iHeartMedia

“The Bobby Bones Show,” Reaching Nearly 10 Million People Each Month, Hit the 10-Year Mark in February

New York, NY – August 9, 2023 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 audio company in the United States, announced today that it has renewed its relationship with CMA and ACM Award-winning radio personality Bobby Bones, host of the hit national Country radio program The Bobby Bones Show. Bones will also continue to serve as Vice President, Creative Director of iHeartCountry.

Bones, who reaches nearly 10 million people monthly as host of The Bobby Bones Show and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, in addition to more than seven million monthly downloads of his morning show podcast, will continue his current role as host of both radio programs. Originating from iHeartRadio’s WSIX in Nashville, The Bobby Bones Show is nationally syndicated by Premiere Networks on 200 radio stations across the United States and Canada, in addition to airing on the iHeartRadio app. Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones is heard on nearly 240 stations in North America and the UK. Bones will also continue hosting his popular podcast BobbyCast.

iHeartCountry stations reach more than 100 million country listeners every month, making it the largest Country radio group in America. Bones will continue serving as Vice President, Creative Director of iHeartCountry, working with iHeartMedia on a variety of joint ventures and new creative programming initiatives. He will also continue to participate in iHeartMedia’s marquee live events – including the iHeartRadio Music Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Awards – and host the iHeartCountry Festival.

“This year marks a career milestone of 10 years of The Bobby Bones Show in Nashville,” said Bones.  “I’m proud of what we’ve built over the last decade and I’m looking forward to extending this partnership and having continued success together.”

“Country music continues to be an enormously popular force in radio for listeners, and we’re thrilled to extend our relationship with one of the top personalities in the genre,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “Bobby brings a captivating blend of talent, knowledge, humor and relatability that makes him one of the best voices on air, driving incredible results for our advertising and partners. We’re proud to partner with Bobby to create even more unforgettable opportunities for our loyal and growing Country music audience.”

Radio and TV personality Bobby Bones “has carved out a place for himself in nearly every corner of the entertainment world” (American Profile). He is the host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio program “The Bobby Bones Show,” which is the No. 1 Country morning show with millions of monthly listeners. The award-winning show is a 3x CMA Award winner, 4x ACM Award winner and earned Bones the title of youngest-ever inductee into the prestigious National Radio Hall of Fame. His experience extends to television as he has served as host of USA Network’s thrilling competition series, “Snake In The Grass,” starred in National Geographic’s “Breaking Bobby Bones,” served as the official in-house mentor on ABC’s “American Idol,” and won season 27 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Additionally, the “media multitasker’s” (Billboard) fan-favorite podcast, “BobbyCast,” which features candid long-form interviews with top artists and industry figures has been downloaded more than 27 million times. Bones is also the two-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of “Bare Bones: I’m Not Lonely If You’re Reading This Book” and “Fail Until You Don’t: Fight Grind Repeat,” and recently released his first children’s book, “Stanley The Dog: The First Day of School.” For more information, visit BobbyBones.com [bobbybones.com]

WHAT: iHeartMedia, the No. 1 global podcast publisher, according to Podtrac, and KT Studios, a Los Angeles-based full-service documentary, scripted and podcast production company and leader in the true-crime space, today announced the release of “The Idaho Massacre,” part of its robust 140-plus-hour slate deal with iHeartPodcasts.

On November 13, 2022, four students from the University of Idaho were brutally stabbed to death in an off-campus house. After a lengthy investigation and cross-country manhunt, a Ph.D. student from a neighboring university was charged with the crimes. As it turns out, the 28-year-old was majoring in criminology, studying the behavior of killers, like the ones he would later be accused of becoming.

Did he use his skills to become a real-life Dexter Morgan? Were the Idaho victims his first, or was a serial killer hiding in the midst?

“The Idaho Massacre” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

WHEN: “The Idaho Massacre” premieres today August 9 with new episodes launching every Wednesday.

WHERE: Listen to “The Idaho Massacre” on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

COVER ART: Download the official podcast cover art HERE.

