Emmis Launches Partnership with Jelli to offer Hot 97, Power 106 and RXP to Facebook listeners

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 22. 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmis Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: EMMS) has forged a partnership with Jelli to offer five premiere radio stations to fans that connect with Facebook's new music platform.  Jelli, 100% user-controlled radio, enables users to take over a radio station using their web browsers and iPhones.

Today at f8, Facebook's developer conference, Jelli announced that it has integrated with Facebook to make listening more social. It is now easier than ever to discover and listen to new music with friends. When listeners connect with their Facebook accounts, they can effortlessly share what they're listening to with their Facebook friends, who can quickly tune in and help shape the playlist.

Jelli and Emmis are collaborating to bring the authenticity of the biggest brands in radio, HOT 97, POWER 106 and RXP, to the Facebook Platform.  With Jelli, every song is chosen by a group of listeners in real time.  The social functionality brings listeners together in a fun social atmosphere. Users can chat with other listeners, vote for what they want to hear and "rocket" their favorite songs to the top of the playlist – all while sharing their music with their Facebook friends.

"Emmis has the strongest brands and communities in radio with HOT 97 in New York, POWER 106 in Los Angeles and RXP online," said Mike Dougherty, CEO and founder of Jelli.  "We are honored to help make these communities more social and engaged by combining their strength with the power of Facebook."

Angie-May Cook, VP of Emmis Digital explains, "The evolution of music listening habits will accelerate today with the launch of Facebook Music.   We are taking terrestrial radio into social media with our partner Jelli, whose platform is a perfect fit for radio in social media.   Jelli offers the group listening experience our listeners recognize and lets them take control of the playlist while they communicate with other fans.  We have a big learning curve ahead us as we watch and experience our brands in the hands of our biggest fans."  

With the announcement of Facebook's new music launch, HOT 97, Power 106 and RXP will now host five customized stations where listeners will have 100% control of what is played and when it is played. Stations include Hot97, Hot97 Throwback, Hot97 Funk Master Flex, Power 106 and RXP.   "This gives our listeners non-stop new music and it gives Emmis back-end metrics to see which songs are really resonating," said Jimmy Steal, Emmis Vice President of Programming.

Stations include Hot97, Hot97 Throwback, Hot97 Funk Master Flex, Power 106 and RXP. Alex Cameron, SVP Market Manager, Emmis New York stated, "HOT 97's global brand recognition transcends radio.  With Power 106 in the West and Hot 97 in the East, these stations truly OWN hip hop and are stellar example of radio's ubiquity, value and persona."

Emmis Communications' HOT 97, Power 106 and RXP brands will be available on Facebook in partnership with Jelli on September 22, 2011 by logging on to www.Jelli.com/hot97ny, www.Jelli.com/funkmasterflex, www.Jelli.com/throwback, www.Jelli.com/power106 and www.Jelli.com/rxp.  

About Emmis Communications (Nasdaq: EMMS)

Emmis Communications Corporation is a diversified media company, principally focused on radio broadcasting. Emmis operates the 8th largest publicly traded radio portfolio in the United States based on total listeners.  Emmis owns 18 FM and two AM radio stations in New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Austin (Emmis has a 50.1% controlling interest in Emmis' radio stations located there), Indianapolis and Terre Haute, IN.

SOURCE Emmis Communications Corporation