NEW YORK & LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iHeartMedia, the creator of iHeartRadio – the all-in-one streaming music and live digital radio service – today announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the official release of its new on demand services iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster, the first fully differentiated streaming music services that use on demand functionality to make radio truly interactive. iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster is now available on desktop and select consumer electronic devices as well as on the previously launched iOS and Android smartphones.
84 percent of iHeartRadio users do not currently subscribe to an on demand service – and now, for the first time, can subscribe to a streaming music service that provides the best of live radio combined with easy-to-use on demand functionality -- unlike all current on demand players that simply add on demand functionality to a music collection experience.
Ten times more Americans listen to radio every month than use a subscription service – so the debut of iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster is a unique opportunity to capture these non-music subscribers with an on demand service built around radio. In addition, this new functionality will also be integrated across iHeartRadio's network of more than a thousand local radio station and personality websites, where show hosts and top on-air talent will share their personal playlists as well as weekly top songs that aired on each station.
"In the beta phase alone, we have already seen an incredible response from our users and have experienced our best month of listening since our official launch of iHeartRadio in 2011," said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio. "iHeartMedia is the only media company that has the assets, platform and reach to drive massive consumer awareness and successfully introduce two new subscription services, built around real radio, so rapidly. iHeartRadio has truly differentiated itself by offering features that no other services can."
Beginning today on desktop, listeners can visit iHeartRadio.com to begin their 30-day free trial of iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster and experience the first-ever combined live radio and music collection service, which includes the unique ability for users to instantly replay and save music from live and custom Artist Radio stations to their playlists, unlimited skips in custom Artist Radio stations, search and play their favorite songs and create personalized playlists – all in one, easy-to-use service. In addition, subscribers will be able to enjoy all their saved playlists on select Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One gaming consoles, TiVo, VIZIO TV, Samsung Smart TV, and LG Smart TV, with Sonos and more coming soon.
Details of the two new subscription services:
iHeartRadio Plus, $4.99 a month, completely transforms live and custom Artist Radio station listening with the addition of:
- Replay: Giving subscribers the ability to instantly replay songs from live and custom Artist Radio stations and then return to the station in progress;
- Save: Save songs from live radio and custom Artist Radio stations directly to their My Music playlist for playback any time;
- Search: Search and play any song from a library of millions of tracks;
- Unlimited skips: Subscribers listening to custom Artist Radio stations will no longer have a limit on the number of songs they can skip.
iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster, $9.99 a month, combines the interactive radio functionality of iHeartRadio Plus with a complete music collection and library that is linked seamlessly to the radio listening experience. Given that 70 percent of consumers -- which includes users of on demand music services -- have cited radio as their primary source of music discovery, there is finally a service that allows them the convenience and accessibility of merely pushing a button to add a song immediately to their music collection at the same time they hear it on the radio -- something no other music collection service can offer. This new offering is the best of all worlds, combined in one service with the ability to:
- Listen Offline: Subscribers can take their music and playlists with them everywhere where they go, without needing an internet connection or using mobile data;
- Build subscribers’ personal music libraries: Completely create, control and curate playlists from a library of millions of tracks;
- Give subscribers total flexibility to listen to their music the way they want, when they want: With no playback cap and the ability to delete and sequence their playlist experience as well as manage unlimited playlists.
Aside from the two new subscription on demand services, iHeartRadio will remain free. iHeartRadio offers users thousands of live radio stations, personalized custom Artist Radio stations created by just one song or seed artist and the top podcasts and personalities. With over a billion downloads, iHeartRadio has had tremendous momentum — reaching 85 percent brand awareness among consumers in less than 5 years as well as 95 million registered users faster than any other radio or digital music service — and even faster than Facebook.
About iHeartMedia
With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. and over 85 million social followers, iHeartMedia has the largest national reach of any radio or television outlet in America. As the leader in multiplatform connections, it also serves over 150 local markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company’s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets, wearables and smartphones, and on gaming consoles.
iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s digital radio platform, is the fastest growing digital audio service in the U.S. and offers users thousands of live radio stations, personalized custom artist stations created by just one song or seed artist and the top podcasts and personalities. With over a billion downloads, iHeartRadio reached 95 million registered users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook.
iHeartMedia’s platforms include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, podcasts, personalities and influencers, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
