iHeartMedia

NEW YORK – December 16, 2020 – iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) announced today that Gabe Fleet has been named Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Music Licensing Counsel, effective January 11, 2021. 

In his new role, Fleet will lead iHeartMedia’s Business Affairs team and focus on strategic deals and relationships with the company’s music and entertainment partners and be responsible for business and legal affairs across the company’s divisions, multiplatform assets and tentpole events. In addition, Fleet will spearhead the company’s music licensing strategy, including maintaining and renewing all music industry licenses for iHeartRadio’s digital services and performance licenses through PRO agencies.

“Gabe’s in-depth knowledge, creativity and extensive deal-making experience across a variety of platforms make him a natural fit to lead iHeartMedia’s Business Affairs team,” said Paul McNicol, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of iHeartMedia, Inc. “Our relationship with the music and entertainment industries is an integral part of our business and having Gabe in this essential position will ensure we continue to create unique partnerships and opportunities that will leverage iHeartMedia’s position as the leading audio company in the U.S.”

“iHeartMedia is uniquely positioned at the forefront of music, podcasting, digital media, live events, television, innovative brand campaigns and so much more,” said Fleet. “I’m excited by the opportunity to apply my dealmaking experience across a wide array of entertainment industry contexts to help create new opportunities that cut across various channels to reach the company’s unparalleled audience.” 

Fleet brings more than a decade of legal and music industry experience to his new role. He joins iHeartMedia from his role as a partner at the Greenberg Traurig law firm, where he focused on music licensing, original content and branded entertainment creation and distribution across multiple platforms, and various intellectual property, technology and regulatory compliance matters. At Greenberg Traurig, Fleet’s responsibilities included negotiating content license agreements and other complex transactions with record companies, music publishers, performing rights organizations and other rightsholders, as well as providing strategic counseling to companies across the music, entertainment and digital media industries. A graduate of the University of Georgia and Vanderbilt University School of Law, he’s also served as an artist manager and professional drummer.

“Search Party: The Podcast” Hosted by Comedian Bowen Yang Launches

Official Teaser Trailer and Key Art Debut

LOS ANGELES – DECEMBER 15, 2020 – HBO Max today announced season four of the Max Original SEARCH PARTY premieres on Thursday, Jan. 14 with three episodes. The comedy thriller’s ten-episode season continues with another three episodes on Jan. 21 and the final four episodes on Jan. 28.

Teaser trailer: https://youtu.be/VgG1B6w39XI

In SEARCH PARTY season four, Dory (Alia Shawkat) is held prisoner by her psychotic stalker Chip (Cole Escola), who is determined to make Dory believe that they are best friends. Meanwhile, Portia (Meredith Hagner) is starring in a film about the trial, although not as herself; Elliott (John Early) has switched party lines to become a far-right conservative talk show host; and Drew (John Reynolds) is trying to escape his dark past by working as a costumed cast member in a theme park. As the friends begin to connect the dots that Dory might not be touring Europe as her faked social media suggests, they must decide whether to put their traumatic pasts behind them and once again become a search party – but this time, for Dory. Joining the show’s stellar guest stars this season are Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, Ann Dowd, Griffin Dunne and Lillias White, as well as R.L. Stine in a cameo role.

SEARCH PARTY is executive produced by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter, and Lilly Burns and Tony Hernandez for Jax Media.

This week marked the launch of “Search Party: The Podcast,” hosted by comedian and SEARCH PARTY fan Bowen Yang. In each episode, Yang will sit down with a SEARCH PARTY co-creator, actor or writer as well as a celebrity fan to dissect specific themes from seasons one through three of the show. Together, the three talking heads will humorously analyze the characters’ psychology, share behind-the-scenes anecdotes and discuss the series’ most insane moments. “Search Party: The Podcast” will release new episodes Mondays and Wednesdays on iHeartRadio, HBO Max and all major podcast platforms with notable guests including Paul Scheer, Chloe Fineman, Busy Philipps, Mitra Jouhari, Kate Berlant, Carrie Brownstein, Michaela Watkins, Vanessa Bayer and Shalita Grant. Episode one with guests Charles Rogers and Taran Killam is live here.

“Search Party: The Podcast” is co-produced by iHeartRadio and HBO Max, and distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network.

About HBO Max

HBO Max® is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering, with 10,000 hours of curated premium content. HBO Max offers best in class quality entertainment, featuring the greatest array of storytelling for all audiences with the iconic brands of HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and much more. Most HBO subscribers in the U.S. have access to HBO Max as part of their HBO subscription and can visit HBOMax.com for more details.

New York, N.Y. – December 11, 2020 – iHeartMedia celebrated the holiday season across the nation with its annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One – the season's most anticipated holiday music event – with performances from the biggest names in music today, including Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lewis Capaldi, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes and The Weeknd, plus special guest appearances from BTS, Lil Nas X and Mariah Carey on December 10. This year’s virtual event invited music fans into the homes of today’s top artists to share their personal holiday traditions and perform their biggest hits along with never-before-heard covers of iconic holiday songs. The star-studded event broadcasted across more than 95 iHeartMedia CHR radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App, and streamed on The CW App and CWTV.com.

In addition, The CW Network will broadcast the 2020 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball event as an exclusive nationwide television special on Monday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST.

