iHeartMedia

Listen to the trailer here

LOS ANGELES – March 7, 2023 – iHeartPodcasts and Frolic Media today announce the debut of “Exit Interview,” a new dating experiment podcast. The twelve-episode season is hosted and executive produced by Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, who are best known for their long-running podcast “Dateable" (a Top 10 Dating Podcast according to The New York Times), and will feature daters willing to brave honest and often brutal feedback from their exes. The first episode will be available beginning March 9, with new episodes posting each Thursday. Listeners can hear the official trailer now, here.

“Exit Interview” will feature a deep dive into the experience of a featured dater, along with recorded feedback from their exes, friends and others in their life willing to offer insight into what might be going wrong in their dating life. From the single mom looking for her second chance to the sex coach struggling with his own intimacy, each episode will provide a nuanced look at a different dating experience. Other upcoming episodes will feature guests such as a gay man who has never been on a date, a reformed F-boy who may or may not actually be reformed, and a career-minded woman who worries she may be intimidating daters with her success.

"In every part of life we get feedback except our dating lives. We're often met with lines such as 'It's not you, it's me’ or ‘I'm just not ready,’ but how do you find out why that first date never went to a second or why that situationship didn't turn into a relationship?” said “Exit Interview” Co-Host Julie Krafchik. “We're thrilled to dive into this dating experiment to get the real answers and discover patterns of what may be holding daters back from having the love lives they've always wanted."

“Exit Interview” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

About The Hosts

Yue Xu started off as a dating coach and vlogger in NYC and worked with clients all over the world. She's also experienced her own share of dating and relationships everywhere from NYC to Beijing. Once moving to San Francisco, she realized that her advice about “winning” over dates and traditional gender roles did not hold true in the modern age. She realized that she needed to re-examine everything she knew about dating and is on a mission to help people question the why.

Julie Krafchick is a technologist and researcher fascinated by human connection and relationships. She had been in the dating trenches from when online dating wasn’t a “thing” to when dating apps exploded. After feeling frustrated by the apps herself, she created the platform 500 Brunches, which facilitated meeting people more organically IRL. She saw firsthand the importance of connection in a world that's more disconnected than ever. She's on a mission to help people form deeper connections and create the love lives they've always wanted.

About Frolic Media

Frolic is an entertainment media brand that brings together a community of diverse voices including authors, fans and storytellers to deliver feel-good content to the voracious consumer who enjoys escaping into a great love story. Frolic is in your pocket, on your commute, in your reading nook, on your laptop, and in your social feed (in a totally non-creepy way). Frolic reaches audiences on all media platforms including film, TV, and podcasting. Frolic has distribution deals with some of the biggest media companies including Viacom, Audible, iHeart and more. Frolic’s Podcasting Network (FPN) reaches 4 million+ listeners across 40 podcasts. Frolic believes in the power of optimism where a good story can change your mood in an instant. We believe in celebrating life’s happily ever afters. For more information, shoot us a note at findus@frolic.media

Taylor Swift to be Honored with iHeartRadio Innovator Award

P!NK to Receive the iHeartRadio Icon Award

NEW YORK – March 7, 2023 – iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment announced today the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will feature performances by 2023 Icon Award Recipient P!NK, Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Muni Long, Cody Johnson, Coldplay (with a special live performance from Brazil) and more. Additionally, Taylor Swift will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award.  The event will air LIVE from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Monday, March 27 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The event also will be heard on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.

Taylor Swift will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award. The Innovator Award has been presented only on occasion when an artist has proven themselves to have impacted global pop culture throughout their career. In the past, the award has been presented to Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, U2 and Alicia Keys. Taylor Swift has created music that for years has topped the charts at multiple formats, while creating groundbreaking tours, including 2019’s Reputation Stadium Tour the highest-grossing US tour in history, and 2023’s Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, which broke records for single-day ticket sales. In 2022, she followed multiple record setting albums, the Grammy-winning Album of the Year Folklore, it’s sister album Evermore and two re-recorded albums, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) with her pop masterpiece, Midnights, again shattering records only she had held prior. Midnights became the top-selling album of 2022 in just a few weeks and its lead single “Anti-Hero” topped the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to top the charts in three different decades and “Anti-Hero” is currently the most played song across iHeartRadio. Along with her artistic success, Taylor’s generosity and philanthropy have inspired millions. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, using her music and platform to inspire young people to use their voting power. Taylor began to re-record her first six albums, taking control of her music after her masters were sold by her former label. Her first two re-recorded albums; Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) have topped the charts once again and earned critical acclaim.

