iHeartMedia Expands To Mobile, Auto Dashes Across Canada

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Today (Jan. 6), iHeartMedia announced an exclusive partnership with Bell Media—Canada’s leading media company with 106 licensed stations—that will bring the iHeartRadio brand to Canada in 2016.

Upon launch later this year, iHeartRadio in Canada will provide access to the live radio feature offering listeners throughout Canada all of Bell Media’s broadcast and digital-only radio stations across mobile, auto dashes, tablets and smartphones, gaming consoles, wearables and more. The partnership will also bring iHeartRadio-branded events to Canada.

“We are partnering with the fast-rising iHeartRadio brand to develop its incredible presence in Canada through our leading platforms,” said Randy Lennox, President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media.

“Partnering with Bell Media and launching iHeartRadio to our neighbors in Canada is an important milestone in further expanding our international footprint,” said Michele Laven, President of Business Development and Partnerships for iHeartMedia. “This new partnership will allow us to work with distribution partners, including auto and consumer electronics, to extend our brand and reach even further.”

In the U.S., iHeartRadio’s streaming music and live digital radio service delivers listeners access to thousands of live radio stations, plus user-created custom stations. iHeartRadio has surpassed 75 million registered users, not to mention the millions of listeners who tune in without registering.

iHeartRadio is currently available across the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

Country Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Revealed

Pictured (L-R): Blair Garner, Mike and Dana Schuff, Lisa Dent.

Pictured (L-R): Blair Garner, Mike & Dana Schuff, Lisa Dent.

The 2016 class of Country Radio Hall of Fame inductees has been revealed. Among those included are Blair Garner, Mike & Dana Schuff, and Lisa Dent in the On-Air category, and Mick Anselmo, Kirby Confer, Jack Reno, Tim Roberts and Jim Slone in the Radio category.

Reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year  Luke Bryan will be on-hand to recognize the inductees live during the Country Radio Seminar 2016 opening ceremonies on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m., providing an opportunity for the class of 2016 to be acknowledged during Country radio’s biggest week.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to the radio industry over a 20-year period, 15 of which must be in the country format.

Country Radio Hall of Fame Chairman RJ Curtis commented about this year’s class, saying “Once again, the Country Radio Hall of Fame selection committee has done a thorough job of recognizing amazing and deserving honorees. The combined contributions of the 2016 Class could practically serve as a textbook for how radio – and country radio specifically – should be executed, with every inductee truly living up to the criteria of having made a ‘significant contribution’ to the country music industry. On behalf of our committee, I am proud to congratulate the Class of 2016.”

The class will be inducted at the Country Radio Hall of Fame induction dinner and awards ceremony, which will be scheduled for later this year. Information regarding the date, ticket prices and the event location will be available in the coming months.

Downtown Music Publishing, Pandora Announce Licensing Agreement

downtown music publishinPandora and Downtown Music Publishing announced today (Monday, Dec. 21) a multi-year licensing agreement for Downtown Music Publishing’s catalog of musical works. This direct publishing deal creates business benefits for Pandora, while modernizing compensation for Downtown and its songwriters in the U.S.

“This agreement with Pandora is a milestone in our on-going mission to deliver equitable, accurate and timely payments for our songwriters,” said Downtown founder and CEO, Justin Kalifowitz. “It also serves as a reminder that songwriter royalties are best negotiated in a free market. We’re looking forward to working more closely with Pandora in optimizing this agreement and know that, in the words of Cy Coleman, the best is yet to come!”

“I am excited for our partnership with Downtown Music Publishing,” said Brian McAndrews, chief executive officer at Pandora. “Pandora is committed to bringing long-term growth to the music business, and working with the talented and diverse songwriters on Downtown Music Publishing’s roster will contribute to that.”

While specific terms of the multi-year agreement are confidential, the companies worked together to build an innovative approach to publisher economics. The deal allows Downtown Music Publishing to obtain its goal of delivering improved performance royalties for its songwriters while Pandora will benefit from greater rate certainty and the ability to add new flexibility to the company’s product offering over time. The public performance royalties Pandora also pays to rights holders of master recordings are not affected by this agreement.

