iHeartMedia and Whalar Group Announce Partnership to Expand Opportunities for Creators and Marketers and Build Scale Through iHeart’s Industry-Leading Audio Platforms

New York, NY -- October 7, 2024 -- iHeartMedia, the #1 audio company in America by reach, and Whalar Group, the leading global Creator Company on a mission to liberate creative voices , today announced a unique  partnership that will provide creators and marketers additional opportunities to reach their audiences across iHeart’s industry-leading broadcast, podcast, digital, live events and social platforms.  The two companies will collaborate to provide advertisers and marketers innovative ways to strategically pair content creators with their brands and deliver scale by leveraging iHeart’s multiple platforms with its trusted talent on both the national and local levels. 

Nine out of 10 Americans listen to iHeart broadcast radio every month, and iHeart is the #1 podcast publisher in America as measured by Podtrac. Through this new partnership, iHeart and Whalar Group will collaborate to identify and support creators who want to expand their reach beyond social, giving them a pathway to develop and distribute content across iHeart’s audio platforms. Additionally, iHeart’s broadcast radio and podcast influencers will be able to draw on Whalar Group's creative services, industry-leading technology, creator community, and social insights to help shape content in real time.

“Demand continues to grow for meaningful partnerships between creators and marketers. As brands work to maximize the trusted relationships and connections that personalities have built with their audio and social followers, our partnership with Whalar will provide another opportunity for advertisers to reach our listeners with the right messages,” said Greg Ashlock, President of the iHeart Influencer Network.  “We are excited to work with Whalar Group to leverage their social expertise and technology across our industry-leading spectrum of audio platforms to benefit both creators and advertisers.”

“Audio storytelling is a powerful medium that's been a high growth area of the Creator Economy already given how it resonates deeply with creators and their teams, offering a unique avenue for expression and connection with their communities,” said Whalar Group Co-CEO & Co-Founder Neil Waller. “With iHeart’s unparalleled reach across multiple audio platforms, we're poised to elevate storytelling and further integrate it into the fabric of the Creator Economy, amplifying the impact and opportunities available to all creators." 

About Whalar Group

Whalar Group is a global creator company on a mission to liberate the creative voice. Our proximity, understanding, and trust of creators evolved into a first-of-its-kind creator ecosystem that includes a full-service creator agency, a 360° talent management company, a physical campus for creators and teams, a suite of AI tools and templates, a venture studio, and a ground-breaking gaming studio. With a team of 300 people around the world, we bring brands and businesses into value-driven, creator-led communities. Whalar Group melds entrepreneurship, technology, and creativity to unlock limitless possibilities. For more information, visit: www.whalargroup.com.

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company’s live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry’s largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the company’s fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 500 platforms and 2,000 devices; the company’s digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The company’s Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nation’s largest media representation company, and RCS, the world's leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.