In 1972, when investor Lowry Mays unexpectedly found himself owning a single radio station in San Antonio, Texas, he and co-founder Red McCombs saw something others missed: the power of local radio to connect communities. What started as one station would grow over five decades into America's #1 audio company, reaching 9 out of 10 Americans every month - a quarter of a billion monthly listeners. Originally known as Clear Channel Communications, the company rebranded to iHeartMedia in 2014 to reflect its evolution beyond traditional broadcast into a comprehensive audio powerhouse spanning radio, digital streaming, podcasts, and live events.
Today iHeartMedia operates more than 860 owned radio stations across 160 markets, leads the industry as the #1 podcast publisher with 170 million monthly downloads and streams, and powers the iHeartRadio digital service available on over 500 platforms and 2,000 devices. The company's proprietary analytics and attribution technology harness data from its massive consumer base, giving advertisers unprecedented targeting capabilities across all audio formats. From iconic live music events like the iHeartRadio Music Festival to community-focused initiatives supporting mental health awareness, veterans, and disaster response, iHeartMedia has transformed from a radio operator into a cultural force that uses audio to create genuine human connections in an increasingly fragmented world.