The music of the iHeartRadio app came to life with an extraordinary lineup and these special moments:

• iHeartRadio’s Ryan Seacrest and Elvis Duran welcomed fans at home to the 2020 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One, while sitting next to a warm fireplace in a holiday adorned room.
• Doja Cat opened the show in an all-white ensemble to perform a sultry rendition of “Santa Baby,” as well as her hits “Juicy” and “Say So.”
• Shawn Mendes began his set with a performance of his latest hit, “Wonder,” while playing his piano next to a Christmas tree. He continued to play songs from his new album for one of the very first times, including “Dream.” He also graced fans with a cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.”
• Lil Nas X made a special appearance to discuss his love for the holiday.
• Sam Smith, who was introduced by Shawn Mendes, performed hit new song “Diamonds” in a festively lit room. They continued with the hope that fans are “gearing up for this Christmas as well as you can be. It’s going to be a weird Christmas for everyone, I still believe that the Christmas love and Christmas joy is still there,” before performing their favorite holiday song, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” They closed their set with a performance of “Dancing With a Stranger.”
• Dua Lipa performed her stripped-down set in front of a festive disco ball. She started with a compelling rendition of “Levitating,” followed by her massive hit “Don’t Start Now.” She closed her performance with the Capital One Holiday Jam, singing a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” with fans virtually.
• Mariah Carey stopped by to wish fans a happy Jingle Ball and Merry Christmas.
• Harry Styles performed his set alongside The Free Nationals bandmembers, from a sunny backyard. He opened with “Adore You,” after which he took a moment to remind fans to stay safe this holiday season and to keep making the best of a tough year. He followed up with “Golden,” and closed with one of this summer’s biggest hits, “Watermelon Sugar.”
• BTS surprised fans to wish everyone a happy holiday and sang a snippet of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”
• Lewis Capaldi, dressed in a Santa suit, brought Santa’s Grotto to life with an emotional cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” followed by fan-favorites “Someone You Loved” and “Before You Go.” The Scottish singer ended his set by thanking fans for watching and wishing everyone a happy holiday while strumming a guitar.
• Billie Eilish opened her set with a beautiful rendition of “My Future” with her brother Finneas playing piano and providing backup vocals. She followed with her most recent single, “Therefore I am,” and then took a pause to unwrap Christmas gifts for her dog, Shark. She finished her performance with a cover of holiday favorite “Silver Bells.”
• The Weeknd brought his electrifying music to life with an energetic performance of smash hit “Blinding Lights.” Performing from a living room decked out in Christmas lights and lasers, he closed out the night with newest single “In Your Eyes” and an arena-worthy rendition of “Save Your Tears.”

Each year, iHeartMedia radio stations across the country host live Jingle Ball concerts in local markets including Tampa; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Philadelphia; New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Atlanta and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale featuring performances by the year’s most iconic artists as well as emerging talent. Over the past 25 years, Jingle Ball has become the biggest holiday celebration in music. The show has evolved into a sold-out, multi-city national tour, with tickets selling out in minutes.

Capital One cardholders had the opportunity to enter the “Capital One Holiday Jam” contest for a chance to be one of 25 lucky winners featured in a virtual holiday classic sing-along with Dua Lipa. Winners also had the opportunity to hear from the artist in a private virtual meet and mingle discussion.

Proud partners of this year’s national iHeartRadio Jingle Ball include Capital One and The CW. Additional proud partners across iHeartRadio platforms include M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, Mercedes-Benz and Verizon with more to be announced. Multimarket partners include Kaiser Permanente and Nestle Waters with more to be announced.

The iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One is produced by Tom Poleman and John Sykes for iHeartMedia and Joel Gallen for Tenth Planet Productions.

Artists and/or events subject to change or cancellation without notice.

About Capital One

At Capital One we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them great products, rewards, service, and access to unique and unforgettable experiences they are passionate about. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Learn more at capitalone.com/access.

About The CW

THE CW TELEVISION NETWORK, a joint venture between Warner Bros. and CBS, launched in 2006. The CW is a multiplatform network that broadcasts a six-night 12-hour primetime lineup, Sunday through Friday and streams its ad-supported content, free, without login or authentication on CWTV.com and The CW app which is available on every major OTT platform. In daytime, The CW broadcasts a Monday through Friday afternoon block, and a three-hour Saturday morning kids block. The CW’s digital network, CW Seed, launched in 2013, and offers beloved limited-run series, as well as past seasons of recent fan-favorite television shows. For more information about the network and its programming, visit www.cwtvpr.com.

Annual Event Celebrating the Best in Podcasting Will Video Stream On iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook Pages and Broadcast Across iHeartMedia Stations Nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App

Podcast of the Year Nominees Include “Bunga Bunga,” “Dolly Parton’s America,” “Nice White Parents,” “Office Ladies,” “Reply All,” “Stuff You Should Know,” “The Breakfast Club,” “The Daily,” “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos” and “Wind of Change”

The Virtual Ceremony Will Honor the Very Best in Podcasting in 30 Categories; Baratunde Thurston, Serial Productions’ Sarah Koenig and Julie Synder and QCODE Will Receive This Year’s Icon Awards

NEW YORK – December 8, 2020 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, today announced the return of the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 9 p.m. local time. Since nominees will be unable to attend the third annual iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in person given the limitations on live events during the pandemic, this year’s virtual event will be recorded from multiple locations, span 30 categories and honor the most entertaining and innovative podcasts of 2020, celebrating the incredible talent and wide variety of leaders across the booming podcasting industry. The virtual awards event will exclusively video stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages and broadcast across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio App.

Podcast fans themselves will once again decide the winner of the Podcast of the Year award by voting on Twitter through December 31, 2020. This year’s Podcast of the Year nominees include “Bunga Bunga,” “Dolly Parton’s America,” “Nice White Parents,” “Office Ladies,” “Reply All,” “Stuff You Should Know,” “The Breakfast Club,” “The Daily,” “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos” and “Wind of Change.” Nominees in other categories include podcasts from all creators, distributors and platforms with a judging panel composed of blue-ribbon podcast industry leaders, creatives and visionaries who will determine the winners across categories including entertainment, comedy, crime, news, sports, food, business and more. More information can be found at iHeartPodcastAwards.com.

