integrations

The Leading Audio Company Kicks off the Decade Announcing Seven New Upcoming Integrations with General Motors, Android Automotive, Panasonic, SoundHound and Others at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS – January 7, 2020 – iHeartMedia today announced new upcoming automotive integrations for iHeartRadio, the company’s free all-in-one digital music, podcasting, on demand and live streaming radio service, during the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. To optimize and enrich the in-vehicle experience for drivers, iHeartRadio is rolling out a series of automotive integrations and concept demonstrations all designed to bring iHeartRadio’s unprecedented library of audio content to listeners in a seamless way.

As the leading audio company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet, iHeartMedia is uniquely poised to lead the way in a new era of audio evolution – one where virtual assistants, smart speakers and intuitive design interfaces are experiencing explosive growth. By integrating with the most innovative automotive companies on the market, iHeartRadio enables consumers to access the music, podcasts and personalities they love, whenever and wherever they are, on any device. iHeartRadio is currently available on more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices including on digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables and smartphones as well as on virtual assistants, smart speakers, TVs, gaming consoles and more.

“2019 was a momentous year for iHeartMedia and in 2020 we will continue to expand our audio offerings and connect with more and more marquee technology companies to provide a seamless, unmatched audio experience to consumers,” said Michele Laven, President of the Strategic Partnerships Group for iHeartMedia. “Broadcast radio dominates in-vehicle listening and iHeartRadio continues to be at the forefront when it comes to new digital interfaces and experiences. We’re excited to be at CES unveiling our new integrations and concepts with the world’s leading auto innovators as we continue to steward audio innovation in the car.”

Full details on iHeartRadio’s new integrations can be found below:

Android Automotive OS

iHeartRadio is releasing a new, stand-alone version of its app for vehicles powered by Android with the Google Play Store built-in. iHeartRadio first announced and demonstrated capabilities at Google I/O 2019 in May, and the app will be distributed via the Google Play Store and available first in the Polestar 2 and the Volvo XC40 Recharge vehicle launches in 2020. iHeartRadio users will be able to seamlessly access Live Radio, Artist Radio, Podcasts and Playlists while cruising around. Experience Android Automotive OS at CES 2020 in the Google Assistant footprint at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

BMW ConnectedDrive

Building upon iHeartRadio’s existing BMW ConnectedDrive experience, the company is releasing a new app version that will be available in both Flagship Mobile clients, iOS and Android. This latest update offers an enhanced audio experience for both BMW and MINI drivers and allows iHeartRadio listeners to safely and easily listen to Live Radio, Artist Radio, Podcasts and Playlists while on the road.

General Motors

iHeartRadio is releasing a new integration that will be available across in-market and future Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles with eligible infotainment systems[1]. While iHeartRadio currently offers an in-vehicle experience, the new app will be expanded to include access to Podcasts and Playlists in addition to Live Radio and custom Artist Radio.

HARMAN Ignite

Consumers demand highly connected, seamless and intuitive driving experiences that enable their digital lifestyle. HARMAN believes in the power of partnerships as the key to unlocking innovative consumer experiences. The new HARMAN Ignite Marketplace, supported through a strong partner ecosystem of in-vehicle apps and services - from navigation and messaging to productivity and media, allows consumers to personalize and control their connected driving experience and ensure time in the car is time well spent. iHeartRadio today announced it is an early ecosystem partner for the HARMAN Ignite Marketplace.

LG webOS Auto

iHeartRadio will soon be available for LG’s webOS Auto platform. Originally designed for the smart TV, the webOS platform is now supported by the car. iHeartRadio on webOS Auto is based on its TV design and is available for rear seat use. webOS Auto provides features and functionality that enable an infotainment system to offer improved comfort and convenience to passengers. Together, iHeartRadio and LG are giving passengers the opportunity to access audio content in a way like never before.

Panasonic

Panasonic Automotive has built several next generation in-vehicle experiences in recent years and its latest infotainment experience, SkipGen – which is powered by Android 10, features the iHeartRadio app designed for Android Automotive. To learn more about this in-vehicle experience at CES, visit the Panasonic footprint at Booth 12908.

SoundHound / Houndify / Hound App

iHeartRadio and SoundHound are working together to bring iHeartRadio’s robust slate of content to SoundHound Inc.’s Houndify™ voice AI platform and Hound app. Houndify is the voice AI solution for various automotive and connected platforms, and Hound is the popular voice assistant app available on iOS and Android. Through the partnership, developers and partners using Houndify and Hound app will have access to iHeartRadio’s free suite of offerings including Live Radio (U.S. only), Artist Radio (U.S. only), and Podcasts (available globally except the U.K.), no login or authentication required.

[1] Available on select 2017 model year and newer GM vehicles with compatible hardware. Requires active service plan and paid AT&T vehicle data plan. Requires active iHeartRadio account to customize favorites and create custom stations. See onstar.com for details and limitations.

Google, Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.

