songwriters and producers). The royalties are paid via revenue sharing for advertising across platforms (including digital), rather than a flat payment each time a song is played.Big Machine Label Groupwas announced as the first partner in this scheme. Pittman stated that the arrangement would let "labels and artists participate in the revenue of broadcast radio immediately and in digital radio as it builds".

Radio acquisitions

iHeartMedia has purchased stations from or acquired the following radio companies:

• Ackerley Group
• AMFM Inc.
  • Chancellor Media
    • Chancellor Broadcasting
      • American Media Inc.
      • Colfax Communications
      • OmniAmerica
      • Shamrock Broadcasting
    • Evergreen Media
      • Broadcasting Partners
      • Brown Organization
      • GannettRadio
      • Pyramid Communications
    • ViacomRadio
  • Capstar (also operating under Gulfstar, Southern Star, Pacific Star, and Atlantic Star)
    • Benchmark Communications
    • Commodore Media
    • Osborn Communications
    • Patterson Broadcasting
    • SFXBroadcasting
      • Liberty Broadcasting
      • Prism Radio Partners
    • Triathlon Broadcasting
• Apex Broadcasting
• Clark Broadcasting
• Dame Media
• Eastern Radio Assets
• Jacor
  • CiticastersCommunications
  • Nationwide Communications,Inc.
  • Regent Communications
  • Noble Broadcast Group
• Metro Networks
• Mondosphere Broadcasting
• Metroplex Communications
• Paxson Communications
• Quad City
• Radio Equity Partners
• Roberts Radio
• Taylor Broadcasting
• Trumper Communications
• US Radio
• XM Satellite Radio(service and programming agreement)

Outdoor advertising

Billboards atYonge-Dundas Squarein Toronto, owned by Clear Channel, in 2005

Clear Channel Outdoor(CCO) is an advertising company that was previously owned by iHeartMedia. In May 2019, it was spun out from iHeartMedia as part of its exit from bankruptcy.

Television

Clear Channel Television is a defunct television broadcaster and a former subsidiary of the group that was in operation, for nearly 20 years, from 1988 to 2008. It owned more than 40 stations, most of them were from the Big Six networks, a few of which are independent (non-network affiliates). It was initially headed by J. Daniel Sullivan, who set up as president of Clear Channel's television division.

The group made its beginnings when the first television station iHeartMedia purchased as Clear Channel wasWPMIinMobile,Alabamain 1988.Later that year, Clear Channel Communications bought outKDTU-TVinTucson, Arizona,which became Clear Channel's second television station.On March 13, 1989, Clear Channel Television bought outKOKI-TVfor $6.5 million.This was followed on July 3 of that year with the purchase ofFoxaffiliateWAWS-TVinJacksonville, Florida,fromMalrite Communications Group,for $8.1 million.

Eventually over time, Clear Channel Television became the second-largest independent television group, behindSinclair Broadcast Group.In 1990, Clear Channel bought out its fifth television station,KSAS-TVinWichita, Kansas,for $7.9 million.In 1991, Clear Channel bought outKLRT-TVinLittle Rock, Arkansasfor $6.6 million.In 1992, Clear Channel bought outWPTY-TVinMemphisfrom Chase Communications for $21 million.Later on in 1993, the company bought outKITN-TVinMinneapolis/St. PaulfromNationwide Communications,followed in 1994 by the purchase ofWXXA-TVinAlbanyfrom Heritage Communications, for $25.5 million.

In 1991, Clear Channel Television jumped into the foray oflocal marketing agreements,starting in 1991 withWJTC,which Clear Channel operated through a LMA withWPMI,and subsequently later on in 1992, whenKASNentered into a LMA with Clear Channel'sKLRT-TV.Clear Channel also entered into a deal withProvidence Journal Company,who ownsFoxaffiliateKMSBin Tucson to operateKTTUthrough a local marketing agreement.Memphis also jumped onto the board whenWLMTentered into a LMA with Clear Channel'sWPTY.Also in 1993, Clear Channel entered into a local marketing agreement with RDS Communications to operateKTFO-TVin Tulsa, which most of the inventory will be supplied by KOKI.Later on, in 1994, in Jacksonville,WTEV-TVentered into a local marketing agreement withWAWS,the Clear Channel television station.

In 1994, Fox shockingly announced its intentions to purchaseWHBQ-TV,which displaced Clear Channel'sWPTY-TVas its Fox Memphis affiliate.Also that year, as part of a group deal involving stations acquired by SF Broadcasting, Clear Channel'sWPMI-TVin Mobile was set to be displaced as Mobile's Fox affiliate byWALA-TVas part of a three-station deal with the other Burnham stations.These moves didn't sit well for Clear Channel Television, whose president Dan Sullivan thought they wanted to affiliate it with the ousted networks, includingNBCin Mobile, andABCin Memphis.

In 1995, Clear Channel purchased its firstBig Three networkaffiliate,WHP-TVinHarrisburg,for $30 million.It was subsequently followed it up when Gateway Communications, owners ofWLYH-TVentered into a LMA with Clear Channel'sWHP-TV.Later on that year, J. Dan Sullivan left Clear Channel Television to start out Sullivan Broadcasting to acquire theAct III Broadcastingstations.He was then succeeded by Rip Rioridan as president.In 1996, it bought outWPRI-TVinProvidencefromCBS,whichCBSdid not keep due to slight signal overlap withWBZ-TVinBoston.Also that year,Argyle Television Holdings II,who ownedWNAC-TVentered into a LMA with Clear Channel'sWPRI.

