iHeart ……. another example of corporate radio failure. You know, back in the day when your local radio station was hosted by your local DJ, there was a connection. They were part of the community, able to discuss local issues and events. They could be found at local businesses because they were part of the community. That is wht made radio successful, and the fact that they promoted local music and not just the big national names touring around the nation (and at times the world).
Then corporate saw the potential for money and promotion of their artists. The ones they were booking at the venues they managed. What better way to promote their upcoming shows then to promote their music too. The fact there may be a conflict of interest didn't matter, and it didn't matter that corporate stations have no local ties to the community. Maybe sell some advertising spots to local business that could afford it, that will give them that local tie-in.
But like all things - corporate entities have to answer to shareholders and have to demonstrate gross profits that satisfy the balance sheets. And that is hard to do when you are at such a scale. Not to mention the fact that streaming services are pulling revenues away from everyone, labels and artists (we get such a small cut it hardly registers).
So try as they might but can only be expected to last so long. iHeartMedia has only been around since 2008. This was their first introduction as a nation-wide station under Clear Channel Communications. Even back then they were controversial. Clear Channel at its peak it owned more than 1,200 stations, along with concert promotion and billboard businesses, making it a dominant force in commercial radio.
Then came the big mergers and acquisitions. Clear Channel bought SFX Entertainment, the largest promoter in the nation. Before then, SFX had already purchased Cellar Door Entertainment, one of the biggest promoters on the East Coast so you can see where SFX provided Clear Channel with an even bigger market, and allowed them to jump into the concert promotion business.
Clear Channel then spun off its live entertainment business into Live Nation. Who now owns radio stations, concert venues, Ticket Master, and manages so much more. Ever wonder why you keep hearing the same artists all the time on your radio station? Because Live Nation has shows to promote. And little to no interest in your local community and its needs.
Radio will never die. We can only hope that it evolves back to its roots. Small, local stations propped up by local sponsorships and local artists. Minus any corporate interests or sponsorships. What local radio was when it started and thrived.
Want to see it come back to that? Find out who your local run stations are - not the conglomerates or corporate entities, but the local stations on your local college campus run by local DJs who still make the decision what gets played. And hopefully features local musicians on a regular basis. And if course, support live, local music.