Latest news with #iHeartCountryFestival
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside PEOPLE's 2025 iHeartCountry Festival Portrait Studio! See All the Photos (Exclusive)
Celebrating its 12th year, the iHeartCountry Festival presented by Capital One was held Saturday, May 4 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Hosted by Bobby Bones, performers included Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Cole Swindell, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith and Dasha and many more! The event was broadcast live in local markets and on and were livestreamed exclusively to all Hulu subscribers. Read the original article on People
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Kentucky Derby: A Horse Owned By Toby Keith Heads To The Race
Toby Keith performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival at The Frank Erwin Center on ... More October 30, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo byfor iHeartMedia) Render Judgment – a thoroughbred race horse partially-owned by Toby Keith – heads to the Kentucky Derby this weekend as one of 20 qualifiers. The horse comes from Walkin' Dreams Farms, a 330-acre Oklahoma racing operation founded by Keith and now spearheaded by his family; Keith died in 2024, nearly two years after sharing a stomach cancer diagnosis with the public. 'My dad dreamed of having his horses in the Kentucky Derby for over 30 years,' his daughter Krystal Keith wrote on Instagram earlier this week. 'Here he is still making his dreams come true from his castle in the sky." She continued, 'My dad could never decide which passion was greater, music or horse racing. He could have had a PhD in horse pedigrees. What an incredible journey we've been on to get here. Win or lose, he made it to the Derby and that for me is everything. Render Judgement holds the 15th post position in the prestigious race, according to CBS Sports. At publication time, odds for the horse to win the Kentucky Derby stand at 30-1. This year, winner 0f the Derby gets $3.1 million of the $5 million purse. Render Judgment scored a spot in the Derby after Tappan Street, a three-year-old race horse, was scratched from participation following a workout injury. It's the first horse owned by Keith to make the Derby. Horse jockey Julien Leparoux will ride Render Judgement at Saturday's race; the horse is trained by Kenny McPeek, who trained 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. "It was Toby's dream," read a post on the singer's Facebook page. 'Toby will have the best seat in the house to watch.' Render Judgment, a race horse co-owned by Toby Keith's Dream Walkin' Farms, is set to run in the ... More Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025. Keith may best be known as a singer-songwriter who cut rowdy anthems such as 'Beer For My Horses,' 'Red Solo Cup' and 'How Do You Like Me Now?!.' As a singer-songwriter, he sold more than 40 million albums, earning election into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. But off stage, Keith held horse racing close to his heart. He named his racing operation Dream Walkin' in nod to his 1997 album of the same name. Dream Walkin' – the thoroughbred operation – has earned $19,385,573 since opening its doors, according to horse racing trade group Eqibase. The 151st Kentucky Derby takes place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Viewers can tune into the race on NBC or Peacock. Network coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. EST; post time for the premier race, often called the 'Run for the Roses,' is set for 6:57 p.m. EST, according to the Kentucky Derby website.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FCC Launches Probe Into iHeartMedia's Alleged Payola Practices
The post FCC Launches Probe Into iHeartMedia's Alleged Payola Practices appeared first on Consequence. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched an investigation into iHeartMedia over whether the radio giant may be offering airplay as leverage to book artists — a practice that may violate 'payola' laws — to play at its events. In a letter to iHeartMedia CEO Robert Pittman, FCC chairman Brendan Carr alleged that 'certain owners of federally licensed radio stations are effectively compelling musicians to perform at radio station events or festivals for free (or for reduced compensation) in exchange for more favorable airplay.' Indeed, US law stipulates that any payments made to a radio station to influence airplay must be disclosed as sponsored content. If artists are trading appearances for airtime without such disclosure, the arrangement could be deemed illegal. One of the events in question is the upcoming 2025 iteration of iHeartMedia's iHeartCountry Festival, which will go down on May 3rd in Austin, Texas with headliners Brooks & Dunn, Thomas Rhett, and Rascal Flatts. 'As iHeart finalizes its approach to this particular music festival, I want to ensure that it does so in a way that complies with federal payola requirements,' Carr wrote. In his letter, Carr asked eight questions of Pittman, ranging from requests for information about the upcoming iHeartCountry Festival to inquiries as to whether or not artists were manipulated into accepting reduced fees for their appearances. The letter — dated Monday, February 24th — gave iHeartMedia 10 days to respond. In a public statement, though, the company denied any wrongdoing. '[Performing] at the iHeartCountry Festival — or declining to do so — has no bearing on our stations' airplay, and we do not make any overt or covert agreements about airplay with artists performing at our events,' the statement read (per The Hollywood Reporter). 'The iHeartCountry Festival provides the same kind of promotion that that we see with artists on talk shows, late night television, the Super Bowl and in digital music performances and events: the promotional value to the artists is the event itself, and, in our case, is unrelated to our radio airplay.' Since being appointed chairman of the FCC by Donald Trump, Carr has also investigations into CBS, NPR, and PBS. FCC Launches Probe Into iHeartMedia's Alleged Payola Practices Jo Vito Popular Posts Tony Hawk Wishes Kurt Cobain Could Meet Their Shared Grandson J6 Prison Choir to Perform at Kennedy Center Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Tour with Run the Jewels as Special Guest The 69 Sexiest Film Scenes of All Time Classic MTV Unplugged Episodes Now Streaming on Paramount+ Grimes Turns to Twitter to Beg for Elon Musk's Attention Amid Child's "Medical Crisis" Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FCC Probes iHeartMedia Following Accusations of Payola Law Violations
