Audacy Reports Second Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) reported second-quarter net revenues of $319.4 million, a 5% increase from last year. Core spot revenues remained flat at $200.5 million, while digital revenues rose 19% to $69.3 million. Operating income improved to $23.3 million compared to $21.7 million a year ago, although adjusted EBITDA decreased to $38.5 million from $39.9 million. The company is launching a new digital platform and expanding partnerships, despite receiving a notice from the NYSE regarding non-compliance with listing standards.

Positive

• Net revenues increased 5% to $319.4 million.
• Digital revenues grew 19% to $69.3 million.
• Operating income improved to $23.3 million.

Negative

• Core spot revenues were flat at $200.5 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $38.5 million.
• Received NYSE notice for non-compliance with listing standards.

Second Quarter Net Revenues Increased 5%

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022.

David J. Field, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: “After a very strong first quarter in which we grew revenues by 14% and significantly increased margin, our second quarter results were adversely impacted by declining macroeconomic conditions and ad market headwinds which reduced our top line growth to 5%. While we navigate the turbulent current market conditions, we are excited by our future growth potential across our scaled, multi-platform businesses, capitalizing on a number of important recent developments that include an enhanced national sales organization, expanded podcast and streaming audio networks, and during the second half of this year, the rollout of a new, reimagined digital platform and ad tech capabilities that will enable us to unlock pools of ad demand and supply that we can't effectively monetize today. Our transformational development over the past couple of years has meaningfully enhanced our competitive position, strengthening our capacity to serve listeners and customers and enabling a powerful set of opportunities for revenue and EBITDA growth in the dynamically growing audio market.”

Second Quarter Summary

• Net revenues for the quarter were $319.4 million, up 5% compared to $304.5 million in the second quarter of 2021
• Core spot revenues were $200.5 million and were flat compared to the second quarter of 2021
• Digital revenues were $69.3 million, up 19% compared to the second quarter of 2021
• Total operating expenses for the quarter were $296.2 million, compared to $282.8 million in the second quarter of 2021
• Operating income for the quarter was $23.3 million, compared to $21.7 million in the second quarter of 2021
• Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $38.5 million, compared to $39.9 million in the second quarter of 2021

Recent Company Developments

• Reimagined Digital Platform. On July 19^th, Audacy launched initial enhancements to its digital platform, including its app and website. These are the first phase of a roadmap that will see additional features, interactivity and content added to Audacy’s app and website over the next several months. As part of this first release, Audacy added enhancements to its patented Rewind technology, curated discovery of content, a redesigned website and seamless cross-device experience and enriched podcast listening. Over the coming months, Audacy will continue to rollout more features that will make Audacy a premium destination for curated discovery of music and podcasts, plus the best local radio – live and on-demand – together in one app.
• BetMGM Partnership Expansion. BetMGM became the official sportsbook of the BetQL Network, Audacy’s network of sports betting content heard across its broadcast portfolio and digital platforms. This exclusive multi-year partnership is a significant expansion of the current relationship between BetMGM and Audacy. BetMGM will have category exclusivity of the network’s full slate of programming. BetQL Network’s weekly lineup will distribute approximately 100 hours of original content per week on the Audacy and BetQL digital platforms. Audacy will also produce content for live audiences at various MGM Resorts across the country who will host the network inside of BetMGM sports books.
• CBS Sports Deal. Audacy will be the exclusive, multi-year, ad sales and distribution partner for CBS Sports' leading network of sports podcasts, with well-known titles like Fantasy Football Today, Pick Six, Morning Kombat, and the college focused network of 247Sports podcasts. The addition of the CBS Sports podcast network content to Audacy's slate will further bolster our position as the leading home of local and national sports audio content.
• New York Stock Exchange Continued Listing Standards Notice. On August 1, 2022, Audacy received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) that the Company’s Class A common stock (the “common stock”) is not in compliance with the NYSE’s continued listing standard requiring a minimum average closing price of $1.00 per share over 30 consecutive trading days. The notice does not result in the immediate delisting of the common stock from the NYSE. The Company plans to notify the NYSE that it intends to regain compliance, and is considering all available options that are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Company can regain compliance with the NYSE continued listing requirements at any time during a six-month cure period if, on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period, the common stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. Under NYSE rules, the Company’s common stock will continue to be listed on the NYSE during the cure period, subject to the Company’s compliance with other NYSE continued listing requirements.

