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Freemium , a portmanteau of the words "free" and "premium", is a pricing strategy by which a basic product or service is provided free of charge , but money (a premium) is charged for additional features, services, or virtual (online) or physical (offline) goods that expand the functionality of the free version of the software. This business model has been used in the software industry since the 1980s. A subset of this model used by the video game industry is called free-to-play .

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66-648: IHeartRadio (often shortened to just " iHeart ") is an American freemium broadcast, podcast, radio streaming and Music Streaming platform owned by iHeartMedia . It was founded in August 2008 and iHeartRadio serves as the national umbrella brand for iHeartMedia's radio network , the largest radio broadcaster in the United States with 128 million registered users as of 2019 and its other consumer-facing brands. Its main radio competitors are Audacy , TuneIn and Sirius XM . iHeartMedia built its national event franchise around

132-565: A "scripted podcast" or "audio drama") is similar to a radio drama , but in podcast form. They deliver a fictional story, usually told over multiple episodes and seasons, using multiple voice actors, dialogue, sound effects , and music to enrich the story. Fiction podcasts have attracted a number of well-known actors as voice talents, including Demi Moore and Matthew McConaughey as well as from content producers like Netflix , Spotify , Marvel Comics , and DC Comics . Unlike other genres, downloads of fiction podcasts increased by 19% early in

198-482: A Like/Dislike (Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down) rating tool used on songs playing on live and customized radio stations. "Liking" or "disliking" songs for all live stations provides feedback to the station being played. "Liking" a song on customized stations will have it and songs like it played more often. "Disliking" a song on customized stations means that song will not be played again. This data is used to personalize users' "My Favorites Radio" station. As My Favorites Radio learns

264-558: A PC or MP3 player. The service was available for about a year until i2Go's demise in 2001. In October 2000, the concept of attaching sound and video files in RSS feeds was proposed in a draft by Tristan Louis . The idea was implemented by Dave Winer , a software developer and an author of the RSS format. In August 2004, Adam Curry launched his show Daily Source Code , focused on chronicling his everyday life, delivering news, and discussions about

330-481: A U.S. for-profit publisher of podcast content listeners, which included the HowStuffWorks podcasting business division as well as its slate of premium podcast content, for $ 55 million. With Stuff Media and iHeartMedia having had around 5.3 million and 5.6 million monthly listeners beforehand, respectively (according to Podtrac), the acquisition increased iHeart's lead as largest commercial podcast publisher, although it

396-462: A callsign and the metro area they serve have the end tag that identifies them as "An iHeartRadio Station", or for live national music stations such as Eclectic Rock or iHeart80s, their end tags identify them as "An iHeartRadio Original Station" (they also ID the HD2/HD3 stations that simulcast). Though starting in 2019, iHeartRadio introduces its own "Sonic Logo", a five-note sounder with two heartbeats at

462-574: A central list of the files on a server as a web feed that one can access through the Internet . The listener or viewer uses special client application software on a computer or media player, known as a podcast client , which accesses this web feed, checks it for updates, and downloads any new files in the series. This process can be automated to download new files automatically, so it may seem to listeners as though podcasters broadcast or " push " new episodes to them. Podcast files can be stored locally on

528-433: A community forum dedicated to discussing the show's content. The cost to the consumer is low, and many podcasts are free to download. Some podcasts are underwritten by corporations or sponsored, with the inclusion of commercial advertisements . In other cases, a podcast could be a business venture supported by some combination of a paid subscription model , advertising or product delivered after sale. Because podcast content

594-428: A free podcast version of their book as a form of promotion. On occasion such novelists have secured publishing contracts to have their novels printed. Podcast novelists have commented that podcasting their novels lets them build audiences even if they cannot get a publisher to buy their books. These audiences then make it easier to secure a printing deal with a publisher at a later date. These podcast novelists also claim

660-617: A live audience. Ticket sales allow the podcasters an additional way of monetizing. Some podcasts create specific live shows to tour which are not necessarily included on the podcast feed. Events including the London Podcast Festival, SF Sketchfest and others regularly give a platform for podcasters to perform live to audiences. Podcast episodes are widely stored and encoded in the mp3 digital audio format and then hosted on dedicated or shared webserver space. Syndication of podcasts' episodes across various websites and platforms

