“It’s different to hear Beyoncé on a country radio station," says one programmer. "We’re going to play it more and see if it the audience likes it.”
The windfall will help pay down debt for the radio giant, which held a minority stake in the PRO.
Layoffs are required to become "even more efficient, agile, and flexible," said CEO Jennifer Witz.
GMR claims that stations owned by Vermont Broadcast Associates have been playing 66 songs in the GMR catalog without a license.
The festival will return to Austin, Texas on May 4.
“I think she’s amazing,” the Only Murders in the Building star added.
"Imagine being radio (whoever the hell that is), hearing [Childers'] 'Shake the Frost' and being like, 'no no let's go with the Applebees song.'"
The company has reached a Chapter 11 bankruptcy deal that will reduce its debt from $1.9 billion to $350 million.
Facing a decline in revenue and owing $2 billion in debt, the radio company looks to restructure its balance sheet.
The Bronx native joined the Santa Monica-based public radio station in 1977 when it had five employees and the oldest transmitter west of the Mississippi.
