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| Headquarters | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Owner | iHeartMedia |
Key people | Bob Pittman (Chairman/CEO, iHeartMedia, Inc.) Rich Bressler (President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in iHeartRadio, Inc.; CEO, iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group) Conal Byrne (CEO, Digital Audio Group, iHeartMedia Inc.) |
Launch date | August 1, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-08-01) |
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Official website | iHeartRadio |
iHeartRadio (often shortened toiHeart) is theflagship brand ofiHeartMedia, an Americanmass media company. First used in August 2008 to marketClear Channel Communications'freemium radio andmusic streaming service,[1][2] the umbrella brand was progressively broadened to encompass Clear Channel's nationalradio network[3] and other consumer-facing ventures,[4] culminating with Clear Channel itself rebranding as iHeartMedia in 2014.[1] Its main radio competitors areAudacy,TuneIn andSirius XM.[5]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: history of Clear Channel. You can help byadding to it.(September 2022) |
iHeartRadio is owned byiHeartMedia, which was rebranded from Clear Channel in 2014.[6] Prior to 2008, Clear Channel Communications' various audio products were decentralized. Individual stations streamed from their own sites (or, in many cases, did not, owing to voluminoussyndication and local advertising clearance issues), and the Format Lab website provided feeds of between 40 and 80 networks that were used primarily on Clear Channel'sHD Radio subchannels, many of which transitioned to iHeartRadio unchanged.[citation needed] In August 2008, Clear Channel launched the iHeartMusic website, featuring entertainment news, national news, music content including albums, singles on demand, music videos, and access to over 750 Clear Channel radio stations online.
On October 7, 2008, Clear Channel Radio launched the first version of iHeartRadio to theAppleiPhone andiPod Touch through theApp Store. Twelve radio stations in 8 markets were included in this first release.[7][8] In 2009, iHeartRadio was made available toBlackBerry devices and theAndroid operating system[9][10][11] and thenSonos[12] in 2010. September 2011 marked the official launch of the free, all-in-one iHeartRadio service featuring thousands of live radio stations and custom artist stations.[13] The launch coincided with the inauguraliHeartRadio Music Festival, the annual two-day event hosted byRyan Seacrest at theMGM Grand Las Vegas.[14]
The app was expanded to theXbox 360[15] and webOS.[16] On April 20, 2012, iHeartRadio launched on theiPad.[17] On June 8, 2012, iHeartRadio concluded a deal to powerYahoo! Music'sRadio service, previously powered byCBS Radio.[citation needed]
In mid-October 2012, iHeartRadio launched online audio news, weather and traffic streams for major American metropolitan areas, branded as "24/7 News".[18] On March 1, 2013, iHeartRadio was added to theRoku digital media receiver.[19] As of 2019[update], the app was available on more than 250 devices and platforms.[20]
In July 2013, iHeartRadio began adding stations from outside the United States likeCHUM-FM andCFBT-FM inCanada andVirgin Radio Dubai in theUnited Arab Emirates.[21] On July 14, 2013, iHeartRadio launched inNew Zealand andAustralia.[22]
On July 24, 2013, iHeartRadio launched a new talk radio feature: iHeartRadio Talk. It featured original on-demand programming from celebrities likeRyan Seacrest and allowed users to upload their own content through Spreaker.[23] In 2014, the iHeartRadio Talk feature was rebranded to "Shows & Personalities" and in 2016 the feature became known simply as "Podcasts".
On November 10, 2015, iHeartRadio launched a spin-off app known as iHeartRadio Family—a curated experience targeting children. It features a simplified interface and a selection of age-appropriate stations (such asRadio Disney, and stations curated by artists and personalities popular among the demographic).Build-A-Bear Workshop served as a launch sponsor for the app, which included the addition of a "Build-a-Bear Workshop Radio" channel in the app.[24][25]
During the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival, iHeartMedia announced subscription based on demand services "iHeartRadio Plus" and "iHeartRadio all Access powered byNapster".[26] On December 1, 2016, iHeartMedia launched the services in beta on iOS and Android to the American users.