726-473: A new talk radio feature: iHeartRadio Talk. It featured original on-demand programming from celebrities like Ryan Seacrest and allowed users to upload their own content through Spreaker. In 2014, the iHeartRadio Talk feature was rebranded to "Shows & Personalities" and in 2016 the feature became known simply as " Podcasts ". On November 10, 2015, iHeartRadio launched a spin-off app known as iHeartRadio Family—a curated experience targeting children. It features

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792-532: A podcast in the last month. 12.5% of the UK population had listened to a podcast in the last week and 22% of the United States population listens to at least one podcast weekly. The form is also acclaimed for its low overhead for a creator to start and maintain their show, merely requiring a microphone, a computer or mobile device, and associated software to edit and upload the final product. Some form of acoustic quieting

858-538: A simplified interface and a selection of age-appropriate stations (such as Radio Disney , and stations curated by artists and personalities popular among the demographic). Build-A-Bear Workshop served as a launch sponsor for the app, which included the addition of a "Build-a-Bear Workshop Radio" channel in the app. During the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival, iHeartMedia announced subscription based on demand services "iHeartRadio Plus" and "iHeartRadio all Access powered by Napster ". On December 1, 2016, iHeartMedia launched

924-490: A subscription fee. iHeartRadio is available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, TVs and gaming consoles. Before 2014, iHeartRadio operated Australian Radio Network as a joint venture with APN News and Media but now operates an Australian version wholly owned by ARN Media . New Zealand assets are now licensed by NZME . On January 6, 2016, iHeartMedia announced that

990-618: A supplement to audio; popularised in recent years by video platform YouTube . A podcast series usually features one or more recurring hosts engaged in a discussion about a particular topic or current event. Discussion and content within a podcast can range from carefully scripted to completely improvised. Podcasts combine elaborate and artistic sound production with thematic concerns ranging from scientific research to slice-of-life journalism . Many podcast series provide an associated website with links and show notes, guest biographies, transcripts, additional resources, commentary, and occasionally

1056-426: A user's music taste over time, it adds various bonus tracks into the mix. Songs can easily be removed from the station. For a time since the service's beginnings until 2020, iHeartRadio had a "Discovery Tuner" to the custom stations where listeners could adjust the tuner to play familiar songs – or select "Less Familiar" to play a wider variety – or "Mixed". In 2019, The New York Times described iHeartRadio as

1122-430: A variation of the model known as " open core ", in which the unsupported, feature-limited free version is also open-source software, but versions with additional features and official support are commercial software. In June 2011, PC World reported that traditional anti-virus software had started to lose market share to freemium anti-virus products. By September 2012, all but two of the 50 highest-grossing apps in

1188-443: A website, blog, or other syndication method. Episodes can be released on a regular schedule, e.g., once a week, or irregularly as each episode is completed. In the same manner as audiobooks, some podcast novels are elaborately narrated with sound effects and separate voice actors for each character, similar to a radio play or scripted podcast, but many have a single narrator and few or no sound effects. Some podcast novelists give away

1254-449: Is Radioplayer Canada, which is backed by a consortium of other Canadian radio broadcasters. iHeartMedia announced iHeartRadio's expansion to Mexico on October 29, 2018, through an exclusive partnership with Grupo ACIR, a Mexican broadcasting company. iHeartRadio México includes all 56 Grupo ACIR and 850 iHeartMedia live broadcast radio stations from across México and the U.S., including music, news/talk, comedy and sports content. Through

1320-481: Is a portmanteau of " iPod " and " broadcast ". The earliest use of "podcasting" was traced to The Guardian columnist and BBC journalist Ben Hammersley , who coined it in early February 2004 while writing an article for The Guardian newspaper. The term was first used in the audioblogging community in September 2004, when Danny Gregoire introduced it in a message to the iPodder-dev mailing list, from where it

1386-472: Is also often utilised. Between February March 10 and 25, 2005, Shae Spencer Management, LLC of Fairport, New York filed a trademark application to register the term "podcast" for an "online pre-recorded radio program over the internet". On September 9, 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected the application, citing Misplaced Pages 's podcast entry as describing the history of

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1452-498: Is available in Australia, Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and New Zealand but blocks access from others such as Britain. It is available across 250 device platforms including online, and via automobiles, gaming consoles, home audio, mobile smartphones and tablets, TVs, and WatchOS . Listeners can hear live radio stations, personalized music stations, create playlists, listen to podcasts and more. The iHeartRadio player has

