Clear Channel plans major radio festival

America’s biggest radio owner, Clear Channel, is creating what it calls the biggest live music event in radio history.

The iHeartRadio Festival will take place in Las Vegas and see over 20 acts perform on one stage over two nights in September.

The event will be teased and promoted by 850 radio stations all over the United States, and hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

It marks the official launch of the New iHeartRadio website and app, which will combine its 750 broadcast radio and digital-only stations from 150 cities with the ability to create custom stations without adverts.

Bob Pittman, Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms for Clear Channel Radio says: “Music is the heart of our business and we think there is no better way to celebrate the launch of the New iHeartRadio than with a groundbreaking, multi-day festival featuring the world’s biggest, most exciting artists – and reaching the largest combined U.S. radio and online audience ever. This underscores Clear Channel’s transformation to a dynamic integrated media and entertainment company with an unmatched reach in the U.S.

“The New iHeartRadio will offer users a much broader, more integrated and customized digital listening experience than any other service available – and it’s all in one product.”

“Building up to the festival, we will be presenting the biggest national promotion in radio history,” said John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “All 850 Clear Channel radio stations, spanning diverse music formats, introduced millions of listeners across the country to this historic music event. The majority of our stations will also feature exclusive radio and digital content including exclusive artist interviews and ticket giveaways. The announcement of the event alone has set new records. It’s the first announcement ever to roadblock all Clear Channel Radio platforms and the teasers and the announcement have reached an estimated 100 million people.”

Live audio and video streams of the iHeartRadio Music Festival will be available online, via mobile devices and on all of Clear Channel’s radio station websites. 

(Source : Radio Today, UK)