iHeartRadio launched in Canada on October 7, 2016, in association withBell Media.[27]
In 2017, iHeartRadio expanded Plus and All Access to other platforms including desktop[28][29][30] in January 2017 at theConsumer Electronics Show (CES).
iHeartRadio launched in Mexico on October 29, 2018, in association withGrupo ACIR.[31]
In 2018, iHeartMedia, aiming to cut its debt of around $20 billion in half, filed for what was described as the largest bankruptcy of that year and the 30th largest ever.[32] The Los Angeles Times observed at the time that "About 265 million people in the U.S. still tune in to iHeart's stations at least once a month, but newer media such as Spotify's streaming service and SiriusXM's satellite broadcasts have cut into the audience and put a damper on sales."[32]
From the start of service, many of its own radio stations that identified with a callsign and the metro area they serve have the end tag that identifies them as "An iHeartRadio Station", or for live national music stations such as Eclectic Rock or iHeart80s, their end tags identify them as "An iHeartRadio Original Station" (they also ID the HD2/HD3 stations that simulcast). Though starting in 2019, iHeartRadio introduces its own "Sonic Logo", a five-notesounder with two heartbeats at the end. It includes specific variations (including vocal versions) for different formats or productions.[33]
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In 2019,The New York Times described iHeartRadio as the largest radio broadcaster in the United States, with 848 terrestrial stations.[5] In early 2020, iHeart fired "dozens" (estimated by one newspaper as "hundreds ... across its more than 850 radio stations"[34]) of its then 12,500 employees at a time when the company, bankrupt,[32] was viewed as being considered for purchase byLiberty Media.[35] iHeart described these layoffs as being technology-driven.[36]
On April 23, 2020, the iHeartRadio app was launched in association with Uno Radio Group, which owns theNotiUno,Salsoul,Fidelity andHot 102 brands inPuerto Rico.
On December 1, 2021, iHeartRadio signed a deal withRoku to bring a dozen of their live radio stations to The Roku Channel's live TV lineup in the form ofFAST channels. The ad-supported stations (which include iHeartCountry, Alt Radio, The Beat (now Hip-Hop Beats), Classic Rock, Hit Nation, Latino Hits, iHeart80s, and iHeart90s as well as select holiday-themed stations when available) are to feature imagery to complement and enhance the audio experience, similar in fashion toMusic Choice on digital cable and satellite TV.[37]
On September 27, 2023, theMinnesota Timberwolves andLynx announced that their radio broadcasts would move to the iHeartRadio app. Every game would air on the app, while the majority of Lynx games and select Timberwolves games would be simulcast on co-ownedKFXN-FM.[38]
In September 2018, iHeartMedia announced it would acquire Stuff Media, LLC, a U.S. for-profit publisher of podcast content listeners, which included theHowStuffWorks podcasting business division as well as its slate of premium podcast content, for $55 million. With Stuff Media and iHeartMedia having had around 5.3 million and 5.6 million monthly listeners beforehand, respectively (according to Podtrac), the acquisition increased iHeart's lead as largest commercial podcast publisher, although it was still trailing behind NPR.[39]
As of 2022, iHeartRadio is now the leading podcast publisher onPodtrac, with over 400 million downloads each month.[40] In November 2018, iHeart also bought Jelli.[41] In October 2020, it was announced that the company would acquire Voxnest, the parent company of Spreaker, a podcast-hosting company.[42][43] iHeart has since also boughtTriton Digital fromScripps.[44]
In February 2022, iHeartMedia invested in Sounder.[45]
iHeartRadio is[when?] available in Australia, Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and New Zealand[46] but blocks access from others such as Britain.
Launched in 2011, the iHeartRadio app has more than 188 million registered users and is available on over 500 platforms and over 2,000 different connected devices — including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, televisions and gaming consoles.[47]
In 2024, iHeartMedia made major changes to the iHeartRadio apps'user interface. The changes were intended to mimic features from acar radio, includingtuners,live radio, and song lyrics.[47]
Listeners can hear live radio stations, personalized music stations, create playlists, listen to podcasts and more. The iHeartRadio player has a Like/Dislike (Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down) rating tool used on songs playing on live and customized radio stations. "Liking" or "disliking" songs for all live stations provides feedback to the station being played. "Liking" a song on customized stations will have it and songs like it played more often. "Disliking" a song on customized stations means that song will not be played again.[48] This data is used to personalize users' "My Favorites Radio" station. As My Favorites Radio learns a user's music taste over time, it adds various bonus tracks into the mix. Songs can easily be removed from the station.