1518-451: Is based on RSS feeds, an XML -formatted file citing information about the episode and the podcast itself. The most basic equipment for a podcast is a computer and a microphone . It is helpful to have a sound-proof room and headphones . The computer should have a recording or streaming application installed. Typical microphones for podcasting are connected using USB . If the podcast involves two or more people, each person requires

1584-417: Is likely to change as new types of content, new technology to consume podcasts, and new use cases emerge. An enhanced podcast, also known as a slidecast , is a type of podcast that combines audio with a slide show presentation. It is similar to a video podcast in that it combines dynamically generated imagery with audio synchronization, but it is different in that it uses presentation software to create

1650-688: Is often free, podcasting is often classified as a disruptive medium , adverse to the maintenance of traditional revenue models . Podcasting is the preparation and distribution of audio or video files using RSS feeds to the devices of subscribed users. A podcaster normally buys this service from a podcast hosting company such as SoundCloud or Libsyn . Hosting companies then distribute these media files to podcast directories and streaming services, such as Apple and Spotify , which users can listen to on their smartphones or digital music and multimedia players. As of June 2024 , there are at least 3,369,942 podcasts and 199,483,500 episodes. "Podcast"

1716-623: Is particularly suited to software as the cost of distribution is negligible. A freemium model is sometimes used to build a consumer base when the marginal cost of producing extra units is low. Thus little is lost by giving away free software licenses as long as significant cannibalization is avoided. Other examples include free-to-play games – video games that can be downloaded without paying. Video game publishers of free-to-play games rely on other means to generate revenue – such as optional in-game virtual items that can be purchased by players to enhance gameplay or aesthetics. Ways in which

1782-618: The HowStuffWorks podcast. In October 2013, the EFF filed a petition with the US Trademark Office to invalidate the Personal Audio patent. On August 18, 2014, the EFF announced that Adam Carolla had settled with Personal Audio. Finally, on April 10, 2015, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invalidated five provisions of Personal Audio's podcasting patent. A podcast generator maintains

1848-614: The iHeartRadio Theaters in Los Angeles and New York . The iHeartRadio Theater located in New York at 32 Avenue of the Americas is a ground floor 250-seat theater which formerly was called the P. C. Richard & Son Theater; PC Richard sponsors them. The iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles opened under that name in 2013. *Currently being sold to other owners pending approval of

1914-687: The COVID-19 pandemic , the number of unique listeners in the US decreased by 15% in the last three weeks of March 2020. Podcasting has been considered a converged medium (a medium that brings together audio, the web and portable media players ), as well as a disruptive technology that has caused some individuals in radio broadcasting to reconsider established practices and preconceptions about audiences, consumption, production and distribution. Podcasts can be produced at little to no cost and are usually disseminated free-of-charge, which sets this medium apart from

1980-409: The COVID-19 pandemic. A podcast novel (also known as a "serialized audiobook" or "podcast audiobook") is a literary form that combines the concepts of a podcast and an audiobook . Like a traditional novel , a podcast novel is a work of literary fiction; however, it is recorded into episodes that are delivered online over a period of time. The episodes may be delivered automatically via RSS or through

2046-696: The CRTC. Freemium The business model has been in use for software since the 1980s. The term freemium to describe this model appears to have been created much later, in response to a 2006 blog post by venture capitalist Fred Wilson summarizing the model: Give your service away for free, possibly ad supported but maybe not, acquire a lot of customers very efficiently through word of mouth, referral networks, organic search marketing, etc., then offer premium-priced value-added services or an enhanced version of your service to your customer base. Jarid Lukin of Alacra , one of Wilson's portfolio companies, then suggested

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2112-526: The Format Lab website provided feeds of between 40 and 80 networks that were used primarily on Clear Channel's HD Radio subchannels, many of which transitioned to iHeartRadio unchanged. In August 2008, Clear Channel launched the iHeartMusic website, featuring entertainment news, national news, music content including albums, singles on demand, music videos, and access to over 750 Clear Channel radio stations online. On October 7, 2008, Clear Channel Radio launched