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About KT Studios
Founded in 2018 by veteran development and production executive and CEO Stephanie Lydecker, KT Studios is an LA-based, full-service production company that specializes in creating and producing ambitious and diverse unscripted and scripted television, podcasts, and documentary films. Under Lydecker’s leadership, the team has built the company into a true-crime powerhouse with titles such as Murdered and Missing in Montana (Peacock), Injustice with Nancy Grace (Oxygen), and The Piketon Family Murders (Oxygen). KT Studios, a leader in the podcast space, has a 140-plus-hour slate deal with iHeartPodcasts that includes The Dougherty Gang, Crazy in Love, and the hit series The Piketon Massacre, now in its fourth season. Having become the #1 podcast in the country in its second season, The Piketon Massacre has amassed over 40 million downloads to date and is being adapted for television. The company also produced The Masked Singer, a companion to the hit competition format on FOX.

Deal Includes New Podcast “Stories from The Village,” A First-Of-Its-Kind Concept for Daytime Relaxation Listening with Immersive 3D Sound Design

All Past and New Episodes Available on the iHeartRadio App and Everywhere Podcasts Are Heard

Listen Here

NEW YORK – August 7, 2023 – iHeartPodcasts announced today that top sleep and relaxation podcast, “Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories to Help You Sleep,” will join the iHeartPodcast Network, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac. Since April 2018, “Nothing Much Happens” has delivered peaceful and relaxing content to listeners around the world. Consistently ranking in the top one percent of podcasts worldwide, the popular series has been widely recognized for its excellence, originality, and production design. Additionally, the podcast will celebrate a major milestone having just surpassed 100 million downloads worldwide. As part of the deal, the two will also coproduce and distribute new podcast concepts in English as well as other languages. Listeners can tune in now to previous seasons and new episodes on iHeartRadio and anywhere podcasts are heard.

Hosted by Yoga and Meditation Expert Kathryn Nicolai, “Nothing Much Happens” takes listeners through relaxing, low stakes stories in the imaginary world of “The Village of Nothing Much.” Each story is told twice and a bit slower the second time, lulling listeners to sleep with soothing sounds and easy-to-follow story narratives. Episodes center around popular characters and make-believe locations in the “Nothing Much Happens” universe including Marmalade The Cat, Crumb The Dog, The Innkeeper and Weathervane Farm.

“Since launching ‘Nothing Much Happens’, Kathryn Nicolai has captivated audiences and provided a much-needed respite for those around the world who just want to wind down and get some rest,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We’re thrilled to welcome this sleep-inducing podcast to our network, leveraging our scale and reach to deliver this relaxing storytelling experience to even more listeners everywhere.”

iHeartPodcasts and Nicolai will also coproduce “Stories from The Village of Nothing Much,” a new, daytime companion podcast to “Nothing Much Happens.” Set to launch later this year, the podcast will use immersive 3D sound design to keep listeners engaged and energized as they follow new characters and storylines from the show’s creator. Additionally, the deal will include expanding the “Nothing Much Happens” universe into different languages to reach even more audiences worldwide.

“When we are rested, calm and settled, we make better choices. We are kinder as we move through the world and that is no small thing. Sleep affects every part of a person’s health and wellbeing, it’s one of the foundational aspects that can cause a cascade of problems when it's lacking or inconsistent. My content is uniquely designed to help folks rest after years of struggle. It can be used to soothe anxiety and teach mindfulness and gratitude,” said Host Kathryn Nicolai. “As the podcast has grown and reached global audiences, it I’m excited to join iHeartPodcasts and leverage their scale and reach to share this exciting, imaginary world with millions of listeners who will benefit from this content.”

“Nothing Much Happens” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts Listen now on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

COVER ART: Download the official podcast cover art HERE.

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About Host Kathryn Nicolai
Kathryn Nicolai (she/her) is the creator of the enormously successful podcast Nothing Much Happens and the author of the book of the same name. Nothing Much Happens is consistently ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts in the world and has received over 100 million downloads. It has been recognized in many articles for its excellence, originality, and production design and Kathryn herself has become a leading voice in self-care, contributing to articles and op-eds about sleep, wellness, and bibliotherapy. She was a featured speaker at the Integrative Mental Health Summit in 2021 and 2022 and has appeared on countless wellness and personal interest podcasts sharing her techniques and insight for achieving better sleep and more mindful days. As an architect of cozy, she leans on her years of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher to seamlessly blend storytelling with brain training methods that build better sleep habits over time. She lives in Michigan with her wife and three dogs.

New York, N.Y. – August 07, 2023 – iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in the U.S., today announced an agreement with Equity Communication to purchase four broadcast radio stations in the Atlantic City, New Jersey market: WAYV 95.1FM in Atlantic City (Hot AC); WZXL 100.7FM in Wildwood (Classic Rock); WZBZ 99.3FM in Pleasantville (CHR); and WTTH 96.1FM in Margate City (Urban AC).

