Here comes a partnership of biggies in the interlocking worlds of live events and media.
SFX Entertainment Inc., huge producer of events and festivals, has entered into a “marketing and content partnership” with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment, huge radio and multiplatform company.
The companies said their agreement “combines the largest player globally in EMC with the world’s largest radio and digital broadcaster.” EMC means electronic music culture.
SFX Chairman/CEO Robert F.X. Sillerman — whose background includes significant history in and around radio — called the agreement “a key strategic relationship” for his company. He said the deal brings the electronic music category to a broader audience and “delivers on what we believe the young music consumer wants today.” He said it will also help SFX better promote DJs and producers.
Clear Channel President of Entertainment Enterprises John Sykes was quoted saying demand for electronic music “continues to increase across all of our platforms at Clear Channel.”
The companies laid out three elements for the coming year:
-A national DJ talent contest will air live on Clear Channel stations and iHeartRadio, with parts of the competition taking place at iHeartRadio performance spaces in New York and Los Angeles. The winner will appear at the SFX festival “Mysteryland” on Memorial Day weekend at Woodstock and get a record contract.
-A weekly top 20 countdown show from SFX website Beatport to air on big Clear Channel music stations in New York, L.A., Chicago, Dallas and other markets, including headliner stations KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and Z100 in New York.
-Future events in the EMC space, including specifically one around Halloween.