As part of the radio-TV strategy, Clear Channel acquiredJacor Communications,which incorporatedWKRC-TVinCincinnatiinto the Clear Channel Television branch.Once FCC relaxed its duopoly rules, Clear Channel acquired stations that were originally LMA markets outright, includingWLMTinMemphis,KTFOinTulsa,WTEVinJacksonville,KASNinLittle RockandWJTCinMobile.Also in 2000, Clear Channel soldWPRIto Sunrise Television for $50 million.Later on in 2001, William Moll become the president of Clear Channel Television, replacing Rioridan.

In 2001, after acquiring the stations ofChris-Craft Industries,Fox Television StationstradedWFTCto Clear Channel Television for Fox's own TV stationsKMOL-TVinSan AntonioandKTVXinSalt Lake City.In 2002, Clear Channel acquiredAckerley Group,which incorporated its television holdings into the Clear Channel Television portfolio.Also that year, Clear Channel soldKTTUinTucsontoBelooutright.In 2003, Clear Channel announced that they would sellWUTRtoMission Broadcasting.In 2004, Clear Channel boughtWETMoutright after the death of Robert Smith, the founder ofSmith Broadcasting.In 2005, Clear Channel acquired another Salt Lake City television stationKUWBfromAcme Communicationsfor $18.5 million in cash.In 2006, Don Perry was then named president and CEO of Clear Channel Television.

Ever that, in the 2000s, Clear Channel began the trend of using legacy callsigns for former radio sisters as new call designated signs for existing Clear Channel TV properties, since it already owned radio stations, althoughWKRC-TValready used the moniker when it was under Clear Channel ownership. In 2002, San Antonio's Clear Channel station KMOL-TV was rebranded toWOAI-TV,the original call letters that station is using from 1948 to 1974, matching up with radio sisterWOAI-AM.In 2005, WOKR, the Rochester Clear Channel affiliate was rebranded toWHAM-TV,the original call letters for an unrelated Rochester stationWROC-TVfrom 1948 to 1956, matching up for radio sisterWHAM-AM.Also that year, sister station in Syracuse, WIXT was rebranded toWSYR-TV,the original call letters forWSTM-TVfrom 1950 to 1980, matching up for radio sisterWSYR-AM.

In 2007, the company entered into an agreement to sell all its television stations toProvidence Equity Partnersfor $1.2 billion,a deal that eventually closed in March 2008.Earlier that year, Don Perry left as president and CEO of Clear Channel Television.All former Clear Channel television stations were owned byNewport Television,while the other six were flipped to other buyers by Newport. In 2012 to mid-2013, Newport sold off all of its holdings to several other television groups, includingCox Media Group,Nexstar Media Group,andSinclair Broadcast Group.

Former Clear Channel-owned stations

Stations are arranged Alpha betically by state and bycity of license.

City of license/Market	Station	Channel	Years owned	Current status
Mobile, AL–Pensacola, FL	WPMI-TV	15	1988–2008	NBCaffiliate owned byDeerfield Media
	WJTC	44	2001–2008	Independentstation owned by Deerfield Media
Fairbanks, AK	KTVF	11	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned byGray Television
Tucson, AZ	KTTU	18	1989–2002	MyNetworkTVaffiliate owned byTegna Inc.
Little Rock, AR	KLRT-TV	16	1991–2008	Foxaffiliate owned byMission Broadcasting
	KASN	38	2000–2008	The CWaffiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting
Bakersfield, CA	KGET-TV	17	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned byNexstar Media Group
	KKEY-LP	11	2003–2008	Telemundoaffiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Eureka, CA	KVIQ	6	2002–2005	Defunct, went dark in 2018,license cancelled in 2020
Fresno, CA	KGPE	47	2002–2008	CBSaffiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Monterey–Salinas, CA	KION-TV	46	2002–2008	CBS/Fox affiliate owned byNews-Press & Gazette Company
	KCBA	35	2002–2008	CW+affiliate owned by Seal Rock Broadcasters, LLC
	KMUV-LP	23	2005–2008	Telemundoaffiliate owned by News-Press & Gazette Company
Santa Maria, CA	KCOY-TV	12	2002–2008	Telemundo affiliate owned by VistaWest Media, LLC
	KKFX-CA	24	2002–2008	Fox affiliate owned by News-Press & Gazette Company
Santa Rosa–San Francisco, CA	KFTY	50	2002–2008	Estrella TVaffiliateKEMO-TV,owned byInnovate Corp.
Jacksonville, FL	WAWS	30	1989–2008	Fox affiliateWFOX-TV,owned byCox Media Group
	WTEV-TV	47	2001–2008	CBS affiliateWJAX-TV,owned by Hoffman Communications, Inc.
Wichita, KS	KSAS-TV	24	1990–2008	Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
	KMTW	36		Dablaffiliate owned by Mercury Broadcasting Company
Hoisington, KS	KOCW	14	2001–2008	Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Salina, KS	KAAS	18	1990–2008	Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN	KITN-TV/ WFTC	29	1993–2001	MyNetworkTV affiliate owned byFox Television Stations
Albany–Schenectady–Troy, NY	WXXA-TV	23	1994–2008	Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting
Binghamton, NY	WIVT	34	2002–2008	ABCaffiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
	WBGH-CA	20	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Elmira, NY	WETM-TV	18	2004–2008	NBC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Rochester, NY	WOKR/ WHAM-TV	13	2002–2008	ABC affiliate owned by Deerfield Media
Syracuse, NY	WIXT-TV/ WSYR-TV	9	2002–2008	ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Utica, NY	WUTR	20	2002–2004	ABC affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting
Watertown, NY	WWTI	50	2002–2008	ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Cincinnati, OH	WKRC-TV	12	1999–2008	CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Defiance, OH	WDFM-LP	19	1998–2018	IndependentWNHO-LD,owned by American Christian Television Services
Tulsa, OK	KOKI-TV	23	1990–2008	Fox affiliate owned byImagicomm Communications
	KMYT-TV	41	2000–2008	MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Imagicomm Communications
Eugene, OR	KMTR	16	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC
Coos Bay, OR	KMCB	23	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC
Roseburg, OR	KTCW	46	2002–2008	NBC affiliate owned by Roberts Media, LLC
Harrisburg, PA	WHP-TV	21	1995–2008	CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
	WLYH-TV	15		Comet TVaffiliateWXBU,owned byHoward Stirk Holdings
Providence, RI	WPRI-TV	12	1996–2001	CBS affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
	WNAC-TV	64		Fox/CW affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting
Jackson, TN	WJKT	16	2000–2008	Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Memphis, TN	WPTY-TV	24	1992–2008	ABC affiliateWATN-TV,owned byTegna Inc.
	WLMT	30	2000–2008	The CW affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
San Antonio, TX	KMOL-TV/ WOAI-TV	4	2001–2008	NBC/CW affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Salt Lake City, UT	KTVX	4	2001–2008	ABC affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
	KUCW	30	2006–2008	The CW affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Bellingham, WA–Vancouver,BC	KVOS-TV	12	2002–2008	Univisionaffiliate owned byWeigel Broadcasting

