RadioInsight Exclusive: Additional cutbacks have hit Cumulus Media’s Westwood One syndication division as the company has eliminated seven of its twenty 24/7 music formats.

The formats being eliminated and how they were marketed were:

• Variety Hits Pop – Music on Variety Hits Pop will have real variety, from the library of over 900 songs, with the top 400 representing 30% of the mix. It will focus on the Pop sound of 70’s, 80’s 90’s, and 2000’s, with all the familiar hits you know and love from your favorite artists.
• Variety Hits Rock – Music on Variety Hits Rock will have real variety, from the library of over 900 songs, with the top 400 representing 30% of the mix. It will showcase the Rock/Pop sound of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. Be ready to jam with your “air” guitar and drums as we roll out the memorable, recognizable, and immediately well-known rock/pop artists and songs.
• Hits Now – HITS NOW is Top 40 for the 21st Century! The music mix is predominantly Currents and Recurrents encompassing various genres including pop, rock, dance, hip hop, alternative and R&B. The imaging and on-air personalities have an upbeat, youthful attitude designed to attract women age 20 – 30. It’s Contemporary Hit Radio, the ultimate mass appeal, high-impact format, featuring today’s most popular hits!
• Classic Hits Gold – CLASSIC HITS GOLD showcases three decades of the best music and biggest stars! The greatest pop, soul, and Rock & Roll from the mid-to-late `60s, the `70s, and the early to mid-80s. All familiar favorites that you know and love, a flexible hourly programming & stopset clock, and some of the best personalities in the business!
• Classic Rock X – Classic Rock X (Extreme or Hard Rock) cranks it up with a high energy music mix from the hottest rock and heavy metal acts from the ’70s, ’80s, and early to mid ’90s. Along with slick production and hip personalities, Classic Rock X is a format that really rocks!
• Rock 2.0 – ROCK 2.0 traces its DNA from a skeletal structure built by Ozzy Osbourne and Guns & Roses, while the core muscle of the format is heavily built on 90’s hit makers like Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots. It then reaches forward embracing newer acts like Disturbed, Pretty Reckless and Cage The Elephant. DNA really is the perfect word to describe the thread that binds together Rock 2.0’s tremendous variety in texture and era with the strength and balance of familiarity. This is ROCK radio… version 2.0.
• Good Time Oldies – GOOD TIME OLDIES features the three decades of pop, soul, and rock & roll. Nothing but the best from the ’60s and ’70s with one early-to-mid `80s an hour. A healthy portion of “oh-wow” songs, too. The music is up tempo and the presentation is full of energy. Plus, special theme weekends showcase each week featuring the biggest artists and fun themes.

Westwood One had eliminated Classic Hip-Hop last fall. Westwood One continues to offer Adult Contemporary, Hot AC, Mainstream Country, Mainstream Country Gold, Hot Country, Real Country, Nash Icon, Classic Country, Classic Hits, Classic Hits Rock, Adult Standards, and “The Touch” Adult R&B.

Cumulus has yet to respond to an inquiry for additional details. Affiliates have been informed that the seven formats being discontinued will end on Sunday, April 20.

This story will be updated with additional information should we receive it.