iHeartMedia and TikTok launch creator podcast network with 25 shows

iHeartMedia and TikTok announced a multiplatform partnership on November 10, 2025, that brings TikTok creators into podcasting, broadcast radio, and live events through a collaboration that includes up to 25 new podcasts and a dedicated national radio channel.

The partnership establishes the TikTok Podcast Network, which will feature TikTok creators hosting long-form audio and video content. According to the announcement, the collaboration gives creators access to podcast distribution, broadcast radio stations, and integration at iHeartMedia live events.

iHeartMedia will introduce co-branded podcast studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta equipped with audio and video production infrastructure. The podcasts will be distributed through iHeartPodcasts and available on the iHeartRadio app and other podcast platforms. Listeners will also access highlights and clips on TikTok.

"This partnership connects TikTok's cultural energy and creator community with the unmatched scale and reach of iHeartMedia," said Rich Bressler, President, COO and CFO for iHeartMedia. "We're giving creators access to the biggest audio platforms in America."

The collaboration extends beyond podcasting. TikTok Radio will pair TikTok creators with iHeartRadio personalities across broadcast radio stations nationwide and digitally on iHeartRadio. According to the announcement, the station is built on the music architecture of stations like KIIS FM in Los Angeles and Z100 in New York, featuring trending songs, storytelling, and segments including "Behind-the-Charts" and "New Music Fridays."

iHeartMedia and TikTok will provide marketing across their platforms and leverage their sales teams to secure sponsorships for the shows. The partnership represents a new business line for participating creators.

The companies previously collaborated on "Next up: Live Music," a singing competition hosted on TikTok LIVE earlier in 2025. The program spotlighted emerging artists, including competition winner @kiralise, and demonstrated live, creator-driven music discovery capabilities.

"At TikTok, empowering creativity and connecting communities are at the heart of everything we do," said Dan Page, Global Head of Media and Licensing Partnerships at TikTok. "This partnership with iHeartMedia opens up exciting new opportunities for creators and brands to reach wider audiences, collaborate across platforms and extend their creativity beyond the TikTok platform."

The partnership matters for the marketing community because it creates new advertising inventory across audio formats while addressing the growing creator economy. According to research, the global creator economy is projected to grow from $191 billion in 2025 to $528.39 billion by 2030, representing a 22.5% compound annual growth rate. Brand partnerships with creators have demonstrated substantial returns, with YouTube partnerships delivering measurable lift in brand metrics and conversion performance.

The audio advertising market demonstrates particular potential. Recent analysis indicates a 22% gap between consumer audio engagement and advertiser investment, with consumers dedicating 31% of media time to audio content while advertisers allocate only 9% of budgets to audio platforms. The collaboration addresses this gap by providing brands with access to creator audiences across podcast, streaming, and broadcast radio channels.

iHeartMedia maintains significant audio reach. According to company data, nine out of ten Americans listen to iHeart broadcast radio monthly. The company operates more than 860 live broadcast stations across over 160 markets. iHeartMedia is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac measurements, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined.

TikTok's platform reaches audiences through short-form mobile video. The company's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, with offices including New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

The podcast network addresses creator monetization beyond traditional platform revenue sharing. Creators will gain access to multiple revenue streams including podcast advertising, radio exposure, and live event opportunities. This diversification follows broader industry patterns where creators expand beyond single-platform dependence.

Podcast advertising technology continues advancing. Triton Digital, part of the iHeartMedia family, launched AI-powered voice cloning for programmatic podcast advertisements in March 2025, enabling scaled host-read advertisements while maintaining creator control. The integration allows podcast hosts to create voice samples that enable AI generation of personalized advertisements in their own voice.

The partnership also reflects platform evolution in creator partnerships. YouTube has introduced collaboration featuresallowing multiple creators to share credit and audience exposure on individual videos. Meta platforms expanded creator tools and monetization options across Instagram and Facebook. These developments demonstrate industry-wide recognition of creator value in advertising and content distribution.

iHeartMedia has expanded programmatic access to its audio inventory. The company partnered with StackAdapt in November 2025 to integrate broadcast radio into programmatic platforms, enabling unified audio campaign management. iHeartMedia and Magnite launched an omnichannel audio advertising marketplace in January 2024, bringing together broadcast radio, streaming radio, and podcast assets for programmatic transactions.