P!NK will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Icon Award, honoring her impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance as a touring and radio force with a loyal fan base worldwide. P!NK is a critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and global pop icon. Since her debut in 2000, she has released 9 studio albums, one greatest hits album, sold over 60 million albums equivalents worldwide, 15 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (four at #1) and has sold out arenas and stadiums all over the world.  In addition, she is the recipient of three Grammy Awards (21 nominations), one Daytime Emmy Award, seven MTV Video Music Awards including the 2017 Vanguard Award recipient, two MTV Europe Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2013, and received The Brits Outstanding Contribution To Music Award in 2019 (the first international artist to receive this honor.) In 2019 she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. P!NK is a huge supporter of various charities, including: No Kid Hungry, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Planned Parenthood, REVERB, Autism Speaks and Human Rights Campaign, and she is an ambassador for UNICEF USA. In February, she released her ninth studio album TRUSTFALL via RCA Records. She will be kicking off her global Summer Carnival Tour later this year, followed by The TRUSTFALL Tour this fall.

Now in its tenth year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2023. The show will feature award presentations in multiple categories, live performances from the biggest artists in music, surprise stage moments and will tell the stories of the winning artists’ road to #1.

Artists receiving multiple nominations include, AJR, Anitta, Bailey Zimmerman, Bad Bunny, Bebe Rexha, Beyoncé, BLACKPINK, Black Eyed Peas, Blxst, Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, BTS, Calibre 50, Carrie Underwood, David Guetta, Doja Cat, Drake, Dua Lipa, Elle King, Elton John, Farruko, Future, GAYLE, Glass Animals, GloRilla, Grupo Firme, Harry Styles, Imagine Dragons, Jack Harlow, Jordan Davis, Justin Bieber, Karol G, Kelsea Ballerini, Kenny Chesney, Kim Petras, Kodak Black, Latto, La Adictiva, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Machine Gun Kelly, Måneskin, Megan Thee Stallion, Morgan Wallen, Muni Long, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, Sam Smith, Selena Gomez, Shania Twain, Shinedown, Steve Lacy, Swedish House Mafia, SZA, Taylor Swift, Tems, The Weeknd, Three Days Grace, Tiësto, and Yung Gravy. For a full list of nominees, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.

In addition to paying tribute to music and artists, the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will again celebrate the fans, giving iHeartRadio listeners the opportunity to decide winners in several new and established categories. Fan voting will determine this year’s Best Lyrics, Best Music Video, Best Fan Army, the Social Star Award, Favorite Tour Photographer, TikTok Bop of the Year, Favorite Documentary, Favorite Tour Style, Favorite Residency and Favorite Use of a Sample.

Social voting will close on March 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote on Twitter using the appropriate category and nominee hashtags or by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.

Additional categories include Label of the Year and individual winners for Album of the Year in music’s biggest genres, including Pop, Country, Alternative, Rock, Dance, Hip-Hop, R&B, Latin and Regional Mexican formats.

Proud partners of this year’s event include INFINITI. Additional proud partners across iHeartRadio platforms include COVERGIRL, The Hartford Small Business Insurance, Valentino, with more to be announced.

Executive producers for the “iHeartRadio Music Awards” are Joel Gallen, for Tenth Planet; and John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters, for iHeartMedia. Ahead of the event, fans can tune in to the live red carpet pre-show presented by INFINITI. For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards or follow the social buzz on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For a full list of categories, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.

iHeartLand Hosts iHeartRadio LIVE with RAYE  

NEW YORK, N.Y. – March 3, 2023 – iHeartMedia celebrated new music and artists recently with World Premiere debuts and more. Marshmello’s new Latin-genre collaboration with Manuel Turizo, "El Merengue," had a World Premiere debut on March 2 across all iHeartRadio Spanish-language stations. Additionally, iHeartCountry stations hosted an Album Takeover feature on March 3 for Morgan Wallen’s new album “One Thing At A Time.” One new song from the album played every hour across iHeartCountry stations for 24 hours, and iHeartCountry personalities are also encouraging fans to share their top three songs from the album using #iHeartMorgan on social media.

