ATLANTA, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cumulus Media Inc. (OTCQB: CMLS) today announced the appointment of Carol Flaton to its Board of Directors. Flaton’s appointment follows the resignation of Joan Hogan Gillman from the Board. Both changes are effective January 15, 2026. "We are pleased to welcome Carol to our board," said Chairman Andrew W. Hobson. “She brings more than three decades of experience in financial services and governance, along with a strong track record of advising companies and servin ...

Core Insights - Chris Van Vliet's podcast "Insight" is joining the Cumulus Podcast Network, enhancing its distribution and monetization capabilities [1][4] - The podcast has become a leading platform in professional wrestling media, driven by the industry's mainstream success and significant audience engagement [2][4] Company Overview - Cumulus Media is a major audio-first media company, reaching a quarter billion people monthly through various platforms, including 399 radio stations and the Cumulus Podcast Network [6] - The Cumulus Podcast Network aims to deliver premium content and has a strong focus on original podcasts that are engaging and thought-provoking [6] Industry Context - Professional wrestling is experiencing unprecedented success, with billion-dollar streaming deals and record viewership for major brands like WWE and AEW [2] - The partnership with Cumulus is expected to leverage the growing interest in wrestling content, providing fans with exclusive live events and bonus content [4][5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 2025 decreased by 11.5%, or 5% when excluding the impact of Political, The Daily Wire, and The Dan Bongino Show, consistent with prior guidance [5][18] - EBITDA for the quarter was reported at $16.7 million [18] - Digital revenue increased by 8% year-over-year, excluding the impact of The Daily Wire and Dan Bongino, with Digital Marketing Services growing by 34% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Broadcast spot revenue market share grew for the third consecutive quarter, indicating strong sales execution and local programming [5] - Digital Marketing Services business saw a 34% year-over-year growth, driven by an 88% increase in new accounts and an 8% increase in campaign order size [7] - Podcasting revenue increased by 15% year-over-year, contributing to an overall digital revenue growth of over 8% when normalized [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Dallas, the largest market, the company gained almost 4 points of market share, with total revenue up mid-single digits while peers were down nearly 10% [9] - National advertising environment remained weak, leading to a 27% decline in total network revenue, although market share was gained year-to-date [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging core competencies and valuable assets, including a vast audience reach and established client relationships [15] - Plans to launch the Westwood One Sports 24/7 Network to capitalize on strong consumer brand recognition and digital distribution opportunities [11] - Continued investment in Digital Marketing Services is expected to yield strong returns, with a focus on AI-driven projects to enhance efficiency and growth [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged ongoing headwinds in the broadcast radio sector but expressed confidence in outperforming peers through strategic execution [15] - The company anticipates continued revenue pacing down mid-single digits, excluding political impacts, and down mid to high teens when including those impacts [12][20] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $90 million in cash and $109 million in total liquidity, with a debt maturity of $697 million [19] - A litigation against Nielsen was acknowledged, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for early December [16] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions or answers were documented in the provided content, indicating a lack of detailed Q&A during the call [21][22]

Core Insights - Cumulus Media reported a challenging advertising environment but managed to gain market share in both broadcast and digital segments, with digital marketing services revenue increasing by 34% in Q3 2025 [2][4] - The company achieved a net revenue of $180.3 million for Q3 2025, a decrease of 11.5% year-over-year, and a net loss of $20.4 million [4][6] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, net revenue was $553.6 million, down 9.0% from the same period in 2024, with a net loss of $65.6 million [5][8] Financial Performance - Q3 2025 net revenue was $180.3 million, down from $203.6 million in Q3 2024, reflecting an 11.5% decline [4][6] - The net loss for Q3 2025 was $20.4 million compared to a net loss of $10.3 million in Q3 2024, marking a 97.7% increase in losses [6][7] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $16.7 million, down 30.8% from $24.1 million in Q3 2024 [4][6] Revenue Breakdown - Total broadcast radio revenue for Q3 2025 was $115.0 million, a decrease of 17.2% from $139.0 million in Q3 2024 [9] - Digital revenue for Q3 2025 was $39.0 million, down 2.6% year-over-year, but increased by 8.4% when excluding the impact of discontinued relationships [7][9] - Digital marketing services now account for approximately 50% of total digital revenue, reflecting strong growth in this segment [7] Cost Management - The company has successfully reduced annualized fixed costs by $7 million in Q3 2025, bringing total year-to-date savings to $20 million [2][7] - Since 2019, total annualized fixed cost reductions have reached $182 million, representing over 30% [7] Balance Sheet and Debt - As of September 30, 2025, Cumulus Media had cash and cash equivalents of $90.4 million and total debt of $722.2 million [10][27] - The total debt at maturity was reported at $697.1 million, with net debt less total unamortized discount at $606.7 million [10][27]