In addition, the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards will present three Icon Awards to pay tribute to the creators, organizations and podcasts that have made groundbreaking contributions to podcasting’s expanding role in today’s popular culture. Baratunde Thurston will be honored with the 2021 Social Impact Award, Serial Productions’ Sarah Koenig and Julie Synder will receive the 2021 Audible Audio Pioneer Award and QCODE will be honored with the 2021 Innovator Award.

“We’re thrilled by the opportunity to recognize today’s most talented podcast creators for the third straight year at the 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Today, Americans are consuming more podcasts than ever before, across an increasingly broad array of subjects including business, entertainment, education, news and more as a result of how COVID-19 has affected our daily lives. And although we all won’t be in the same room this year, we’ll still be able to celebrate the best of the best in the podcast medium.”

Last year’s winners at the second annual iHeartRadio Podcast Awards included “The Dropout” (ABC News) for Podcast of the Year; “Man in the Window” (L.A. Times/Wondery) for Best Crime Podcast; “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” (Team Coco/Earwolf)) for Best Comedy Podcast; “30 For 30” (ESPN) for Best Sports and Recreation Podcast; Nora McInerny (American Public Media) for Best Overall Host – Female and Aaron Mahnke (Lore) for Best Overall Host – Male, among many other categories and winners. In addition, the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards honored the New York Times' “1619” podcast with the Icon Social Impact Award, NPR's “Life Kit” with the Icon Innovator Award and Tenderfoot TV's Payne Lindsey and Donald Albright with the Icon Audible Audio Pioneer Award.

The event also featured appearances by award nominees, an array of celebrity presenters and other special guests including Will Ferrell, Conan O’Brien, Sebastian Maniscalco, Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon, Becca Tilley, Brooke Burke, Brooks Laich, Dean Unglert, Eric Winter and Roselyn Sanchez, Gavin DeGraw, Kaitlyn Bristowe, Meghan King Edmonds, Nick Viall, Stassi Schroeder, Teddi Mellencamp and Yeardley Smith as well as podcast nominees Aaron Mahnke, Holly Frey, Jake Brennan, Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, plus many more. In addition, the event also featured iHeartRadio top on-air personalities Tanya Rad, Ellen K, The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee and DJ Envy as well as Enrique Santos.

Podcast listenership in the United States alone has grown exponentially with listening now exceeding 50 percent of the population. iHeartMedia, which reaches a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. with just its broadcast radio stations and on-air personalities alone, will celebrate the best in podcasts with existing fans, while also continuing to introduce millions of new listeners to this incredible medium every single day.

Category finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

Podcast of the Year: Socially Voted Category

• “Bunga Bunga” (Wondery)
• “Dolly Parton’s America” (WNYC Studios/OSM Audio)
• “Nice White Parents” (Serial/The New York Times)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf /Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “Reply All” (Gimlet)
• “Stuff You Should Know” (iHeartRadio)
• “The Breakfast Club” (iHeartRadio)
• “The Daily” (The New York Times)
• “The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Wind of Change” (Crooked/Pineapple Street Media/Spotify)

Best Business & Finance Podcast:

• “Business Wars” (Wondery)
• “Earn Your Leisure” (Independent)
• “Freakonomics” (Freakonomics Radio & Stitcher)
• “How I Built This” (NPR)
• “Pivot” (New York Magazine)

Best Comedy Podcast:

• “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf/Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “The Read” (Loud Speakers Network)
• “Smartless” (Independent)
• “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” (iHeartRadio)

Best Crime Podcast:

• “Crime Junkie” (AudioChuck)
• “Criminal” (PRX/Radiotopia)
• “Deep Cover: The Drug Wars” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Forgotten: Women of Juarez” (iHeartRadio)
• “My Favorite Murder” (Exactly Right)

Best Pop Culture Podcast:

• “Bitch Sesh” (Earwolf/Casey Wilson/Danielle Schneider)
• “Las Culturistas” (Big Money Players/iHeartRadio)
• “Pop Culture Happy Hour” (NPR)
• “Still Processing” (The New York Times)
• “The Read” (Loud Speakers Network)

Best Food Podcast:

• “Burnt Toast” (Food52)
• “Gastropod” (Independent)
• “Home Cooking” (Samin Nosrat/Hrishikesh Hirway)
• “Spilled Milk” (Molly Wizenberg & Matthew Amster-Burton)
• “The Sporkful” (Dan Pashman/Stitcher)

Best Wellness & Fitness Podcast:

• “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” (Gretchen Rubin/The Onward Project)
• “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” (Jay Shetty & Kast Media)
• “Sleep with Me” (Dearest Scooter & Night Vale Presents)
• “Ten Percent Happier” (ABC News)
• “Therapy For Black Girls” (Joy Harden Bradford/iHeartRadio)

Best History Podcast:

• “Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History” (Dan Carlin)
• “Noble Blood” (iHeartRadio)
• “Revisionist History” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Slow Burn” (Slate)
• “Throughline” (NPR)

Best Kids & Family Podcast:

• “But Why: A Podcast For Kids” (Vermont Public Radio)
• “Hank The Cowdog” (QCODE & HTC Productions)
• “Smash Boom Best” (APM)
• “Story Pirates” (Gimlet)
• “Wow In The World” (NPR)

Best Music Podcast:

