iHeartMedia joins with Collab Inc. to launch Curativity and new kids podcasts
iHeartMedia is partnering with digital talent network/studio to form a new network called Curativity. The alliance kicks off with three kid shows. Continue Reading
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iHeartMedia partners with Veritone’s synthetic voice/translation tech to broaden global podcast reach
In a signal of how well resourced networks can use technology to enlarge their footprints, iHeartMedia is pairing with audio-AI company Veritone to translate and synthetically voice iHeart’s leading podcasts for Spanish-speaking markets. Click for details, and a link to RAIN’s interview with Veriton president Ryan Steelberg. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia plants a stake in the meta era with VR and tokenization plans
In what Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman calls “a unique opportunity,” and Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne calls “the incredible potential of web3,” iHeartMedia announced its intention to develop “meta” experiences on the Roblox platform. There is an emphasis on tokenized communities — click through for more on that. Continue Reading
Imagine Entertainment jumps into podcasts with iHeartMedia
Imagine Entertainment, founded by Brian Glazer and Ron Howard, has struck an exclusive co-production, distribution, and presumably monetization deal with iHeartMedia, bringing the TV/film company into podcasting. The partnership will collaborate to launch six new series over the next two years distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia podcast biz +184% in Q3 as “cohorts” replace one-to-one marketing.
In the third quarter, iHeartMedia’s podcast revenue gained 184% compared to the same quarter last year. That according to Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman during the Q3 earnings call. Much talk of Podtrac status, success metrics, and post-cookie revenue generation. Continue Reading
Paris Hilton joins five media companies to build new podcast
From iHeartRadio we receive a notice that Paris Hilton is at the center of a new podcast production, Trapped In Treatment. It will launch in 2022, and is a combined effort of the celebrity with four media companies: iHeartMedia, London Audio (a division of 11:11 Media), Warner Bros., Unscripted Television, and Telepictures. Continue Reading
Investor note bullish on podcast & streaming as “catalyst” for leading radio groups
Equity research analyst at B. Riley Securities, Daniel Day, projected growth metrics for the second half of this year, and 2022, for three top radio groups — iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus Media. His “robust growth estimates” for digital revenue are his most bullish outlooks, with a particular focus on podcasting. Click for details. Continue Reading
Buyer outlook: 38% plan to increase podcast spend, but a third don’t buy it at all
In a buy-side survey of marketers by WARC and iHeartMedia, an interesting chart catches our eye. It is a budget outlook for 2021, indicating which media categories will be increased, and which are not used, by percentage of responses. Click for details and graphics. Continue Reading
An investment gap: Brand advertising misses the mark — audio.
A newly released study from marketing/strategy firm WARC tells a story of missed opportunity on the buy side, and missing revenue on the sell side of audio. While 31% of the average consumer’s media consumption is now audio, only 8.8% of the average media budget is allocated to audio, and 25% of advertisers do not invest in audio at all. The research identifies audio buyer types, and evangelizes the values of audio marketing. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia partners with NRJ Group to develop and translate podcasts for French audiences
In a trans-continental venture, iHeartMedia is partnering with French media company NRJ Group to create new French podcasts, translate existing iHeart podcasts, and use iHeart subsidiary Triton Digital to monetize everything via French audiences. Click for details. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia and TuneIn enter wide-ranging partnership: iHM stations added, iHeart to rep, Triton to monetize
In a hefty, wide-ranging partnership, iHeartMedia and its Triton Digital subsidiary are going into business with TuneIn. In the agreement iHM’s 850 radio stations will be piled into TuneIn. iHeart will also become TuneIn’s premier local ad sales representation partner. Further, Triton will monetize TuneIn’s local inventory, which promises to help advertisers reach new audiences at scale, according to the press notice.
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Sports Illustrated goes with iHeartMedia for multi-year content deal and boutique production studio
iHeartMedia has announced a multi-year deal with Sports Illustrated. It includes original podcast production and the formation of Sports Illustrated Studios. iHeartPodcast Network will distribute the new shows, naturally, as well as SI’s existing portfolio. Most of the new shows will be launched in 2022; one new title scheduled for later this year. One of the new audio sports network podcasts will dip its toe into the true crime genre. Continue Reading