ARN has announced it will launch iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s popular all-in-one digital radio service in Australia and New Zealand.
ARN, a joint venture with Clear Channel, will offer “a unique digital service to advertisers and listeners” with iHeartRadio.
Since its launch in 2011 at the inaugural iHeartRadio Music Festival in America, iHeartRadio continues to be the leading digital radio service in the United States.
As the No. 1 free digital radio app on the iPhone, iPad and Android, iHeartRadio provides an additional platform for radio fans, offering instant access to live broadcast and digital-only radio stations, plus user-created Custom Stations inspired by favourite artists and songs.
ARN stations will also join the iHeartRadio platform, which will offer Australian and New Zealand music fans even more programming and station choices.
With more than 115 million listening hours a month, nearly 50 million monthly digital unique users, more than 125 million downloads of iHeartRadio mobile apps and more than 18 million registered users since its introduction last September, iHeartRadio continues to grow faster than all other popular digital entertainment and social platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Spotify and Instagram.
ARN CEO Ciaran Davis says: “The launch of iHeartRadio internationally sees ARN lead the Australian and New Zealand radio industry into the next era of radio, while complementing our current strong and growing audience network, with this unique and market-leading product that sits at the forefront of global technology in the sector. This product offers listeners live station streaming for all of our stations plus user-created custom stations with more songs, more user control, deeper social integration and more opportunities to discover new music – all in one easy to use, seamless product.”
“iHeartRadio builds on our strategy of being everywhere our listeners are, with market leading products. It will also provide our advertising partners with a unique, integrated, targeted and accountable vehicle to enhance their marketing plans.”
“iHeartRadio offers everything listeners want in an all-in-one, free service,” says Brian Lakamp, President of Digital for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. “ARN will offer listeners an experience specifically tailored to their region and we know Australian and New Zealand music fans will love iHeartRadio as much as they do in the United States.”
The service will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2013 and will be extensively marketed with support from APN News & Media’s and Clear Channel International’s media assets throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Chief Executive Officer of APN News & Media, Brett Chenoweth is “delighted” that ARN is launching iHeartRadio. He supports ARN’s “continual expansion of their innovative digital offers to audiences and advertisers. iHeartRadio is an excellent fit with APN’s overall digital strategy.”
iHeartRadio will launch in Australia and New Zealand the first quarter of 2013.
As radioinfo has have pointed out in many articles, for radio networks to survive and be competitive in the new digital environment, they need to partner with the new technology to adapt to changing consumer habits. ARN’s latest move is a good example of a proactive strategy in this area.