COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2025 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Radio Broadcasting Licenses Each of the Company’s radio stations operates pursuant to one or more licenses issued by the FCC that have a maximum term of eight years prior to renewal. The Company’s radio broadcasting licenses expire at various times beginning in October 2027 through August 2030. Although the Company may apply to renew its radio broadcasting licenses, third parties may challenge the Company’s renewal applications. The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would prevent the Company from having its current licenses renewed. A station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license renewal application is filed and is pending. Royalty Agreements Musical works rights holders, songwriters and music publishers, have been traditionally represented by performing rights organizations, such as the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”), Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) and SESAC, Inc. (“SESAC”). The market for rights relating to musical works is changing rapidly. Songwriters and music publishers have withdrawn from the traditional performing rights organizations (“PRO”), particularly ASCAP and BMI, and new entities, such as Global Music Rights Inc. (“GMR”), have been formed to represent rights holders. These organizations negotiate fees with copyright users, collect royalties and distribute them to the rights holders. These licenses periodically come up for renewal and, as a result, certain of the Company’s PRO licenses are currently the subject of renewal negotiations. The outcome of these renewal negotiations could impact, and potentially increase, the Company’s music license fees. In addition, there is no guarantee that additional PROs will not emerge, which could impact, and in some circumstances increase, the Company’s royalty rates and negotiation costs. The Radio Music Licensing Committee (“RMLC”), of which the Company is a represented participant has negotiated and entered into, on behalf of participating members, an Interim License Agreement with ASCAP effective January 1, 2022 and to remain in effect until the date on which the parties reach agreement as to, or there is court determination of, new interim or final fees, terms, and conditions of a new license for the five year period commencing on January 1, 2022 and concluding on December 31, 2026. On February 7, 2022, the RMLC and GMR reached a settlement and achieved certain conditions which effectuate a four-year license to which the Company is a party for the period April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2026. The license includes an optional three-year extended term that the Company may effectuate prior to the end of the initial term. On November 1, 2024, RMLC announced that it had won a ruling in its rate determination proceedings with SESAC with respect to fees paid by RMLC-represented stations. The determination sets the rates for the period January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026, and is retroactive in its application. RMLC-Represented Stations that have paid SESAC interim license fees at higher previous rates may receive a true-up adjustment in order to bring rates into conformity with the now-final rates. This ruling did not have a material impact on the Company's operations. The RMLC is currently negotiating with BMI. Reach Media Redeemable Non-controlling Interests Beginning on January 1, 2018, the non-controlling interest shareholders of Reach Media have had an annual right to require Reach Media to purchase all or a portion of their shares at the then current fair market value for such shares (the “Put Right”). This annual right is exercisable for a 30-day period beginning January 1 of each year. The purchase price for such shares may be paid in cash and/or registered Class D common stock of Urban One, at the discretion of Urban One. The non-controlling interest shareholders of Reach Media exercised 50.0% of their Put Right on January 26, 2024. On March 8, 2024, Reach Media closed on the Put Interest increasing the Company’s interest in Reach Media to approximately 90.0% and decreasing the interest of the non-controlling interest shareholders from approximately 20.0% to approximately 10.0%. Reach Media paid the non-controlling interest shareholders approximately $7.6 million for the 10.0% interest. On February 14, 2025, certain non-controlling interest shareholders of Reach Media exercised their annual Put Right for approximately $3.2 million, increasing the Company’s interest in Reach Media to approximately 94.6% and decreasing the interest of the non-controlling interest shareholders from approximately 10.0% to approximately 5.4%. Management, at this time, cannot reasonably determine the period when and if the remaining portion of the Put Right will be exercised by the non-controlling interest shareholders. Other Contingencies On March 18, 2025, the Company entered into an operating lease for office space with a total minimum future lease payments of $7.4 million. This operating lease commenced in the first quarter of 2025 and has a term of eight years, subject to early termination provision. The Company has been named as a defendant in several legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. It is management’s opinion, after consultation with its legal counsel, that the outcome of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. On March 16, 2025, the Company began investigating an incident involving an unauthorized third party who had gained access to the Company’s IT systems on or around February 10, 2025, and exfiltrated certain information from our information technology systems. Upon discovery, the Company activated our incident response team, comprised of internal personnel and external cybersecurity experts. The investigation of the incident response team and related remediation is ongoing. The Company is actively conducting forensic analysis and reviewing the information accessed to determine the nature and extent of the incident. As of the date of this filing, the incident has not impacted the Company’s operations or ability to conduct business in the ordinary course. Based on the information currently known at this time, the Company does not expect the incident to have a material impact on its business, operations, ability to serve its customers, or financial results. The Company carries insurance, including cyber insurance, commensurate with its size and the nature of its operations. Because of the preliminary nature of the investigation into this incident, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the potential costs, including remediation and other expenses related to this incident.
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