Number one in the industry

As of early 2026, their podcasting segment produces ~180 million monthly downloads and generated $147 million in revenue in Q1 2026 alone, marking a 27% percent increase year-over-year. iHeart consistently holds the #1 spot in the industry, according to Podtrac, maintaining top-ranked shows across all 19 podcast categories. The company has a massive content library, with over 250,000 podcasts on their platform and a reach that includes hundreds of millions of listeners.

It’s no surprise to podcast followers that podcasting is the fastest-growing part of iHeartMedia’s business, with its Digital Audio Group (including podcasts) seeing high double-digit revenue growth. Beyond just owning shows, iHeart has grown by acquiring podcast hosting platforms like Spreaker and technology firms like Triton Digital.

In its own State Of Podcasting Study 2026, the company laid out the growing influence of podcasting on consumers, and, more importantly, on advertising.

The Study reported: “On average, adults now spend more time listening to podcasts than scrolling social platforms. Listening time has more than doubled in the last eight years and now averages nearly an hour per day. That’s a strong foundation for high-impact Podcast Ads. Listeners finish episodes, follow hosts, and engage deeply. Most listeners stay through all or most of every episode and often accumulate more than six hours of listening per week. Cultural moments increasingly start or spread through podcast conversations. Brands that Advertise on Podcasts align themselves with the creators driving those moments.”

While traditional radio ("multiplatform") revenue has faced challenges, iHeart’s Digital Audio Group—led by podcasting—has shown strong, consistent growth. One of iHeart’s competitive advantages is that it can leverage local sales by utilizing its massive local sales force of over 1,000+ people to monetize podcasts locally, which has been a major factor in their revenue growth.

For the second quarter of 2026, iHeartMedia expects low-single-digit percentage growth in consolidated revenue and adjusted EBITDA between $140 million and $160 million. Key drivers include a 10 percent revenue increase for the Digital Audio Group (with podcasting up low-20s), flat revenue for the Multiplatform Group, and high-teen growth for Audio Media Services.

"iHeart is significantly stronger than some of its competitors because of its early foray into podcasting," says Dan Gage, podcast marketing consultant. “iHeart got into podcasting as early as 2008, with the launch of the show Stuff You Should Know, which has become a massive hit. The company officially expanded its digital footprint by launching iHeartRadio Talk in 2013, which was rebranded to Podcasts in 2016, setting the stage for its current position as the top commercial podcast publisher.”