iHEART TO OFFER TWO ON-DEMAND SERVICES

iHeartMedia will launch two subscription services—iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access—in January, putting the terrestrial radio giant in competition with Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.

The new services mark the first time on-demand functionality will be used to improve the radio experience by merging music discovery and music collecting. The iHeartRadio Plus service will be focused on an enhanced radio experience, and iHeartRadio All Access will include an on-demand music collection experience tied directly to radio.

To get the service launched, iHeartRadio has reached license agreements with Warner Music Group, Sony Music Group and Universal Music Group, and signed agreements with The Orchard, Entertainment One, INgrooves, DashGo, Naxos and CD Baby.

iHeartRadio recently announced it has surpassed 90m registered users.

“We’re now making it easier than ever for iHeartRadio users to think of music discovery and collecting in a brand new and easy-to-use way,” said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio. “For the first time ever, when listeners hear a new or favorite song on the radio they can instantly replay a song and even save it directly to a playlist. We are reimagining radio—with the new technologies and offerings powered by our on-demand options, music discovery, music collecting and the power of community and companionship fostered by live radio and influential and trusted personalities.”

Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, said “While other streaming services have taken a music collection approach to digital streaming, no one has yet built a service incorporating on demand technology with real live radio—and at a scale that only iHeartMedia can, with its reach of over a quarter of a billion people every month. And only iHeartMedia can leverage the power of radio and bring to market new and innovative ways to extend on-demand capabilities onto the iHeartRadio platform. It’s a monumental shift for the industry as we lead the way into a new era of interactive radio.”

The major domos of the record industry had nothing but nice things to say about the new services.

Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said “We’re glad to build upon our relationship with iHeart, which under Bob’s leadership continues to innovate the radio experience by adding distinct features and services and attract a broad audience that remains deeply passionate about music.”

Doug Morris, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, noted, “This deal further expands our long-running successful relationship, and creates promising new commercial opportunities to engage with the millions of music fans who listen to iHeart every day.”

And Warner Music Group CEO Steve Cooper added, “iHeart’s expertise and reach in radio programming and curation, combined with the full power of streaming technology, is a compelling prospect. These new services will open up the choice of experiences that iHeart offers music fans, while providing our artists and songwriters with a wider range of commercial and marketing opportunities.”

HITS Publisher Dennis Lavinthal was on vacation and unavailable for comment.