Earnings Conference Call and Company Information

Audacy will hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast regarding the quarterly earnings release on Friday, August 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 407-9208 or (201) 493-6784 five minutes prior to the start of the call and provide the following conference name: Audacy, Inc. – Second Quarter 2022 Earnings Call. Participants may also listen to a live webcast of the call by visiting https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1552589&tp_key=c8ec588c28. Questions will only be taken from participants on the conference call.

A playback of the conference call will be available for one week by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 and inputting the following ID: 13730345. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the call at the above link. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.audacyinc.com.

About Audacy

Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD) is a leading multi-platform audio content and entertainment company with the country’s best collection of local music, news and sports brands, a premium podcast creator, major event producer, and digital innovator. Audacy engages 200 million consumers each month, bringing people together around content that matters to them. Learn more at www.audacyinc.com, Facebook (Audacy Corp) and Twitter (@AudacyCorp).

Certain Definitions

All references to per share data, unless stated otherwise, are presented as per diluted share. All references to shares outstanding, unless stated otherwise, are presented to exclude unvested restricted stock units. All references to net debt are outstanding debt net of cash on hand.

Core Spot Revenues consist of local spot plus national spot advertising revenues less political spot advertising revenues.

Station Expenses consist of station operating expenses excluding non-cash compensation expense.

Corporate Expenses consist of corporate general and administrative expenses excluding non-cash compensation expense.

Adjusted EBITDA consists of net income (loss) available to common shareholders, adjusted to exclude: income taxes (benefit); income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes or benefit; total other income or expense; net interest expense; depreciation and amortization; time brokerage agreement fees (income); non-cash compensation expense (which is otherwise included in station operating expenses and corporate G&A expenses); refinancing expenses; impairment loss, merger and acquisition costs, restructuring and integration costs, preferred stock dividends; COVID-19 related expenses/(recoveries); non-recurring expenses/recoveries otherwise included in corporate or station expenses; change in fair value of contingent consideration; (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt; and (gain) loss on sale or disposal.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow consists of net income (loss): (i) plus depreciation and amortization; (gain) loss on sale or disposal; non-cash compensation expense (which is otherwise included in station operating expenses and corporate general and administrative expenses); impairment loss; merger and acquisition costs; restructuring and integration costs, (gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt; COVID-19 related expenses/(recoveries); other expense/(income); non-recurring expenses/recoveries otherwise included in corporate or station expenses; change in fair value of contingent consideration; income from discontinued operations (excluding income taxes or tax benefit); amortization of deferred financing costs and debt premium included in interest expense; refinancing expenses; income taxes (benefit); Adjusted Income Taxes Paid; and Net Capital Expenditures.

Net Capital Expenditures consists of capital expenditures, including amortizable intangibles, adjusted to subtract reimbursed tenant improvement allowances.

Adjusted Income Taxes Paid consist of income tax paid, adjusted to exclude taxes paid related to the gain/loss on sale or exchange of radio station assets; and taxes paid related to the gain/loss on the sale of redundant property.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

It is important to note that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, Net Capital Expenditures and Adjusted Income Taxes Paid are not measures of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Management believes that these measures are useful as a way to evaluate the Company and the means for Management to evaluate our performance and operations. Management believes that these measures are useful to an investor in evaluating our performance because they are widely used in the broadcast industry.