Music charts

iHeartMedia ownsMediabase,which provide music charts based on songs and tracks receiving the most spins played on radio stations in the United States andCanada.A majority of stations that report to Mediabase are iHeartMedia outlets but other companies also report to the Mediabase charts. In addition, countdown shows produced by Premiere will utilize Mediabase charts for the basis of their programs.

News and information

• 24/7 News Source
• Operates iHeartRadio News Network and local news networks inKentucky,West Virginia,Virginia,Ohio,Oklahoma,Alabama,Tennessee,Georgia,andFlorida.
• Premiere Networks
• Acquired and later sold theAgri Broadcast Network(ABN), a farm programming provider in Ohio.
• PublishesInside Radiomagazine
• Total Traffic & Weather Network reports: on-road and traffic conditions across the United States, and inMexico City,Mexico.These are used by manyGPSnavigation systems.Total Traffic & Weather also produce and distributesNBC News Radio
• Fan Radio Network: a sports radio network that serves Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The flagship station isKFXN-FMinMinneapolis,MN.
• Your Smooth Jazz: 24-hoursmooth jazznetwork provided under the company's "Broadcast Architecture" division.

Worldwide

Bicing,a community bicycle program inBarcelona,Spain.

• Owns part of radio groups inNew Zealand,Mexico,Norway,andAustralia.
• Owns outdoor advertising companies in Brazil, Chile, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium andMauritius.
• Owns L & C Outdoor Comunicação Visual Ltda., of Brazil
• United Kingdom
  • Large numbers of billboards (through a takeover of Adshel)
  • SeeClear Channel UK

Bicycle rental systems

Operates urbanbicycle sharing systemsin several European cities:

City	Country	Launch date	System name	Stations	Bikes
Caen	France			40	350
Dijon	France			33	350
Perpignan	France			15	150
Rennes	France	1998		25	200
Oslo	Norway		Oslo Bysykkel
Drammen	Norway		Drammen Bysykkel
Trondheim	Norway		Trondheim Bysykkel
Barcelona	Spain		Bicing	400	6,000
Zaragoza	Spain		Bizi
Stockholm	Sweden		City bikes	140	1,000
Malmö	Sweden		Malmö by bike
Milan	Italy		bikeMi	103	1,300
Antwerp	Belgium	9 juin 2011	Velo Antwerpen	297	4 200

Vertical Real Estate

In 2003, Clear Channel created the Vertical Real Estate division and hired Scott Quitadamo to promote its tower portfolio. iHeartMedia owns and operates approximately 1,500 broadcast transmission towers across the U.S., many of which are available for co-location by third parties such ascellularandPCScompanies, wireless internet,fixed wireless,and other broadcasters.

Programming

Main article:List of programming syndicated by iHeartMedia

See also:Premiere Networks

iHeartMedia operates the country's largest syndication service,Premiere Networks.In addition, iHeartMedia syndicates a number of its homegrown talk and music shows without the aid of Premiere. While Premiere actively sells its shows to stations, the non-Premiere syndicated shows are often used as a cost-cutting measure and do not have a large sales staff. Those shows also do not carry network-wide advertising (unless distributed by a third party), and allow the affiliates to keep all local spots, which increases their appeal. These networks carry many program hosts of various political ideologies and distribute a variety of programs to both iHeartMedia-owned and non-iHeartMedia-owned stations.

In addition to its own syndication network, iHeartMedia offers studio space and other services to the WestStar TalkRadio Network, which is based at iHeartMedia's studios inPhoenix, Arizona.As a result, many WestStar programs are heard on iHeartMedia stations.

Not all programming heard on iHeartMedia's radio stations are produced in house; however, most of iHeartMedia's stations share many similarities to each other in branding and programming.

Format Lab and HD2 Formats

Main article:iHeartRadio

TheFormat Lab,was a new product and service development think tank conceived, built and managed by Michael Albl for Clear Channel (now known as iHeartMedia) starting in the year 2000 that initially produced 84 formats for use on AM/FM/HD/XM/Stream/Mobile. The formats ranged from mainstream to music genre niches, lifestyle, and highly experimental. These formats were heard on most of Clear Channel'sHD Radiosubchannels, on SiriusXM, Sprint MSpot and used as the original music streaming service for Clear Channel Online Music and Radio (CCOMR). In 2002, The Format Lab launched nationwideThe New Music Network,a free service providing unsigned artists and bands, in 26 different music genres, online streaming of their music and promotion to record labels. In 2009, the Format Lab split into two divisions (1) Premium Choice which produced and distributed both customized and centralized radio programming to over 800 AM/FM/HD terrestrial stations plus XM Radio; and (2) iHeartRadio (formerly CCOMR). The Format Lab also spawned: National Contesting, StormAID (national disaster relief); Spanish Radio division; Pride Radio; Centralized commercial production and distribution; Knowledge management system; Procurement system; Numerous patents. The Format Lab was succeeded in 2010 by another internal company think tank conceived by Michael Albl calledLeap Frog.

iHeartRadio

Main article:iHeartRadio

iHeartRadiois a free broadcast,podcastandstreaming radioplatform.It is also the national umbrella brand for iHeartMedia's radio network aggregating its over 850 local iHeartMedia radio stations across theUnited States,as well as hundreds of other stations from various other media.

