Atlanta Monster is getting an extra boost behind the scenes. iHeartRadio is teaming up with the original creators — HowStuffWorks and Tenderfoot TV — to launch the second season of the true crime show. As a result of this partnership, the show will join the iHeartRadio Podcast Network and iHeartRadio will be the exclusive distribution partner for all future seasons and episodes of the program. The show is receiving a joint terrestrial and digital push from its new partner. The first episode of its second season will premiere exclusively on iHeartRadio’s broadcast radio stations on January 3, then the full season will roll out on digital platforms.
The podcast is getting a rebrand for its next phase. The new title is Monster: The Zodiac Killer, and it will explore the ongoing mystery of who perpetrated a series of murders in California during the 1960s and 1970s.
“It’s evident that our listeners across the country continue to have a huge appetite for true crime programs — stories involving real people and actual real crimes. Monster: The Zodiac Killer is not just about exploring the crime, it’s about the people and communities around the crime,” said Darren Davis, president of iHeartRadio and iHeartMedia Networks Group. “Atlanta Monster told a powerful story that delved deep into the societal context and cultural significance of the events that took place. This is true crime flipped on its head, and we know season two will be even more captivating and compelling than the first. We are excited about this partnership and being able to introduce this program to our hundreds of millions of listeners.”
“iHeartMedia has extraordinary reach and the ability to engage millions upon millions of listeners via its vast network of broadcast radio stations and its highly engaged digital user base,” HowStuffWorks President and CEO Conal Byrne said. “This partnership is an immense opportunity to accelerate the growth of our listenership and expose the next phase of Atlanta Monster to an entirely new audience, thirsty for true crime.”
“With Atlanta Monster, we really tried to explore and understand all the layers of what was an integral and transformative time in not just the city’s history, but the nation’s history,” said Payne Lindsey co-creator and co-founder of Tenderfoot TV and Monster’s host. “I think the success of the podcast proved that listeners want more of these true crime stories where we are dissecting not only harrowing, oftentimes tragic, events, but the complex people involved in them. The new season examines the narrative around one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, and we believe that our partnership with iHeartMedia will allow us to bring this fascinating story to a massive audience that only iHeart can provide.”