Malcolm Owen
Apple is mulling over an investment into the financially-troubled iHeartMedia, a report claims, with a possible cash injection into the largest radio broadcaster in the United States potentially taking the form of a massive marketing partnership to drive more users to Apple Music.
The struggling iHeartMedia filed for bankruptcy protection in March, in an attempt to manage over $20 billion in debt. While the company has reached agreements with some debt holders and financial backers, creditors have been attempting to find more investors, in order to beat a bankruptcy court's reorganization plan deadline for later in November.
Apple is apparently one of the potential investors, reports the Financial Times, with people familiar with the deal suggesting the amount provided by Apple could stretch to tens of millions of dollars. Discussions between the two companies are still at a preliminary stage with no deal agreed.
Neither Apple nor iHeartMedia have issued comment on the report's story.
Operating over 850 traditional radio stations, iHeartMedia also has interests in concerts and digital streaming, but not at the same level as its rivals. A shift in revenues to Google and Facebook, as well as the migration of listeners to podcasts and streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, are largely to blame for its lower revenues and entry into bankruptcy proceedings.
Initial suggestions for why Apple would do this point to a marketing partnership to promote Apple Music, rather than a direct investment. Aside from on-air promotion for Apple Music, the partnership could enable Apple to bring the Beats 1 digital station to radio.
It is believed iHearMedia reaches 270 million people per month via radio, and 100 million more through streaming radio and music services. Despite the reach, the company earned $3.6 billion in revenue last year, but paid $1.4 billion in interest on its debts alone.
A music industry executive believes this to be a "power move" by Apple, if the deal completes, as working with iHeartRadio could increase its influence in the industry further. Working with iHeartMedia could give Apple an advantage over rivals such as Spotify, which Apple Music overtook in terms of U.S. subscribers earlier this year.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
1 Comment
You can’t paint a turd. Just buy all of the other radio stations iHeart doesn’t own and at least get some quality radio stations left to do the same damn thing pennies on the dollar, and do it right, iHeart/Clear Channel lost the local experience for their listeners a long time ago with their Nationalized Streaming Platform. Clear Channel screwed up so bad they had to change their name to IHeartRadio as they were toxic. You can’t pay hundreds of overpaid suits in corporate huge bonuses and expect any money left to run the company properly. Changing the name and doing the exact same thing isn’t sustainable. They can’t even afford to have live and local dj’s In each studio, because they are so greedy to pay themselves.
I don’t need to hear another commercial for the Peloton. Tell me what’s going on around town this weekend, what traffic jams to avoid. That’s what local radio used to do to connect with the listener. Don’t F’ it up Apple!!!