iHeart’s Bob Pittman On AI, Podcasting, And Why He’s Not Retiring Anytime Soon.

As digital media continues to shift rapidly, iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman remains focused not on predicting the future, but on being prepared for it.

In a recent interview with TheWrap, Pittman shared his outlook on the evolution of media, the state of radio and podcasting, and how iHeart is leveraging technology to stay ahead. He dismissed the hype cycles of the past—like the metaverse and Web3—saying artificial intelligence emerged faster and more powerfully than expected. “My strategy is not to try and predict the future; instead, it’s to be on the lookout for the future and to be ready when it shows itself,” Pittman said.

On the business front, Pittman addressed concerns around ad market volatility, saying iHeart's core advertiser base hasn’t been significantly affected by geopolitical factors such as tariffs. The company continues to post strong digital gains—in Q1 2025, digital revenue rose $38.3 million year-over-year, driven largely by demand in podcasting and digital audio ads.

Pittman said iHeart now captures about 40% of the radio industry’s ad revenue as measured by Miller Kaplan, attributing the gain to advertiser consolidation. “They want fewer partners, not more. We certainly would have to be partner number one,” he noted.

As for iHeart’s expanding podcast portfolio, Pittman called it “radio on demand,” comparing it to Netflix’s role in television. Flagship shows like “My Favorite Murder,” “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show,” and “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce” have helped cement iHeart’s lead on Podtrac’s rankings, ahead of NPR. Pittman emphasized iHeart’s promotional power through traditional radio as a key advantage in driving podcast discovery.

While video podcasting has become a growing trend, Pittman downplayed its importance. “At that point, it’s not really so much a podcast as much as it is a video show,” he said, arguing that the “vast majority” of listeners still prefer audio-first formats.

iHeart is also investing in AI and programmatic technologies to streamline operations, aiming for $150 million in net savings by 2025. Pittman says AI helps the company better understand its audience and target campaigns more effectively.

Asked about his long-term plans, Pittman—who began his media career at 15—offered no sign of stepping down. “Business is my golf,” he said. “As long as my health holds up and my board wants me here, I will continue to do what I love.”