Alternative stations

iHeartMedia Alternative Stations usually are branded as "Radio" (such asRadio 94.5(KMYT) in Temecula, CA) or "ALT" (Alt 98.7(KYSR) in Los Angeles). Others include: The Edge, The Buzz, The Project, Star, or X.The Woody Show,which originates from KYSR, serves as the anchor morning show for the iHeartMedia Alternative outlets.

Hip-hop, Rap, R&B and rhythmic stations

Stations that carry programming catering to black Americans are a big part of many iHeartMedia clusters, particularly Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit.In many clusters iHeartMedia has two or more such stations. About half of these stations focus on Rap andHip Hopalong with youngerrhythm and bluessounds. The other half blend some younger rhythm and blues along with some Soul from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s along with some current product. In a cluster with multiple hip-hop, rap, R&B, and rhythmic stations owned by iHeartMedia, one is focused on Rap while the other is focused on Soul. Examples include Philadelphia, withWUSL's focus on hip hop whileWDAS-FMfocuses on Soul (in addition, the company also ownsWGCI-FMin Chicago, which focuses on rap, whileWVAZis focused on Soul. iHeartMedia hip hop, rap, R&B, and rhythmic stations are branded as "Real" (KRRLLos Angeles), "Beat" (KQBT/Houston,WBTPTampa) or "Power" (WWPR-FMNew York City,WUSLPhiladelphiaandWHENSyracuse). In San Francisco, iHeartMedia owned more hip hop, rap, R&B, and rhythmic stations such as Rhythmic Top 40 KYLD, rhythmic oldiesKISQ,and rhythmic contemporaryKMELin that area (KYLD shifted to Top 40/CHR in 2015, KISQ flipped to AC in 2016), and the same happened inDetroit,where the company also owns rhythmic ACWMXD,rhythmic contemporaryWJLBand former Rhythmic AC WDTW-FM (nowWLLZ). iHeart also have hip hop, rap, R&B, and rhythmic outlets with heritage and familiarity based on the markets they serve, likeWHRKandWDIAin Memphis, andWKKV-FMin Milwaukee.

Another growing format, Classic Hip-Hop/Throwback/Old School (consisting of R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap, and Rhythmic songs from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s), can be heard full-time on iHeartRadio, as well asKATZ-FM/St. Louis andKUBT-HD2in Honolulu. Previously, this format was originated as Rhythmic Oldies, which was launched at KCMG/Los Angeles and later spread to more markets before the former Clear Channel flipped several stations out of the format by the mid-2000s.

For the Rhythmic Top 40 format, similar brandings include "The Beat" (KUBT/Honolulu andWBTT/Ft. Myers),Power 102/El Paso,104.5 Kiss FM/Beaumont, Texas,"Jam'n" (KXJM/Portland Oregon,KSSX/San Diego, andWJMN/Boston; a similar "Jammin'" is used atWSTV/Roanoke &WJJX/Lynchburg). A "B" has been used atKBOS-FM/Fresno since the 1980s. Other Rhythmics, such asKUBE/Seattle,KDON-FM/Salinas-Monterey andKGGI/Riverside-San Bernardino, simply use the call letters and/or frequency. Most of these stations target a multicultural audience and play Rhythmic Pop, R&B/Hip-Hop, and Dance tracks.

For rhythmic AC stations, they used to have the "Party" branding (particularly during the time when most usedWake Up with Whoopiout ofWKTUas their morning show), but the two "Party" stations inDenver(KDHT) andLas Vegas(KYMT,the former KPLV) have since exited the Rhythmic AC format. KDHT and KYMT moved to top 40, but continue to use the "Party" branding (KYMT is currently mainstream rock).The Breakfast ClubMorning Showout ofWWPR-FMin New York and "Big Boy's Neighborhood" out of KRRL in Los Angeles are iHeartMedia's syndicated urban morning shows. In 2017, for IHM's 3rd season they produced rhythmic AC programming.

Smooth jazz

IHeartMedia syndicates the Smooth Jazz Network (aka Your Smooth Jazz), which is programmed by Broadcast Architecture. Unless otherwise noted, all Smooth Jazz Network stations will carry the following schedule:Kenny Gand Sandy Kovach in morning drive time, Miranda Wilson in midday, Allen Kepler in afternoon drive time, and Maria Lopez in evenings, with no disc jockeys overnight. Weekend programming consists of theSmooth Jazz Top 20with Allen Kepler, as well as theDave KozRadio Show.

Dance and EDM

The first radio programs includedElectric Sound Stage,Club Phusion,Trancid,Pride Radio,PrototypeRadio,The Spin*Cycleand Classic Dance. Although they have no full-powered stations programming a Dance or EDM (Electronic Dance Music) format, iHeartMedia has FM translators and HD2 platforms broadcasting the EDM-intensiveEvolutionplatform (KZZP/Phoenix is the flagship station, serving as a reporter onBillboard’sDance/Mix Show Airplaypanel), while the LGBT community is served by the more broader-basedPride Radio(with WFLZ/Tampa serving as the flagship station as well as a Dance/Mix Show Airplay reporter). However, iHeartMedia's Top 40/CHR and Rhythmic Top 40 outlets incorporate a majority of Dance songs onto its playlist and set aside airtime blocks for mix shows. A weekly countdown program,America’s Dance 30,airs on Evolution and selected iHeart Top 40 and Rhythmic stations.

