Spark Foundry and iHeartMedia Launch Audio Academy

Internal Training Platform to Empower Marketers on Best Practices To Leverage Audio’s Full Potential For Brands 

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 – Spark Foundry, the largest North American media agency within Publicis Media, in partnership with iHeartMedia, the leading audio company in America and No. 1 commercial podcast publisher, announced today the launch of the Audio Academy – a  digital interactive training platform focused on today’s evolving audio landscape. Composed of multimedia training modules produced by some of the industry’s foremost professionals, Audio Academy will feature a comprehensive curricula, designed to provide thought leadership and enable breakthrough strategies. Audio Academy will launch at Spark Foundry in late September on Publicis Groupe’s AI-driven connectivity platform Marcel before rolling out across Publicis Media later in the year.

“From sonic branding to podcasting to streaming, recent innovations in the audio industry require us to think more holistically and strategically than ever before,” said Chris Boothe, CEO, Spark Foundry. “As a leader in the audio industry, iHeartMedia, is the ideal partner to launch the Audio Academy with. The interactive training program will provide continuing education to keep our talent best-in-class, and empower Spark Foundry to strategically harness audio channels to drive growth for our clients.”

The Audio Academy curriculum has been developed by key talent in the audio space, and created from in-depth analysis and insights of trends and innovations to drive key strategies on how to best approach planning, buying and measuring of audio campaigns on behalf of brands.

The training will entail two modules constructed to deepen one’s comprehensive understanding of the evolving audio ecosystem and sharpen the expertise in defining the best approach to planning and buying in relation to consumer listening habits which includes broadcast radio, podcasts, streaming, creating sonic identities, and measurement among other critical areas of the audio business.

“The demand for audio education is at an all-time high during Covid, because radio is the biggest reach medium offering the most agility to adapt messages quickly market by market as consumer and brand needs are changing faster than ever. There is no more trusted, flexible and affordable medium than audio,” said Gayle Troberman, CMO of iHeartMedia. “Leading agencies, like Spark Foundry, that recognize the need for more audio education will be better positioned to identify new growth opportunities for clients during this critical time. We are thrilled to be able to bring our knowledge, insights, influencers and scale across radio, digital, podcasts and events to help Spark develop the leading audio education platform.”

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.