Westwood One Goes Backstage At The AMAs

Westwood One is the official national radio partner of the 2018 American Music Awards and is offering radio stations, nationally syndicated shows, brands, and fans a comprehensive array of special programming and exclusive, multi-platform content to celebrate the most influential and iconic artists on the music scene.

Westwood One Backstage at the AMAs will feature a dynamic day of branded programming, first-class artist interviews, and exclusive backstage live performances at Radio Row. Firing up the backstage festivities on Monday, October 8, will be Crush Music’s MAX and 300 Entertainment’s multi-platinum DJ trio Cheat Codes. Hollywood Record’s Ocean Park Standoff opened Radio Row with a performance on Sunday, October 7.

Westwood One Backstage will take place at LA’s Microsoft Theater Event Deck on Monday, October 8 from 11 am – 4 pm PT. More than 25 of the top music stations from around the country, plus Westwood One’s national Zach Sang Show and The Adam Bomb Show, will broadcast remotely and curate audio, video, and social media content to share with listeners nationwide.

“Westwood One provides affiliates, listeners, and advertising partners exclusive access to our backstage event, which features the artists and celebrities descending on Los Angeles for the world’s largest fan-voted awards show,” said Suzanne Grimes, EVP Marketing for CUMULUS MEDIA and President, Westwood One. “Our invaluable partnership with dick clark productions allows us to create unique AMAs content you can’t hear anywhere else. From our Westwood One Backstage experience to Taylor Swift’s opening performance, Panic! At The Disco’s Queen tribute, and honoring the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, this show is not to be missed.”​

In addition to the backstage festivities, Westwood One, through its partnership with the American Music Awards and dick clark productions, is offering its stations a special three-hour red carpet broadcast companion show airing Tuesday, October 9. The Hot AC/AC format will behosted by Adam Bomb and The Bert Show’s Kristin Klingshirn, the Top 40 format will be hosted by Zach Sang Show, and the Urban/Urban AC version will be hosted by Kenny Smoov and Sissy Brown. The evening also includes a one-hour Red Carpet Special hosted by NASH Nights Live’s Elaina D. Smith and a one-hour Awards Wrap-Up.

Join Westwood One’s Backstage at the AMAs conversation on social media: #WestwoodOne #AMAs:

• @MAXHellsKitchen, @CheatCodesMusic, and @OPStandoff will perform live at #WestwoodOne Backstage at the #AMAs
• @zachsang1 @adambombshow will broadcast from #WestwoodOne Backstage at the #AMAs
• @elainadsmith will host the #WestwoodOne red carpet on Tuesday, October 9
• @zachsang1 @adambombshow @KrisKling @kennysmoov, and @MissMoka1971 will broadcast on AMA night, Tuesday, October 9

Tracee Ellis Ross will host the 2018 American Music Awards, the world’s largest fan-voted awards show, which will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 8 pm ET on ABC. Lighting up the AMA stage will be Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Twenty One Pilots, Mariah Carey, Cardi B with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, Ciara with Missy Elliott, Benny Blanco with Halsey and Khalid, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla $ign, and many more. The evening will include a special tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, featuring soul and gospel legends Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans, and Panic! At the Disco will pay tribute to Queen with a performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

American Music Awards nominees are based on key fan interactions as reflected on Billboard.com, including streaming, album and digital song sales, radio airplay, social activity and touring. These measurements are tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Music and Next Big Sound, and reflect the time period of September 15, 2017 through August 9, 2018.

For more information about Westwood One Backstage at the AMAs radio row and programming, contact Neal Bird at nbird@westwoodone.com or (310) 840-4207.