News talk stations

News talk stations owned by iHeartMedia usually have a standard slate of hosts. The morning show is usually local, with other timeslots filled by local and syndicated hosts. Programs that appear or have appeared on many iHeartMedia talk stations include theGlenn Beck Radio Program(Beck having gotten his talk show start at iHeartMedia-ownedWFLAin Tampa, which serves as its home station),The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show(does not having a home station but is based out of Nashville),The Sean Hannity Show(out of WOR in New York),The Jesse Kelly ShowandCoast to Coast AMwithGeorge Noory,all of which are affiliated withPremiere Networksin some fashion.TheMark LevinShow(out ofWABCin New York andWMAL-FMin Washington, D.C.; syndicated fromWestwood One) andThe Dave Ramsey Show(out ofWLACin Nashville; independently syndicated) are non-Premiere shows who air on many (if not most) iHeartMedia stations, as didThe Savage Nationprior to its ending in September 2012, whose home station at the time wasKSTEin Sacramento. Limbaugh is almost universally carried on iHeartMedia stations in markets where the company has a news talk station, including recently New York City:WORwas acquired in 2013 by Clear Channel and began carrying Limbaugh's program in 2014 following a long relationship with now-Red Apple Media-ownedWABC.In markets where iHeartMedia-owned news talk stations have not been profitable (such asBostonandAtlanta), iHeartMedia has chosen to sell shows such as Limbaugh andCoast to Coast AMto their rivals and change the stations to other formats. Syndicated morning news programs likeAmerica in The Morning(from Westwood One) andThis Morning, America's First News with Gordon Deal(fromCompass Media Networks) are also heard on a few iHeartMedia-owned stations.

While most of iHeartMedia's news/talk stations carry some combination of Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity and Noory (ofCoast to Coast AM), this is not always the case. Many stations (particularly in the larger markets) likeKFI,KFYI,KOA,WZZRandWLWbroadcast a lineup with significant local programming.

Weekend syndicated programs featured on many (but not all) iHeart-owned stations includeAt Home with Gary Sullivan,Handel on the Law,The Ben Ferguson Show,andSunday Nights with Bill Cunningham(all are part of Premiere Networks).

Liberal talk radiois heard on a few of iHeartMedia's stations, primarily secondary to its main news talk stations, and usually feature at least one local host withWestwood Oneprogramming; Air America Radio also aired on these stations. iHeartMedia has shown a tendency to drop liberal talk affiliations due to lack of ratings or advertiser support and replace it with sports talk or other formats (see, for instance,WCKY,WARF,KLSD,WXKS,andWINZ); in one case this had caused a protest when iHeartMedia (then Clear Channel) wanted to changeWXXMinMadison, Wisconsinto a sports format. WXXM was eventually allowed to keep its liberal format, though they eventually retired it in November 2016 due to a general lack of syndicated programming for that format.

On June 30, 2020, iHeartMedia announced a newall-news radiobrand known asBlack Information Network,which is catered towardsAfrican Americans.

iHeartMedia has been active in the national trend of simulcasting its AM news/talk stations on full-power FM stations, hoping to preserve their long-term viability while AM radio declines. Examples includeSan Diego,California,on KUSS 95.7 (which becameKOGO-FMafter simulcastingKOGO (AM),replacingcountry music),Sacramento,Californiaon KGBY 92.5 (which becameKFBK-FMafter simulcastingKFBK,replacing Hot adult contemporary), inTucson,Arizona,on KTZR-FM (which becameKNST-FMafter simulcastingKNST,replacing Spanish Top 40), inSchenectady,New York(WGY-FM/103.1, simulcastingWGY/810, replacing rock WHRL) andSyracuse, New York(WSYR-FM/106.9 simulcastingWSYR/570, displacing urban AC "Power" toWHEN/620). After failing to see any significant ratings gains from these moves, Clear Channel showed signs of abandoning this strategy when it changed KNST-FM to country music in February 2013 asKYWD.

Sports talk stations

Most sports talk stations owned by iHeartMedia are affiliated withFox Sports Radio.Other sports talk stations are affiliated with rivalESPN Radio(in this case,WUCSin Hartford, Connecticut, which is nearbyESPN's headquarters in Bristol). In 2020, iHeartMedia launched the iHeartSports Network.

Adult standards

Most of iHeartMedia's adult standards stations are turnkey operations, running a direct feed of a satellite format such asWestwood One'sAmerica's Best MusicorMusic of Your Life.Most of these stations have no local jocks or Web sites. The network has few remaining stations in that category and has sold off many of them.

Adult contemporary

iHeartMedia'sAdult contemporarystations are often branded as "Lite FM" (e.g.WLIT-FMin Chicago orWLTWin New York) or "Sunny", although some stations use "Magic", "B" or something else similar as their identifiers, As of 2018, "The Breeze" has bought a new resurgence in Soft AC, targeted towards millennial listeners. Evenings are usually filled withDelilah,unless that show is already aired by another station, in which caseTheJohn TeshRadio Showis often substituted. Automated programming is the next option for the 7PM- 12AMtimeslot.Your Weekend withJim Brickmanand theEllen KWeekend Showare popular weekend syndicated programs on iHeartMedia adult contemporary stations. Most AC stations airChristmas musicfrom the last week of November to Christmas Day. Some AC iHeartMedia stations are known for playingChristmas musicas early as November 1 such asKOSY-FMinSalt Lake Citybefore they flipped to mainstream rock orWLKO(now adult hits) playing its first Christmas song of the season 2–3 weeks beforeThanksgiving.2/3 of iHeartMedia stations that play Adult contemporary air Christmas formats.