Weekly Chart Report (12/18/15)

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Cumulus: Grimes Will Lead Westwood One, Tommy Page Will Oversee NASH

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In an memo to staff, Cumulus Media CEO Mary Berner has announced that Suzanne Grimes will join Cumulus in a dual role, as President of Westwood One Division, as well as Executive VP of Corporate Marketing, effective January 1. Grimes is former President/COO for Clear Channel Outdoor North America.

Steve Shaw
, President of Westwood One, will continue to lead ad sales, and Charles Steinhauer, Chief Operating Officer of Westwood One, will continue to lead operations, both reporting directly to Grimes.

In her capacity as EVP of Corporate Marketing for all of Cumulus, Grimes will lead efforts in developing marketing strategies designed to drive more revenue. Chief Marketing Officer Pierre Bovard and VP of Social Media Lori Lewis will now both report to Grimes.

Meanwhile, Tommy Page, leader of  platform events initiatives and brand partnerships, has been named SVP of Brand Partnerships & NASH. Page will continue to play a key role in the Corporate Marketing function, and will begin the development and execution of the NASH brand strategy, including the NASH Next talent competition.

Finally, Berner announced a newly developed Office of Programming. Mike McVay, SVP of Content & Programming, was formally appointed to lead content strategy across the platform, including talent recruitment and development and label relations. Tom Schurr, SVP of Operations, will partner with McVay in a new role, overseeing the business aspects of programming, including organization and prioritization, resource allocation, and budget responsibilities.

“Over the past two months, the team and I have been listening to your feedback and actively developing strategies that will result in better operational blocking and tackling; growth in our ratings; and a focused, responsible, collaborative and empowered corporate culture,” said Berner in the memo. “Collectively, we will get Cumulus back on track and begin the evolution into a true next-generation radio business.”

 

SiriusXM Names New Head of Country Programming

J.R. Schumann

J.R. Schumann

SiriusXM has named J.R. Schumann as its new head of Country Programming. Schumann is currently Operations Manager for Cumulus Media in Dallas/Ft. Forth, MusicRow has confirmed. His last day with Cumulus will be Dec. 24, and he will relocate to Nashville. His first day with SiriusXM will be Dec. 28, 2015.

Schumann will lead SiriusXM’s The Highway, as well as all of SiriusXM’s country music programming, as well as channels in the Christian category and SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio.

Schumann will report to Steve Blatter, Sr. VP and General Manager, Music Programming, SiriusXM.

“It’s been an honor to work these two legendary stations in Dallas, and I’m truly grateful for Cumulus to have had this opportunity,” says Schumann. “There aren’t words to describe how excited I am about joining the Sirius XM team, and for Steve Blatter and Scott Greenstein to trust me with these enormous brands is beyond humbling!”

“We are thrilled to have J.R. join the SiriusXM programming team,” said Blatter. “J.R.’s incredible passion and enthusiasm for country music, along with his competitive vision and world-class programming skills make him the ideal person to lead our Country platform.”

Schumann replaces John Marks in the role; Marks left SiriusXM in September to join Spotify.

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Chart Report (12/11/15)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Weekly Chart Report (12/4/15)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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CRS 2016 New Faces of Country Music Show Performers Revealed

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Brothers Osborne (EMI Nashville), Kelsea Ballerini (Black River Entertainment), Cam (Arista Nashville), Old Dominion (RCA Nashville), and Chris Janson (Warner Music Nashville) are set to perform for radio programmers during 2016’s Country Radio Seminar.

Co-sponsored by the Academy of Country Music and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the annual new artist showcase event officially closes out the seminar. Performances will be powered by Live Nation and will take place in the CRS Performance Hall. The 2016 New Faces of Country Music Show will be held Feb. 10 during Country Radio Seminar at the downtown Omni Nashville.

Dinner tickets for the 2016 New Faces show are sold out, however, New Faces of Country Music Show viewing parties are being planned to accommodate overflow attendees.

Weekly Chart Report (11/25/15)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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