For a time since the service's beginnings until 2020, iHeartRadio had a "Discovery Tuner" to the custom stations where listeners could adjust the tuner to play familiar songs – or select "Less Familiar" to play a wider variety – or "Mixed".
Before 2014, iHeartRadio operatedAustralian Radio Network as a joint venture withAPN News and Media but now operates an Australian version wholly owned byARN Media. New Zealand assets are now licensed byNZME.
On January 6, 2016, iHeartMedia announced that the iHeartRadio service would expand intoCanada as part of a licensing deal withBell Media. The company described the Canadian version of the service as being a "franchised" operation; Bell handles Canadian music licensing, marketing, and distribution of the service, and provides content from its properties. Bell also gained rights to organize Canadian versions of the company's branded events, such as the Jingle Ball,[49] and co-branded the annual awards show organized through its cable channelMuch as the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards.[50][30][51][52]
The service went live in Canada on October 7, 2016, and on December 4, 2017, additional features were added to the service, including podcasts, additional stations, and a deal withEvanov Radio Group to add its stations to the service.[53][54]Stingray Radio similarly joined in June 2023,[55] followed byCorus Entertainment in May 2024,[56]Pattison Media in November 2024,[57] andVista Radio in April 2025.[58]
Its main competitor isRadioplayer Canada, which is backed by a consortium of other Canadian radio broadcasters.[55]
iHeartMedia announced iHeartRadio's expansion to Mexico on October 29, 2018, through an exclusive partnership with Grupo ACIR, a Mexican broadcasting company.iHeartRadio México includes all 56 Grupo ACIR and 850 iHeartMedia live broadcast radio stations from across México and the U.S., including music, news/talk, comedy and sports content.[59] Through the expansion, listeners also have access to all of iHeartMedia's exclusive digital-only iHeartRadio Original stations spanning all genres of music, as well as Grupo ACIR's own offer of digital-only stations featuring the most popular genres in México. Users can also access the top English and Spanish language podcasts and on-air personalities.[31]
Clear Channel/iHeartMedia built its national event franchise around the iHeartRadio consumer brand, beginning with theiHeartRadio Music Festival in 2011. The next year, the annualJingle Ball concert in Los Angeles was expanded into a national iHeartRadioJingle Ball Tour. Othermusic festivals followed: theiHeartRadio Country Festival,iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, andiHeartRadio ALTer Ego.
Programming produced under iHeartRadio billing includesiHeartRadio Countdown, theiHeartRadio Music Awards, and theiHeartRadio Podcast Awards. As of around 2017, iHeartMedia also operatediHeartRadio Theaters in Los Angeles and New York City.[60][61] The iHeartRadio Theater in New York City,[62] formerly theP. C. Richard & Son Theater,[63][64] is aground floor 250-seat theater at32 Avenue of the Americas. The iHeartRadio Theater Los Angeles, located atThe Burbank Studios in Burbank, opened in 2013. The theater is a converted soundstage that was previously used byThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[65][61] Both theaters are generally used for private promotional performances, with attendees exclusively consisting ofradio contest winners, VIPs, and the like.[66][64]
On September 16, 2014, Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc. changed its name to iHeartMedia and Entertainment, Inc.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Industry reports estimate the cuts could total more than 1,000 jobs more to come this week
iHeartMedia's existing podcasting business [...] already has an audience of more than 5.6 million monthly listeners, according to podcasting-analytics firm Podtrac. The acquisition increases iHeart's lead among a group of publishers in terms of audience, though it still trails No. 1 NPR. [...] Stuff Media [...] is the fifth-largest podcasting company by audience size, according to Podtrac, with nearly 5.3 million monthly listeners.
at Burbank Studios in the former home ofThe Tonight Show