Hot adult contemporary stations are usually branded as "Mix", "Star" or "MYfm" (i.e.KBIGin Los Angeles). Some Hot AC stations lean modern rock while others lean toward adult rock. Other Hot AC stations have other brandings such as "Wild 105.7 and 96.7" on WRDA (nowWBZY) a Spanish CHR station inAtlanta.

Contemporary hit radio

iHeartMedia's CHR stations share a number of common brands, including "KISS-FM"(e.g.,KIIS-FMLos Angeles,WKSC-FMChicago,WAKSCleveland,WFKSMelbourne,WXKS-FMBoston), "Z" (e.g.,WHTZNew York,KKRZPortland OregonWZFTBaltimore,KSLZSt. Louis), "Wild" (e.g.,WLDIWest Palm Beach,KYLDSan Francisco), "Power" (WWPWAtlanta,WGEXAlbany, Georgia), Channel (e.g.,WKQIDetroit,WHQCnow calledHits 96.1in Charlotte,KHTS-FMSan Diego,WCHDDayton-Springfield), or "Hot" (e.g.,WIHTin Washington, D.C.,WWHTin Syracuse, NY). Other brands, less commonly used, includes "Radio Now" (previously used atWNRWLouisville, now rebranded as "98.9 Kiss FM" ), "Q" (WIOQPhiladelphia-102.1 FM-Q102,WQGAWaycross-Brunswick, Georgia-103.3 FM-103Q), "B" (WAEB-FMB 104 Allentown-Reading PA 104.1 FM), "FM" (WLAN-FMFM 97 96.9 FM Lancaster-Reading), "V" (WVRT&WVRZV-97 Williamsport-Lock Haven, Pennsylvania), "Max" (WHCYMax 106.3 Sussex), "K.C." (WKCI-FMKC 101, 101.3 FM, Hamden-New Haven, Connecticut/Long Island, New York) and "X" (WJMX-FM103X, 103.3 FM Cheraw-Florence, South Carolina/The Pee Dee). Still other branding can be heard, however, when a preferred format name is already in use by another station in the market.

Although a majority of these stations features a broad-based, mass appeal music presentation, several stations likeWSNX-FM/Grand Rapids andWKTU/New York City tend to lean towards Rhythmic material due to having a sister station in the same format (WKTU's sister is WHTZ) or a lack of a Rhythmic or R&B/Hip-Hop outlet (a void which WSNX also tries to fill).

Country music

Country musicstations owned by iHeartMedia have begun transitioning to "The Bull" likeKSD (FM)in St. Louis and "Big" like WEBG in Chicago (which flipped to mainstream rock asWCHI-FMin 2020) as national brandings as of 2014. They almost universally carryAfter Midnite,the syndicated overnight program currently hosted by Granger Smith, and often carryThe Bobby Bones Showbased out ofWSIX-FMin Nashville in the morning as well.

In 2015, iHeartMedia launched the iHeartCountry franchise. It also launched an annual country event franchise, theiHeartRadio Country Festival.

Classic Hits/Oldies

iHeartMedia's Classic Hits stations consists largely of FM stations with some AM stations. iHeartMedia uses brands such as "Big" and "Kool" on many of its stations. Nearly all of the FM stations play classic hits spanning from the late 1970s to the 1990s with a primary focus on the 1980s, with a 500-song active playlist. These stations generally have a few local live announcers; much of the time these stations are voicetracked either locally or from another market. Many air the in house syndicated 'The 80s Show' with Jeff Stevens on Saturday evenings and many airCasey Kasem'sAmerican Top 40from the 1970s and 1980s.

The AM oldies stations' playlists skew somewhat older and span from 1955 to about 1975. About 60 percent of the time they play 1964 to 1969 oldies, 20 percent pre 1964 oldies, and 20 percent music from the 1970s. Some of the AM stations also run adult standards several hours on the weekend as well as limited specialized programming focusing on the pre 1964 era. Most of the AM stations are in smaller markets.

Rock

iHeartMedia stations programming a rock format tend to play a blend of new rock and harder classic rock. Some carryNights with Alice Cooper(out ofKSLX-FMin Phoenix) in the evenings while some others airedSixx Sense with Nikki Sixxuntil the show ended at the end of 2015. These stations tend to be live during the day and voicetracked at night. Some stations runRocklinewithBob Coburnand/orLittle Steven's Underground Garageas well.

While iHeartMedia classic rock stations operate under a wide variety of monikers, many are branded as "The Fox" or "The Brew". Often, these stations will carryBob and Tom(out ofWFBQin Indianapolis) in morning drive. In theSouthern United States,John Boy and Billy(out ofWRFXin Charlotte) is carried instead in most cases. (Both of the aforementioned shows are syndicated by Premiere.) Other shows includeRover's Morning Gloryout ofWMMSin Cleveland. Starting with WQBW Milwaukee (now the sports formattedWRNW) and WBWR Columbus (nowWXZX), several iHeartMedia stations have adopted a 1980s-centered classic rock approach called "The Brew".

The company'salternative rockstations use a standardized branding under the brand "Alt".

Spanish

In a few markets, iHeartMedia has an FM station carrying Hispanic programming full-time. In some markets the format is a Contemporary Tropical format while in others the format carried is more of a Mexican format. In a few markets an iHeartMedia FM station carries a rap based Spanish format known asHurban,which blends Spanish dance music with rhythm and blues hits as well as some Hip Hop. The division was run by Spanish radio executiveAlfredo Alonso,who joined the company in September 2004 as senior vice president of Hispanic Radio.In September 2016, iHeartMedia brought hired Enrique Santos as chairman and chief creative officer of the newly formed iHeartLatino division.

iHeartMedia launched an annual event franchise callediHeartRadio Fiesta Latina.

