Pittman Doesn’t See Apple Radio As Threat

Clear Channel Communications Chief Executive Bob Pittman said he doesn’t see Apple’s radio product as a threat to terrestrial radio or Clear Channel’s digital radio service, iHeartRadio because custom radio doesn’t appear to be a viable freestanding business, according to the WSJ's Digits blog.

He said that while listeners tune in to FM radio to “join the world,” they listen to custom radio services to have “a very private experience,” and now that so many electronics makers and subscription streaming companies are offering personalized radio, it’s no longer the main event.

“I think that Apple has a little bit of a problem with iTunes because of people using new subscription services like Spotify instead of buying downloads – this is a way to make iTunes a little sexier and zippier,” said Pittman.

As for the threat to iHeartRadio, which consists of 1,500-plus live stations but also offers custom radio functionality, Pittman says his service sends listeners to iTunes to buy music they like. “If we thought they were competitive we wouldn’t be doing that,” he said.

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