Rudy Lai

AI @ iHeartMedia

Radio, podcasting
Industry
Last updated
July 3, 2025 at 10:44 AM

Summary

  • iHeartMedia has progressively integrated AI technologies from 2017 onward, starting with partnerships (e.g., Veritone) providing AI solutions to broadcast stations, evolving to advanced AI applications in podcast translation, brand safety, and AI-generated content by 2025.
  • The company made significant operational shifts starting in 2020, reducing DJ and live staff headcounts citing AI investments, later expanding AI use to multilingual podcast production, brand safety tools, and content optimization, indicating a growing and maturing AI adoption focused on revenue growth and cost reduction.
  • Recent advances (2024-2025) show iHeartMedia innovating with generative AI for podcast translation into six languages using voice cloning, development of proprietary AI tools, and cautious internal policies on external AI use (e.g., ChatGPT ban), underscoring a strategic push to leverage AI for improved customer experience and global audience engagement.

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4 AI Use Cases at iHeartMedia

Content Translation
2025
Customer Facing
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Revenue
iHeartMedia leverages AI-powered voice cloning and generative AI to translate popular podcasts into multiple languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Hindi, Mandarin), enabling scalability and global audience reach while preserving hosts’ original tone and personality. [1][2]
Brand Safety
2023
Customer Facing
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Risk
Through partnerships with Sounder, iHeartMedia uses AI and machine learning to provide podcasters and advertising partners with brand safety tools that offer episode-specific safety assurances, improving advertiser confidence and campaign effectiveness. [1][2]
Operational Efficiency
2020
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
Costs
iHeartMedia significantly reduced DJ and live personnel headcount starting 2020 by implementing AI music-mixing solutions, reducing operational costs while maintaining service delivery. [1][2]
Content Optimization
2018
Customer Facing
Traditional
Generative
Agentic
Outcome
iHeartMedia deployed AI to automate music mixing and intelligent audio transitions on its digital music service iHeartRadio, as well as assist programmers in making music decisions based on AI recommendations, enhancing listener experience. [1][2]

Timeline

2025 Q3: no updates

2025 Q2

2 updates

iHeartMedia expanded AI-translated podcasts into six languages using AI voice cloning with Speechlab, preserving host tone and personality, enhancing global content reach.

2025 Q1

1 updates

iHeartMedia's Terms of Use mention providing experimental generative AI services as part of their internet services, indicating formal deployment of generative AI offerings.

2024 Q4: no updates

2024 Q3: no updates

2024 Q2: no updates

2024 Q1

3 updates

iHeartMedia's Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne disclosed testing generative AI tools for podcast transcription, translation, and music decision support, while CEO Bob Pittman highlighted AI's role in unlocking new revenue streams, especially in programmatic advertising.

2023 Q4: no updates

2023 Q3: no updates

2023 Q2

3 updates

iHeartMedia communicated its strategy to fully leverage AI, while banning employees from using external AI platforms like ChatGPT for work, and developing proprietary AI tools to enhance products and operational efficiency.

2023 Q1

2 updates

iHeartMedia launched next-generation podcast brand safety tools powered by Sounder's AI and machine learning, providing episode-specific safety assurances for advertisers.

2022 Q4: no updates

2022 Q3: no updates

2022 Q2: no updates

2022 Q1

2 updates

iHeartMedia partnered with Sounder leveraging AI-driven Audio Data Cloud for podcast creators, and utilized Veritone Voice technology to scale podcasts in multiple languages using synthetic voices.

2021 Q4: no updates

2021 Q3: no updates

2021 Q2: no updates

2021 Q1: no updates

2020 Q4: no updates

2020 Q3: no updates

2020 Q2: no updates

2020 Q1

3 updates

iHeartMedia made significant layoffs of over 50 DJs and employees citing significant investments in AI, including music-mixing AI systems from Super Hi-Fi, sparking industry debates on AI impact.

2019 Q4: no updates

2019 Q3: no updates

2019 Q2: no updates

2019 Q1: no updates

2018 Q4: no updates

2018 Q3

1 updates

iHeartRadio launched a first-of-its-kind AI technology to deliver seamless audio transitions between songs, improving digital listening experience.

2018 Q2: no updates

2018 Q1: no updates

2017 Q4

1 updates

Veritone expanded its AI-based real-time solutions to iHeartMedia stations offering more comprehensive analytics and operational insights.

2017 Q3: no updates

2017 Q2: no updates

2017 Q1

1 updates

iHeartMedia expanded its relationship with Veritone to provide advanced AI solutions to over 200 broadcast stations nationwide, marking the start of AI adoption.