Core Insights - Cumulus Media's Westwood One has appointed Armen Williams as Executive Director of Westwood One Sports 24/7 Programming, effective November 3, 2025, to lead the development of new sports content [1][2] Company Overview - Cumulus Media is an audio-first media company reaching a quarter billion people monthly through 395 radio stations across 84 markets, offering a variety of programming including sports, news, and entertainment [5] - Westwood One Sports is the exclusive network radio partner to the NFL since 1987 and covers major sports events such as NCAA Basketball, U.S. Soccer, and The Masters [6] Leadership and Strategy - Armen Williams brings over 20 years of audio programming experience and has previously held leadership roles at Audacy, Bonneville, and Townsquare, focusing on innovative content strategies and brand presence [3] - Williams will oversee sports talk content, technical operations, social media strategy, and brand management, aiming to create compelling on-air programming with original content and fan interaction [2][4] Future Vision - Williams expressed excitement about the opportunity to build on the foundation created by partners like Audacy and BetMGM, aiming to deliver engaging and authentic sports content [4] - Bruce Gilbert, SVP of Sports / Content & Audience, emphasized Williams' vision as essential for launching a first-class all-sports network at Westwood One [4]

Core Points - Cumulus Media Inc. will host a conference call on October 30, 2025, at 8:30 AM ET to discuss its third quarter 2025 operating results [1] - A press release summarizing the results will be issued before the call at approximately 8:00 AM ET [1] Participation Details - Participants must register in advance to join the conference call, with a one-time email address verification required [2] - The call will be available in listen-only mode on the company's investor relations website, and a recording will be accessible shortly after the call [3] Dial-in Information - Domestic callers can join by dialing 833-470-1428, while international callers should dial 646-844-6383, using the participant access code 504399 [4] Company Overview - Cumulus Media is an audio-first media company reaching a quarter billion people monthly through 395 owned radio stations across 84 markets [5] - The company offers nationally-syndicated programming from major brands and operates the Cumulus Podcast Network, providing a platform for original podcasts [5] - Cumulus Media delivers advertising solutions through various platforms, including digital, mobile, and social media, along with integrated marketing services [5]

Core Insights - Cumulus Media's Westwood One has partnered with Vernon Davis to launch "The Next Role," a podcast focusing on career transitions and reinvention [1][4] - The podcast features storytelling and conversations with various guests, including athletes and entertainers, discussing their journeys and the challenges of redefining their careers [2][3] - New episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays and will be available on major podcast platforms [4] Company Overview - Cumulus Media is an audio-first media company reaching a quarter billion people monthly through 399 radio stations and a large podcast network [7][8] - The company provides a range of content including sports, news, and entertainment, and offers advertisers extensive reach through various platforms [7][8] Podcast Details - "The Next Role" aims to inspire listeners by sharing powerful stories of reinvention from notable figures [5] - The podcast is produced by Real 85 Productions, with Vernon Davis as the executive producer alongside other industry professionals [5][6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue declined by 9.2%, slightly better than previous guidance, with a 5% decline excluding political impacts and comparisons to the Daily Wire and Dan Bongino [4][19] - EBITDA for the quarter was $22.4 million, with net income down approximately 20% [19][21] - Digital revenue increased by 20% year-over-year, with the Digital Marketing Services (DMS) business growing by 38% [19][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The DMS business now represents roughly 50% of total digital revenue, reflecting strong growth and performance [19] - Local digital marketing services business outperformed, growing at a rate nearly double that of radio peers and more than four times the expected growth rate of the digital ad market [8][10] - Broadcast advertising faced headwinds, particularly among national advertisers, with network revenue down 20% due to various factors including comparison issues and reduced inventory [12][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall market environment continued to pressure national spot and network revenue channels, with local spot showing slight improvement compared to national [11][32] - Key performing categories in spot included travel and financial, while pharma and insurance led in network [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on digital growth areas while continuing to reduce fixed costs, having achieved $175 million in fixed cost reductions over the past five years [5][15] - There is an emphasis on leveraging AI for business efficiencies and growth opportunities across all functions [5][16] - The company aims to surpass a $100 million run rate in DMS early next year, with increasing contribution margins expected [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macro pressures are expected to persist in the short term, but they believe the company will continue to outperform peers in controllable areas [4][17] - The company ended the quarter with $97 million in cash, including a $55 million draw on its ABL revolver, providing significant flexibility [5][17] - Management expressed confidence in the core assets of the company and its ability to drive new areas of growth despite high leverage and market challenges [18] Other Important Information - The company has seen a positive culture survey with high employee engagement scores, indicating strong internal morale [18] - Non-core asset sales are expected to generate nearly $14 million by the end of the year [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is there an expectation for improvement in national advertising pacing? - Management indicated that while a lower interest rate environment should generally benefit advertising channels, there has not been a significant improvement in pacing at this time [25][26] Question: What is the impact of declining referral search engine traffic on digital marketing services? - Management noted that referral search is a small part of their digital business and they are not heavily dependent on it, focusing instead on geo-targeting and other strategies [28][29] Question: Are there any advertising categories showing signs of stabilization? - Management highlighted that professional services, home products, automotive, financial, and entertainment are key categories, with slight improvements in local spot versus national [31][32]

