Clear Channel’s Bob Pittman Named Most Powerful Person in Radio

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bob Pittman, Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms for Clear Channel Radio, one of the leading media companies in America, topped the 2011 “40 Most Powerful People in Radio” list released by Radio Ink, a leading radio-industry trade publication. According to the magazine, this is the first time anyone has taken the number one spot in their first year.

“I started my career in radio at age 15. Although I've been in many other businesses, I've never lost my love of radio – it's inspiring and stimulating to be back home.”

Pittman alongside Clear Channel Radio’s CEO John Hogan and team continue to transform Clear Channel from a broadcast radio company into an integrated media and entertainment giant with 850 radio stations, the powerful iHeartRadio digital platform, and strategic partnerships with labels, artists, and key social media players like Facebook and Zynga. Pittman was described by Radio Ink as “radio’s biggest cheerleader. Pittman brings clout and credibility on Wall Street and with the advertising industry."

“I'm honored to be part of the Top 40 Most Powerful People in Radio, especially with John Hogan, so many of the Clear Channel team and the other industry leaders that I have admired for years,” Mr. Pittman told Radio Ink. “I started my career in radio at age 15. Although I've been in many other businesses, I've never lost my love of radio – it's inspiring and stimulating to be back home.”

Pittman was the co-founder of MTV and former CEO of MTV Networks, AOL Networks, Six Flags Theme Parks, Quantum Media, Century 21 Real Estate and Time Warner Enterprises. He was also COO of American Online, Inc. and AOL – Time Warner. Pittman, who has a long history as an innovator and brilliant marketer, has leveraged Clear Channel’s extraordinary reach—the largest of any media outlet in America with 237 million listeners a month—to develop and promote unique content, special events, new music, movies and products nationally and locally.

Mr. Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, followed Mr. Pittman on the list in the number two spot. “It is no surprise that Bob is number one in radio,” said Hogan. “No one else in the industry is as passionate and dedicated to radio as a medium. We are privileged to have him as part of the Clear Channel Radio team.”

Publication of Radio Ink’s “40 Most Powerful People in Radio” comes just one day after Clear Channel Radio announced the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the biggest live concert event in radio history—an unprecedented two-day gathering in Las Vegas of the greatest names in music, which will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The Festival will celebrate the New iHeartRadio, which will deliver the nation’s most popular broadcast radio stations as well as the ability to create custom stations with even more songs, more control than the leading custom radio station services and with no commercials through the end of the year, offering listeners everything they want digitally in one fully integrated service – free.

In addition to Mr. Pittman and Mr. Hogan, Radio Ink’s list featured other Clear Channel personnel, including:

Charlie Rahilly, President, Clear Channel Radio National Advertiser Platforms Group
Mark Gray, President, Katz Radio Group
Susan Karis, Executive Vice President/Operations, Western Region, Clear Channel Radio
Tom Schurr, Executive Vice President/Operations, Eastern Region, Clear Channel Radio
Julie Talbott, President/Content & Affiliate Relations, Premiere Radio Networks

About Clear Channel Radio

With 237 million monthly listeners in the U.S., Clear Channel Radio has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. Clear Channel radio serves 150 cities through 850 owned radio stations and an additional 100 cities and 4,000 stations through its syndicated products. The company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM stations, HD digital radio channels, Sirius/XM satellite, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com, and on the iHeartRadio mobile application on iPads, HP TouchPads and smartphones, and used via navigation systems from TomTom, Garmin and others. The company’s operations include radio broadcasting, online and mobile services and products, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of CC Media Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: CCMO), a leading global media and entertainment company. More information on the company can be found at www.ccmediaholdings.com.