Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Future Commitments

Effective December 31, 2009, the Company’s radio music license agreements with the two largest performance rights organizations, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”), expired. In January 2010, the Radio Music License Committee (the “RMLC”), which negotiates music licensing fees for most of the radio industry with ASCAP and BMI, filed motions in the New York courts against these organizations on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. During 2010, the courts approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI. On January 27, 2012, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a settlement between the RMLC and ASCAP concerning the fees payable covering the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016. Included in the agreement is a $75.0 million industry fee credit against fees previously paid in 2010 and 2011, with such fees to be credited over the remaining period of the contract. The Company began recognizing the ASCAP credits as a reduction in direct operating expenses on January 1, 2012. On August 28, 2012, the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York approved a settlement between the RMLC and BMI concerning the fees payable covering the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016. Included in the agreement is a $70.5 million industry fee credit against fees previously paid in 2010 and 2011, with such fees immediately available to the industry. The Company recognized a full credit against such fees during 2012 in the amount of approximately $8.3 million.

The radio broadcast industry’s principal ratings service is Nielsen Audio, which publishes surveys for domestic radio markets. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have agreements with Nielsen Audio under which they receive programming ratings materials in a majority of their respective markets. The remaining aggregate obligation under the agreements with Nielsen Audio is approximately $159.8 million and is expected to be paid in accordance with the agreements through December 2017.

The Company engages Katz Media Group, Inc. (“Katz”) as its national advertising sales agent. The national advertising agency contract with Katz contains termination provisions that, if exercised by the Company during the term of the contract, would obligate the Company to pay a termination fee to Katz, calculated based upon a formula set forth in the contract.

On September 13, 2013, the Company and Pulser Media, (the parent company of Rdio (“Pulser”), entered into a five year strategic promotional partnership and sales arrangement (the “Rdio Agreement”). The Rdio Agreement provides that Cumulus will act as the exclusive promotional agent for Rdio ad products, including display, mobile, in-line audio, synced banners and other digital inventory that may become available from time to time. In exchange for $75 million of promotional commitments over five years, Cumulus will receive 15% of the current fully-diluted equity of Pulser, with the opportunity to earn additional equity in the form of warrants based on the achievement of certain performance milestones over the term of the Rdio Agreement. There was no material activity to report in any period.

The Company is committed under various contractual agreements to pay for broadcast rights that include news services and to pay for executives, talent, research, weather and other services.

The Company from time to time enters into radio network contractual obligations to guarantee a minimum amount of revenue share to contractual counterparties on certain programming in future years. Generally, these guarantees are subject to decreases dependent on clearance targets achieved. As of December 31, 2013, the Company believes that it will meet such minimum obligations.

As described in Note 2, “Acquisitions and Dispositions,” the Company may be required to pay additional cash consideration for the acquisition of WFME in New York.

Legal Proceedings

On February 28, 2014, the Company entered into a settlement agreement that provided for the mutual release and settlement of a number of lawsuits related to WestwoodOne that originated prior to our acquisition of WestwoodOne. The liability will be paid out over an 18 month period.