Religious

In a few markets, iHeartMedia has a religious station on the AM band. Some of these sell blocks of time to outside organizations and have no local shows at all except where local churches buy time. These are formatted similarly toSalem Mediastations.

The other type of religious format iHeartMedia uses in a few markets is aGospel musicbased format. On these stations, Gospel Music appealing to black Americans airs most of the time, along with some block programming sold to religious groups. These stations are often programmed as urban stations that happen to be religious.

Specialties

IHeartMedia has one station inHawaii,KDNN/Honolulu,programming a Contemporary Hawaiian Hits/Reggae format, along with an accompanying HD2 sub channel that features traditional Hawaiian music. Multicultural programming can also be heard on AM stations that iHeartMedia owns or has LMAs with. In March 2019, itsAllentown,Pennsylvaniaoutlet,WSAN,launched an all-podcast format. In November 2019,K256AS/KUCD-HD2 in Honolulu launched a variant Top 40 format with a focus onK-popand other international pop hits.

Criticism

Market share

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company became an object of persistent criticism.FCC regulations were relaxed following theTelecommunications Act of 1996,allowing companies to own far more radio stations than before. After spending about $30 billion, Clear Channel owned over 1,200 stations nationwide, including as many as eight stations in certain markets. Although "media reform" social movement organizations likeFuture of Music Coalitionmobilized against Clear Channel, so far the company has been able to hold on to all of its stations after divesting a few following the acquisition of AMFM, although over 500 stations have since been sold or are in the process of being sold since the company announced plans to become privately held.

September 11, 2001

Main article:Clear Channel memorandum

Following theSeptember 11 attackson New York andThe Pentagon,radio stations circulated a list of songs that were deemed inappropriate for broadcast during the time of national mourning following the attacks. A small list was initially generated by the Clear Channel office on Thursday, September 13, 2001,though individualprogram directorsadded many of their own songs. A list containing about 150 songs was soon published on theInternet.Some critics suggested that Clear Channel's political preferences played a part in the list.A number of songs were apparently placed on the list because they had specific words such as "plane", "fly", "burn", and "falling" in their titles. Clear Channel denies that this was a list of banned songs, claiming it was a list of titles that should be played only after great thought. Also WOFX, Cincinnati, owned by Clear Channel at the time continued to play songs that were on the alleged list, even though radio headquarters was in Cincinnati at the time.Songs on the list includedTom Petty's "Free Fallin'",Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World"and the entireRage Against the Machine discography.

Live music recordings

In 2004, Clear Channel acquired a key patent in the process of producingInstant Liverecordings, in which a live performance is recorded directly from the sound engineer's console during the show, and then rapidly burned onCDso that audience members can buy copies of the show as they are leaving the venue. This had been intended to provide additional revenue to the artist, venue, and promoter, as well as stifle the demand for unauthorizedbootlegconcert recordings made by audience members. However, some media critics, as well as smaller business rivals, believed that Clear Channel was using the patent (on the process of adding cues to the beginning and ending of tracksduring recording,so that the concert is not burned as a single enormous track) to drive competitors out of business or force them to pay licensing fees, even if they do not use precisely the same process. The patent was transferred toLive NationwhenClear Channel Entertainmentwas spun off, but the patent was revoked on March 13, 2007,after it was found that this patent infringed on a prior patent granted forTelex.

Indecency zero tolerance

During the nationwide crackdown on indecent material following theSuper Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004,Clear Channel launched a "self-policing" effort, and declared that there would be no "indecent" material allowed on the air.This led to the company's dismissal of several of their own employees, including popular and high-profile hosts in a number of cities. There were protests from free-speech advocates. During the same period,Howard Sternwas dropped from six Clear Channel-owned stations in Florida, California, Pennsylvania, New York and Kentucky. By mid-year, rivalViacom(through radio divisionInfinity Broadcasting,and the original Viacom, not thesecond one) brought Stern's show back to those six markets. In June 2004, Viacom/Infinity Broadcasting Inc./One Twelve Inc. filed a $10 million lawsuit against Clear Channel for breaking of contracts and non-payment of licensing fees due to the dropping of Stern's show. (Viacom was Howard Stern's employer at the time, though he has since moved toSirius XM Satellite Radio.) The following July, Clear Channel filed a countersuit of $3 million.

Concerts

In the early 2000s, Clear Channel settled a lawsuit with aDenver,Coloradoconcert promoter, Nobody In Particular Presents (NIPP).In the lawsuit, NIPP alleged that Clear Channel halted airplay on its local stations for (NIPP) clients, and that Clear Channel would not allow NIPP to publicize its concerts on the air. The lawsuit was settled in 2004 when Clear Channel agreed to pay NIPP a confidential sum. However, a systematic analysis of concert ticket prices found no evidence that Clear Channel was cross-leveraging its radio interests with its (now divested) concert promotion interests.

Production of local programming

iHeartMedia uses theRCS Nex-Genautomation system throughout their properties. Like most contemporary automation systems, Nex-Gen allows a DJ from anywhere in the country to sound as if he or she is broadcasting from anywhere else in the country, on any other station.A technological outgrowth of earlier, tape-based automation systems dating back to the 1960s, this method—known asvoice-tracking—allows for smaller market stations to be partially or completely staffed by "cyber-jocks" who may never have visited the town from which they are broadcasting. This practice may also result in local on-air positions being reduced or eliminated. It has been stated that iHeartMedia maintains a majority of its staff in hourly-paid, part-time positions. Beginning in the early 2020s, many of its stations have added a disclaimer with theirstation identificationsequence noting that the voicetracked content is pre-recorded.