2178-518: The Games section of Apple's iTunes App Store supported in-app purchases , leading Wired to conclude that game developers were now required to choose between including such purchases or foregoing a very substantial revenue stream. Beginning in 2013, the digital distribution platform Steam began to add numerous free-to-play and early-access games to its library, many of which utilized freemium marketing for their in-game economies. Due to criticism that

2244-599: The Jingle Ball, and co-branded the annual awards show organized through its cable channel Much as the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards. The service went live in Canada on October 7, 2016, and on December 4, 2017, additional features were added to the service, including podcasts, additional stations, and a deal with Evanov Radio Group to add its stations to the service. Stingray Radio similarly joined in June 2023. Its main competitor

2310-511: The audio experience, similar in fashion to Music Choice on digital cable and satellite TV. On September 27, 2023, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx announced that their radio broadcasts would move to the iHeartRadio app. Every game would air on the app, while the majority of Lynx games and select Timberwolves games would be simulcast on co-owned KFXN-FM . In September 2018, iHeartMedia announced it would acquire Stuff Media, LLC,

2376-507: The business model for encouraging predatory game design tactics based on an improper business model. In 2015, Nintendo released two of their own freemium games in the Pokémon series based on other standalone purchasable titles. With the title Pokémon Rumble World , Nintendo took a different approach by making it possible to complete the entire game without buying premium credits, but retaining them as an option so players can proceed through

2442-528: The development of podcasting. Curry promoted new and emerging internet audio shows in an attempt to gain traction in the development of what would come to be known as podcasting. Daily Source Code was initially directed at podcast developers. As its audience became interested in the format, these developers were inspired to create and produce their own projects and a community of pioneer podcasters quickly developed. iPodderX, released in September 2004 by August Trometer and based on earlier work by Ray Slakinski,

2508-444: The end. It includes specific variations (including vocal versions) for different formats or productions. In early 2020, iHeart fired "dozens" (estimated by one newspaper as "hundreds ... across its more than 850 radio stations") of its then 12,500 employees at a time when the company, bankrupt, was viewed as being considered for purchase by Liberty Media . iHeart described these layoffs as being technology-driven. On April 23, 2020,

2574-466: The expansion, listeners also have access to all of iHeartMedia's exclusive digital-only iHeartRadio Original stations spanning all genres of music, as well as Grupo ACIR's own offer of digital-only stations featuring the most popular genres in México. Users can also access the top English and Spanish language podcasts and on-air personalities. As of around 2017, iHeartRadio was regularly hosting performances at

2640-494: The exposure that releasing a free podcast gains them makes up for the fact that they are giving away their work for free. A video podcast is a podcast that features video content. Web television series are often distributed as video podcasts. Dead End Days, a serialized dark comedy about zombies released from October 31, 2003, through 2004, is commonly believed to be the first video podcast. A number of podcasts are recorded either in total or for specific episodes in front of

2706-625: The first version of iHeartRadio to the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch through the App Store . Twelve radio stations in 8 markets were included in this first release. In 2009, iHeartRadio was made available to BlackBerry devices and the Android operating system and then Sonos in 2010. September 2011 marked the official launch of the free, all-in-one iHeartRadio service featuring thousands of live radio stations and custom artist stations. The launch coincided with

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2772-424: The freemium model and prescribe a framework for implementing them into software products. The freemium model is closely related to tiered services . Notable examples include LinkedIn , Badoo , Discord , and in the form of a "soft" paywall , such as those employed by The New York Times and La Presse+. This is often in a time-limited or feature-limited version to promote a paid-for full version. The model

2838-425: The game at a pace that suits them. Podcast A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet . Typically, a podcast is an episodic series of digital audio files that users can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing. Podcasts are primarily an audio medium, but some distribute in video, either as their primary content or as

2904-588: The generic term 'podcast' to accurately refer to podcasting services" and that "Apple does not license the term". However, no statement was made as to whether or not Apple believed they held rights to it. Personal Audio , a company referred to as a " patent troll " by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), filed a patent on podcasting in 2009 for a claimed invention in 1996. In February 2013, Personal Audio started suing high-profile podcasters for royalties, including The Adam Carolla Show and