To celebrate Macklemore’s first album in six years, iHeart will premiere the “iHeartRadio Album Release Party with Macklemore” on Friday, March 3 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Macklemore will perform some of his new music for fans live, as well as open up about the album “BEN” and more during an exclusive interview hosted by iHeartRadio's Valentine. Fans with a Meta Quest 2 headset can view the VR performance in Meta Horizon Worlds and on iHeartRadio’s Facebook. The show will also be broadcast across iHeartRadio CHR and Hot AC stations, as well as on the iHeartRadio app via the Today's Mix station.

This weekend, iHeartLand will host singer RAYE following the release of her album “My 21st Century Blues” last month. During iHeartRadio LIVE with RAYE, fans can see a special performance of her latest single "Escapism," as well as an exclusive interview hosted by iHeartRadio's Emily Curl. Fans can experience iHeartRadio LIVE with RAYE in iHeartLand at State Farm Park for two days only, starting Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Visit iHeartLand for more.

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

Listen to “Womanica” now HERE

NEW YORK – March 1, 2023 – Wonder Media Network, a women-founded, mission-driven podcast network, today announced that their original hit podcast “Womanica,” which tells the often untold stories of iconic women across history, will join iHeartPodcasts, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, beginning today. Thinking back to history classes growing up, something was missing: where were the ladies at? Enter, “Womanica.” In just 5 minutes a day, listeners learn about different incredible women from throughout history. 

“For almost four years now, we have published an episode every single weekday about a woman from history we might not know about, but should. These stories are unbelievable, far-reaching, inspiring, terrifying, and never-ending,” said Shira Atkins, co-founder and CRO of Wonder Media Network. “After amassing millions of listeners and many accolades, it’s a thrill to be able to take what was once an indie show with bold reach and even bolder aspirations, and turn it into a cornerstone of women-focused programming with iHeartPodcasts.”

“We’ve been such big fans of Wonder Media Network and the incredible podcasts they’ve produced over the past few years and we’re incredibly excited for this partnership,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “Womanica has already built a big and passionate audience and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce these amazing stories to millions of new listeners across our network.”

The iHeartPodcast Network is home to more than 800 iHeartPodcasts across a wide variety of genres, that span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between including leading podcasts such as “The Ron Burgundy Podcast,” “Paper Ghosts,” “Fake Doctors, Real Friends,” “Atlanta Monster,” “You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton,” “The Laverne Cox Show,” “Las Culturistas,” “Noble Blood” and now “Womanica.” iHeartPodcasts also fosters over a hundred shows from iHeartMedia’s on-air talent – like the popular “Bobbycast” from its nationally-syndicated host Bobby Bones and “The Breakfast Club” radio show podcast. 

Wonder Media Network is a pioneering audio-first media company that uses stories to inspire action, to promote equality and justice, and to introduce empathy into politics, business, and culture. In addition to their robust slate of award-winning original projects, Wonder Media Network has a brand studio business that provides strategy and end-to-end production for mission-aligned organizations and Fortune 500 companies. 

Listeners can continue to get their daily dose of inspiring stories, human moments, and historical breakthroughs by following “Womanica” on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere else podcasts are heard. 

The Special Event Will Feature Inspiring Conversations in Music and Culture with Gloria Estefan, Lainey Wilson and Latto on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook Pages on March 8 at 8 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – March 1, 2023 – In celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America, and SeeHer, the largest global movement to eliminate gender bias in marketing, advertising, media and entertainment, today announced the third annual “iHeartRadio SeeHer Hear Her: Celebrating Women Who Make Music and Culture,” a celebration of women who make music, influence change, and sew the fabric of our culture. The special event will highlight successful and influential female artists in music through in depth interviews with Gloria Estefan joined by her daughter Emily Estefan, Lainey Wilson, Latto and more during a live one-hour special that will stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages on March 8 at 8 p.m. ET (available on demand through March 14).

The “iHeartRadio SeeHer Hear Her: Celebrating Women Who Make Music and Culture,” streamed event will dive into the lives of these three leading female artists, their influence and their continued efforts to flip the status quo. These power female artists share stories of triumph, bravery and innovation resulting in staggering success. In addition to interviews from Gloria Estefan, Lainey Wilson and Latto, the special will feature inspiring thoughts from more women at the top of their game throughout the entertainment industry. It will also share a moment of celebration for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and highlight emerging female talent from SeeHer’s new artist accelerator platform, Hear Her Music, in partnership with Breakr. The iHeartRadio SeeHer Hear Her special is designed to honor the women who are shattering stereotypes with their accomplishments, creating opportunities and inspiring generations to trust their own voice and share it with the world.

