Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and Top On-Air Radio Personality Bobby Bones Ink Long-Term Contract

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment and Top On-Air Radio Personality Bobby Bones Ink Long-Term Contract

New York – June 18, 2014 –
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment (CCM+E), the leading media company in America with a greater reach than any radio or television outlet, today announced an exclusive long-term agreement with award-winning Country radio personality Bobby Bones to renew and expand his relationship with the company.

Under the new agreement, Bones will continue his current role as host of The Bobby Bones Show, which originates from WSIX in Nashville and is syndicated nationally by Premiere Networks on nearly 70 radio stations across America, reaching approximately three million weekly listeners. Bones will also continue hosting his weekend programs Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, heard nationwide on more than 120 stations, and FOX Sports Radio’s Bobby Bones, which broadcasts on nearly 250 affiliates.

Bones, who hosted the first-ever iHeartRadio Country Festival in Austin, Texas, this past March, as well as iHeartRadio album release parties for top recording artists like Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and Dierks Bentley, will also continue to work with CCM+E on a variety of joint ventures including multimedia projects and events, as well as the expansion of his top-rated radio programs.

“In just over a year Bobby and his morning show crew have proven they have a remarkable talent for entertaining and engaging the Country music community, while driving results for our partners,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of Clear Channel. “We’re committed to providing the best and most relevant programming to diverse audiences across America, and The Bobby Bones Show connects with listeners across multiple platforms. Bobby is an incredible talent and we look forward to collaborating on many exciting projects to come.”

“The past year with Clear Channel and Premiere has been a tremendous ride,” said Bobby Bones. “I started dreaming about a career in radio when I was about five years old -- if I’d known it was going to work out this well, I’d have started earlier. The whole crew on The Bobby Bones Show is grateful for the support we’ve received from Bob Pittman, Rich Bressler, Darren Davis, Julie Talbott, Jennifer Leimgruber, Rod Phillips and Clay Hunnicutt. We look forward to keeping it real with our audience as we grow.”

The new long-term partnership between Bobby Bones, CCM+E and Premiere Networks was overseen by Paul B. Anderson, Principal & CEO of Workhouse Media. “Bobby has the kind of personality that connects with a large national audience while keeping his connection to listeners genuine and personal, every day,” said Anderson.

The Bobby Bones Show joined Premiere Networks’ national lineup in 2011 and was nationally syndicated on CHR radio until February 2013, when the program transitioned to a Country format. Recently celebrating its one-year anniversary on Country radio, the program was co-honored with the 2014 Academy of Country Music Award for “National On-Air Personality of the Year.” The Bobby Bones Show is also top-rated in many markets and after one year, he is now Country radio’s leading morning personality. 

Broadcasting weekday mornings from 5 to 10 a.m. CT, Bobby Bones, Lunchbox and Amy welcome the biggest names in Country music and entertain listeners with their unique mix of pop-culture news and information, crazy stunts and hilarious conversations. In addition to broadcasting on Country radio stations nationwide, The Bobby Bones Show is also available on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s all-in-one free digital listening service. 

About Bobby Bones
Born and raised in Arkansas, Bobby Bones began his radio career at Henderson State University’s KSH 91.1 The Switch at the age of 17, where he graduated with a degree in Radio/TV. During that time, he also worked at KLAZ 105.9 in Hot Springs, Ark., as a part-time air talent. In 2002, Bones was hired by Q100/KQAR in Little Rock, Ark., and The Bobby Bones Night Show was born. In 2003, Bones moved to Austin, Texas where he began hosting The Bobby Bones Show Monday through Friday from 5-10 a.m. CT on 96.7 KISS FM. Joined on-air by Lunchbox and Amy, they attracted listeners in droves, as well as top rankings in the market. For his work on the program, Bones was named “Austin Radio Personality of the Year” in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and Austin’s Alliance of Women in Media honored the program with their “Radio Personality of the Year” award seven years in a row.
 
After joining Premiere Networks’ national lineup in 2011, and switching to a Country format in February 2013, Bones also added a weekend Country countdown show to his resume. Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, a four-hour music program, airs nationwide and features hosts Bones, Lunchbox and Amy as they showcase the top Country songs and go beyond the music to share conversations with the artists.

In 2014, Bobby Bones, Amy and Lunchbox were co-honored with the Academy of Country Music Award in the “National On-air Personality of the Year” category. Bones was also voted “Best Radio DJ” by readers of The Tennessean, and named one of Nashville Lifestyles’ “25 Most Beautiful People” in 2013.

In addition to his Country programs, Bones hosts a weekend sports talk program on FOX Sports Radio. Airing Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT, Bobby Bones features the latest sports, pop culture and entertainment news and conversations. 

Bones has appeared in both movies and on television, including Bandslam with Vanessa Hudgens, CNN, Live! with Kelly Ripa as a guest host, and Headline News as a recurring guest. Outside the studio, Bones spends a lot of time with his dog, Dusty, and is very active on social media, constantly engaging and interacting with listeners via Twitter and Facebook. He also enjoys exercising, reading, shopping and going to sporting events. For more information, please visit www.BobbyBones.com.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company’s live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry’s largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the company’s fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 500 platforms and 2,000 devices; the company’s digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The company’s Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nation’s largest media representation company, and RCS, the world's leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.