MAR 22, 1999 

FCC APPROVES PLAYLIST INFORMATION AGREEMENT, Trade Press Reports of Investigation False

MILWAUKEE, March 22, 1999 -- Cumulus Media today said today that the Federal Communications Commission has approved the agreement of its subsidiary, Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc., to provide playlist information to the record industry.  The Company also said that recent reports of an FCC investigation into the agreement were false.  "The Federal Communications Commission is not now and never has conducted an investigation into the agreement between Cumulus Broadcasting, Inc. and Jeff McClusky & Associates, Inc.," stated Richard Weening, Executive Chairman of parent company Cumulus Media Inc.  "In fact it is quite the opposite," Weening continued.  "Because of the relatively new rules governing the relationship between record and radio companies, we asked the Commission to review the McCluskey agreement for compliance.  They asked for a small language clarification, which in no way changed our operating practices under the agreement.  We made the language change.  Chuck Kelly, Chief of the Enforcement Division, then advised us that the agreement was in compliance."

John Dickey, VP of Programming for Cumulus Broadcasting, hailed the new agreement as a major innovation.  "The agreement not only ensures compliance with the play for pay rules by centralizing the process by which playlist information is exchanged across our 220 radio stations, it also provides Cumulus with an important new revenue stream."
Cumulus Media Inc. is a radio broadcasting company focused on the acquisition, operation, and development of radio stations in mid-sized and smaller U.S. cities. 
 

Contact:  Suzanne Duecker,  414-615-2800 
 

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