PAST
1888:
In 1888, Emmanuel Katz opened his Katz Special Advertising
Agency in New York, the nation's first media representation
firm. The idea was to allow manufacturers to advertise nationally
in newspapers as transcontinental railroads allowed them
to engage in business from coast to coast.
1931:
As the 20th Century ushered in the age of communication,
business boomed. In 1931, the Katz Agency adopted the new
medium of radio and the company Katz Radio was born.
1951:
In 1951 The Henry I. Christal Company (named after its founder)
was formed and began representing radio stations. In 1975
the name Christal Radio was formally adopted.
1984:
In 1984 Katz and Christal Radio was merged into the Katz
Radio Group, which included three other divisions, including
Katz Radio.
1997:
Deregulation brought the birth of consolidation to many
industries including radio. In 1997 the Katz Radio Group
was purchased by Chancellor Media which later became AMFM.
1999:
Two years later, in 1999, the KRG was acquired by Clear
Channel Communications when they purchased AMFM.
2000:
In November of 2000 Clear Channel decided to form their
own dedicated in house rep firm- CCRS. At that time all
of the independent clients inside of the KRG were moved
to Katz and Christal as the new Katz Radio Group-representing
only independent groups as stations.
2005:
Eastman Radio is reopened under the Katz Radio Group umbrella,
joining Katz Radio and Christal Radio. The growth of our
independent broadcast partners and their business has created
an opportunity to reopen a division long associated with
service excellence.
Today:
The Katz Radio Group now consists of Katz Radio, Christal
Radio and Eastman Radio representing 2,000 radio stations
throughout the United States.
