Media Mentions

"Interactive Execs Give The Big Picture On Radio & Digital"
Radio Ink, 3.11.08

"Emmis Interactive co-President Rey Mena called his division 'a software company,' saying the technology Emmis uses online is put together in house, both for the sake of maintaining control and to avoid, he said, 'what we calll the 'bolt-on effect,' where we bolt on stuff from different vendors... The corporate designers are able, he said, to make things simple for user on the station side, where 'They don't have to worry about the technology side. We do that.' At stations, he said, the responsibilities are for content — and monetization. 'We're not in the hobby business,' Mena said." read more

"Q&A: Emmis' Esayian on pulling radio advertising into the Internet age"
SNL Financial, 2.15.08

"Despite well-documented trouble at some of its core radio holdings, Emmis Communications Corp.'s Interactive segment continues to show success. Using a variety of media — most notably the Internet — to more effectively link advertisers and listeners, the division maintains relationships with all Emmis stations, nad recently began taking on clients ouside of the company as well." read more

"Emmis' landmark deal with Apple paying big dividends"
Anthony Schoettle, Indianapolis Business Journal, 12.13.06

Though few other radio stations are iTunes outlets, Emmis has flown to the top of the class of more than 25,000 iTunes affiliates worldwide, Apple officials said. "This is another way to engage consumers, not just for radio sations, but for record labels and artists as well, and that's invaluable," Jay Schemanske, associate media director in the Indianapolis office of Optimedia said. "I think the full benefit of that is starting to be realized. That's why I think this model could catch fire."

"One Nation Under Text"
Darnella Dunham, Radio & Records, 10.29.06

"Radio may have attained its media longevity through audio, but these days it's the power of the written word that is helping move the medium forward. As text messaging gains momentum, particularly among younger demographics, broadcasters are finding ways to use the technology to reach out and touch listeners, and have them return the favor."

"Beyond the Online Brochure"
Kevin Peterson, Radio & Records, 10.29.06

"The first thing I like to remind stations is the fact that their Web site is not some ancillary offshoot of their brand... it is their brand. A listener who goes online to a station's Web site will be left with an impression of that station Ð good or bad. Therefore, it is extremely important that you take the same care managing and building your Web site as you do with your an-air product."

"Emmis' New Medium"
Erika D. Smith, Indianapolis Star, 10.27.06

"Once listeners had to battle busy signals to be the ninth caller to win concert tickets. Now they can register to win those tickets online and specify what time they listen to the radio, knowing that, if they win, their name will be broadcast only at that time. It's that kind of innovation that has made Emmis Interactive so successful."

"Radio Revolution"
Katy Bachman, Mediaweek, 10.18.06

Said Rey Mena, "When we first launched EMmis Interactive, we asked ourselves, 'What business are we in?' Most broadcasters will say 'broadcasting' or 'advertising.' We concluded that at the end of the day, we're in the relationship business."

"iTunes To Be On Radio Web Sites"
Katy Bachman, Mediaweek, 6.5.06

"Emmis Communications announced Friday a deal with iTunes making it the first company in the nation to integrate the iTunes Music Store into its radio station Web sites."

"iTunes Added to Emmis Radio Web Sites"
Abbey Klaassen, Advertising Age, 6.5.06

"The deal hitches Emmis to the most popular digital music brand, which has captured the majority of the digital music market. But for iTunes, the radio station partnership gives it another programmed environment in which to sell its content, which some industry analysts believe is a key driver for digital music sales."

"Emmis Relveals iTunes For All Station Web Sites"
Chuck Taylor and Paul Heine, N.Y., Billboard, 6.2.06

"The customized online music stores will reflect the programming of each radio station, allowing listeners to shop from playlists of radio station artists as well as top picks from on-air talent and celebrity guests."

"Fighting Fire With Fire"
Paul Heine, Billboard Radio Monitor, 5.12.06

"Fighting fire with fire, Emmis Interactive has adopted a publishing model to increase its share of online ad dollars. Rather than putting its eggs in the streaming basket, the online division of Emmis Communications made a sizable investment in technical and design capabilities for its radio station Web sites."