Compound Media


Compound Media is a subscription-based on-demand streaming media platform that broadcasts live American audio and video podcasts. It launched on August 4, 2014 by its founder, radio personality and broadcaster Anthony Cumia, who began hosting The Anthony Cumia Show on the network after his firing from SiriusXM. Since its launch, the network has grown to host additional shows, including those hosted by Michael Malice, Pat Dixon, Dave McDonald, Gavin McInnes, Mike Ward, Kevin Brennan and Pantelis. In 2016, the network relaunched as Compound Media.

History

Background

On July 3, 2014, radio personality Anthony Cumia was fired by the satellite radio provider SiriusXM after he posted a series of tweets that the company described as "racially-charged and hate-filled" following an off air attack by a black woman. Cumia tweeted that he was punched by the woman as he took pictures of Times Square in New York City. At the time of his firing, Cumia gave his blessing for his radio co-hosts, Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Jim Norton of Opie and Anthony, to continue broadcasting without him, acknowledging the pair's obligation to fulfill their contracts. Hughes and Norton began their new show, Opie with Jim Norton, on July 14 before the channel was renamed from The Opie and Anthony Channel to SiriusXM Talk.
On July 8, 2014, Cumia announced the launch of his new audio and video podcast The Anthony Cumia Show on his new on-demand streaming media platform The Anthony Cumia Network, with subscribers paying monthly or annual fees to access its uncensored content. Cumia had occasionally broadcast live video streams from his custom built basement studio at his Roslyn Heights, New York home on UStream named Live From the Compound from 2012 to 2014, initially as a hobby and were casual in nature. A fan of technology and broadcasting, Cumia spent approximately four to five years building the studio knowing some day he would use it on a full time basis. He educated himself on the necessary equipment, and bought a NewTek TriCaster to create "virtual sets" with the aid of a green screen. In the wake of his firing, Cumia "was able to just get servers and be able to feed that show out to the public without having to start from scratch", allowing him to launch the network in a matter of weeks.

Launch and developments

The Anthony Cumia Network launched to coincide with the start of The Anthony Cumia Show on the network, on August 4, 2014. During the opening months some shows aired from Cumia's basement studio, by his home bar, or in his garden, which he said "had an old Hugh Hefner feel to it by the pool", by using wired connections. Four months after its launch, Cumia expressed some difficulty in securing guests other than his friends and comedians as the network was based at his home, and had started plans of obtaining studio space to broadcast in New York City. In November 2014, Cumia revealed the network had over 40,000 paid subscribers.
On December 30, 2014, the network aired three shows that were tested as potential shows to be added to the network: Jokeland hosted by Jackie Martling, Black from the Compound hosted by Mike Brown and Brandon Collins, and The Bobo Show hosted by Daniel Kurlan. Black from the Compound aired for a second time following The Anthony Cumia Show on March 11, 2015. In May 2015, Cumia announced the growth of the network with the addition of Legion of Skanks, its first new show hosted by comedians Big Jay Oakerson, Dave Smith, and Luis J. Gomez. Their show aired on the network from June 2015 to May 2016. On May 2, 2016, Brown and Collins filled in for Cumia. The network began to expand following the full time addition of The Legion of Skanks and The Gavin McInnes Show to its line-up.
In May 2016, the network relaunched as Compound Media.
On August 21, 2017, Cumia announced the addition of comedian and actor Artie Lange as the co-host of his show, The Artie and Anthony Show. The show aired on Monday to Thursday, from 4–6 p.m., starting September 5, 2017.
On August 22, 2017, after a "Red Bar Radio" fan leaked the announcement during an "In Hot Water" phone call, Cumia announced the departure of The Gavin Mcinnes Show from Compound Media.
On October 2, 2017, Mornin'! with Bill Schulz launched as the network's new morning show.
In May 2018, it was announced that due to his health and legal issues, Lange would be taking an indefinite hiatus from the show, and it would revert to the name The Anthony Cumia Show, with third mic Dave Landau continuing as co-host.
On June 4, 2019, the heavy metal music talk show That Jamieson Show launched, featuring comedian/That Metal Show co-host Don Jamieson.

Former shows