These successful radio stations join and expand upon iHeartMedia’s massive broadcast reach nationwide with over 860 stations in 160+ markets and top personalities and influencers across all genres. The stations will also be available on the iHeartRadio app, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music, on-demand, podcasting and live streaming service with 3 billion app downloads and more than 160 million registered users.

“iHeartMedia is the multiplatform leader in audio built on the power of radio, and this acquisition underscores our commitment to broadcast radio’s continued growth and success as the no. 1 reach medium in the U.S. These stations have a long history of success in South Jersey, and adding them to our roster will allow us to extend the iHeart brand to this market,” said Hartley Adkins, President of Market Groups for iHeartMedia.  “We are excited to have the teams at WAYV, WZXL, WTTH and WZBZ join the iHeart family and look forward to collaborating together and continuing their growth trajectory.”

“We’re delighted to convey the Equity stations to iHeart. These are world-class stations with world-class staff, and it’s only fitting they should join the country’s biggest audio company. I’m confident they will continue to flourish & prosper under iHeart’s stewardship,” said Gary Fisher, President and Owner of Equity Communications.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – August 4, 2023 – iHeartMedia celebrated new music and artists recently with World Premiere debuts and live events. Offset’s new single “Jealousy” featuring Cardi B had a World Premiere debut on July 28 across iHeartRadio Hip Hop stations. On August 4, Usher’s “Good Good” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage had a World Premiere debut across iHeartRadio Hip Hop and Rhythm CHR stations. Also on August 4, Doja Cat’s "Paint the Town Red" had a World Premiere debut across iHeartRadio Hip Hop, Rhythm CHR and CHR stations.

On August 2, iHeartMedia celebrated the third annual “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” Block Party, a special event that featured performances by Usher, Miguel, GloRilla, Coco Jones and NLE Choppa on Market Street in Inglewood, California. The event also featured special appearances from LL COOL J, Jeezy, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG, ScarLip and more. It was exclusively streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook and broadcast on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B stations and the iHeartRadio app, and will be available through August 30, 2023.

For the latest news, music fans can follow iHeartRadio on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and visit iHeartRadio.com.

The collaboration furthers Smith’s commitment to providing a platform for personalities whose perspectives shape compelling conversation around sports, society and culture

The new audio network welcomes popular podcast “Comeback Stories” to its debut lineup with new original shows set to quickly follow

New York – August 3, 2023 – Inflection Network (IN), an innovative new sports podcast network from renowned sports journalist Michael Smith and veteran entertainment attorney Terrence Williams, proudly announces its official launch in collaboration with iHeartMedia’s iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac. The new podcast network will debut with season three of listener favorite “Comeback Stories” beginning today, with new originals joining the slate soon.

"We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with iHeartPodcasts," said Terrence Williams, co-founder, along with Smith, of Inflection Point Entertainment, the duo’s media production company and IN’s parent company. "With the help of iHeart’s unmatched expertise and platform, we are building a robust content slate and what I believe will be an enjoyable and unique listening experience."

Together with iHeartPodcasts, Inflection Network will develop and produce original audio content. IN’s strategic distribution and marketing partnership with iHeart promises to bring captivating conversations to a broad audience.

“IN’s approach is guided by inspiring and transformative power-rich storytelling and authentic, entertaining and thought-provoking conversation," Smith said. "We want to elevate and empower creatives; amplify diverse voices and perspectives; and enlighten, entertain and engage our audience. At IN our mantra is, ‘Louder for the folks in the back!’“

“Comeback Stories,” hosted by New York Giants tight end Darren Waller and mental health and mindfulness coach Donny Starkins, will join the new podcast network starting today with the debut of a new third season. The show will continue to spotlight real-life tales of resiliency including insight into the hosts’ ongoing recovery journeys and interviews with guests whose stories illustrate a broad spectrum of “comeback” stories.

“We partnered with Inflection Network because they saw our potential and how intentional we are in our mission of impacting others,” Waller said. “Our work aligns directly with IN's vision statement.”

