(AUDIO) Elvis Duran Discusses New Clear Channel Contract

7-31-2012

At one point early on his career, Elvis Duran was doing afternoons, by himself, at Z100 in New York. Working at the legendary New York station is certainly not like bagging milk and eggs at the corner grocery, but it's also not as big as hosting mornings on a national platform. Duran's life at Z began in 1996 after stops in Philly, Austin, Atlanta and Houston. Clear Channel knew they had a superstar ready for the next level and debuted the "Elvis Duran in The Morning" program in 2009. Already on in close to 40 markets, the announcement yesterday that Duran and Clear Channel have signed another 5-year deal should help that number grew quickly. Duran tells Radio Ink both sides wanted the arrangement to be even longer. He's very happy working for Clear Channel, excited to be part of iHeartRadio and will also act as a Clear Channel company spokesman. Duran has 30 years in the business and we spoke to him yesterday about what it's like to be one of the biggest talents, with the biggest company, in the industry today.

Listen to our interview with Elvis Duran HERE

?We are thrilled to extend and expand our partnership with Elvis.  He is a true creative genius with an unparalleled ability to connect with and entertain listeners across the country,? said John Hogan, Chairman and CEO of Channel Media and Entertainment.  ?His intelligence, warmth, enthusiasm and wit really resonate with listeners and work incredibly well with our marketing partners.  He is a remarkable talent and an incredible partner for Clear Channel. ?

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Leykis Discusses Why He Went Internet Only

7-16-2012

In the upcoming issue of Radio Ink magazine former syndicated talker Tom Leykis discusses why he invested $1 million of his own money to launch his Internet only radio show. The show launched in April, and because he stayed in touch with his many listeners while CBS paid him big money to sit on the beach, Leykis had over 400,000 listeners in his first week back. When he was syndicated by Westwod One Leykis was heard, at one point, on over 225 stations. The radio business is very different these days for those on the talent side as Leykis points out.

"The radio business

has had the juice squeezed out of it by consolidators and private equity firms. Nobody wants to say this, because everybody is scared to death of telling the truth. The truth is that our business has had the life sucked out of it by people essentially Gordon Gecko-ing us, coming in, consolidating us, squeezing us, and cutting it to the bone. There?s nothing left to cut but the bone in radio right now. How is Clear Channel going to pay off all of their debt? Ever? I hope they do, because I don't wish ill for the radio business. I love the radio business. I have been in it since I was 14 years old. I want to see these companies and all my friends in the radio business survive and thrive. But, I don't see how you can operate a business with $17 billion in debt, when the revenue does not match up with the debt you have to pay."

To subscribe to Radio Ink in time to receive the Tom Leykis issue, go HERE or call 561-655-8778

(7/16/2012 6:46:35 AM)
Continuing, Clear Channel Communications quarterly 10-Q filing with SEC:

"If we and our subsidiaries cannot make scheduled payments on indebtedness, we or our subsidiaries, as applicable, will be in default under one or more of the debt agreements and, as a result we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation".

(7/16/2012 6:34:17 AM)
From the most-recently filed Securities and Exchange Commission's 10-Q: Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.:
We and our subsidiaries may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. At March 31, 2012, we had $20.7 billion of total indebtedness outstanding.

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AUDIO)Burns Discusses Upcoming Research

7-11-2012

Every Thursday for the next month Alan Burns and his team will host a webinar and release detailed information about research his firm conducted on how females use radio. The research focuses on the variations of the Top 40 formats, includes information about online listening and, as Burns points out in our interview here, how all of this has become a little more difficult to measure.

Here is the full schedule of th free webinars.

Thursday, July 12, 3:30-4:30pm EDT:
Industry Headlines

Thursday, July 19, 3:30-4:30pm EDT:
Radio's Digital Opportunities & Challenges

Thursday, July 26, 3:30-4:30pm EDT:
Top 40 Deep Dive

Thursday, August 2, 3:30-4:30pm EDT:
Deep Dive into AC, Hot AC, & Adult Top 40

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