To kick off the celebration, beginning today, March 1, iHeartMedia will launch weeklong promotions for International Women’s Day across 660 iHeartMedia broadcast stations in every format, on social media platforms and on iHeartRadio’s biggest podcasts.

On March 8, from 5 - 6 p.m. local time, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations will also devote the hour to playing the biggest hits and new music from today’s female artists and offer special playlists on the iHeartRadio App. The celebration will culminate that evening with the hourlong special with words of wisdom about equality, inspiring confidence and career building.

“At iHeartMedia we are passionate about having women in the industry represented and heard,” said Gayle Troberman, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for iHeartMedia. “This is why we are thrilled to partner with SeeHer for the third year in a row on International Women’s Day to produce a special that not only shares the incredible, eye opening stories of leading women in the music industry, but will also inspire other women to take that leap and pursue a career they are passionate about.

“Music has the power to influence, connect, and inspire in a way that few things can. We are honored and excited to join iHeartMedia again to amplify the voices of women in music because our work is not done yet,” said Christine Guilfoyle, SeeHer President. “A recent report showed that, of popular music, less than 23% of artists, 14 % of songwriters, and 4% of producers were women. We are working to increase the percentages of women in front of and behind the mic, because we all benefit from inclusive representation and authentic storytelling.”

Listeners can join in on the conversation online by using #iHeartWomensDay and #SeeHer throughout the day and during the one-hour special on March 8. For more information on “iHeartRadio SeeHer Hear Her: Celebrating Women Who Make Music and Culture” visit iheartradio.com/womensday.

Proud partners of this year's event include M&M’S and Bumble.

Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs added to the lineup

The slate includes all-new shows across sports, music, food and entertainment featuring Cleveland Cavaliers legend Jim Chones, Top Chef star Nina Compton, Brooklyn Nets in-arena host and fitness instructor Ally Love and more

NEW YORK – February 28, 2022 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) today unveiled a new slate of team-specific shows coming to the iHeart/NBA Podcast Network. The lineup includes original podcasts from six NBA teams – the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs. The shows will be hosted by top NBA analysts, hosts, announcers and cultural influencers including fitness instructor and Brooklyn Nets in-arena host Ally Love, Spanish radio announcer Rafa Hernandez Brito, NBA legend Jim Chones and award-winning chef and restauranteur Nina Compton.

“We’re excited to debut a new slate of team podcasts that cover compelling stories from around the NBA,” said David Denenberg, NBA Senior Vice President and Head of National & Local Network Partnerships. “The iHeartPodcast Network provides a great platform to share that unique content with our fans.”

“We are proud to leverage iHeart’s unmatched scale, reach and digital platform to continue to deliver compelling NBA content to fans,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “Together with the NBA and its teams, we look forward to bringing even more one-of-a-kind stories and cultural experiences to fans across the country.”

The current slate of NBA team-specific shows include:

The Boston Celtics

• “View from the Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics” – You might have heard the story, but you’ve never heard it like this. Celtics Insiders Marc D’Amico, Sean Grande and Abby Chin take you behind the scenes of the winningest franchise in NBA history for the first and only official Boston Celtics podcast. If you want to connect with Celtics stories and players like you never have before, this is your pod. Listen here.

Brooklyn Nets

• “Voice of The Nets with Chris Carrino” – In this podcast, Voice of the Nets, Chris Carrino shares his perspective on the Nets through longform storytelling, compelling conversations and unique insights from NBA players, coaches, friends and media personalities. Listen here.
• “Courtside Conversations with Ally Love” – Come courtside with Brooklyn Nets host Ally Love as she dives deep and curates up-close, in-depth conversations with your favorite artists, athletes and more around basketball and culture. Listen here.
• “Basketball’s Borough: A Brooklyn Hoops Podcast” – A new narrative podcast from the Brooklyn Nets that will trace the history of hoops in New York City’s biggest borough. From the groundbreaking Black Fives to the earliest days of the NBA, Brooklyn paved the way. With legends like Stephon Marbury, Chris Mullin, Lenny Wilkens, Larry Brown, and Billy Cunningham, the podcast will tell the stories of high school dynasties, playground legends, college All-Americans and Hall of Famers. “Basketball’s Borough: A Brooklyn Hoops Podcast” is coming soon.