• “Bobbycast” (The Nashville Podcast Network)
• “Broken Record” (Pushkin Industries)
• “Disgraceland” (Jake Brennan)
• “Dolly Parton’s America” (WNYC & OSM Audio)
• “Song Exploder” (Hrishikesh Hirway)

Best News Podcast:

• “Pod Save America” (Crooked Media)
• “The Daily” (The New York Times)
• “The Journal.” (The Wall Street Journal/Gimlet)
• “Today, Explained” (Vox)
• “Up First” (NPR)

Best Fiction Podcast:

• “Blood Ties” (Wondery)
• “Borrasca” (QCODE)
• “Dirty Diana” (QCODE)
• “The Left Right Game” (QCODE)
• “Welcome To Night Vale” (Night Vale Presents)

Best Sports Podcast:

• “All The Smoke” (The Black Effect)
• “Fantasy Footballers” (Fantasy Football)
• “Pardon My Take” (Barstool Sports)
• “The Bill Simmons Podcast” (The Ringer/Bill Simmons)
• “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” (iHeartRadio)

Best Science Podcast:

• “Hidden Brain” (NPR)
• “Invisibilia” (NPR)
• “Radiolab” (WNYC Studios)
• “Science Vs.” (Gimlet)
• “Stuff To Blow Your Mind” (iHeartRadio)

Best Technology Podcast:

• “Rabbit Hole” (The New York Times)
• “Recode by Vox” (Recode)
• “Reply All” (Gimlet)
• “TED Radio Hour” (NPR)
• “Waveform” (Studio71)

Best Ad Read:

• “Comedy Bang Bang” (Earwolf / Scott Aukerman)
• “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• “Hollywood Handbook” (Earwolf)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf / Stitcher)
• “Revisionist History” (Pushkin Industries)

Best Overall Host – Male:

• Conan O’Brien (Team Coco/Earwolf)
• Dax Shepard (Armchair Umbrella)

• Jonathan Van Ness (Earwolf/Stitcher)

• Michael Barbaro (The New York Times)
• Questlove (iHeartRadio)

Best Overall Host – Female:

• Ashley Flowers (Parcast)
• Brené Brown (Parcast)
• Michelle Obama (Higher Ground/Spotify)
• Nicole Byer (Headgum)
• Nora McInerny (APM)

Best Political Podcast:

• “FiveThirtyEight Politics” (FiveThirtyEight/538/ABC News, Nate Silver)
• “NPR Politics” (NPR)
• “Pod Save America” (Crooked Media)
• “Political Gabfest” (Slate)
• “Stay Tuned with Preet” (Cafe)

Best TV & Film Podcast:

• “Fake Doctors, Real Friends” (iHeartRadio)
• “How Did This Get Made?” (Earwolf/Paul Scheer/June Diane Raphael/Jason Mantzoukas/Stitcher)
• “Office Ladies” (Earwolf/Jenna Fischer/Angela Kinsey)
• “Rewatchables” (The Ringer/Bill Simmons)
• “You Must Remember This” (Karina Longworth)

Best Spanish Language Podcast:

• “Duolingo Spanish Podcast” (Duolingo)
• “La Nota Roja” (Imperative Entertainment/Blue Guitar)
• “Leyendas Legendarias” (Sonoro/All Things Comedy)

• “Radio Ambulante” (NPR)

• “Spanish Aqui Presents” (Earwolf /Spanish Aqui Presents)

Best Advice/Inspirational Podcast:

• “Dear Prudence” (Slate)
• “Dear Sugars” (WBUR/The New York Times)
• “Terrible, Thanks For Asking” (APM)
• “Unlocking Us with Brené Brown” (Parcast)
• “Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel” (Esther Perel Global Media/Gimlet)

Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast:

• “Articles of Interest” (Avery Trufelman/99% Invisible)
• “Beauty Needs Me” (Independent)
• “Blamo!” (Independent)
• “Dressed: The History of Fashion” (iHeartRadio)
• “Forever 35” (Independent)

Best Travel Podcast:

• “Escape” (WEBVID)
• “Extra Pack of Peanuts” (Independent)
• “JUMP with Traveling Jackie” (Independent)
• “Let’s Go Together” (Travel & Leisure)
• “Travel with Rick Steves” (Rick Steves)

Best Spirituality & Religion Podcast:

• “Calm It Down” (Independent)
• “Doing Great with Vicky Vox” (Earwolf & Vicky Vox)
• “Elevation with Steven Furtick” (Independent)
• “On Being with Krista Tippett” (Independent)
• “Whoa That’s Good Podcast” (Independent)

Best Green Podcast:

• “America Adapts” (Independent)
• “Broken Ground” (Southern Environmental Law Center)
• “Citizens’ Climate Lobby” (Citizens’ Climate Lobby)
• “Costing The Earth” (BBC Radio 4)
• “How To Save A Planet” (Gimlet)

Best Branded Podcast:

• “Bring Back Bronco” (Ford)
• “Hackable?” (McAfee)
• “Humans Growing Stuff” (ScottsMiracle-Gro)
• “Inside Trader Joe’s” (Trader Joe’s)
• “The Only Way Is Through” (Under Armour)

The 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards is part of iHeartMedia’s roster of incredibly successful, nationally-recognized events, including the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, the nationwide iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Concert Tour, iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, iHeartCountry Festival, iHeartRadio ALTer Ego and iHeartRadio Wango Tango.

Select category winners will be announced during the virtual show and stream with more details to be shared soon. For more information visit iHeartPodcastAwards.com.

Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards are John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Conal Byrne for iHeartMedia and Deviants Media Studio founder Ivan Dudynsky and Buzz Chatman. Proud sponsors of this year’s event include Audible with more to be announced.

iHeartMedia Also Names Charlamagne Tha God

Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming

New York, NY – December 8, 2020 – iHeartMedia announced today that it has renewed and extended its relationship with the phenomenal culture-shifting multimedia mogul Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of New York's Power 105's wildly popular and nationally syndicated hit radio show "The Breakfast Club," heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. One of the world’s most well-informed, authoritative, and distinctive media personalities, Charlamagne Tha God has become a crucially important and influential voice in culture. Under the new five-year agreement, Charlamagne will continue his uninhibited, trademark interview style on the award-winning radio show with his relentless effort to unveil truth by asking the questions audiences most want to hear, weekdays from 6-10:00 a.m. EST, as well as “Weekends with The Breakfast Club,” alongside co-hosts Angela Yee and DJ Envy.

“The Breakfast Club,” celebrating its 10-year milestone this month, has become the bullhorn for modern culture and widely regarded as the most informative and entertaining top-rated contemporary Hip-Hop/R&B morning show today. Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, and DJ Envy are known for their unrivaled interviews with celebrities and recording artists. Guests on the show have ranged from former President Barack Obama, President-elect Joe Biden, and VP-elect Kamala Harris to Snoop Dog, Jay-Z, and Dr. Anthony Fauci. The crew also host “Weekends with The Breakfast Club,” a 3-hour weekly program featuring a countdown of the top 20 songs on the charts and signature interviews. “The Breakfast Club” was inducted this year into the Radio Hall of Fame in the Active Network/Syndication (10 years or more) category.

"I give my sincerest thanks to iHeart for empowering me over the past decade to be the best talent that I can be, and for honoring me as an owner and executive,” said Charlamagne. “I love the audio business and iHeart is the biggest and best audio company in the world. As Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Black Effect Podcast Network and now Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming at iHeart, all I want to do for the next 5 years is continue to move the culture of radio and podcasting forward by curating a new era of voices, programming, and events. GOD IS GREAT! Now, it's time to get back to work."

“The Breakfast Club” has raised over 1.7 million dollars over the last three years for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Gathering for Justice Movement, and Project 375 with their 24-hour radiothon Change4Change (one of Charlamagne’s many initiatives).

As the new Senior Creative Officer of Culture Content and Programming, Charlamagne will be discovering and curating new talent and programming for radio and podcasts and developing productions and community initiatives. In September, iHeartMedia and Charlamagne announced a historic joint podcast publishing venture, The Black Effect Podcast Network, the world’s largest podcast publisher dedicated to Black listeners, bringing 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. Also, in addition to the Breakfast Club, Charlamagne will be developing a show where he will lead exclusive one-on-one interviews with some of the most notable artist, athletes, and voices in our society. The conversations would air quarterly across various iHeartRadio stations, podcasts and other digital platforms.

“Charlamagne is a multiplatform talent, creator and innovator and we are excited to extend our existing partnership on the nationally syndicated morning show “The Breakfast Club,” while also creating successful new historical ventures like the Black Effect Network,” said Thea Mitchem, EVP of Programming for iHeartMedia. “His voice continues to be unique and authentic and a driving force and influence in today’s hip hop and pop culture. He, along with the entire Breakfast Club, continue to have the incredible ability to connect with audiences and artists alike, delivering the most entertaining and informative content and programming to listeners throughout the country.”

As a cultural cannon continuing to expand his awe-inspiring entertainment empire Charlamagne announced the launch of Black Privilege Publishing his new partnership imprint from Atria Books at Simon & Schuster that aligns with his mission to bring crucial, culturally-relevant content to the marketplace from emerging and renowned Black voices around the world. The inaugural release on Black Privilege Publishing will be trailblazing movement strategist and social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory’s eagerly anticipated publishing debut, State of Emergency, due out in May 2021.

Charlamagne Tha God will also debut a talk show on Comedy Central in 2021.

ABOUT CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD

Charlamagne Tha God, also known as Lenard McKelvey, is one of the most potent, influential, and authoritative voices in media today. He is the widely-coveted, outspoken, thought-provoking co-host of the hottest nationally-syndicated radio show in the U.S., “The Breakfast Club,” heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. Charlamagne’s production company, CTHAGOD World Productions, discovers and advocates for original, emerging talent who resonate with popular culture long before they become mainstream. A cultural architect and executive producer, Charlamagne is the co-host of the popular podcast, “Brilliant Idiots.” He is a New York Times bestselling author of the book, Black Privilege and global bestseller Shook One, which propelled him to become one of the world’s leading voices in the mental health discussion. In 2020, Charlamagne launched The Black Effect Podcast Network, an unprecedented, historic 50-50 joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia. He achieved another groundbreaking milestone when he signed a global multi-year, multi-project development, production, and audio licensing partnership with renowned comedian, actor and writer Kevin Hart, and Audible Inc., the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks. Charlamagne announced the launch of Black Privilege Publishing, his new partnership imprint from Atria Books at Simon & Schuster, in alignment with his mission to bring crucial, culturally-relevant content to the marketplace from emerging and renowned Black voices around the world. The inaugural release on Black Privilege Publishing will be trailblazing movement strategist and social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory’s eagerly anticipated publishing debut, State of Emergency, due out in May 2021. Charlamagne Tha God will also debut a talk show on Comedy Central in 2021.

$1 Million In Media To Be Granted To Organizations Working To Positively Impact Social And Racial Justice

UNCF Named The First Grant Recipient

New York – December 1, 2020 – iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America, today announced the launch of iHeartRadio Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program, an all-new initiative to support organizations that are making a positive impact within the communities iHeart serves and to use iHeart’s multi-platform media network to deliver messaging that is timely, relevant and hyper-targeted to most effectively serve impacted communities.

