Report: Westwood One Dropping Some 24/7 Formats

Westwood One, a major radio syndicator owned by Cumulus Media, has eliminated seven of its 24/7 music formats, marking a significant cutback in its syndication division. This decision, first reported by RadioInsight, reflects ongoing adjustments within the company as it navigates the evolving radio landscape. 

Westwood One, known for distributing a wide range of programming—including talk shows, music formats, and sports content like the NFL’s main radio package—had previously offered 20 satellite-delivered 24/7 formats to over 1,500 affiliated stations across the U.S.

The discontinued formats include:

• Variety Hits Pop - Focused on a broad pop sound from the 1970s to 2000s, featuring artists like Madonna and Maroon 5, with a library of over 900 songs.
• Variety Hits Rock - Highlighted rock and pop hits from the same decades, targeting fans of Aerosmith and Nirvana with a similar 900-song mix.
• Rock 2.0 - An active rock format rooted in the 1990s with bands like Nirvana and Foo Fighters, extending to newer acts like Disturbed.
• Good Time Oldies - Covered pop, soul, and rock & roll from the 1960s and 1970s, with some early-to-mid-1980s tracks and themed weekends.
• Classic Hits Gold - Featured hits from the mid-to-late 1960s through the early-to-mid-1980s, with artists like The Beatles and Billy Joel.
• Classic Rock X - Delivered high-energy classic and hard rock from the 1970s to early 1990s, emphasizing heavier acts.
• Hits Now! - A contemporary hit radio format targeting women aged 20-30 with current pop, rock, dance, hip-hop, and R&B.

Westwood One retains 13 formats, including Adult Contemporary, Hot AC, Mainstream Country, Classic Hits, and Classic Rock, among others. The cuts follow a pattern of retrenchment, with the company having dropped Classic Hip-Hop in fall 2024 and faced earlier layoffs in 2022 that affected its 24/7 division, costing around two dozen jobs. No official statement from Cumulus has detailed the exact reasoning or timeline for ceasing these formats.

The decision has stirred sentiment on X, with posts reflecting a mix of nostalgia and frustration among radio enthusiasts, some lamenting the loss of variety in terrestrial radio.