[IainJohnston]

Noticed on US radio industry websites today that latest TM owner Dial Global has been bought up by Cumulus in yet another round of mega-Corporate consolidation and company munching.

Implications for TM?

Would they flog it off as a “non core business”?

[ratnobMember]

It’s all very tiresome, and sad to see the way radio is a commodity for big business. Fingers crossed for TM who produce so much great material.

[loujosephs]

All sorts of not good things will happen, basically tight controls, and the usual layoffs.
Plus the sales commissions will be cut but this is what Cumulus has done with everything they own. Maybe they might sell it. Who knows..but know this this group operator is clueless.

[Tracy CarmanMember]

I think it will be business as usual at TM. They’re already running lean and mean, so there’s no reason for Cumulus to screw around with them.

[TomNMember]

I agree. With all of content that DG (and Cumulus) produces, it’s probably a good idea to have your own production house. Clear Channel owns Reelworld; I don’t see any breakdown in its business.

[Admin]

TomN : ReelWorld is not owned by Clear Channel. They are 100% privately owned but have a very successful partnership with Premiere Networks (owned by Clear Channel).

[TomNMember]

I apologize for that error; in fact I was quite surprised when I saw Reelworld appear on Premiere’s website.

[jlehmann]

Wasn’t it rumored that Cumulus was producing their own jingles, like the new package for WEBE 108, or did someone eventually figure out who produced those?

[mbMember]

If they were I would assume you’d merge that into TM Studios given their catalogue / skill / market share and expertise.

[mjb1124Member]

I found out that the package WEBE uses was created by Sound Quadrat for Cumulus stations. Warm 98 in Cincinatti was the pilot station. Apparently Sound Quadrat is the parent company of Benztown Branding, which another poster claimed was owned by Cumulus. If they do indeed own Benztown/SQ outright, then I’d expect some sort of consolidation with TM Studios.

But either way, I expect Cumulus to relish the fact that they own one of the world’s biggest jingle companies. Let’s just hope the quality of the product doesn’t suffer.

[michiMember]

I would be concerned how this will impact (if at all) iJingles, Studio Dragonfly and the ability for MPF to use the TM material.

[IainJohnston]

“ability for MPF to use the TM material”

I must admit THAT is an angle I hadn’t actually thought about at all.
(“its the painkillers nurse…”)

I think that rest assured, should that scenario ever arise, there’s a very sharp “legal mind” at MPF that would certainly know how to handle the situation!

[tophour_brianMember]

Cumulus does not own Benztown, but has a licensing/representation agreement with them similar to the agreement between ReelWorld and Premiere/Clear Channel.

Benztown has produced a few jingle packages for Cumulus, including a classic hits package piloted for KRRF and the aforementioned AC package for WRRM. I don’t believe they did the package for the NASH FM stations, although I could be wrong.

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