Charlotte Hornets

• “Hornets Hive Cast” – Tune in daily as the Voice of the Hornets, Sam Farber, delivers insights, game previews and recaps, and meaningful basketball conversations with Hornets players, leaders within the Hornets organization as well as movers and shakers across the NBA. Listen here.

Cleveland Cavaliers

• “The Chase Down” – Justin Rowan and Carter Rodriguez discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of the NBA through their Wine and Gold colored glasses. Listen here.
• “Wine & Gold Radio” – Hosted by Cavs.com beat writer Joe Gabriele and Spanish radio announcer Rafa Hernandez Brito, “Wine & Gold Radio” will bring fans an inside look at their favorite basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Listen here.
• “CavsHQ” – CavsHQ, presented by Betway, will bring listeners a different view of the Cavaliers. In each episode, Tim Alcorn and Cleveland Cavaliers legend Jim Chones will offer a unique perspective on the Cavs along with special guests who lend their voices to the most important topics and discussions around the Cavaliers. Listen here.

New Orleans Pelicans

• “The New Orleans Pelicans Podcast” – Hosts Todd Graffagnini, the voice of the Pelicans, Jim Eichenhofer, Pelicans.com writer, and Joe Cardosi, Pelicans Radio studio host, will bring fans inside, up-to-date information straight from the source. “The New Orleans Pelicans Podcast” will come through your speakers thrice weekly giving the latest on all things Pelicans. Listen here.
• “Between Bites” – Hungry? Join Nina Compton, James Beard award-winning chef, Top Chef Star and restaurateur, and her husband Larry Miller (the duo behind Compere Lapin and Bywater American Bistro) as they lead discussions with special guests around the robust culture of New Orleans -- from cuisine and music to art, literature, and everything in between. Listen here.

San Antonio Spurs

• “Sound of The Spurs” – 50 years ago, the basketball landscape in the city of San Antonio would be changed forever with the arrival of an ABA (American Basketball Association) team that bloomed into one of the NBA’s pillar franchises known for doing things the correct way. In this podcast, listeners will get a peek behind the curtain at what went into the Spurs’ success over the last 50 years and why the team continues to resonate with new audiences today. Hosted by Spurs radio voice Bill Schoening, the podcast features interviews with Spurs legends and will feature never-before-heard stories from the people who were there from the very beginning. Listen here.

These new podcasts add to iHeartMedia’s existing shows in partnership with the NBA including “NBA Flashback,” “NBA Finals File,” “Running the Break with C.J. and Alex,” “NBA Pulse with Sarah Kustok” and “Miles and Jack Got Mad Boosties.” All shows will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Fans can check out all the shows in the NBA podcast slate including team shows, HERE.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 41 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

Hosted by Founder Charlamagne Tha God and Comedian Jess Hilarious, the Event will Include Live Podcasts and Panel Discussions Featuring Top Black Effect talent and More; The festival will also feature iHeartMedia Atlanta’s very own DJ Loui Vee

Tickets on sale March 1 at 12 p.m. EST

ATLANTA – February 28, 2023 – Charlamagne Tha God and iHeartMedia today announced the 2023 Black Effect Podcast Festival to celebrate, uplift and amplify Black voices in the podcast industry. The event will take place Saturday, April 22 from noon to 8 p.m. ET at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA. Charlamagne Tha God will join the festival alongside some of the Black Effect’s most popular personalities for a day full of live podcast tapings and informative discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. The festival will be hosted by Charlamagne Tha God and “Carefully Reckless” Host and Comedian Jess Hilarious. Tickets will go on sale March 1 at 12 p.m. EST. For more information on ticket pricing and this year’s festival lineup, visit blackeffect.com/podcastfestival.

The Festival will feature live podcast tapings from the Black Effect’s most popular shows including “The 85 South Show,” “WHOREible Decisions,” and “Big Facts,” and a special joint taping with “Reasonably Shady,” and “Checking In With Michelle Williams.” Additionally, ticket holders will hear thought-provoking and informative discussions during the event’s Women in Podcasting Panel and The Business of Podcasting Panel featuring Black Effect Podcast Network hosts Chad Oubre (“85 South Show”), Coline Witt (“Eating While Broke”), Jess Hilarious (“Carefully Reckless” and event co-host), Tamika Mallory (“Street Politicians”), Tezlyn Figaro (“Straight Shot, No Chaser”) and more.

