COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2026 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12. 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 8 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 Songwriters and music publishers have withdrawn from the traditional performing rights organizations (“PRO”), particularly ASCAP and BMI, and new entities, such as Global Music Rights Inc. (“GMR”), have been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 he 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. As a participating member of the Radio Music Licensing Committee (“RMLC”), the Company is a party to a settlement reached with GMR on February 7, 2022. This agreement established a 4-year license running from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2026. The license includes an optional 3-year extended term that the Company has opted into with the agreement now running through March 31, 2029. On August 19, 2025, the RMLC announced that it had settled litigation with BMI and ASCAP concerning licensing arrangements and that the settlement has led to new license agreements for members organizations. Both agreements are retroactive to January 1, 2022, and run through December 31, 2029. Each of the new BMI and ASCAP licenses maintain the same percentage-of-revenue license fee structure of the prior licensing arrangements and continue to provide for broad coverage of over-the-air programming, as well as simulcast/website transmissions of podcasts/archived content. While the percentage rates in the new licensing arrangements are higher than the old rates, they are lower than the rates sought by each of BMI and ASCAP in the now-settled litigation. 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. Other Contingencies 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.
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