Certain adjusted non-GAAP financial measures are presented in this release. The adjustments include, among other items as defined above, gain/loss on sale of assets, derivative instruments, and investments; non-cash compensation expense, other income, impairment loss, merger and acquisition costs, other expenses related to refinancing, and gain/loss on early extinguishment of debt and non-recurring expenses recognized for restructuring charges or similar costs, including transition and integration costs. Management believes these adjusted non-GAAP measures provide useful information to Management and investors by excluding certain income, expenses and gains and losses that may not be indicative of the Company’s core operating and financial results. Similarly, Management believes these adjusted measures are a useful performance measure because certain items included in the calculation of net income (loss) may either mask or exaggerate trends in the Company’s ongoing operating performance. Further, the reconciliations corresponding to these adjusted measures, by identifying the individual adjustments, provide a useful mechanism for investors to consider these adjusted measures with some or all of the identified adjustments.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures on an ongoing basis to help track and assess the Company's financial performance. You, however, should not consider non-GAAP measures in isolation or as substitutes for net income (loss), operating income, or any other measure for determining our operating performance that is calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These non-GAAP measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. The accompanying financial tables provide reconciliations to the nearest GAAP measure of all non-GAAP measures provided in this release.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news announcement contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to regain compliance with the NYSE’s minimum price condition within the applicable cure periods. Additional information and key risks applicable to these statements are described in the Company’s reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and other filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All of the forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

