Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

11. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

We lease certain land, buildings and equipment under noncancellable operating leases. Rent expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $1,531,000 ($1,627,000 and $1,837,000 for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively).

Minimum annual rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases consisted of the following at December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

2012	$	1,332
2013		1,016
2014		602
2015		492
2016		361
Thereafter		2,935
	$	6,738

Broadcast Program Rights

We have entered into contracts for broadcast program rights that expire at various dates during the next five years. The aggregate minimum payments relating to these commitments consisted of the following at December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

2012	$	688
2013		616
2014		437
2015		202
2016		6
Thereafter		14
	$	1,963
Amounts due within one year (included in accounts payable)		688
	$	1,275

Music Licensing

Effective December 31, 2009, our radio music license agreements with American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) expired. In January 2010, The Radio Music Licensing Committee (“RMLC”), of which we are a participant, filed motions in the U.S. District Court in New York against BMI and ASCAP on behalf of the radio industry, seeking interim fees and a determination of fair and reasonable industry-wide license fees. The courts approved reduced interim fees for ASCAP and BMI.

In January 2012, the ASCAP and RMLC entered into a settlement that was approved by the court and covers the period from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2016. This settlement also includes a credit for the interim fees paid in 2010 and 2011 and such fees are expected to be credited over a five year period beginning in January 2012.

The fees for BMI, still to be determined by the court, may be retroactive to January 1, 2010 and may be different from the interim fees.

Contingencies

In 2003, in connection with our acquisition of one FM radio station, WJZK-FM serving the Columbus, Ohio market, we entered into an agreement whereby we would pay the seller up to an additional $1,000,000 if we obtain approval from the FCC for a city of license change.