Later this month, just in time for the kickoff of the 2023 football season, Inflection Network will debut a new original fantasy football podcast: “Michael Smith presents … The Dynasty Exchange.” Hosted by dynasty diehards Dylan Egloff, Davis Nuaimi and Josh Walsh, the show will also feature regular appearances from longtime football analyst and fantasy football legend Smith. With new episodes available every Tuesday and Friday, “Michael Smith presents … The Dynasty Exchange” will deliver dynasty team owners the fantasy football insight, tips and strategies they need to stay ahead of the game when it comes to building and sustaining perennial championship contenders.

Additionally, Inflection Network will soon expand its existing slate with projects from esteemed sports personalities including Ibtihaj Muhamma, entrepreneur, activist, New York Times’ Best-Selling Author and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in fencing who in 2016 became widely known for being the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab; LoLo Jones, world-champion hurdler and bobsledder, and one of the few athletes to compete in a Summer and Winter Olympics; and Spencer Paysinger, seven-year NFL veteran, Super Bowl XLVI champion and producer of CW’s hit series “All-American” (loosely based on his life) alongside his Moore Street Productions partner Dane Morck (coproducer, “All-American.”)

Inflection Network will be led by Charita Johnson, a two-time Emmy Award-winning sports media executive who spent 26 years at ESPN and in 2011 developed and produced Smith’s groundbreaking “His & Hers” podcast. Her creativity, editorial judgment, and entrepreneurial prowess were among the many reasons Smith was adamant that she be the foundational member of the IN team. “She’s the backbone of this initiative,” Williams said.

“Standing up this portfolio of podcasts has been extremely rewarding,” Johnson said. “I’ve been intentional about who and what deserves to be under the IN umbrella. The stories that we’re telling reflect the audience we wish to attract. I’m really proud that there’s something for everyone.”

The Inflection Network is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. All shows will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. These shows join Michael Smith’s existing shows in collaboration with NBC Sports including “Brother From Another” on Peacock and Smith’s new solo NBC Sports podcast project, “My Main Man Michael Smith.”

About Inflection Point Entertainment

Inflection Point Entertainment is a multimedia company that tells the stories of inflections within the journeys of individuals, institutions, and industries. IPE’s scripted and unscripted content spans and converges the worlds of television, radio, podcasts, shorts, feature-length films - the full gamut of what you want to and need to see.

About Michael Smith

One of sports media’s most respected, versatile, and accomplished storytellers, Michael is the co-founder of the California- and Connecticut-based content studio, Inflection Point Entertainment. Since 2020, he’s been a host and commentator for NBC Sports, serving as co-host and executive producer of the sports, current events, and culture show Brother From Another on Peacock as well as the NBC Audio podcast My Main Man Michael Smith, and contributed to NBC’s pregame coverage of Super Bowl LVI. Previously, over 15 years at ESPN, Michael served as a reporter, commentator, host, and anchor. He began his time in Bristol as an NFL insider and E:60 correspondent, before going on to co-host his own daily talk show, His & Hers, and co-anchoring SportsCenter. Prior to joining ESPN, Michael was a reporter for The Boston Globe, serving as the paper’s NFL and New England Patriots beat writer. Smith began his career while a student at Loyola University in his hometown of New Orleans. He received his B.S. in mass communication from Loyola in 2001.

About Terrence Williams

Co-founder of Inflection Point Entertainment, Terrence Williams began his career working in legal affairs for Fox Broadcasting after graduating from Pepperdine School of Law. He works as an entertainment lawyer for various high profile production companies, entertainers, and musicians. In 2013, he launched a professional Arena Football League team in his hometown of Muskegon, Michigan, later selling the team in 2018. His producing/directorial debut came in 2019 for Deborah Joy Winans’s music video for “When I Rose” for Lionsgate in season four of the hit OWN series, “Greenleaf.” Williams produced the award-winning short film “Last Words” in 2019 and two seasons of the digital holiday show “Holiday A.F.” Williams established a non-profit organization in Michigan using sports and entertainment as a vector toward higher education and community growth.

About Charita Johnson

A media executive with nearly three decades of experience, including stints at ESPN (VP, Production), Peloton (VP, Content and Creative Strategy), NASCAR, and now as Inflection Network’s Head of Content, Johnson is also the founder and CEO of Johnson Bridge Media, a boutique talent representation agency that also develops and executes content strategies for media organizations and multi-platforms channels.