The inaugural Spotlight Grants will provide a nationwide platform for Black-focused community organizations to inspire, educate and empower listeners to take a stand against systemic racism and promote social justice; celebrate Black excellence, achievement and culture; help members of the Black community express themselves and address the unique needs of their communities; and invest in educational programs and individuals that are inspiring the next generation of Black journalists and leaders.

To mark the launch of the grant program, long-time partner UNCF, an organization that helps fund 37 private historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), has been named the first partner and will receive a minimum media grant of $350,000 to be used through the end of the year.

The all-new PSA will begin airing today through the end of the year across all iHeartMedia radio stations and will bring attention to the many social, financial, educational and mental health challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to communities of color and the threat to America’s progress for a more equitable society. UNCF is asking listeners to donate $10 online at UNCF.org/donate to help HBCU students who had to withdraw from school because of COVID-19 challenges get back to college in the spring. Additionally, iHeart will again host UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax as a guest on the iHeartRadio Communities public affairs show in the coming weeks.

“iHeart strongly believes in the mission of UNCF and the importance of investing in an equitable and just society and we will continue to work with them into the future,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “The iHeartRadio Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program is an opportunity at a critical moment in history to share the work and messages of organizations like UNCF and bring them to the largest possible audience.”

“We thank iHeart for this investment in a vital component of better futures for us all—our institutions and students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “Getting our message out and making people aware of how we work tirelessly to support HBCUs and the Black community is vital. Partners like iHeart make our work at UNCF possible, and we are grateful for this support. As UNCF enters its 76th year, our mission is critical now, more than ever, as we work to ensure that students get back to college and that their futures – as leaders, professionals, and responders to the next pandemic – are secured.”

Most recently, iHeart has worked closely with leading civil right organizations including the NAACP and National Urban League to invest in ensuring Black voter participation in the 2020 presidential election and to advocate for the importance of minority education and college readiness as well as explore the deep cultural influence of HBCUs. In addition to the media grant, iHeart will continue to work with UNCF and other organizations to ensure their messages and missions are heard beyond these campaigns.

Future iHeartRadio Communities Spotlight Media Grant PSAs will address individual issue areas ranging from minority education to mental health to food insecurity and the many long-term impacts of COVID-19 on our country, and will spotlight critical issues facing all of our listeners and provide a platform to explore the issues that matter most to them both locally and nationally.

In 2019, iHeart contributed over $355 million in media to thousands of national and local organizations and the iHeartRadio Communities Spotlight Media Grant Program is an extension of that commitment. The program is designed to explore the many facets of timely issues like social justice and racism facing our country and offer multiple outlets for action.

Public health technology company to unveil flagship podcast with iHeartRadio focused on contact tracing, community health, COVID-19 and more by the end of 2020

VANCOUVER, BC- November 24, 2020 - Tracker Ventures Corp. (“Tracker” or the “Company”) (CSE:TKR)(OTC PINK:TLOOF)(FSE:B2I) today announced that Contakt LLC (“Contakt World”), a technology company modernizing public health and safety, has entered into a content production and multi platform marketing partnership (the “Partnership”) with iHeartMedia (NASDAQ:IHRT) (“iHeartMedia”), the number one audio company in the United States.

The partnership will help build widespread awareness and adoption of Contakt World as the best total choice for public health technology solutions, including contact tracing. As part of the partnership, Contakt World and iHeart will co-produce an original podcast hosted by Contakt World CEO Justin Beck with co-hosts Deepti Pahwa and Catherine Delcin. The first season of the upcoming 10-episode podcast “Contakt World” will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and will be available on iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms beginning next month.

“iHeartMedia knows exactly how to reach people where they are across a spectrum of media, which is exactly what Contakt World is doing with its digital public health solutions. We believe that iHeartRadio listeners care deeply about public health and socio-economic issues that plague our society and will appreciate Contakt World’s perspective,” stated Justin Beck, CEO of Contakt World. “Led by our Chief Innovation Officer and co-host, Deepti Pahwa, our team identified the intimate medium of digital audio and broadcast radio as an effective way to drive meaningful conversations about issues ranging from contact tracing and vaccines, to health and racial equity. iHeartMedia is unrivaled in its capacity to reach diverse listeners and we expect the Partnership to increase adoption of Contakt World’s solutions.”

Contakt World’s mission is to provide the most private, functional, and trustworthy digital public health system in the world. Health agencies, businesses, and institutions can use Contakt World to ethically manage infection risks for COVID-19 or other contagions with their residents, customers and staff. Launching through several strategic partnerships, Contakt World will protect the public while allowing people to control access to their personal information.

“iHeart is excited to work with Contakt World to bring their mission to life through the ‘Contakt World’ podcast,” said Andy Kelly, Senior Vice President of Custom Podcasts for iHeartMedia. “With iHeartMedia’s experience having previously worked with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on national campaigns including opioid awareness, we’re uniquely positioned to help develop trust and adoption of the Contakt World platform with our listeners at a local, regional and national scale. iHeartMedia reaches more than a quarter of a billion Americans each month1, so it is a natural fit for us to join forces with Contakt World to provide another innovative solution for public health officials to connect with communities across the country.”

Pursuant to the Partnership, iHeartMedia will provide pre- and post-production services and distribution across iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms. iHeartMedia will also promote the podcast within popular shows on their iHeartPodcast Network as well as via their subscriber newsletter and across iHeartMedia’s broadcast radio stations. Contakt World will also have exclusive rights to its own advertising before, during and after each show.

