In the Q1 earnings report for Cumulus Media, overall revenue increased 15% year-over-year, representing the fifth consecutive revenue gain. In that broad picture, local spot revenue, the traditional radio revenue metric, increased 13%, and digital revenue grew 18%. Naturally, digital revenue received a lot of attention during the call. Click for details and quotes. Continue Reading
As we continue to prowl through the Audioscape 2022 report from Cumulus Media / Westwood One (see part 1 HERE), we note a few more items of interest. Click through for charts related to listening platforms, consumer characteristics, and age demographics. Continue Reading
Cumulus Media / Westwood One has released its 2022 Audioscape bundle of research metrics under the banner of its Audio Active Group brand led by Chief Insights Office Pierre Bouvard. It’s a big book of data; today, we look at the growth of podcast listening share compared to terrestrial radio. Continue Reading
Equity research analyst at B. Riley Securities, Daniel Day, projected growth metrics for the second half of this year, and 2022, for three top radio groups — iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus Media. His “robust growth estimates” for digital revenue are his most bullish outlooks, with a particular focus on podcasting. Click for details. Continue Reading
Cumulus Media has announced the creation of the Audio Active Group. In the company’s words, it is a “full-service advisory to offer comprehensive insights, media planning, creative, and measurement services for audio advertisers.” The well-known Westwood One blog, edited by Pierre Bouvard, has been renamed. Click for details. Continue Reading
Cumulus Media is announcing a new partnership with Rolling Stone to produce Don’t Let This Flop, a weekly roundup of highlight content, memes, and trends on TikTok. Hosted by two Rolling Stone writers.
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WFAS-AM has moved from the analog band to HD radio while rebranding to AM1230Digital. Cumulus Media subsidiary Westwood One programs the station with News/Talk on weekdays and Sports on weekends. Continue Reading
In its first quarter earnings report this week, Cumulus Media framed a predictable Covid downturn as an upturn in progress. There’s more money in the bank. Podcasting experienced growth in revenue, downloads, and syndication strategy — and was also rebranded. Continue Reading
Cumulus Media-owned Westwood One Podcast Network will rebrand as Cumulus Podcast Network, the change taking place on May 6. Suzanne Grimes, Executive Vice President Corporate Marketing and President, Westwood One, will retain responsibility for the Company’s podcast sales network. The public-facing renaming makes eminent sense. Continue Reading
Digital audio was emphasized numerously in the Q4 earnings call of Cumulus Media, supported by a slew of numbers. Podcasting is up in every way for the company, and Cumulus is not particularly acquisition-minded. Click through for details and quotes. Continue Reading
“Smart speaker ownership soars and brings AM/FM back into the home,” writes Pierre Bouvard in a new Westwood One blog post. A key statistic from the parent company backs this up: 24% of stream listening to Cumulus radio stations happens on smart speakers. Cumulus booked an interesting smart speaker preroll campaign with a consortium of Ford dealerships. Click through for more context, a chart, and link to more. Continue Reading
by Jeff Umbro
In this week’s column, Podglomerate CEO Jeff Umbro unleashes an epic list of lists — 32 media brands which released end-of-year “best podcasts of 2020” roundups. From Esquire to Vanity Fair. From Town & Country to Teen Vogue. Dive in now; thank Jeff later. (Or blame him; your choice.) Continue Reading