Cumulus Media
US audio media owner selling radio, podcast and digital advertising.
Available information varies by company and source.
Profile record updated:
Company facts
- Official name
- Cumulus Media Inc.
- Entity type
- COMPANY
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- 3280 PEACHTREE ROAD N.W. SUITE 2300 ATLANTA GA 30305
- Company size
- 1,001–5,000
- Market role
- Publisher & Media Owner
- Ticker
- CMLS.Q
- Official website
- cumulusmedia.com
What Cumulus Media does
Cumulus Media creates value by aggregating audience attention across owned radio stations, podcasts, station websites, streams, and affiliated national audio inventory through Westwood One. It packages that inventory into local and national advertising products, then layers on planning, research, measurement, and managed digital activation services. Revenue is driven by monetising owned and represented media supply and by charging for campaign execution services that extend advertiser budgets into digital channels.
Category differentiation
This is the US audio media company and radio broadcaster, not a software vendor or cloud computing business. It is distinct from pure podcast apps and pure adtech platforms because it primarily owns media inventory and sells advertising against that audience.
Strategic context
AI-supported assessment from the existing company research; distinguish interpretation from sourced facts.
Cumulus Media is a US audio media company that owns and operates a large portfolio of local radio stations, runs the Westwood One national audio network, publishes podcasts, and sells advertising across broadcast, podcast, digital audio, display, video, and social channels. Its business spans both media ownership and advertising services: it monetises listener attention through local and national ad sales while also offering managed campaign planning, execution, and analytics for brands and agencies. The company’s customers are primarily advertisers, media agencies, and brand marketers buying access to US audio audiences at local or national scale. Consumer-facing radio and podcast products help create the audience and inventory, but the paying customer is generally the advertiser. Financially, the company is operating while undergoing a significant debt restructuring, which is strategically important because capital structure remains a central factor alongside audience reach and sales capability.
Company news briefing
Briefing updated:
Following the court-approved reorganisation plan and transition within the OTC market, Cumulus Media has advanced its operational strategy through key partnerships. The company became the first commercial licensee for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium to gain real-time visibility into in-car radio consumption. Additionally, its Westwood One division marked its 40th consecutive season as the official network audio partner of the NFL, unveiling its 2026 programming lineup.
Business model & monetisation
The company primarily monetises through advertising revenue sold against owned and syndicated audio inventory, including local radio spots, national network buys, podcast sponsorships, host-read audio ads, and related digital placements. Commercial models appear to include CPM-based media sales, sponsorship packages, bundled cross-channel campaigns, and service-based fees for managed digital media buying and execution. Additional monetisation comes from premium content sponsorships, integrated promotional packages, and advertiser-funded research and measurement support tied to campaign planning.
- Local and national radio advertising
- Ad-supported inventory sales
- Westwood One national network advertising
- Ad-supported inventory sales and sponsorships
- Podcast advertising
- Sponsorships and audio ad sales
- Managed digital media services
- Service fees and campaign management
- Research and insights services
- Bundled analytics and planning support
Products & capabilities
No products with linked sources are available in this view.
Products & market categories
Media Channel
Technology
Competitors & alternatives
- NPR
Public media publisher monetising journalism, podcasts, sponsorships and memberships.
- SiriusXM
Subscription audio platform with advertising and specialist data services.
- iHeartMedia
US audio media owner spanning radio, podcasts, streaming and ad sales.
- Bauer Media Audio Ireland
Irish radio and digital audio portfolio monetised through advertising sales.
- Radio France
French state-owned public radio broadcaster with digital audio advertising inventory.
Side-by-side comparisons
Recent recorded signals
Dates refer to the source publication. Older entries are historical context, not evidence of a new event.
Podcast Ad Spend Lags Consumption, Industry Calls for Metrics Overhaul
Podcast Advertising · Recorded impact score: 3/5
At the IAB's Podcast Upfront, industry leaders highlighted that while podcast ad spend grew 18% to $3 billion, it lags behind consumption, which accounts for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend. The IAB released a new framework, 'Podcasts Continue to Evolve,' to address measurement challenges. Key issues include the shift to video podcasts, with 49% of consumers expected to watch video podcasts in 2026, and the inadequacy of download metrics. The industry is moving towards HLS streaming for better measurement, and Amazon Ads plans to integrate podcast video ad buys into its DSP. Calls were made for improved measurement and for advertisers to embrace smaller, independent shows.
- Podcast ad spend reached $3 billion in 2025, growing 18% year-over-year.
- Podcasts account for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend.
Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, Official Network Audio Partner of the NFL, Celebrates 40th Consecutive Season and Reveals 2026 NFL Lineup and Programming Highlights, From NFL Kickoff to Super Bowl Lxi
Recorded impact score: 3.5/5
Westwood One brings all the excitement of the new NFL season to football fans starting Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with a season-opening matchup between the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA
10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Cumulus Media (2026-08-14)
financials · Recorded impact score: 4.5/5
Cumulus Media Inc. filed its Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, operating as a debtor-in-possession following its Chapter 11 filing on March 4, 2026. For Q2 2026, net revenue declined 9.7% year-over-year to $167.91 million, impacted by weakness in broadcast spot and network advertising, while net loss narrowed to $9.21 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $332.35 million with a net loss of $26.07 million. The Bankruptcy Court confirmed the Company's Plan of Reorganization on April 15, 2026. Under the Plan, existing Class A and Class B common stock will be cancelled with no recovery, while secured lenders and noteholders will receive new equity and $50.0 million in exit convertible notes. Emergence has been extended to October 27, 2026, pending regulatory approvals from the FCC.
- Net revenue for Q2 2026 decreased 9.7% YoY to $167.91 million, while H1 2026 net revenue declined 11.0% YoY to $332.35 million.
- The Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan confirmed on April 15, 2026, will cancel all existing equity and distribute 95% of Reorganized Company common stock and $50.0 million of exit convertible notes to 2029 secured debt holders.
Cumulus Validates Xperi's In-Car Infrastructure Strategy
In-car measurement and identity infrastructure · Recorded impact score: 3/5
Cumulus Media has become the first commercial licensee and flagship broadcaster partner for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium, giving the radio group near-census, real-time visibility into in-car radio consumption. The deal validates Xperi’s strategy of building a white-label in‑car measurement and addressability layer beneath other platforms rather than competing with them. Xperi (parent company of TiVo) and its DTS AutoStage platform claim broad automotive reach: Xperi’s HD Radio receivers are in over 110 million North American vehicles and DTS AutoStage currently powers more than 16 million vehicles globally, including BMW and Mercedes‑Benz models. TiVo Ads is also developing a persistent Household ID to connect living-room audiences to in‑car listeners, expanding addressable household inventory for advertisers.
- Cumulus Media signed as the first commercial licensee for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium.
- Xperi is the parent company of TiVo and operates a white‑label in‑car measurement infrastructure.
Explore company relationships
Questions about Cumulus Media
What is Cumulus Media?
Cumulus Media is a US audio media company that owns radio stations, operates the Westwood One network, publishes podcasts, and sells advertising across broadcast and digital channels.
Who uses Cumulus Media?
Its direct customers are advertisers, agencies, and brand marketers buying local or national audio and digital campaigns; listeners consume its radio and podcast content.
How does Cumulus Media make money?
It mainly earns revenue from advertising sold on radio, podcast and digital inventory, plus managed campaign services, sponsorships, and related research and measurement support.
Sources & coverage
This profile uses public, official and technically observable information. Missing information does not prove that a product or relationship does not exist. The list below does not imply that every profile statement has been verified.
23 publicly documented primary sources and citations linked across the market graph.
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