Observed Signal · Aug 17, 2026 · Market Signal · Source: iHeartMedia · Impact: 3.5/5
iHeartMedia Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Cool Zone Media and Announces New Podcast "Natural Causes"
Since launching in 2021, the network has surpassed 750 million downloads, launched 27 podcasts, including a new series hosted by journalist Dr. James Stout
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Ad Council PSA Reveals New Motherhood Struggles
The Ad Council has launched 'What's Her Secret?', a new suite of public service announcements aimed at encouraging new and expecting mothers to prioritize their mental health. The campaign, part of the broader 'Love, Your Mind' initiative, highlights the often-hidden struggles of early motherhood, such as sleep deprivation and emotional distress, and directs women to resources at LoveYourMind.com/moms. Created pro-bono by Mischief USA, the PSAs feature a group of women discussing motherhood while one mother's internal chaos is visualized. The campaign cites statistics showing that one in five mothers experiences postpartum depression or anxiety, yet three-quarters do not receive treatment. The PSAs will run nationwide in English and Spanish across broadcast TV, online video, out-of-home, radio, and digital platforms, with donated media support from partners including Amazon Ads, Fuse Media, iHeartMedia, Kargo, Pinterest, and Reddit.
IAB Podcast Upfront Recap: Creators, Surfaces, Consolidation, Measurement
The 2026 IAB Podcast Upfront highlighted the maturation of the podcast industry, characterized by four key themes: the centrality of creators, the diversification of distribution surfaces, consolidation in buying infrastructure, and measurement challenges. Podcasts now span RSS, YouTube, Spotify video, FAST, VOD, social clips, and live events, with audiences following creators across these formats. Buyers are increasingly able to purchase podcast inventory through consolidated pipes, such as Amazon's DSP aggregating supply from SiriusXM, Spotify, Acast, and iHeart. However, measurement remains hindered by inconsistent definitions across platforms, with YouTube's zero-second view inflating counts by ~1.8x, and difficulty measuring ROI being the top buyer concern. The industry is building momentum towards standardizing metrics like clips, views, plays, and sessions to increase buyer confidence and scale investment.
USA Lacrosse And iHeartMedia Launch Strategic Partnership
USA Lacrosse has entered into a landmark partnership with iHeartMedia, giving the sport access to the nation's largest audio media platform as it continues its ascent ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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