iHeartMedia Announces “Bear and a Banjo,” A First-of-its-Kind Musical Podcast Blockbuster Narrated by Dennis Quaid

Podcast brings together some of the biggest names in the music and entertainment industry including Poo Bear, T Bone Burnett, Bill Flanagan and more

Austin, TX — March 11, 2019 — iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally with over 20,000 podcasts available on its iHeartRadio platform, today announced “Bear and a Banjo,” a first-of-its-kind iHeartRadio Original musical podcast, set to launch on the iHeartPodcast Network later this year. The podcast will be accompanied by the debut of The Bear and A Banjo album, which will mark the first time a band has used the power of podcasting to release an album.

Created by Jingle Jared, Dennis Quaidand five-time Grammy winner Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd (“Despacito,” “Where Are You Now,” “I’m the One” and “Peaches and Cream”) with musical contributions from producerT Bone Burnett(O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Crazy Heart) and original lyrical contribution from Bob Dylan, each episode of the eight-part series will tell a self-contained story about a character called Mister Bear. Bear is a traveling musician who visits different towns across America and impacts people’s lives before vanishing again. He is often preceded into town by J. Banjo, a charming huckster/card player/preacher/medicine salesman who acts as Bear’s promoter and hype man.

“This is the beginning of an entirely new era of podcasts. With ‘Bear and a Banjo,’ we are delving into a more sophisticated form of storytelling that brings the audience into a lush and rich world – not just through words, but music," said Dennis Quaid.

Each story in the eight-part anthology is based on an original song from the soon-to-be-released The Bear and A Banjo album, written and performed by Jingle Jared and Poo Bear. The podcast is written by award-winning producer and author Bill Flanagan(creator of CMT's Crossroads and VH1's Storytellers), with narration by Dennis Quaid as Dr. Q, who is searching to understand why the band was virtually erased from musical history. Throughout his exploration of the “Bear and a Banjo” story, listeners will learn about the band’s impact, uncoveringwhy the musicians’ history was nearly forgotten – until now.

“The sheer volume of talent that came together to collaborate on this project is truly remarkable,” said Jared Gutstadt, co-founder and president of the Jingle Punks. “It was an honor to work with the best and brightest minds in the industry to create a podcast that is unlike any other. The songs and storytelling will resonate with listeners everywhere, and we can’t wait to unveil it to the world.” 

“When we heard the idea for this podcast, we knew immediately that it would be a perfect fit for the iHeartPodcast Network,” said Gayle Troberman, CMO of iHeartMedia. “The massive reach of our broadcast radio stations combined with our No. 1 podcast platform will ensure listeners everywhere can enjoy ‘Bear and a Banjo,” and we’re excited to help brands find their voice and tell their stories through this unique audio experience.’

iHeartMedia announced “Bear and a Banjo” at an exclusive event featuring Dennis Quaid, with performances by the Jingle Punks and Tim McGraw, at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Dennis Quaid is represented  by WME and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush & Kaller.

 

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company’s live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry’s largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the company’s fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 500 platforms and 2,000 devices; the company’s digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The company’s Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nation’s largest media representation company, and RCS, the world's leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.