Parks Blog: Name Change Makes Sense

Darryl Parks

Media Blogger/Watcher (and former Clear Channel exec) Darryl Parks has posted a piece saying the Clear Channel to iHeartMedia name changes is 15-years later.

According to Parks, after Clear Channel gobbled up Jacor, which he worked for, there were discussions back then of changing the name of the company.  That was more than 15 years ago. Clear Channel had a bad corporate brand image, for no other reason than it was radio’s version of Pacman eating up competitors.  So today’s news of the name change really is about 15 years too late.

Here are the reasons the name change makes sense:

• iHeart is a “consumer facing” brand.  I know that’s corporate speak.  It means “iHeart” means something to the CONSUMER.  That’s a good thing.
• Clear Channel means nothing to the consumer, never has, never did, never would.
• Clear Channel means radio and is not sexy to advertisers.  iHeart, meanwhile, sells the future.
• Clear Channel had the perception of being “Cheap Channel.”  I guess “iCheap” can be used, but that doesn’t have the same ring to it.
• Yeah.  Yeah.  iHeart is hip to hipsters.

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