Core Insights - Cumulus Media reported a challenging advertising environment for legacy media but managed to outperform radio peers, gaining market share across all broadcast spot revenue channels and achieving a 38% year-over-year increase in digital marketing services [2][4][7] - The company executed $5 million in annualized cost reductions, totaling $175 million over the last five years, indicating a disciplined focus on optimizing performance despite capital constraints [2][4][7] - The financial results for Q2 2025 showed a net revenue of $186.0 million, a decrease of 9.2% year-over-year, with a net loss of $12.8 million, which is an improvement from a net loss of $27.7 million in Q2 2024 [4][6][7] Financial Performance - For the three months ended June 30, 2025, Cumulus Media reported net revenue of $186.0 million, down 9.2% from $204.8 million in the same period of 2024, with an Adjusted EBITDA of $22.4 million, a decrease of 11.3% year-over-year [4][6][9] - For the six months ended June 30, 2025, net revenue was $373.4 million, a decline of 7.8% from $404.9 million in the same period of 2024, with an Adjusted EBITDA of $25.9 million, down 23.0% year-over-year [5][8][28] - Digital revenue for Q2 2025 was $38.8 million, a decrease of 1.4% year-over-year, but a 20% increase when excluding the impact from discontinued relationships [7][9] Revenue Breakdown - In Q2 2025, total broadcast radio revenue was $118.4 million, down 13.0% from $136.1 million in Q2 2024, with spot revenue decreasing by 10.5% and network revenue decreasing by 20.5% [9][28] - For the six months ended June 30, 2025, total broadcast radio revenue was $243.3 million, a decline of 11.8% from $275.8 million in the same period of 2024 [8][28] Balance Sheet and Debt - As of June 30, 2025, Cumulus Media had cash and cash equivalents of $96.7 million, reflecting a $55.0 million draw on the revolving credit facility, with total debt reported at $723.7 million [7][10][28] - The company reported net debt less total unamortized discount of $600.4 million, indicating a focus on managing leverage and evaluating the balance sheet [7][28]

Core Insights - Rumble and Cumulus Media have formed a strategic partnership to enhance content distribution and advertising opportunities in the evolving media landscape [1][2][3] Company Overview - Rumble is a high-growth video-sharing platform and cloud services provider focused on empowering creators and brands, aiming to restore the internet to its roots by making it free and open [4] - Cumulus Media is an audio-first media company that reaches a quarter billion people monthly through 400 radio stations and the Cumulus Podcast Network, providing a wide range of premium content [5] Partnership Details - The collaboration will leverage both companies' assets to create unique multi-platform advertising solutions, maximizing opportunities for brand partners [2][3] - Westwood One, a subsidiary of Cumulus Media, will distribute audio and video content on Rumble's platform, enhancing the reach of both companies [2][3] Strategic Goals - The partnership aims to create new monetization opportunities for creators while providing brands with effective ways to connect with engaged audiences [3] - The alignment between Rumble and Cumulus Media is positioned as a new frontier for host-read advertising, emphasizing authenticity, scale, and brand safety [3]