Bell Media and iHeartMedia have announced a long-term extension of their exclusive partnership, solidifying a commitment to deliver unparalleled audio entertainment experiences to audiences across Canada through iHeartRadio Canada.
This renewed agreement builds upon nearly a decade of collaboration, which has seen iHeartRadio Canada become a leading digital audio platform, offering a wide range of content including more than 360 licensed Canadian radio stations across 170 markets, hundreds of thousands of podcasts, playlists, and on demand content.
As part of the partnership extension, Bell Media receives Canadian representation of iHeartRadio’s extensive podcast portfolio, creating new opportunities for advertisers to reach Canadian listeners.
Since the initial launch of iHeartRadio Canada in 2016, the partnership has brought the iHeartRadio brand to audiences across the nation through multiple digital platforms, including web, app, and auto dashboards, making the iHeartRadio Canada app the first choice for radio listeners across the country.
“The creation of iHeartRadio Canada has been instrumental in evolving the digital audio landscape in Canada, greatly expanding the choice of incredible content available to listeners,” said Dave Daigle, VP, Local TV, Radio, and Bell Media Studios. “The renewal of this successful partnership ensures iHeartRadio Canada continues to deliver exceptional content and innovative listening experiences to our audiences, further solidifying our position as a leader in the Canadian media industry.”
“This renewed agreement with Bell Media reflects our shared commitment to delivering the best in audio entertainment to Canadian listeners and advertisers,” said Michael Biondo, President of Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, iHeartMedia. “In the years to come, we’ll continue expanding iHeartRadio Canada with innovative features, exclusive content, and unique opportunities for brands to connect and engage with audiences across the country.”
The new features include:
- Presets: In an audio industry first, and inspired by the car radio dashboard, new custom presets allow listeners to save up to 15 of their favourite radio stations, playlists, podcasts, and artist radio stations
- Scan Button: A brand new way for listeners to discover new stations, by scanning and seamlessly sampling nationwide radio stations, or filtering by city or genre
- Live Radio Dial: A new feature mimicking the same car radio experience that listeners know and love, enabling listeners to easily explore the best live stations across the country
- What’s Trending Rankers: An innovative discovery feature that allows listeners to see what’s trending at the current moment across Top Podcasts, Top Playlists, and Top Artist Radio stations
- Lyrics: The most requested new listener feature, iHeartRadio Canada is now the only digital radio app to offer lyrics for the song currently playing on live radio, as well as for tracks on artist radio stations and playlists
iHeartMedia’s stock has been volatile, with a recent 7.5% drop tied to the weak jobs report, though it has gained 4.2% year-to-date, as seen in the finance card above.
Despite economic challenges, iHeartMedia’s leadership remains stable, with CEO Bob Pittman and President/COO/CFO Rich Bressler extending their contracts through 2029, signaling long-term strategic continuity.
This partnership extension strengthens Bell Media’s content offerings, leveraging iHeartMedia’s expertise to maintain a competitive edge in Canada’s media market, even as economic uncertainties persist.