Month: January 2025

Bauer has announced it is buying Clear Channel Europe – a significant player in the Out of Home media sector with 1400 staff.

The transaction, worth $625 million, is expected to close in 2025, upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals.
The acquisition of Clear Channel Europe gives Bauer Media an additional offering in 12 markets, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden.
It will give Bauer access to over 40,000 advertising sites across the UK, and follows Global’s move into the OOH sector in 2018 when it bought Exterion, Primesight and Outdoor Plus.
Yvonne Bauer, Chair of the Bauer Media Board said: “The acquisition of Clear Channel Europe represents a pivotal step in advancing our Group’s refocusedstrategy. By enhancing our core media and related businesses while investing in our digital transformation, this move broadens our capabilities and strengthens our position as a major player in the highly competitive media industry.”
“Bringing together our two companies’ offerings will enable us to reach 350 million consumers through 200 magazine brands, 150 Audio brands, and 110,000 Out of Home sites across Europe. This expands the scope of what we can offer advertisers, in turn giving them the opportunity to amplify the impact and relevance of their campaigns in an increasingly connected and digital world.”
“We look forward to welcoming the Clear Channel team to Bauer Media. Together, we will create a comprehensive and innovative media offering that meets the evolving needs of our advertisers and audiences across the region,” she continued.
Justin Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor UK & Europe added, “We look forward to joining Bauer Media to build upon the strong foundation that we have established in these European markets as a part of Clear Channel Outdoor. The consistent top-line performance of our Europe-North assets year-to-date underscores the growing demand in these markets and the dedication of our teams to executing for our clients and partners.”
Bauer Media’s lead M&A adviser was LionTree Advisers. Reed Smith served as legal adviser. The company was also advised by OOH Capital, Deloitte and Herbert Smith Freehills.

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Global is to end all local and regional shows on Heart, Smooth and Capital brands in England, adopting a new Nations Strategy.

Output will continue on a national level in Scotland and Wales.
The move has been made possible following the introduction of the Media Act late last year, meaning the current regional breakfast shows on Smooth, plus drive shows on Capital and Heart, will end.
All of the output for Capital, Heart and Smooth stations in England, including those owned by Communicorp, will be broadcast from London.
In Wales, Capital North and Capital South will combine to have one national show, with Heart South and Heart North also doing the same.
In addition, XS Manchester will be rebranded to Radio X 90s.
In a request for further details, Global told RadioToday: “We are indeed making some changes today and we will announce more details in due course.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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Nick Grimshaw is returning to national BBC radio breakfast on a permanent basis as he takes over from Lauren Laverne on the 6 Music Breakfast Show.
Lauren has decided to step down after six years of presenting the programme, with the former Radio 1 breakfast show host set to start in February.
On the show this morning, which Nick has been covering since August 2024, Lauren also announced that she would be returning to mid-mornings, presenting a new weekday programme, which will feature Lauren’s regular features including Desert Island Disco and People’s Playlist, as well as live sessions.
Lauren has been off-air to have treatment for cancer, and was given the “all clear” in November.
Mary Anne Hobbs will be taking a sabbatical and will return to 6 Music later in the spring with a new show.
Nick and Lauren’s new programmes will begin in February. Nemone will present the Breakfast Show in the interim, from Monday 13th January.
Lauren says: “As listeners will know, I had a really tough 2024 and worried at times that I wouldn’t be able to return to the station I love so much. It has been a huge honour (and so much fun) to host the Breakfast Show for six wonderful years, but it is time to pass the baton on, and to set my alarm a little later. During my recovery I learned all over again about the power of music, the people you surround yourself with and the emotional support and joy radio can provide. I’m so grateful to be able to get back to doing what I love and sharing those things with our brilliant listeners every day.”
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “It really is wonderful news that Lauren is feeling better and is ready to return to 6 Music. Like our listeners, we have missed her enormously and we can’t wait to have her back on air.”Nick says: “I’ve had the greatest four months covering for Lauren and I can’t wait to continue waking you up on 6 Music. I want to say thank you to the listeners who’ve made me feel so welcome over the past few months and to Lauren’s fantastic team who have been imperative in making me so happy on air. 6 Music is a precious place, a station I love, I’m honestly honoured to be asked to work there and can’t wait to continue supplying the best new music from the world’s most interesting artists.”
Samantha Moy says: “Since the summertime, Nick has hosted our Breakfast show and it’s been clear how much our listeners have taken him into their homes and hearts. He is one of the finest broadcasters of his generation and we are thrilled that he is going to become the brand new presenter of the 6 Music Breakfast show.”

Mary Anne says: “My agenda has been to change daytime radio at 6 Music. It was David Bowie who taught me that creative life is progression. Once the work is complete… stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
“I’d like to thank every artist whose music and ideas have illuminated the show. I’d like to thank my production team, my Queens, Jax Coombes and Zoe Mullord. And of course, I want to send boundless love to my listeners, my family, thank you for sharing your invaluable time with me, it’s been a joy and a privilege to live with you. My daytime show will end in February, and I’ll return to 6 Music later this spring with something new… come with me.”

Samantha Moy says: “Mary Anne is the very best of us at 6 Music. As well as a DJ, she is a lover of art, the seeker of unheard sounds, fierce advocate, generous mentor and true friend. Mary Anne is a sheer force of nature, compelled to share her passion for music – in all of its forms – with the world. At 6 Music we are richer for it and we look forward to our wild horse’s return later this year.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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TuneIn has removed a number of radio stations from its platform once again due to music licence reconciliation issues.

Community radio groups UKCRN and CMA are in talks with the website to try and fix the situation as soon as possible.
TuneIn is only allowed to list radio stations it can prove has the relevant licences from PRS, PPL etc, and regularly suspends stations which are not on the list provided by the royalty collection agencies.
It’s following a court ruling in 2022, where the obligation to confirm the licensing status of individual stations now falls on TuneIn.
However, sometimes the radio station name and the name on the licence are not the same, leading to confusion.
Some stations, such as speech stations who don’t require a licence, or those that play licence-free music or audio, have also been suspended.
Martin Steers from UK Community Radio Network, who also runs community station NLive Radio, tells us: “It’s impacted at least a dozen stations that we’re aware of, first brought to my attention because it impacted NLive Radio.
“We have a good relationship with TuneIn and are working with them to resolve the issue.”
Any station having problems are urged to contact UKCRN for help via hello@ukcrn.radio with some details such as station name, TuneIn ID, and the name on your PPL licence.
We’ve contacted TuneIn for a comment but had no reply at the time of publication.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

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