2970-702: The iHeartRadio app was launched in association with Uno Radio Group, which owns the NotiUno , Salsoul , Fidelity and Hot 102 brands in Puerto Rico . On December 1, 2021, iHeartRadio signed a deal with Roku to bring a dozen of their live radio stations to The Roku Channel's live TV lineup in the form of FAST channels. The ad-supported stations (which include iHeartCountry, Alt Radio, The Beat (now Hip-Hop Beats), Classic Rock, Hit Nation, Latino Hits, iHeart80s, and iHeart90s as well as select holiday-themed stations when available) are to feature imagery to complement and enhance

3036-595: The iHeartRadio consumer brand, and includes the iHeartRadio Music Festival , the iHeartRadio Music Awards , iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, iHeartRadio Country Festival , iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina , the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards and iHeartRadio ALTerEgo. iHeartRadio is owned by iHeartMedia , which was rebranded from Clear Channel in 2014. Prior to 2008, Clear Channel Communications' various audio products were decentralized. Individual stations streamed from their own sites (or, in many cases, did not, owing to voluminous syndication and local advertising clearance issues), and

3102-461: The iHeartRadio service would expand into Canada as part of a licensing deal with Bell Media . The company described the Canadian version of the service as being a "franchised" operation; Bell handles Canadian music licensing, marketing, and distribution of the service, and provides content from its properties. Bell also gained rights to organize Canadian versions of the company's branded events, such as

3168-660: The imagery and the sequence of display separately from the time of the original audio podcast recording. The Free Dictionary , YourDictionary , and PC Magazine define an enhanced podcast as "an electronic slide show delivered as a podcast". Enhanced podcasts are podcasts that incorporate graphics and chapters. iTunes developed an enhanced podcast feature called "Audio Hyperlinking" that they patented in 2012. Enhanced podcasts can be used by businesses or in education. Enhanced podcasts can be created using QuickTime AAC or Windows Media files. Enhanced podcasts were first used in 2006. A fiction podcast (also referred to as

3234-775: The inaugural iHeartRadio Music Festival, the annual two-day event hosted by Ryan Seacrest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas . The app was expanded to the Xbox 360 and webOS. On April 20, 2012, iHeartRadio launched on the iPad . On June 8, 2012, iHeartRadio concluded a deal to power Yahoo! Music 's Radio service, previously powered by CBS Radio . In mid-October 2012, iHeartRadio launched online audio news, weather and traffic streams for Tampa , Chicago , Dallas/Fort Worth , Los Angeles , San Diego , New York City , and 15 other metropolitan cities, branded as "24/7 News". On March 1, 2013, iHeartRadio

3300-454: The largest radio broadcaster in the United States, with 848 terrestrial stations. They aggregate over 850 local iHeartMedia radio stations across the United States, as well as hundreds of other stations from various other media. It includes more than 250,000 podcasts, offers a Music recommender system and on-demand functionality, and allows listeners to save and replay songs from live broadcasts in digital playlists. The on-demand features require

3366-498: The multiplayer games falling under this category were pay-to-win in nature or were low-quality and never finished development, Valve has since added stricter rules to its early-access and free-to-play policies. Freemium games have come under criticism from players and critics. Many are labelled with the derogatory term 'pay-to-win', which criticizes freemium games for giving an advantage to players who pay more money, as opposed to those who have more skill. Criticisms also extend to

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3432-571: The podcasting industry still generated little overall revenue, although the number of persons who listen to podcasts continues to grow steadily. Edison Research, which issues the Podcast Consumer quarterly tracking report estimated that 90 million persons in the U.S. had listened to a podcast in January 2019. As of 2020, 58% of the population of South Korea and 40% of the Spanish population had listened to

3498-421: The product or service may be limited or restricted in the free version include: Some software and services make all of the features available for free for a trial period, and then at the end of that period revert to operating as a feature-limited free version (e.g. Online Armor Personal Firewall ). The user can unlock the premium features on payment of a license fee, as per the freemium model. Some businesses use

3564-644: The services in beta on iOS and Android to the American users. iHeartRadio launched in Canada on October 7, 2016, in association with Bell Media . In 2017, iHeartRadio expanded Plus and All Access to other platforms including desktop in January 2017 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). iHeartRadio launched in Mexico on October 29, 2018, in association with Grupo ACIR . In 2018, iHeartMedia, aiming to cut its debt of around $ 20 billion in half, filed for what