New enhancement will allow Hilton guests to stream music, local radio stations and podcasts straight from their Connected Room
 

(MCLEAN, Va., September 17, 2019) — Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced a new integration with iHeartRadio to allow guests to stream live radio stations, thousands of music playlists and podcasts directly from their TVs through Hilton’s high-tech Connected Room guest technology platform. This marks yet another Connected Room feature that allows guests even more ways to personalize their travel experience. 

With iHeartRadio, guests who stay in Hilton Connected Rooms will be able to play exclusive audio content and have instant access to thousands of live radio stations from across the country, customized music stations based on their favorite artists, and top podcasts across all categories including travel, business, sports, entertainment, comedy and more. Travelers can use either their Hilton Honors app or the in-room remote to access the content on their guestroom TV.

“We heard our guests loud and clear when they said they wanted the ability to stream music in their guestrooms, so we’re excited to bring this to life in collaboration with iHeartRadio,” said Noelle Eder, executive vice president and chief information and digital officer for Hilton. “This addition to Connected Room is just another way we’re making travelers feel at home by giving them access to their favorite content and enjoying custom, curated playlists for any occasion or mood.”

As a special benefit to Hilton guests, iHeartRadio is free and no signup is required. Guests need only to open the app on their TV and press play.

“We are excited to join forces with Hilton, a leader in the hospitality industry, to provide a superior music experience for travelers,” said Michele Laven, president of strategic partnerships for iHeartMedia. “We look forward to helping enhance the guest’s stay by giving them the companionship of our live radio stations as well as quick and easy access to iHeartRadio’s massive catalog of music playlists, podcasts and more.”

iHeartRadio joins Netflix and SHOWTIME in Hilton’s Connected Room technology, which also allows guests to access on-demand content and also control the temperature, lights and TV from their mobile device or in-room remote.

Hilton currently has more than 3,500 Connected Rooms across 15 hotels and plans to roll out the technology to the majority of its portfolio of nearly 5,900 hotels over the coming years.

LAS VEGAS – January 8, 2019 – iHeartMedia today announced multiple new consumer technology integrations for iHeartRadio, the company’s free all-in-one digital music, on demand, podcasting and live streaming radio service, during the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The integrations include the Honda Dream Drive Platform, the new Bixby from Samsung, Roku devices, and Google’s Android TV and Android Auto. Additionally, iHeartRadio today launched its fully redesigned iHeartRadio Family app on Amazon Fire Tablet with iOS and Android coming soon.

As the leading audio company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet, iHeartMedia is uniquely poised to lead the way in a new era of media consumption – one where virtual assistants, smart speakers and wearables are experiencing explosive growth. By integrating with the most innovative devices on the market, iHeartRadio enables consumers to access the music, personalities and content they love, whenever and wherever they are. iHeartRadio is currently available on more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices, including on digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables and smartphones, on virtual assistants, smart speakers, TVs and gaming consoles.

“2018 was a momentous year for iHeartMedia, filled with acquisitions, partnerships, integrations and the development of an unprecedented podcasting platform,” said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio and iHeartMedia Networks Group. “Thanks to our ever-expanding list of platforms, iHeartRadio can be enjoyed nearly everywhere — from cars to wearables to gaming consoles and more. We’re excited to announce even more integrations this week as we look forward to another successful year of providing listeners everywhere with an exceptional music and audio listening experience.”

Full details on the iHeartRadio Family app redesign and integrations can be found below:

iHeartRadio Family

iHeartRadio Family now boasts new features, content, parental control settings and more. Live Radio, Playlist Radio and Podcasts are now available in the app for a total of more than 80 pieces of family-friendly content. Improved navigation now includes a scrolling mechanism that moves top to bottom instead of left to right, and now has three tabs (All, Music and Stories) for more intuitive browsing.

Additionally, parents now have more control over the app experience with “Hide this Station” and “Hide this Story” features, which enable parents to manage certain content through the “Parental Controls” tab on the Settings page. Download iHeartRadio Family on Amazon Fire Tablet, with iOS and Android devices coming soon.

Honda Dream Drive

Honda is demonstrating its prototype Honda Dream Drive, the automotive industry’s first integrated driver and passenger infotainment, commerce, services and rewards dashboards within the vehicle environment. In partnership with iHeartRadio, Honda will also explore in the Dream Drive platform the integration of live broadcast radio content (AM/FM signals) simultaneously with digitally streamed audio content. Drivers will be able to access and interact with their favorite iHeartRadio content, including thousands of live stations from across the U.S., custom artist radio stations and more than 20,000 podcasts. Experience Honda Dream Drive in the all-new 2019 Honda Passport at its CES booth in LVCC North Hall #7900.

Bixby from Samsung

iHeartMedia continues its strong partnership with Samsung and unveils a voice-enabled integration with the new Bixby, Samsung’s intelligence platform, that will enable users in the U.S to seamlessly call up specific live and iHeartRadio original radio stations. Now, listening to iHeartRadio on Bixby-enabled devices will be easier than ever. Soon, listeners will also be able to enjoy music playlists and their favorite podcasts. Experience the integration at Samsung’s booth in LVCC Central Hall #15006.