Hosted by Jess Hilarious The Event Also Featured Special Appearances From LL COOL J, Jeezy, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG and ScarLip

The Event Exclusively Streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook and Broadcast on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B Stations and the iHeartRadio App on August 2

NEW YORK- August 3, 2023- iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in the U.S., today announced the third annual “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” 2023 Block Party a special event that featured performances by Usher, Miguel, GloRilla, Coco Jones and NLE Choppa on Market Street in Inglewood, California, a hub for Black art, music, and culture in Los Angeles. The event also featured special appearances from LL COOL J, Jeezy, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, Warren G, Chlöe, Lola Brooke, D Smoke, Kash Doll, SleazyWorld Go, DDG, ScarLip and more. “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” exclusively streamed on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook and broadcast on iHeartMedia Hip-Hop and R&B stations and the iHeartRadio app on August 2 at 7 p.m. local time and will be available through August 30, 2023. The event also featured iHeartRadio personalities including The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy and Charlamagne tha God, Angela Yee, Big Boy and Nyla Symone.

“iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” event is inspired by the culture, history and innovation of Black culture and Hip-Hop. In addition to the music, the hour-long special is an interactive block party that brings Black culture to life while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

iHeartRadio’s Living Black! included these special performances:

• Wearing all black leather, Usher closed out the show with an iconic performance of “GLU.” He went on to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop by giving a shout out to several Hip-Hop icons who shaped his career. He surprised the crowd by bringing out Jeezy to perform “Love in This Club.”
• Miguel slowed things down with a soulful performance of “Give it to Me” and had the crowd dancing and singing along to “Sure Thing.”
• GloRilla and her backup dancers stormed the stage delivering an energetic performance of her fan favorites “Tomorrow 2,” “Lick Or Sum” and “F.N.F. (Let’s Go).”
• Coco Jones captivated the audience with a cover of Method Man and Mary J. Blige’s classic “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need” and her hit “ICU,” sparkling in a long white dress.
• NLE Choppa opened up the block party with his hits “Ain’t Gonna Answer” and “Slut Me Out.”

In addition to the music, “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” featured moments with special guests including:

• LL COOL J shared a special message on the importance of Hip-Hop in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.
• Roddy Ricch joins Big Boy at Fixin’s Soul Kitchen in Los Angeles to discuss what the program “feeding the streets” means to him and why he wants to give back to the community.
• Chlöe shared how grateful she was to get Missy Elliot on her song “In Pieces” and how much she has inspired her career.
• Mic Drop: These segments celebrated artists who are on their ascension to superstardom. Throughout the show, D Smoke, SleazyWorld Go and Kash Doll dropped a hot 16 bar freestyle right in the center of the block party.
• In The Booth: Special guests including DDG, Lola Brooke, Warren G, Ty Dolla $ign and ScarLip shared intimate details about their time in the studio, including who was there, how they felt and what they witnessed.
• HAIR-itage: Angela Yee welcomed celebrity stylist Jay Christopher to the block party to discuss some of the most iconic and influential hair looks of the past five decades of Hip-Hop and explored how some of those looks are relevant today.
• FundaMENTAL Bars: Charlamagne tha God sat with Elliot Connie to talk about how Hip-Hop started as an authentic Black voice and how it has evolved over the last 50 years and is now on a path of healing. Charlamagne and Elliot will celebrate a few lyrics from Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar and talked about its relevance in today’s culture.
• Flip The Script: Big Boy’s Neighborhood: Big Boy's Neighborhood has been a trusted voice in Hip Hop for decades. Big Boy reminisced on iconic Hip-Hop moments, breaking news on radio and reflect on the impact his show has had on Black and Hip-Hop culture.
• DJ Envy sat down with current Historically Black College students to discuss HBCU power and pride.
• iHeartRadio’s Nyla Symone kept the crowd moving throughout the night spinning Hip-Hop classics.

“iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” was produced by Emmy and Grammy award-winning producer Rikki Hughes and the Magic Lemonade Team, with executive Producers Doc Wynter, Thea Mitchem, John Sykes and Newal Dehan for iHeartMedia. “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” is sponsored in part by Hyundai. For more information on iHeartRadio’s Living Black! visit iheart.com/livingblack.

For b-roll of performance, see below:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dcv4gjqfj5qqrbg/AABo9a60cG_cENGPliyfRfpha?dl=0

To access photos from the 2022 iHeartRadio Living Black! please visit

https://iheartradio.photoshelter.com/galleries/C0000IDvST3Mb5Yc/G0000nUCzHpNdQWY/Best-Of-2023-Living-Black

PW: L!vingBlack23

Series explores Sex, Money, and Murder in Tinseltown

August 2, 2023, New York -- Variety, the iconic entertainment publication, and iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, announced today the co-production of an exciting new true crime podcast, “Variety Confidential.” The podcast dives into Variety’s archives exploring stories of sex, money, and murder in the entertainment industry.