AUDACY, INC.
FINANCIAL DATA
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 30,						June 30,
		2022			2021			2022			2021
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Revenues		$	319,439		$	304,464		$	594,734		$	545,229
Station Expenses			259,153			244,412			484,745			455,835
Station Expenses - Non-Cash Compensation			990			1,044			2,160			2,117
Corporate Expenses			23,590			22,146			47,681			44,059
Corporate Expenses - Non-Cash Compensation			2,113			1,568			3,933			3,235
Depreciation And Amortization			15,571			14,621			29,110			26,213
Other Expenses			52			293			402			321
Impairment Loss			1,770			701			3,291			1,345
Restructuring Charges			1,016			1,734			1,902			1,919
Net Gain On Sale Or Disposal			(105)			(3,725)			(2,563)			(3,727)
Change In Fair Value of Contingent Consideration			(7,987)			-			(7,704)			-
Refinancing Expenses			-			-			-			473
Total Operating Expenses			296,163			282,794			562,957			531,790
Operating Income			23,276			21,670			31,777			13,439
Net Interest Expense			24,529			22,553			48,000			43,713
Net Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt			-			-			-			8,168
Other Income			(238)			(434)			(238)			(446)
Loss Before Income Tax Benefit			(1,015)			(449)			(15,985)			(37,996)
Income Tax Benefit			(242)			(1,875)			(4,139)			(17,775)
Net Income (Loss)		$	(773)		$	1,426		$	(11,846)		$	(20,221)
Net Income (Loss) Per Share – Basic		$	(0.01)		$	0.01		$	(0.09)		$	(0.15)
Net Income (Loss) Per Share – Diluted		$	(0.01)		$	0.01		$	(0.09)		$	(0.15)
Dividends Declared And Paid Per Common Share		$	0.00		$	0.00		$	0.00		$	0.00
Weighted Common Shares Outstanding - Basic			138,462			135,808			138,431			135,784
Weighted Common Shares Outstanding - Diluted			138,462			137,787			138,431			135,784
SUPPLEMENTAL BREAKDOWN OF REVENUE BY TYPE
Spot (local and national)		$	204,486		$	202,797		$	379,621		$	356,998
Digital (including podcasting)			69,300			58,435			127,339			108,368
Network			21,789			20,603			42,929			38,173
Sponsorships and Events			11,638			10,771			21,964			19,929
Other			12,226			11,858			22,881			21,761
		$	319,439		$	304,464		$	594,734		$	545,229
Political		$	4,029		$	2,294		$	5,288		$	3,557
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 30,						June 30,
		2022			2021			2022			2021
SUPPLEMENTAL BREAKDOWN OF REVENUE BY FORMAT
Music		$	158,581		$	159,704		$	299,045		$	289,449
Sports			64,828			63,004			117,898			104,642
News/Talk			51,764			49,685			100,114			92,239
Non-format specific			44,266			32,071			77,677			58,899
		$	319,439		$	304,464		$	594,734		$	545,229
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Net Capital Expenditures		$	32,382		$	12,314		$	46,904		$	19,594
Adjusted Income Taxes Paid (Refunded)		$	409		$	321		$	(14,792)		$	(172)
Cash Dividends On Common Stock Declared And Paid		$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA		June 30,			December 31,
		2022			2021
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	40,490		$	59,439
Restricted Cash		$	91		$	-
Senior Debt - Term B-2 Loan (Includes Current Portion)		$	632,415		$	632,415
Senior Debt - Revolver (Includes Current Portion)		$	135,000		$	97,727
Senior Secured Notes - 2027		$	460,000		$	470,000
Senior Secured Notes - 2029		$	540,000		$	540,000
Accounts Receivable Facility		$	75,000		$	75,000
Total Shareholders' Equity		$	645,761		$	652,205
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 30,						June 30,
		2022			2021			2022			2021
Reconciliation Of GAAP Net Income (Loss) To Adjusted EBITDA and To Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Net Income (Loss)		$	(773)		$	1,426		$	(11,846)		$	(20,221)
Income Tax Benefit			(242)			(1,875)			(4,139)			(17,775)
Net Interest Expense			24,529			22,553			48,000			43,713
Corporate Expenses - Non-Cash Compensation			2,113			1,568			3,933			3,235
Station Expenses - Non-Cash Compensation			990			1,044			2,160			2,117
Depreciation And Amortization			15,571			14,621			29,110			26,213
Other Expenses			147			293			497			321
Restructuring Charges			1,016			1,734			1,902			1,919
COVID-19 Related Expenses (Recoveries)			164			(612)			353			(406)
Non-Recurring Expenses Otherwise Included in Corporate Expenses			1,525			2,597			1,687			5,255
Impairment Loss			1,770			701			3,291			1,345
Change in Fair Value of Contingent Consideration			(7,987)			-			(7,704)			-
Refinancing Expenses			-			-			-			473
Net Loss On Early Extinguishment Of Debt			-			-			-			8,168
Other Income			(238)			(434)			(238)			(446)
Net Gain On Sale Or Disposal			(105)			(3,725)			(2,563)			(3,727)
Adjusted EBITDA			38,480			39,891			64,443			50,184
Net Interest Expense			(24,529)			(22,553)			(48,000)			(43,713)
Deferred Financing Costs Included In Interest Expense			1,281			1,197			2,540			2,238
Amortization Debt Premium Included In Interest Expense			(256)			(242)			(512)			(1,090)
Net Capital Expenditures			(32,382)			(12,314)			(46,904)			(19,594)
Adjusted Income Taxes (Paid) Refunded			(409)			(321)			14,792			172
Adjusted Free Cash Flow		$	(17,815)		$	5,658		$	(13,641)		$	(11,803)

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220804006007/en/

Investor Contacts:

Joseph Jaffoni, Jennifer Neuman, Norberto Aja

JCIR

(212) 835-2500

AUD@jcir.com

Audacy Contact:

Ashok Sinha

SVP and Head of Communications

(610) 822-0832

Ashok.Sinha@audacy.com

Source: Audacy, Inc.

FAQ

What were Audacy's second quarter earnings for 2022?

Audacy reported net revenues of $319.4 million, a 5% increase from the previous year.

How did Audacy's digital revenue perform in the second quarter of 2022?

Digital revenues increased by 19% to $69.3 million.

What challenges did Audacy face in the second quarter of 2022?

The company faced declining macroeconomic conditions and ad market headwinds.

What is the status of Audacy's stock listing with the NYSE?

Audacy received a notice for not meeting the NYSE’s average closing price requirement.

When will Audacy hold its earnings conference call?

Audacy's conference call is scheduled for August 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time.