UNITED STATIONS INTRODUCES PHANTOM PRODUCER

Revolutionary Web Interface Eases Production of Jingles, Sweepers & other Imaging

New York, NY – June 14, 2010 -- United Stations Radio Networks, Inc., (USRN) an independent leader in the creation and marketing of network radio programming, announced that the network will be the exclusive source for a new radio imaging service called PHANTOM PRODUCER that enables subscribing stations to create their own customized production elements with no need for professional audio software.   Phantom Producer is the brainchild of the award-winning producer Jeff Thomas who has developed the service in conjunction with programming executives at United Stations.  Eric Weiss of The Weiss Agency represented Jeff Thomas in this deal and this announcement came from USRN’s Chairman/CEO, Nick Verbitsky at the company's Headquarters in New York City.
 
Phantom Producer is poised to completely alter the way that customized imaging is created at radio stations.  The service provides radio stations with the ability to choose, mix and create their sweepers, links and other interstitial production elements via a password-protected website.  Phantom Producer works via a new and exclusive online user interface that accesses customized elements created just for the client station and allows anyone at the radio station to sequence those elements into perfectly mixed production elements that can be immediately downloaded, ready for air.   No new gear or software is required and as a result, the Phantom Producer service ushers in a new era of “desktop imaging.”   Much more information and a few tutorials are available at www.phantomproducer.com. 

Jeff Thomas has helped image radio stations all over the world in a career that has spanned more than 30 years.  The Australian native is perhaps best known for his time spent at Clear Channel’s KIIS-FM, Los Angeles where he was the station’s Creative Services Director, but he’s also widely known for his role in launching the Killer Hertz Sound Design Library, providing audio that has been used by radio and television stations all over the world and in numerous movie trailers.   At KIIS, he helped develop the national ‘KISS” sound for Clear Channel.   He also helped launch the Howard Stern Sirius Channels, Howard 100 and 101.   For the last 5 years Killer Hertz has been an online service and it continues to be heard daily on stations from the US to the Ukraine, and Jeff Thomas Productions has also created national radio spots for Dr. Phil, Fear Factor and South Park, as well as establishing the multi-media sound design website, TrailerHouseFX.com.  

The rest of the Phantom Producer team includes a stable of imaging and voice-over heavy weights.  Thomas along with Arden Hanley (Nova FM Australia, Capital FM London) will launch the service with new imagers to be announced soon.   An impressive array of voice-over artists will also join the service with credentials and careers that span the globe.  The music and jingles in the package will be provided by Seattle music production powerhouse, IQ Beats whose client list includes WKTU New York, Heart 106.2 London, Capital Radio London and many more.

In making the announcement, USRN’s Nick Verbitsky commented, “Every so often, an idea comes along that is a game-changer, and the Phantom Producer service is one of those ideas.   Jeff Thomas and his partners figured out how to take an integral part of the radio business to a complete next level, and we’re thrilled to be able to introduce this service to our friends in radio.”  Jeff Thomas added, “The guys at United Stations understood our concept from the start, and have helped fine-tune the product and create the strategy for getting it out there. We couldn’t be more excited about the launch of Phantom Producer.”
 
United Stations Radio Networks, Inc. is America's leading independently owned and operated radio network.   USRN currently produces and distributes dozens of format-specific programs and services accounting for nearly 5000 affiliations with commercial radio stations across the country.  The New York-based company maintains programming, sales and affiliate marketing offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington and Nashville.   USRN was founded in 1994 by radio pioneers Dick Clark and Nick Verbitsky.

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