Roku Devices

iHeartRadio users can now use simple voice commands with Roku streaming players and Roku TVs with Roku TV Wireless Speakers connected to listen to all their favorite live radio stations, artist stations and podcasts. With Roku TV Wireless Speakers, users can bring music to life with powerful performance via stereo separation, vibrant high frequencies and rich bass, plus, full, clear sound. For a frictionless experience, users can give voice commands like “Play iHeartRadio Countdown on iHeartRadio” to a Roku TV Voice Remote or a Roku Touch™. Roku TV Wireless Speakers are the first speakers built by Roku and are designed exclusively for Roku TV™ to be incredibly easy to set up, simple to use and deliver premium sound.

Android TV

Android TV devices with the Google Assistant built-in allow for a more seamless listening experience. With this integration, listeners can easily pick radio stations, podcasts and playlists from the personalized recommendations curated by iHeartRadio that appear automatically on their home screen using just their voice.  Additionally, listeners can activate devices with far field microphones by saying, “Hey Google,” or by pressing the mic button on the remote to quickly find their favorite iHeartRadio live radio station.

With a complete design refresh and the addition of podcasts, free music playlists and the Google Assistant, users can now enjoy a more delightful and frictionless iHeartRadio experience in their living rooms on any Android TV devices including smart televisions, set top boxes and streaming devices.

Android Auto

Listeners can easily access even more of their favorite iHeartRadio features in the car including music playlists and podcasts in addition to thousands of live radio stations and custom artist stations with the latest version of Android Auto. Discovering new and existing iHeartRadio content is now more intuitive—the new large album art views makes it easier to quickly select something to play, while the improved voice search experience enables drivers to just say “OK Google” to find music without taking their eyes of the road. Drivers and passengers can also view alternate iHeartRadio search results and browse through optimized imagery.

iHeartRadio currently has more than 125 million registered users, a milestone that it has reached faster than any other digital music service and has surpassed two billion downloads. In 2018, iHeartMedia acquired Stuff Media, the leading for-profit publisher of entertaining and informative podcast content, which includes the HowStuffWorks (HSW) podcasting business as well as a slate of premium podcast content. This acquisition increased iHeartMedia’s position as the solid No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally, and No. 2 overall (Podtrac, 2018). Following its acquisition of Stuff Media, iHeartMedia acquired Jelli, Inc., the technology company that powers its SoundPoint programmatic platform. In addition, iHeartMedia can be heard in every vehicle reaching more than a quarter of a billion people monthly through its 850 broadcast radio stations nationwide.

Carrier adds free music product to onboard entertainment offering, enhancing the inflight experience

DALLAS—May 18, 2018—Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today a new collaboration with iHeartRadio to bring iHeartMedia’s free all-in-one digital music and live streaming radio service to Customers as the exclusive music offering within the onboard entertainment portal on Southwest flights.

Through the onboard entertainment portal integration with iHeartRadio, Customers can enjoy all their favorite musical genres including alternative rock, country, hip hop, R&B, Top 40 hit music and more. From these genres, passengers can choose their favorite live radio station or pick from hundreds of artists to launch their very own custom artist radio station featuring music from that artist and those similar. In addition, iHeartRadio will also bring Customers expertly-curated station themes perfect for inflight listening like Pass the Time and Kids Zone. 

“Our Customers and Employees are passionate about music,” said Ryan Green, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Southwest Airlines. “And for Southwest, music is a part of a larger story—it’s an ongoing investment in enhancing our Customers’ travel experiences. Through this partnership with iHeartRadio, we will create the soundtrack to our Customers’ journeys as we connect them to what is important in their lives.”

“We continue to expand iHeartRadio’s massive distribution platform to ensure that we are available everywhere our listeners are with the products and services they use most,” said Michele Laven, President of Strategic Partnerships for iHeartMedia. ”We are proud to team up with Southwest Airlines to bring the music, radio stations, and on-air personalities people love inflight, continuing to entertain our listeners and Southwest passengers as they travel to their destinations.”

Customers can access iHeartRadio free of charge through the onboard entertainment portal on their personal devices to begin their listening experience. Once activated, the music will continue play as long as the entertainment portal is open in a tab, allowing Customers to browse the rest of the portal, check the flight tracker or utilize the web if they have purchased WiFi access.

Customers who already have the iHeartRadio app installed on their devices will be able to play their personalized music and favorite podcasts directly from the app while onboard Southwest flights. Those passengers who already subscribe to iHeartRadio’s All Access on demand subscription service will also have access to their entire music library and saved playlists as well as enjoy millions of songs and albums instantly.

The free service is available on the more than 690 WiFi-equipped aircraft serviced by Global Eagle.

Due to licensing restrictions, iHeartRadio may not be available onboard WiFi-enabled international flights.  The iHeart Radio product is available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. 

For more information please visit southwest.com/wifi.

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ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 57,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation’s largest domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 100 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to Hawaii, subject to requisite governmental approvals.

Southwest coined Transfarency^® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free^® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply.

As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV.

With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase the carrier’s Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their lives.

From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.

Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.