“In 2023, Black creators are at the forefront of a movement reverberating across today’s cultural landscape, and we’re excited to bring this to life for the community at The Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta this spring,” said Charlamagne Tha God. “With this festival we want to inspire and uplift new and aspiring podcasters while also showcasing the incredible voices on The Black Effect Podcast Network.”

The Black Effect Podcast Network is the leading platform for Black creators to raise their voices and be heard in the podcast space. It brings together the most influential and trusted voices in black culture for stimulating conversations around social justice, pop culture, sports, mental health, news, comedy and more. Launched in September 2020, the Black Effect Podcast Network has since debuted 29 shows, featuring a luminous roster of marquee talent and culture-shifting voices committed to enlightening, educating and entertaining audiences, curated by Charlamagne Tha God himself.

The Black Effect Podcast Festival sponsors will be on-site at the event with engaging activations for attendees. In addition, the festival will also feature iHeartMedia Atlanta’s very own DJ Loui Vee and a variety of other activities such as a pop-up marketplace showcasing merchandise from Black-owned businesses, a family game room and gaming tournament hosted by The Trap Nerds, a photo booth, a career corner and more.

Black Effect Podcast Festival partners include AT&T, Molson Coors, Nissan and State Farm. Fans can visit blackeffect.com/podcastfestival beginning Wednesday, March 1 at 12 p.m. EST to purchase tickets. Student ticket offer available for those in the Atlanta-area.

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in podcast culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform and empower.

iHeartMedia Is First in Industry to Provide Independent Brand Safety Verification at the Episode-Level 

NEW YORK - February 27, 2023 - iHeartMedia, the largest audio media company in the U.S. and the top podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today launched new brand safety technology for podcast advertising powered by Sounder, an audio intelligence platform that builds foundational podcasting technology. iHeartMedia is the first to go live with Sounder’s AI and Machine Learning (ML) technology, giving brands episode-specific safety assurance, a level of precision previously unavailable in podcast inventory, at scale.

With the rapidly growing podcast advertising market expected to surpass $3 billion in 2023, there has never been a greater time to prioritize brand safety. Sounder is the first to help advertisers deem if a podcast episode is brand safe before an ad runs, enabling advertisers to plan and execute campaigns with confidence.

“Audio had been without a truly operative brand safety tool that gave advertisers the ability to run without risk at a national scale. The process was labor intensive, fragmented, and often failed to deliver the level of protection brands truly needed,” said iHeartMedia Chief Data Officer Brian Kaminsky. “We looked at every potential solution in the industry, and Sounder’s technology is far ahead when it comes to brand safety and suitability. This new tool changes the future and opens up endless possibilities. Brands are now able to opt out of content they deem unsafe and inappropriate. Our partnership with Sounder has set a new benchmark for transparency in audio advertising that has been long overdue.”

“At a time when brand-trust is eroding overall, marketers are excited about the power of podcast advertising to deliver authenticity, impact, and rebuild trust,” said iHeartMedia Chief Marketing Officer Gayle Troberman. “With iHeartMedia’s new brand safety capabilities, marketers can leverage the full power of human connection and contextual relevance that podcasts provide, without the fear and risk of unsafe inventory.”

“Coming out of CES, marketer demand for podcast marketing is at an all-time high,” Troberman continued. “But they’re not willing to accept unnecessary risk to do so. This tool solves this challenge by providing objective, third-party brand safety verification and unlocking access to more content that moves the needle for marketers.”

With the tool, powered by Sounder’s technology, iHeartMedia can perform brand suitability analysis, topic analysis, content summarization, and dynamic segmentation, ahead of an ad flight. Working in conjunction with iHeartMedia’s podcast hosting platform Omny Studio, which is part of Triton Digital’s audio technology suite, and powered by the Triton Advertising Platform (Tap), the technology interprets context and assesses risk for brands across the iHeartPodcast Network’s large and growing audience, from the biggest and most diverse shows in the network, to the rapidly growing number of up-and-coming creators. iHeartMedia is the first to offer third-party brand safety verification at an episodic level for podcast advertisers, effectively unlocking thousands of hours of new, premium audio content for brands.

“Sounder's brand safety and suitability solutions are here to usher in the next stage of growth for podcasting and audio advertising. Our technology provides the transparency needed for confident decision-making and transacting across publishers, agencies, and ad tech partners,” said Sounder CEO and Co-Founder Kal Amin. “As a key partner and strategic investor in Sounder, iHeartMedia has recognized the need for new brand safety tools and standards across audio.”