The podcast was created by Jon Ponder, Tracy Pattin, Variety’s Chief Operating and Marketing Officer Dea Lawrence, and EVP of Content and Executive Editor Steve Gaydos. Pattin will host and Sydney Kramer, Managing Director and Senior Executive Producer for the Variety Content Studio, will produce along with Ponder. Ponder and Pattin have previously teamed on Wondrey’s “Hollywood & Crime.” 

The first six-part episode season, “Sex for Fame, Hollywood’s Ugliest Game” examines the notorious casting couch and sexual predation through the decades. The series will draw parallels between recent sex scandals and those of the past illustrating that sexual predators in the industry are as old as the Hollywood Hills. Commentary will be provided from Variety insiders such as co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton, Executive Editor of Film and Television Tatiana Siegel, and Chief Correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister. 

“With the true crime genre ranking among the most popular in podcasting, it seems a natural fit for Variety to bring to life some of the crime stories from our archives,” said Lawrence. “We are excited about this new series and thrilled that iHeartPodcasts is joining us in a co-production.” 

“As a society, we continue to be fascinated with the true crime genre and the emotional rollercoaster these stories take us on,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We are excited to partner with Variety on this new podcast, which will combine their incredible archive of stories with first-hand insider perspectives. This will be a podcast true crime fans won’t want to miss.”

“Variety Confidential,” distributed by iHeartPodcasts, will launch its first two episodes on September 18 and will follow with a weekly release of the remaining four episodes. The podcast will be available on the iHeartRadio app, Variety.com, as well as other major podcast platforms. 

About Variety

Now celebrating its 118th year, Variety is the #1 entertainment business news brand, the most read in the world with over 30MM uniques users and 9.5MM social followers. Featuring award-winning breaking news reporting, insightful award-season coverage, must-read feature spotlights and intelligent analysis of the industry’s most prominent players, Variety is the trusted source for the business of global entertainment. Read by a highly engaged audience of industry insiders, Variety’s multi-platform content coverage expands across digital, mobile, social, print, podcasts, branded content, events, and summits.

Nine-Part Series Centers on Courtney “Cookie” Hood, Her Quest For The Truth And The Danger She Faced From All Sides, Including The U.S. Government

Listen To the First Two Episodes Now  

NEW YORK – August 1, 2023 – iHeartPodcasts announced today the launch of “Journalista,” the true story of Courtney "Cookie" Hood, former model and ex-wife of a Colombian drug cartel kingpin, hired to manage the CBS field office in Nicaragua during the civil war in the 1980’s. What starts as another big party for her, ends up being the history making adventure of a lifetime, blowing the lid off the Iran-Contra scandal and almost taking down the Reagan presidency.

Two episodes premiered today, which will be followed by a new episode every Tuesday. The trailer for the podcast can be found here.  

“Life as a journalist during wartime was intense. We worked hard and partied even harder, because we never knew what was going to happen the next day,” said Courtney “Cookie” Hood. “The CBS office in Nicaragua was many things – a news office, a respite from war and party central. Every day and night journalists, movie stars, rock stars, politicians and royalty would arrive. It was the place to be and be seen. By sharing these adventures, I hope our listeners understand the chaos and danger from these most uncertain times.”

“Journalista” follows the dangerous and improbable life of Hood, who teams up with legendary CBS producer Larry Doyle to take listeners through the courage of the wartime journalists covering the civil wars, revolutions and U.S. missteps in 1980’s Central America.

“During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Cookie Hood was the single driving force behind the most successful television coverage of Central America that appeared across the United States,” said Stephen Kinzer, former bureau chief of The New York Times. ”’Journalista’ is a series of stories over four decades in the making and will entrance each listener to the realities of what really happened during that time.”

“Journalista” is hosted by Steven Esteb, starring Cookie Hood, written and produced by Steven Esteb (“Hate Crime,”“Dirty Politics”), executive producers, Tyler Klang for iHeartMedia, Sean J. Donnelly (“Hate Crime”), Cookie Hood, Ellen K (Ellen K Morning Show) and Jason Waggenspack, CEO of the Ranch Film Studios and producer of “The True Don Quixote” and “The Look-Alike”.

