Cumulus Launches Two AI-powered HD Stations in Nashville

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, February 29, 2024 | 4:39pm CT

Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media is partnering with AI audio solutions provider Super Hi-Fi and HD Radio's Xperi to launch two new automated radio stations in Tennessee, reports thedesk.net. The stations will air on the HD channels of WGFX (104.5 The Zone) in Nashville, and will serve as a testing ground for new radio programs and related services the companies said.

The new stations are called "The Hill" and "Nashville Songwriter Radio," and will be powered by Super Hi-Fi's "Program Director" software, which uses machine learning tools to help stations build and scale their automated programming.

"Super Hi-Fi is excited to collaborate with Xperi and Cumulus to create these groundbreaking HD Radio experiences," said Super Hi-Fi CEO Zack Zalon. "We're proud to contribute to the rich musical tapestry of Nashville by bringing these new hyper-local HD Radio formats to the market."

Nashville Songwriter Radio will air WGFX-HD3, and serves as a platform for the songwriter community in Nashville. The Hill, wil broadcast on WGFX-HD2, is a station designed with the tastes of high school students in mind, featuring a mix of popular and emerging music across Pop, Hip-Hop, Alternative, and Country genres.

"We've seen incredible advances in digital audio in-home and mobile and, as the pioneer and leader in vehicle audio, Xperi is uniquely positioned to develop, test and validate broadcast services that can be rapidly deployed in connected cars," said Xperi Senior Vice President of Broadcast and Digital Audio Joe D'Angelo. "We see this as the logical next step in our collaboration with both the radio and automotive industries. Bringing new capabilities to the market will provide valuable services to broadcasters, advertisers and most importantly, improve the listening experience for end users."

"By partnering with Super Hi-Fi and Xperi, we are adopting innovative technology that allows us to connect to new, local communities with targeted programming by leveraging our HD radio ancillary channels that have the potential to reach different audiences around the country," commented Cumulus Media CTO Conrad Trautmann.