3630-399: The term "freemium" for this model. In 2009, Chris Anderson published the book Free , which examines the popularity of this business model. As well as for traditional proprietary software and services, it is now also often used by Web 2.0 and open source companies. In 2014, Eric Seufert published the book Freemium Economics , which attempts to deconstruct the economic principles of

3696-428: The term "iPod" or "Pod" in their products' names. By 2007, audio podcasts were doing what was historically accomplished via radio broadcasts, which had been the source of radio talk shows and news programs since the 1930s. This shift occurred as a result of the evolution of internet capabilities along with increased consumer access to cheaper hardware and software for audio recording and editing. As of early 2019,

3762-500: The term "pod" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover. Such activity was speculated to be part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing iPod trademark, which included trademarking "IPOD", "IPODCAST", and "POD". On November 16, 2006, the Apple Trademark Department stated that "Apple does not object to third-party usage of

3828-627: The term. The company amended their application in March 2006, but the USPTO rejected the amended application as not sufficiently differentiated from the original. In November 2006, the application was marked as abandoned. On September 26, 2004, it was reported that Apple Inc. had started to crack down on businesses using the string "POD", in product and company names. Apple sent a cease and desist letter that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as "myPodder". Lawyers for Apple contended that

3894-865: The traditional 20th-century model of "gate-kept" media and their production tools. Podcasters can, however, still monetize their podcasts by allowing companies to purchase ad time. They can also garner support from listeners through crowdfunding websites like Patreon , which provide special extras and content to listeners for a fee. Podcasts vary in style, format, and topical content. Podcasts are partially patterned on previous media genres but depart from them systematically in certain computationally observable stylistic respects. The conventions and constraints which govern that variation are emerging and vary over time and markets; podcast listeners have various preferences of styles but conventions to address them and communicate about them are still unformed. Some current examples of types of podcasts are given below. This list

3960-434: The user's device, or streamed directly. There are several different mobile applications that allow people to follow and listen to podcasts. Many of these applications allow users to download podcasts or stream them on demand. Most podcast players or applications allow listeners to skip around the podcast and to control the playback speed. Much podcast listening occurs during commuting ; because of restrictions on travel during

4026-461: The way that the business model can often appear unregulated, to the point of encouraging prolific spending. Freemium games are often designed in a manner where players who are not actively using premium features are actively frustrated, delayed or require much larger investments in time required to acquire currency or upgrades. In November 2014, the animated TV series South Park aired an episode entitled " Freemium Isn't Free ". The episode satirized

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4092-676: Was added to the Roku digital media receiver. As of 2019, the app was available on more than 250 devices and platforms. In July 2013, iHeartRadio began adding stations from outside the United States like CHUM-FM and CFBT-FM in Canada and Virgin Radio Dubai in the United Arab Emirates . On July 14, 2013, iHeartRadio launched in New Zealand and Australia . On July 24, 2013, iHeartRadio launched

4158-424: Was adopted by podcaster Adam Curry . Despite the etymology, the content can be accessed using any computer or similar device that can play media files. The term "podcast" predates Apple's addition of podcasting features to the iPod and the iTunes software. In September 2000, early MP3 player manufacturer i2Go offered a service called MyAudio2Go.com which allowed users to download news stories for listening on

4224-447: Was described as the largest bankruptcy of that year and the 30th largest ever. The Los Angeles Times observed at the time that "About 265 million people in the U.S. still tune in to iHeart's stations at least once a month, but newer media such as Spotify's streaming service and SiriusXM's satellite broadcasts have cut into the audience and put a damper on sales." From the start of service, many of its own radio stations that identified with

4290-507: Was still trailing behind NPR. As of 2022, iHeartRadio is now the leading podcast publisher on Podtrac , with over 400 million downloads each month. In November 2018, iHeart also bought Jelli. In October 2020, it was announced that the company would acquire Voxnest, the parent company of Spreaker, a podcast-hosting company. iHeart has since also bought Triton Digital from Scripps . In February 2022, iHeartMedia invested in Sounder. iHeartRadio

4356-514: Was the first GUI application for podcasts. In June 2005, Apple released iTunes 4.9, which added formal support for podcasts, thus negating the need to use a separate program in order to download and transfer them to a mobile device. Although this made access to podcasts more convenient and widespread, it also effectively ended advancement of podcatchers by independent developers. Additionally, Apple issued cease and desist orders to many podcast application developers and service providers for using

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