Lack of local staff during emergency

Main article:Minot train derailment

Clear Channel was criticized for a situation that occurred inMinot, North Dakota,on the morning of January 18, 2002. At around 2:30 a.m., aCanadian Pacific Railwaytrain derailed and leaked 240,000 US gallons (910,000 L) of toxicanhydrous ammonia,releasing a cloud of caustic, poisonous gas over the city.At the time, Clear Channel owned six commercial radio stations out of nine in the Minot area. City officials attempted to contact the local Clear Channel office by telephone to spread warnings of the danger using its radio stations, but it was several critical hours before the station manager was finally reached at his home. In the meantime,9-1-1operators were advising panicked callers to tune toKCJBfor emergency instructions, but the station was not broadcasting any such information.

The ammonia spill was the largest of its kind in the United States, with one person killed, and over 1,000 seeking medical attention. Clear Channel claimed no responsibility for its failure to warn residents, maintaining that the city should have used theEmergency Alert Systemto trigger automatic equipment in place at all U.S. radio stations. The EAS equipment was later found to be functional at the time, but had not been activated by city, state or regional authorities.Other critical systems throughout Minot were either inoperable or had failed, including the public siren system, electricity in parts of the town, and the 9-1-1 telephone system, which became overloaded.

Rejection of advertising images

Clear Channel Outdoor rejected the two images on the left

In June 2010, Clear Channel Outdoor rejected without comment twodigital billboardimages submitted by St. Pete Pride,anLGBTorganization that sponsorsgay prideevents in theSt. Petersburg,Floridaarea, leading the group to cancel its contract with Clear Channel. St. Pete Pride has stated that throughout its eight-year history, Clear Channel has edited the organization's advertising material, and questioned whether the rejection of these images were because they displayed same-sex couples in affectionate poses. A Clear Channel spokesperson declined to comment on the specific reasons why the images were rejected but denied that the affection being shown was an issue, saying that such images had been included in previous St. Pete Pride campaigns.

Censorship

iHeartMedia and its subsidiaries have been associated with censorship of state and federal candidates for public office, elected officials and various political viewpoints.

iHeartMedia has been criticized in the past for censoring opinions critical of theRepublican Party.Magic,the 2007 release fromBruce Springsteenwhich contained songs that were subtly critical of then-presidentGeorge W. Bush,a Republican, and his administration, was censored from air play on Clear Channel. AfterNatalie Maines,the singer of the country bandDixie Chicks,told a London audience that they were "ashamed [of the fact that] the president of the United States is from Texas", the band's radio airplay dropped precipitously. Afterwards, some iHeartMedia (then Clear Channel) stations removed The Dixie Chicks from their playlists without any noted repercussions from the company. Gail Austin, Clear Channel's director of programming said, "Out of respect for our troops, our city and our listeners, [we] have taken the Dixie Chicks off our playlists."Clear Channel was accused of orchestrating the radio blacklist by such critics as Paul Krugman; however, others claim some Clear Channel stations continued to play the band longer than some other companies.

In 2005, Clear Channel-ownedKTVXwas the only local television station inSalt Lake Citythat refused to air a paid political message ofCindy Sheehanagainst thewar in Iraqduring a visit by President Bush.

On May 8, 2014, the FCC was asked to respond to a political programming complaint made against an iHeartMedia owned broadcast licensee, Capstar TX LLC by supporters ofMilwaukeemayorTom Barrett,that year's Democratic candidate forGovernor of Wisconsin.Capstar would not offer free airtime onWISN radio(a station which only features local and national conservative talk shows) to respond to statements supporting Republican GovernorScott Walker.Walker's supporters had received free airtime from WISN for political purposes. Barrett supporters based their complaint on WISN's violation of theZapple doctrine.The FCC responded by rescinding the Zapple doctrine as a no longer enforceable component of theFairness Doctrine.

Use of paid actors posing as callers

iHeartMedia, through its subsidiary,Premiere Radio Networks,auditions and hires actors to call in to talk radio shows and pose as listeners in order to provide shows, carried by iHeartMedia and other broadcasters, with planned content in the form of stories and opinions. The custom caller service provided by Premiere Radio assures its clients they won't hear the same actor's voice for at least two months in order to appear authentic to listeners who might otherwise catch on.

iHeartMedia and rock radio

iHeartMedia had ended several long-running rock formats in several markets due to the decline of the format and shifts in overall market demographics, to negative listener reception, including:

• KSJOSan Jose(formerly an iHeart station) – flipped to Spanish-language oldies on October 28, 2004, after 35 years as a rock station
• KLOLHouston– flipped to Spanish-language pop on November 12, 2004, after 34 years as a rock station(the station was sold to CBS Radio a few years later)
• WFNXBoston– flipped to adult hits on July 24, 2012, after 29 years as an alternative rock station
• WKLSAtlanta– flipped to mainstream top 40 on August 29, 2012, after 38 years as a rock station
• KZEP-FMSan Antonio– flipped to rhythmic hot AC on August 8, 2014, after 25 years as a classic rock station and 45 years of some form of rock music on the frequency (the classic rock format was moved to low-powered translatorK227BH)
• KDGEDallas–Fort Worth– flipped to Christmas music on November 16, 2016, then Mainstream AC on December 26 after 27 years (11 years on94.5before moving to 102.1 in 2000, and 16 years on 102.1) as an alternative rock station.

See also

• iHeartMedia radio stations
• Clear Channel UK
• List of radio stations owned by iHeartMedia
• List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks
• TuneIn

Further reading

1. Eric Boehlert,"Radio's big bully",salon, April 30, 2001
2. Eric Boehlert,"Tough company",salon, May 30, 2001
3. "Group sues over anti-war billboard", CNN, July 12, 2004
4. Salon article on Clear Channel

External links

• Official website
• Business data for iHeartMedia Class A Common Stock:
  • Bloomberg
  • Google
  • Reuters
  • SEC filings
  • Yahoo!