TikTok has developed its advertising infrastructure. The platform introduced real-time iOS conversion reporting through partnerships with mobile measurement providers, addressing delays traditionally associated with Apple's SKAdNetwork attribution framework. TikTok launched Search Ads Campaign in September 2024, enabling keyword-based advertising that reaches users who utilize search functionality.

The collaboration creates opportunities for brands to activate with creators at signature iHeartMedia events including the iHeartRadio Music Festival and iHeartRadio Jingle Ball. These live event integrations provide brands with access to creator networks on stages with established audience reach.

iHeartMedia reported podcast revenue growth of 28.5% year-over-year to $134.3 million in the second quarter of 2025, driven by digital advertising demand and local sales force effectiveness. About 50% of podcasting revenue was generated by the local sales force, representing a fundamental shift in how podcast advertising is sold and distributed.

The partnership timing aligns with sustained podcast consumption patterns. NPR News Now claimed the top position in July podcast rankings, demonstrating continued news content consumption. Publisher diversity characterized the rankings, with multiple media companies maintaining strong positions across various content categories.

Platform consolidation affects distribution strategies across the podcast industry. Recent acquisitions demonstrate competition for content and audiences, while technology platforms address scale challenges through automated vetting and programmatic capabilities. The iHeartMedia and TikTok partnership represents another approach to consolidation, combining creator audiences with established audio infrastructure.

Measurement methodologies continue evolving across podcast advertising. Episode-level contextual targeting enables advertisers to target specific topics discussed within individual podcast episodes, exceeding traditional show-level targeting limitations. Advanced targeting capabilities emerge as programmatic advertising growth reaches 72% in 2025, with audio and podcast advertising showing growth from 7% in 2023 to 9% in 2025 within programmatic spending allocations.

The companies indicated more details from the partnership will be announced in the coming months.

Timeline

• November 10, 2025: iHeartMedia and TikTok announce multiplatform partnership including TikTok Podcast Network with up to 25 creator-hosted shows
• Earlier in 2025: iHeartMedia and TikTok collaborate on "Next up: Live Music" singing competition on TikTok LIVE
• August 2025: iHeartMedia reports Q2 2025 podcast revenue growth of 28.5% to $134.3 million
• July 2025: Triton Digital launches AI voice cloning for programmatic podcast advertisements
• January 2024: iHeartMedia and Magnite launch omnichannel audio advertising marketplace

Summary

Who: iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in America, and TikTok, the world's leading destination for short-form mobile video, announced the partnership. Rich Bressler, President, COO and CFO for iHeartMedia, and Dan Page, Global Head of Media and Licensing Partnerships at TikTok, provided statements about the collaboration.

What: The partnership creates the TikTok Podcast Network featuring up to 25 podcasts hosted by TikTok creators, a national TikTok Radio channel pairing creators with iHeartRadio personalities, and live event integrations at iHeartMedia signature events. iHeartMedia will introduce co-branded podcast studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta with audio and video production infrastructure. Both companies will provide marketing and leverage sales teams to secure sponsorships.

When: The announcement was made on November 10, 2025. The companies previously collaborated earlier in 2025 on the "Next up: Live Music" singing competition. More partnership details will be announced in the coming months.

Where: The podcast network will distribute content through the iHeartRadio app and podcast platforms, with highlights available on TikTok. TikTok Radio will be available across broadcast radio stations nationwide and digitally on iHeartRadio. Studios will be located in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. iHeartMedia operates more than 860 broadcast stations across over 160 markets.

Why: The partnership connects TikTok creators with iHeartMedia's audio platforms to expand creator storytelling capabilities and audience reach. The collaboration addresses the creator economy growth, the gap between consumer audio engagement and advertiser investment, and creates new advertising inventory across audio formats. The partnership establishes new revenue streams for creators through podcast advertising, radio exposure, and live event opportunities while providing brands access to creator audiences across multiple platforms.