The Federal Communications Commission has warned radio station owners that it is cracking down on what it describes as 'payola' practices. In a letter sent Monday to iHeartMedia CEO Robert Pittman, FCC chairman Brendan Carr says the FCC is scrutinizing the company's activity particularly around the live music events it hosts throughout the year. Specifically, the FCC is pressing iHeart on whether it improperly pressures artists to perform without payment at events such as the upcoming iHeartCountry Music Festival on May 3 in Austin, Texas. More from Variety Charlamagne Tha God, iHeartMedia Announce 2025 Black Effect Podcast Festival Lineup FCC Chairman Launches Probe Into Comcast and NBCU DEI Practices, Says He Is 'Concerned' They May Be 'Promoting Invidious Forms of Discrimination' FCC Chief Brendan Carr Says Trump 'Has Been Right' on Media Bias Claims Amid CBS Probe; Anna Gomez Decries 'Chilling Effect' and 'Weaponization' of Agency 'It would be particularly concerning to me if, on the heels of the FCC's Enforcement Advisory,iHeart is proceeding in a manner that does not comply with federal 'payola' requirements,' Carr writes in the letter (issued Tuesday). 'Indeed, I want to know whether iHeart is effectively and secretly forcing musicians to choose between, one, receiving their usual, ordinary, and full scale compensation for performing or, two, receiving less favorable airplay on iHeart radio [sic] stations.' Carr references the FCC's Feb. 6-issued advisory that followed payola accusations — or 'forced quid pro quo' — leveled by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), reminding radio broadcasters that manipulating airplay based on artist participation in station events without proper disclosure violates federal laws. 'This upcoming iHeart event provides the Commission with a real-world example of how suchevents are put together—including artist solicitation and compensation,' Carr's letter continues. This year's iHeartCountry Festival is slated to feature Brooks and Dunn, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Sam Hunt, Megan Moroney, Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith. In a statement shared with Variety, iHeart representatives said they 'appreciate FCC Chairman Carr's interest in ensuring the radio industry is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations' and confirmed they would 'be responding expeditiously' to the questions posed by Carr. The FCC is requesting information — with a deadline of 10 days to comply — from iHeart regarding the artists scheduled to appear, any compensation (financial or otherwise) they're receiving and typical performance fees for the musicians outside of the festival. The company must also disclose whether artists' participation at the event will influence their airplay. Additional requests from the FCC include iHeart providing a list of any musicians, artists, or acts that were invited to appear or perform at the festival but declined to do so. 'To the extent you have suchinformation, please indicate why they declined to appear,' the letter states. 'We look forward to demonstrating to the Commission how performing at the iHeartCountry Festival – or declining to do so – has no bearing on our stations' airplay,' iHeart's statement continues. Carr has also ordered an investigation into NPR and PBS over possible violations of government rules, namely by highlighting their acknowledgement of financial sponsors on the air. Read iHeartMedia's complete response to the FCC below: We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr's interest in ensuring the radio industry is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations and will be responding expeditiously to the specific questions posed in the Chairman's letter about iHeart's upcoming Country Festival. The Commission's recent Enforcement Advisory to the radio industry as a whole stated that manipulating airplay based on artist participation in station events without proper disclosure violates federal laws. We look forward to demonstrating to the Commission how performing at the iHeartCountry Festival – or declining to do so – has no bearing on our stations' airplay, and we do not make any overt or covert agreements about airplay with artists performing at our events. The iHeartCountry Festival provides the same kind of promotion that that we see with artists on talk shows, late night television, the Super Bowl and in digital music performances and events: the promotional value to the artists is the event itself, and, in our case, is unrelated to our radio airplay. We're very proud that over the years we've had artists ask us to be a part of the iHeartCountry Festival, and in fact we've had artists make repeat appearances over the years because it is an important event that enables them to reach our audiences and enhance their careers. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Grammy Predictions, From Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar: Who Will Win? Who Should Win? What's Coming to Netflix in February 2025
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump's New FCC Chair Investigates iHeartMedia for Possible ‘Payola' Violations
The Federal Communications Commission is asking iHeartMedia to prove it isn't making music artists perform without full compensation in exchange for better radio airplay, a possible violation of U.S. 'payola' laws, according to a letter obtained Tuesday by TheWrap. Carr's letter, addressed to iHeartMedia CEO Robert Pittman, refers to a recent FCC Enforcement Advisory highlighting what the FCC calls a trend – radio station owners and festival promoters coercing artists into illegal arrangements. 'Indeed, I want to know whether iHeart is effectively and secretly forcing musicians to choose between, one, receiving their usual, ordinary, and full scale compensation for performing or, two, receiving less favorable airplay on iHeart radio stations,' Carr wrote. Carr is seeking detailed information about the Austin-based iHeartCountry Festival in early May to ensure compliance. The letter gives 10 days for iHeartMedia to respond to eight questions, including a list of scheduled artists and their compensation; whether airplay is influenced by their participation; reasons for artists performing for free or at reduced fees; and regulatory compliance training protocols. In a statement to TheWrap, iHeart said: 'We appreciate FCC Chairman Carr's interest in ensuring the radio industry is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations and will be responding expeditiously to the specific questions posed in the Chairman's letter about iHeart's upcoming Country Festival.' The company said participation in its country festival has no bearing on its radio stations' airplay, and that it makes no such agreements either overtly or covertly. 'The iHeartCountry Festival provides the same kind of promotion that that we see with artists on talk shows, late night television, the Super Bowl and in digital music performances and events: the promotional value to the artists is the event itself, and, in our case, is unrelated to our radio airplay,' iHeart said. 'We're very proud that over the years we've had artists ask us to be a part of the iHeartCountry Festival, and in fact we've had artists make repeat appearances over the years because it is an important event that enables them to reach our audiences and enhance their careers.' The post Trump's New FCC Chair Investigates iHeartMedia for Possible 'Payola' Violations appeared first on TheWrap.