The iHeartPodcast Network is home to more than 750 iHeartPodcasts which span every category from business, sports, spirituality, and technology to entertainment, family, comedy, and true crime including leading podcasts such as “The Ron Burgundy Podcast,” “Paper Ghosts,” “Fake Doctors, Real Friends,” “Atlanta Monster,” “You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton,” “The Laverne Cox Show,” “Las Culturistas,” and “NobleBlood,” as well as over a hundred shows from iHeartMedia’s on-air talent – like the popular “Bobbycast” from its nationally-syndicated host Bobby Bones and “The Breakfast Club” radio show podcast. With this roster of hits, iHeartMedia has more top 10 shows on Podtrac than the next three podcast networks combined and twice as many podcasts with 1 million monthly downloads than the next largest podcast publisher.

About Sounder

Sounder is the end-to-end podcast management platform that brings Audio Intelligence to creators and enterprises. Founded in 2019 by former Google and Spotify executives, Sounder connects creators and enterprises to the Audio Intelligence solutions they need to accelerate their content’s discovery, engagement, and monetization potential. Through the Audio Data Cloud, Sounder gives enterprises access to insights that inform strategy and improve monetization. Learn more and join Sounder’s community of creators at sounder.fm.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – February 24, 2023 – iHeartMedia celebrated new music and artists recently with a new ‘On The Verge’ artist, World Premiere debuts and more. Earlier this week, iHeartMedia named Megan Moroney as the latest ‘On The Verge’ Country artist with her single “Tennessee Orange.” iHeartMedia’s ‘On The Verge’ program helps build awareness for up-and-coming artists through its radio airplay reach and historically, all ‘On The Verge’ artists have charted in the top 30, with more than half landing in the top 10 and over a third claiming the No. 1 chart slot. Success stories of ‘On The Verge’ Country artists who have reached No. 1 include Jimmie Allen with “Best Shot,” Sam Hunt with “Leave the Night On,” Luke Combs with “Hurricane” and Lainey Wilson with “Things a Man Oughta Know.”

This week, Alicia Keys’ new single "Come For Me" featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye had a World Premiere debut on February 24 across all iHeartRadio R&B stations, while CHVRCHES’ new single "Over" had a World Premiere debut the same day across all iHeartRadio Alternative stations. Additionally, iHeartCounty celebrated Dierks Bentley’s new album “Gravel and Gold” with an Album Takeover feature on February 24, playing both new and hit songs from the artist throughout the day across all stations.

On February 21, the “iHeartRadio Album Release Party with P!NK” played across iHeartRadio CHR, Hot AC and AC stations, giving fans a chance to be part of her intimate performance and interview with Elvis Duran atop the Empire State Building in New York City. The show also played on LiveXLive.com and/or the LiveXLive app, and the iHeartRadio app's Today's Mix station.

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

— Maxey’s First-Ever Podcast “Maxey On The Mic” To Launch March 2 —

— Listen to the official audio trailer now HERE —

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2023 – Today iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) unveiled the trailer for their first player-led podcast, “Maxey On The Mic,” hosted by Philadelphia 76ers guard and 23-year-old Texas native Tyrese Maxey. The official audio trailer is available today HERE, and the first episode will debut on Thursday, March 2 on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

“Maxey On The Mic” will feature weekly episodes throughout the remainder of the NBA regular season and beyond, with Maxey taking listeners inside his life as an NBA player, and sharing incredible stories and insights from his guests including teammates, family and friends.

“Maxey On The Mic” is the first podcast featured on the iHeart/NBA Podcast Network that is hosted by an active NBA player in-season. The show will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. Fans can check out the entire NBA podcast slate HERE.

“I’m thrilled to tip off my new podcast and can’t wait to tap in with my lineup of amazing guests,” said Maxey. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this and I’m grateful to the NBA and iHeartMedia for giving me this amazing platform.”

A Kentucky standout prior to getting drafted 21st in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Tyrese Maxey is the team’s star guard and in the midst of a breakout season. A Dallas-area native known for his bright smile, his talent and lovable energy, Maxey has the 76ers in position to finish the regular season strong ahead of a deep postseason run. Throughout the journey, he’ll record episodes on the road and everywhere in between, giving fans a unique, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of one of the league’s youngest and most talented stars. Follow @tyresemaxey @nba @iheartpodcasts @sixers @klutchsports to learn more.

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season feature 120 international players from 40 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.