“Journalista” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts. Listen to new episodes on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Upon the conclusion of the podcast, a documentary will be released with Hood diving into the background of the story and sharing insights that have been kept secret for over 40 years. For more information, visit JournalistaPodcast.com.

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Download Cover Art Here.

Conducted with Amazon Ads, Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media, Studies Highlight the Strength of Audio Ads in Driving Attention and Brand Outcomes

NEW YORK (August 1, 2023) – Dentsu today announced new research measuring attention in audio advertising for the first time.  Conducted in partnership with Lumen Research, dentsu measured attention in various audio formats and environments across three unique studies in podcasts, radio and music streaming. The podcast study was conducted with participating partners Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media. The radio study was conducted with Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia. Separately, Amazon Ads conducted a study with Amazon Music for advertising on the music streaming service.

“Dentsu has been pioneering attention research via our Attention Economy for more than five years, codifying, longer than anyone else, the value of engagement in video and display channels. Now, we’re thrilled to unlock new insights on attention in audio—a meaningful first for the industry,” said Doug Rozen, CEO, dentsu Media Americas. “This enables us to uniquely serve clients by proving the value of their audio, video and display ads based on real engagement measures that drive growth.” 

As dentsu expands its Attention Economy research, the study measured attention to audio ads across Podcasts, Radio and with music streaming:

The study found that audio advertising (including podcasts, radio and music streaming) drove significant attention compared to other ad platforms:

• Average attentive seconds per (000) APM for audio advertising was 10,126 compared to dentsu norms of 6,501 APM
• On average, 41% of audio ads generated correct brand recall (vs. 38% of dentsu norms)
• Brand choice uplift for audio ads was 10% (vs. 6% for dentsu norms)

The study also found that each audio destination has its own unique strength in driving attention and brand impact.

• Podcasts (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify and SXM Media) drove the highest attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. In addition, we saw that brand choice uplift was higher for host reads compared to traditional audio ads within podcasts.
• Radio (measured across Audacy, Cumulus Media and iHeartMedia) also impressively drove higher attentive seconds per thousand impressions compared to other digital, social and TV benchmarks. Radio shined as the most efficient of the audio formats studied, proving to be 10x more efficient when compared to the average online video ads measured through dentsu’s Attention Economy. 
• Music Streaming (measured on Amazon Music across voice with Alexa and on mobile or desktop) drove key branding metrics. Brand recall was highest for ad-supported streaming music played on Alexa-enabled devices, and drove even higher brand choice uplift for :30 ads compared to those same ads listened to through a desktop/mobile device.

”We understand that radio advertising is a cost-efficient way to build reach, that podcast listeners have great affinity not only to the programming but also podcast hosts, and that smart speakers are a compelling new destination for audio ads on streaming services. It’s nice to see each of these unique strengths of different audio formats validated by our audio Attention Economy Study,” said Jennifer Hungerbuhler, EVP, Local and Audio Investment Lead, dentsu Media US. 

Expanding dentsu’s Attention Economy research into audio advertising for the first time, the media agency network worked with research partner Lumen to devise a methodology to measure attention in audio that is equivalent with measurement across visual media platforms. To conduct the study, respondents were exposed to listening environments similar to their native audio experiences (e.g., selecting a podcast, radio station or genre of music on a streaming platform). Post-listening, they were administered dentsu's Attention Economy Survey to gauge ad recall and brand choice uplift compared to a similarly recruited control group. Lumen modeled an attention score which is equivalent to that based on visual attention using the factors collected (including passively collected audio listening data, survey results and type of ad exposure).   

Mike Follett, CEO of Lumen Research added, “Dentsu has been a leading partner of Lumen Research as together we’ve chartered new territory in understanding attention and building new norms and metrics in the space. We’re excited to have a new way to measure attention in audio and eager to continue to define the future of attention with dentsu and their clients.” 
   
The study is the latest to be released by dentsu’s Attention Economy which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year since launching in 2018. The Attention Economy was the industry’s first attention-focused study and is the world’s largest in scale and scope of its kind. The program has defined the true value of attention across channels, platforms, and formats and revolutionized the way the advertising industry plans, measures, and buys media. Visit the Attention Economy website to learn more. 

About dentsu  
Dentsu is the network designed for what’s next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities in the sustainable economy. Taking a people-centered approach to business transformation, dentsu combines Japanese innovation with a diverse, global perspective to drive client growth and to shape society. www.dentsu.com