1 Data tracked and verified by Nielsen.

Contakt World - Tracker Transaction

Tracker and Contakt World are parties to a definitive share exchange agreement pursuant to which Tracker will indirectly acquire (the “Acquisition”) a 100% interest in Contakt World. For further information respecting the Acquisition, please refer to the Company’s news release dated October 30, 2020. Trading of Tracker’s shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) has been halted in connection with the announcement of the Acquisition and is not expected to resume until the CSE has approved a Form 2A Listing Statement for the resulting issuer from the Acquisition. There can be no assurance that the Acquisition will be completed on the terms proposed in the share exchange agreement or at all.

About Contakt World

Contakt World is a technology company innovating public health agency connections with their community, with the goal of becoming the most trustworthy, accessible and scalable digital public health and safety platform globally - addressing the needs of a post-pandemic world. Contakt World combines aggressive research and development, human-centered design, next-gen data integrations, and strategic health partnerships to empower and build mutual trust within communities, contributing towards health equity for users around the world. Contakt World’s first suite of tools emerge from the urgency surrounding coronavirus to manage the pandemic through innovative contact tracing and case management spanning multiple modes of communication. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.contakt.world.

About Tracker Ventures Corp.

Tracker Ventures (CSE:TKR)(OTC PINK:TLOOF)(FSE:B2I) is an analytics software company that leverages blockchain and digital asset technology to transform and modernize multiple industries. Tracker is taking a diversified approach to the analytics and technology space, delivering practical solutions in the health, finance, logistics and pharmaceutical industries. The Company’s turnkey real-time tracking solutions offer the very latest in IoT and AI, providing valuable data and business intelligence to some of the world’s leading brands. For more information, please visit www.tkrventures.com.

Host Eleanor Wells brings to light the stories of women obscured by the shadows of their famous musician partners.

Listen to the trailer here

(BOSTON, MA – November 23, 2020) -- Double Elvis Productions today announced About A Girl, a new iHeartRadio Original podcast chronicling the women behind the scenes of music’s greatest icons, who inspired, loved, supported, and challenged these artists on their way to greatness. Hosted by Eleanor Wells, the series brings focus to the many women without whom the landscape of popular music might be very different. About A Girl will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, with the first two episodes debuting November 30. New episodes will air every Monday. Listeners can hear the official trailer now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

About A Girl is a scripted narrative anthology series highlighting the stories of twelve women who inspired and supported some of the most celebrated and enduring music of the modern age, from Angie Bowie and Jane Asher, to Rita Marley and Pam Courson. Hosted by Eleanor Wells, the writer and director known for short films including The Harpist and Eagle Rock, About A Girl celebrates the unsung feminist heroes behind some of the world’s most iconic musicians and their contributions to music as we know it today.

“The women featured in About A Girl have made an impact on music that is often overlooked,” said host Eleanor Wells. “This show is an inside look at some of the most exciting milestones in music history, and a glimpse into the private moments and characters that changed the landscape of music forever.”

About A Girl is the latest podcast focused on deep-dive storytelling throughout music history from leading music podcast company, Double Elvis. Audio-first media company Double Elvis is led by Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan, creator of Disgraceland, the number one most downloaded music podcast according to Podtrac, The 27 Club, and Blood On The Tracks. About A Girl is their latest release in a slate of shows aimed at spotlighting artists and the story behind their craft.

“Double Elvis spotlights untold music stories - from up and comers to the beloved. About A Girl celebrates the resilient women who inspired and helped shape some of the most prolific music of a generation - the partners of famous musicians,” said Brady Sadler, cofounder of Double Elvis Productions. “Eleanor dives into the untold stories of these women behind your favorite songs, albums and artists, lending them the credit they deserve, while bringing fans closer to the art they love at a time when live music isn’t an option.”

Releasing weekly this winter, each of the twelve episodes will spotlight women’s contributions to the most popular music in the world - from inspiring songs and albums to supporting and often challenging their famous husbands and lovers like David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Hank Williams and Jim Morrison.

“Double Elvis brings creativity and a fresh perspective to the music podcasting genre,” said Will Pearson, Chief Operating Officer, iHeartPodcast Network. “About A Girl is yet another groundbreaking series they’ve produced that is redefining what it means to be a music podcast, and showcases their knack for captivating storytelling.”

Fans can visit iHeart.com/apps to download iHeartRadio and listen to About a Girl on their favorite device.To learn more about About A Girl and upcoming episodes, visit Instagram.com/DoubleElvis.

About A Girl is co-produced by Double Elvis and iHeartRadio. Double Elvis is represented by Oren Rosenbaum at UTA.

About Double Elvis Productions

Double Elvis is a music-focused entertainment company rooted in podcasting. Co-founded by Brady Sadler and Jake Brennan, creator & host of the podcasts “Disgraceland” ​(#1 most downloaded music podcast),​ “27 Club” and “Blood On The Tracks,” the company specializes in storytelling about music and aims to provide a platform for artists and a destination for music fans. In 2020 Double Elvis also released the critically acclaimed coming-of-age music memoir, “Dear Young Rocker.”

Inspirational Guest Teachers & Healers Include Lewis Howes, Ashley Neese, Ryan Weiss, And More; First Episode Now Available

Los Angeles, CA - November 30, 2020 - Following the release of her highly-anticipated record CHANT: The Human & The Holy, today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter and mental health advocate LeAnn Rimes continues her wellness journey with the launch of her mental health and wholeness iHeartRadio Original podcast, Wholly Human.

