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iHeartMedia Invests in $10 Million in High Times

Bongwater

Bongwater

Walk of Fame Participant
If there need be further evidence cannabis has gone mainstream in America, behold:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/iheartmedia-to-invest-up-to-10-million-in-high-times-2018-10-03

If Congress and Senate changes hands next month, we could see some BIG changes in the next few years, including full national cannabis legalization. And the lift of the federal ban on broadcast cannabis advertising. And I don't think radio is going to turn that money away. Because even if the advertising is limited to "Safe Harbor" hours, you'd still be up to here in national advertising from Big Cannabis enough for that shift to finally pull it's own weight.

I usually don't agree with iHeart on many things. But this is forward thinking.
 
Bongwater said:
I usually don't agree with iHeart on many things. But this is forward thinking.
Click to expand...

Really? I think this is backward thinking. (But, given your screen name, maybe I shouldn't bother to make the point.)

What I see here is a radio company spending money on something other than radio.
 
Agree with Wimmmex. And besides, thinking that companies are investing on things like these because they are "progressive" and "open-minded" is too naive.
Companies like these only care about taking money from hipsters and the like.
 
You're both missing the point. The question isn't about image or investments. It's about potential future radio industry revenue. And would you consider it were it finally an option on your station, hypothetically speaking?
 
Wimmmex said:
Really? I think this is backward thinking. (But, given your screen name, maybe I shouldn't bother to make the point.)

What I see here is a radio company spending money on something other than radio.
Click to expand...

What is deep in the reports is that iHeart is acquiring shares in part with an exchange for advertising. In other words, trade time for equity. And they apparently have a deal for High Times content for podcasts, too,

iHeart is not a radio company. It is a content distribution company, and this deal trades radio time for a lock on content about a subject that apparently lots of Americans are interested in.
 
Maybe I'm missing something here, but what they're buying a stake in is a magazine, not a dispensary. The dispensaries are the businesses that would buy the advertising. Not the magazine. The magazine is getting $5 million in free promotion. And remind me again: Who reads magazines?
 
Wimmmex said:
Apples, oranges and perspective.
Click to expand...

That is the industry's big problem... people not understanding that there are so many platforms that traditional radio can not continue to focus just on towers and transmitters.

If you ask listeners, nearly all consider "radio" to be pretty much any audio source that does not come with pictures. They say "radio" when referring to Pandora, to XM, to streams in general.

When I am troubled by a perspective issue, I defer to the listeners.
 
Just heard a spot for investment opratunity, in High Times publishing/magazine on an iHeart station. A good 15 seconds was disclaimer.
 
Even if it's legalized, is the FCC going to allow cannabis ads? They already ban (tobacco) cigarette ads...
 
Investing with drug pusheres! These people are WAY off the deep end!

Maybe the FCC needs to investigate.

Well...
 
David_radiohead said:
Investing with drug pusheres! These people are WAY off the deep end!

Maybe the FCC needs to investigate.

Well...
Click to expand...

In 10 states cannabis is legal. In another 20 it is legal by prescription. CBD is legal in all states, whether a cannabis or hemp extract.

The FCC is not going to step in with a "states rights" issue where support for controlled, licensed and taxed control is very popular.

The cannabis industry is a major source of taxes and employment, and there are those who argue that licensed dispensaries are much better than leaving it to the cartels and their associates.

High Times has become like "Beverage World" as a trade magazine for growers and the like. Many of the articles focus on growing, health benefits and the like.
 
Last edited:
radiocph said:
Even if it's legalized, is the FCC going to allow cannabis ads? They already ban (tobacco) cigarette ads...
Click to expand...

But they do not ban liquor advertising.
 
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