Rudy Lai
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AI @ iHeartMedia

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

Summary

  • iHeartMedia has progressively integrated AI technologies since 2017, starting with partnerships like Veritone for AI-based insights and evolving to AI-driven music transitions and podcast content scaling, including multilingual translations by 2024.
  • Significant workforce reductions occurred around 2020, with over 50 DJs and employees laid off as iHeartMedia cited substantial investments in AI to automate and optimize operations, including music mixing and content production.
  • By 2024, iHeartMedia is leveraging AI not only for content creation and audience targeting but also for brand safety in podcast advertising, internal AI solution development, and exploring new revenue streams, with cautious internal policies on AI tool usage such as ChatGPT.

VIBE METER

More AI announcements = more VIBE
Q1 23Q2 23Q3 23Q4 23Q1 24Q2 24Q3 24Q4 24Q1 25Q2 25Q3 25๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ

4 AI Use Cases at iHeartMedia

Audience Targeting
AI is used to analyze listener data and optimize music programming and advertising strategies, enabling iHeartMedia to tailor content and ads to audience preferences and maximize engagement and revenue. [1][2]
Brand Safety
iHeartMedia employs AI-powered brand safety tools to provide advertisers with episode-specific content assurance in podcasts, enhancing advertiser confidence and compliance in digital audio advertising. [1][2]
Workforce Optimization
By investing in AI-driven music mixing and automation technologies, iHeartMedia reduced reliance on human DJs and staff, optimizing operational costs and reallocating resources towards technology-driven workflows. [1][2][3]
Content Automation
iHeartMedia uses AI to automate audio content production, including seamless music transitions and synthetic voice generation for multilingual podcast translations, enabling scalable and efficient content delivery. [1][2][3]

Timeline

2025 Q3: no updates

2025 Q2: no updates

2025 Q1

1 updates

iHeartMedia's terms of use indicate the provision of experimental generative AI services as part of its internet services, signaling ongoing AI integration in offerings.

2024 Q4: no updates

2024 Q3: no updates

2024 Q2: no updates

2024 Q1

5 updates

iHeartMedia expanded AI use to assist music programming decisions, tested generative AI tools for podcast translation and faster ad sales, and CEO Bob Pittman highlighted AI's role in unlocking new revenue streams.

2023 Q4: no updates

2023 Q3: no updates

2023 Q2

4 updates

iHeartMedia communicated plans to roll out proprietary AI solutions while banning employees from using ChatGPT and similar AI platforms for work without approval, emphasizing controlled AI adoption.

2023 Q1

2 updates

iHeartMedia launched new brand safety tools for podcast advertisers through a partnership with Sounder, using AI and machine learning to provide episode-specific safety assurances.

2022 Q4: no updates

2022 Q3: no updates

2022 Q2: no updates

2022 Q1

1 updates

iHeartMedia began utilizing Veritone Voice technology to produce and translate podcasts into multiple languages, leveraging synthetic verified voices of top talent to scale content globally.

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 laid off over 50 DJs and employees, attributing the cuts to significant investments in AI technologies, including music-mixing AI systems developed with startups like Super Hi-Fi.

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 an AI technology to deliver seamless digital audio transitions, eliminating gaps between songs and enhancing listener experience.

2018 Q2: no updates

2018 Q1: no updates

2017 Q4

1 updates

iHeartMedia expanded its relationship with Veritone to implement AI-based solutions providing real-time insights to stations, marking early adoption of AI technologies.