CUMULUS MEDIA INC., RADAR ONLINE AND COUNTRY MUSIC MEDIA GROUP ENTER INTO CONTENT PARTNERSHIP
ATLANTA, May 4, 2011– Cumulus Media Inc. (“Cumulus”) today announced that it has entered into a content partnership with American Media subsidiaries, Radar Online and Country Music Media Group, to develop entertainment content and programming for broadcast on Cumulus’ Top 40 and country music stations as well as future syndication.
This partnership presents a unique opportunity to in-depth and “insider” entertainment and country music news reports, programs, features and interviews, drawing upon Radar Online and Country Music Media Group’s extensive newsgathering expertise, contacts and editorial strengths.
Radar online, the fastest growing celebrity news site, averages 5 million unique visitors per month – up 140% from a year ago. The website has repeatedly scooped the competition on some of the biggest stories, including exclusives surrounding the ongoing scandals involving Charlie Sheen, Tiger Woods, Lindsay Lohan and the famous taped rants of Mel Gibson.
Country Weekly is the only weekly publication in the United States dedicated to country music, covering everyone from traditional legends such as George Strait, Reba McEntire, and Alan Jackson to today’s superstars such as Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. As the popularity of this genre continues to soar, Country Weekly is right in the center of this dynamic culture.
Radar will feed the Cumulus Top 40 stations with exclusive celebrity news and interviews in real time due to its 24/7 coverage. Country Weekly segments will take listeners into the lives of their favorite stars and provide exclusive interviews, the latest breaking news from Music Row, as well as, insight into all things relating to the country lifestyle.
Access to Cumulus’ station and network group, (pro forma for announced acquisitions) presents Radar and Country Music Media Group with a broad platform from which to brand and disseminate their entertainment and country music content, and to enhance public awareness of their online presence and print offerings.
AMI will be promoting the Cumulus stations in their print and digital properties to create even further synergies. The companies will work together to develop integrated advertising strategies and programs to enhance their respective brands through the creation of unique and compelling content assets.
Cumulus Chief Operating Officer, John Dickey, commented, “We are excited to work with the great people and brands of AMI on this important content partnership. We look forward to bringing our listeners compelling new product and to offer our valued advertisers targeted opportunities to sponsor exclusive branded content.”
Commenting on the partnership, American Media Inc. Chairman, President and CEO, David J. Pecker said, “This is a tremendous partnership for AMI in both growing newsstand sales for Country Weekly and further increasing traffic to RadarOnline.com. Not only will we give digital and broadcast audiences the best celebrity and country music news, advertisers will have the ability to reach consumers at a national level while being able to drill down and sell into the local markets, all with one integrated buy.”
Both companies expect programming promotions to begin in the next two weeks.
About Cumulus
Cumulus Media Inc. is the second largest radio broadcaster in the United States based on station count, controlling approximately 345 radio stations in 67 U.S. media markets. In combination with its affiliate, Cumulus Media Partners, LLC, the Company believes it is the fourth largest radio broadcast company in the United States when based on net revenues. The Company's headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, and its web site is www.cumulus.com.
About American Media, Inc.
American Media, Inc. owns and operates the leading print and digital celebrity and health and fitness media brands in the United States. AMI’s titles include Star, OK!, National Enquirer, Globe, Soap Opera Digest, Soap Opera Weekly, Pixie, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Muscle & Fitness Hers, Fit Pregnancy and Natural Health. AMI also manages 18 different digital sites including RadarOnline.com, OKmagazine.com, Shape.com, MensFitness.com, MuscleandFitness.com and FitPregnancy.com. AMI’s magazines have a combined total circulation of almost 7 million and reach more than 55 million men and women each month. AMI’s digital properties reach an average of 10 million unique visitors and 80 million page views monthly.
AMI also operates a Publishing Services business unit which includes Distribution Services, Inc. (DSI), the No. 1 in-store magazine sales and merchandising marketing company in the U.S. and Canada. DSI places and monitors AMI’s publications and third-party publications to ensure proper displays in major retail chains and national and regional supermarket chains. DSI also provides marketing, merchandising and information gathering services to third parties including non-magazine clients. Publishing Services also provides print and digital advertising sales and strategic management direction in the following areas: manufacturing, subscription circulation, logistics, event marketing and full back office financial functions. Playboy is one of many publishers who have taken advantage of these additional services.
SOURCE: Cumulus Media Inc.