It’s no secret that the multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter has both professionally and personally weathered the highest heights and the lowest depths for nearly three decades, which set her on a passionate path to greater understanding, compassion and healing. Along her journey, Rimes created Soul Of EverLe, a space designed to use her voice and express her heart in a new way; and now in a whole new format it extends into Wholly Human where Rimes continues her journey to healing by connecting with like hearted souls on a deeper level on this whole new podcasting platform.

The first season of the 12-episode podcast will feature an introduction into Rimes’ journey, as she shares what went into building her mental health and wholeness toolkit and introduces her community to teachers and wise souls that have helped her along the way, such as lifestyle entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Lewis Howes, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner® Nicole Lohse who talks about using physiology to make sense of our experiences, life coach Ryan Weiss who advocates for the need to slow down and learn to nurture ourselves in order to be our best selves, and breathwork teacher and author Ashley Neese whom Rimes credits as her introduction into learning to heal through different healing modalities, as well as some surprise star-studded friends.

Today, Rimes stands stronger than ever and remains dedicated to using her singular voice to uplift others striving to make sense of themselves and the world we share. Join her as she offers her own hard-earned insights and those of acclaimed teachers and amazing healers to inspire us all to become more complete and Wholly Human.

Wholly Human is distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and is available now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

About LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is an international multi-platinum selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter who has sold more than 44 million units globally, won 2 Grammy® Awards; 12 Billboard Music Awards; 2 World Music Awards; 3 Academy of Country Music Awards; one Country Music Association Award and one Dove Award. At 14, Rimes won "Best New Artist” making her the youngest recipient to take home a Grammy® Award. LeAnn has been honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for over 20 years of equal rights support, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy, and 2009 ACM Humanitarian Award, among other recognitions, solidifying her dedication to making the world a better place.

The powerhouse vocalist lit up television screens throughout the 2018 holiday season as she starred and served as an Executive Producer in Hallmark’s “It’s Christmas, Eve,” which earned the highest TV original movie debut to-date for the channel premiering to over 4.3 million viewers.

Passionate about using her voice to help heal the world, LeAnn released a chant record in November of 2020 called CHANT: The Human and The Holy (Soul of EverLe / Thirty Tigers). Rimes continued her wellness journey with the launch of an iHeartRadio podcast, Wholly Human, which brings her lifestyle blog, Soul of EverLe, to life and introduces fans to the teachers and wise souls that have made a positive impact on her life. Next up, LeAnn will celebrate her 25th anniversary as a recording artist in 2021 with the release of her next studio album.

First project is to translate and adapt the true crime podcast “Forgotten: Women of Juárez” (Olvidadas: Muertes de Juárez) for Latin America Listeners

Copenhagen & New York – November 25, 2020 – iHeartMedia, the No. 1 audio company in America and the No. 1 podcast publisher globally, and European podcast platform Podimo today announced a strategic partnership to translate and adapt popular podcasts across the globe in different languages, introducing these podcasts to hundreds of millions of new listeners.  The partnership will kick off with the widely popular true crime podcast “Forgotten: Women of Juárez” (Olvidadas: Muertes de Juárez) about femicides in Mexico’s most dangerous city in three languages: Spanish, German and Danish.

In one of 2020’s most intimate and shocking true crime podcasts, “Forgotten: Women of Juárez,” from iHeartMedia and Unusual Productions, hosts Mónica Ortiz Uribe and Oz Woloshyn investigate theories surrounding the disappearance of hundreds of young women along the Mexican border city of Juárez. Some are tragically found with symbols carved into their bodies or wrists bound with shoelaces -- is it a serial killer, organ traffickers, or a Satanic Cult? Executive produced by iHeartMedia and Unusual Productions, in partnership with Podimo, the adapted versions, starting with Spanish, will feature both existing content from the original podcast, plus exciting new elements including additional interviews with special hosts Rossana Fuentes-Berain and Sandra Romandía.  The adapted podcast series will be released in early 2021 in 20 countries in Latin America, as well as in Spain and in the USA, followed by Podimo’s German and Danish markets at a later date.  The original series will continue to be available on the iHeartRadio App and everywhere podcasts are available.  

 “This partnership is powerful. iHeartMedia’s understanding of great storytelling combined with Podimo’s ultra-local on-the-ground presence in Latin America and Spain will help us tell important stories like this to a local audience. We know that around 90% of all listening on Podimo is on local language podcasts, so translating good stories will help grow the audience for these stories tremendously,” said Eva Lægdsgaard, Chief of Strategic Relations at Podimo. “In the podcast business, everything begins and ends with great storytelling. But for great stories to have a great life, we need to drive large-scale listening numbers for our podcasters and publishers -- both locally and globally. This will help them monetize their content on a much bigger scale, and that is the very core of our business model.”

“We’re excited to partner with a podcast innovator like Podimo and use iHeartMedia’s unparalleled ability to introduce podcast listening at scale to bring some of the most fascinating local podcasts to millions of listeners worldwide,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network. “Podcast listening continues to see tremendous growth as more and more listeners seek out layered storytelling, and we believe this venture with Podimo will help us to introduce great podcasts to new fans around the world.”

About Podimo

Podimo is a European podcast platform that offers personal recommendations for users, while supporting creators through a new revenue share model. Currently live in Denmark, Germany, Spain, and across Latin America, the app features great podcasts from anywhere in the world via RSS feeds, and is free to download and listen with no login required. As a Premium member, you’ll unlock access to an additional 400+ Podimo produced and licensed shows that can’t be heard anywhere else, and your membership fee is shared directly with the podcast creators you listen to each month. https://podimo.com