Industry News

Audacy Laying Off Staffers

As it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization, Audacy is embarking on a staff reduction program that it says will affect “less than 2%” of the company’s workforce. WEEI, Boston sports reporterim  Mike Kadlik is one former Audacy staffer who took to social media to announce that he’s now a free agent. He posted to X, “My time with @WEEI has come to an end due to company-wide reductions. Very tough to swallow right before the NFL Draft, but I’m looking forward to continuing covering the #Patriots in some way.” Though the total number of people being let go is not known, it’s expected that more former employees will use social media to let the industry know they are available.

Industry News

Media Research Center Files Petition to Deny Audacy Bankruptcy Exit

The conservative media watchdog organization Media Research Center has filed a Petition to Deny with the FCC the case of Audacy’s Chapter 11 reorganization, which must be approved by the Commission before the company’s radio stations’ licenses can be transferred to the New Audacy. The MRC notes in its Petition to Deny that Soros Fund Management, operated by liberal activist and billionaire Georgeim Soros, would become the largest shareholder in New Audacy and that Soros would “control these radio stations to advance their particular brand of activism.” Further, MRC objects saying that the FCC has an obligation to complete a full and thorough review and that the Commission is being asked to approve the change in ownership without this review, specifically imregarding the foreign ownership issue which the MRC says would not be handled as required by Section 310(b)(4) of the Communications Act of 1935 if the Soros Group gets what it wants. It’s asking the FCC “to waive that process and put it off until sometime down the road – indicating that those foreign stakeholders will be given ‘special warrants’ in the meantime. The Soros group says that putting off the required foreign ownership review will enable the FCC to expedite its approval of the Soros applications and thus allow them to more quickly realize their ownership interests in and take over the hundreds of local radio stations across the country.” The MRC argues that the Communications Act of 1935 “does not contain a special Soros shortcut.” Read the entire filing here.

Industry News

Audacy Files Final 2023 Fiscal Report with SEC

Audacy filed its 10-K annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday (3/22) as it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization. The company is waiting on FCC approval. Inim reporting is operating results for 2023 it reveals net revenue of $1.16 billion, a decrease of 6.75% from the full year 2022. The company was hampered by an impairment loss of $1.3 billion in 2023, compared to the impairment loss of $180 million reported in 2022. That and other factors led to total operating expense soaring to $2.5 billion, compared to the total operating expense of $1.32 billion in 2022. The company posted a net loss of $1.13 billion in 2023, compared to the net loss of $140 million reported for 2022.

Industry News

Audacy Issues Performance Update as it Awaits FCC Approval

Audacy releases a performance update as it waits to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization saying it “is pleased to report a strong start to 2024, driving significant sequential acceleration across key financial metrics and performance indicators. The Company is providing this update to deliver additional visibility on its progress since receiving court approval of its consensual pre-packaged Plan of Reorganization onim February 20.” Audacy awaits FCC approval to complete its restructuring and plans to file its 2023 10-K later this month. The company says it experienced revenue growth of 1% in January, led by a 1% increase in radio revenue and a 7% increase in digital revenue. Audacy chairman, president and CEO David Field comments, “Audacy is off to a strong start in 2024, driving accelerated financial and operating performance, including solid early growth in revenues, key digital metrics, and audience and revenue shares. We look forward to a bright future, capitalizing on our best-in-class balance sheet and our scaled leadership position in the dynamic audio market, distinguished by our exclusive premium content and top positions across the country’s largest markets.”