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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
8.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
Royalty Agreements
 
The Company has historically entered into fixed and variable fee music license agreements with performance rights organizations including the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (“SESAC”), American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (“ASCAP”) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”). Our BMI license expired December 31, 2016. The expiration was an industry wide issue. The Company has authorized the Radio Music License Committee (the “RMLC”) to negotiate on its behalf with respect to its licenses with ASCAP, BMI and SESAC, including the BMI license that expired December 31, 2016. The RMLC negotiated a new 5 year agreement with ASCAP with a license term of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021. Negotiations continue with respect to BMI and all broadcasters that have authorized the RMLC to act on their behalf in negotiations with BMI can continue to play BMI compositions after December 31, 2016. The RMLC and BMI have agreed that, while they continue to negotiate or pursue a litigated resolution of license fees for the period effective January 1, 2017, broadcasters represented by the RMLC will pay BMI interim fees at the same rates that applied under the most recent BMI - radio industry license that expired on December 31, 2016.  In July 2017, the RMLC learned that the RMLC-Represented broadcasters were awarded a discount off of the SESAC license rate card. The fee reduction applies for the license period January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018 and has retroactive application. In connection with all performance rights organization agreements, including SESAC, ASCAP and BMI, the Company incurred expenses of approximately $2.7 million and $1.0 million during the three month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and incurred expenses of approximately $6.9 million and $6.1 million during the nine month periods September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Finally, in 2016, a new performance rights organization, Global Music Rights (“GMR”) formed, but the scope of its repertory is not clear and it is not clear that it licenses compositions that have not already been licensed by the other performance rights organizations. To ensure licensing compliance in 2017, we have entered into a temporary license with GMR while the RMLC continues to pursue an agreement for a long term licensing solutionGMR has agreed to offer all commercial broadcasters, the opportunity to extend their existing interim licenses until March 31, 2018.  GMR will offer these interim license extensions on the same terms as each broadcaster’s existing interim license, except for the new end date.
 
Other Contingencies
 
The Company has been named as a defendant in several legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. It is management’s opinion, after consultation with its legal counsel, that the outcome of these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
On February 24, 2015, the Company entered into a letter of credit reimbursement and security agreement. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had letters of credit totaling $815,000 under the agreement for certain operating leases and certain insurance policies. Letters of credit issued under the agreement are required to be collateralized with cash.
 
Noncontrolling Interest Shareholders’ Put Rights
 
Beginning on January 1, 2018, the noncontrolling interest shareholders of Reach Media have an annual right to require Reach Media to purchase all or a portion of their shares at the then current fair market value for such shares (the “Put Right”).   Beginning in 2018, this annual right is exercisable for a 30-day period beginning January 1 of each year. The purchase price for such shares may be paid in cash and/or registered Class D common stock of Urban One, at the discretion of Urban One. Management, at this time, cannot reasonably determine the period when and if, the put right will be exercised by the noncontrolling interest shareholders.