AI @ iHeartMedia
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.
VIBE METER
4 AI Use Cases at iHeartMedia
Content Translation2025Customer Facing
Brand Safety2023Customer Facing
Operational Efficiency2020
Content Optimization2018Customer Facing
Timeline
2025 Q3: no updates
2025 Q2
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
iHeartMedia expanded its relationship with Veritone to provide advanced AI solutions to over 200 broadcast stations nationwide, marking the start of AI adoption.