Chancellor Media, a forerunner of iHeartRadio, and Kasem began negotiations to relaunch "AT40" for its newly launched syndication service called AMFM Radio Networks. A deal was finalized shortly after Kasem’a abrupt departure from Westwood One where Chancellor would become owners of the "AT40" franchise and Kasem would return to his creation as host. Westwood One was not happy with this development and filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Kasem, who claimed contractual vagueness gave him the right to seek employment elsewhere.