Nissan Brings TuneIn Podcasts And Streaming Radio To The Dashboard.

Podcasters will have a new inroad into the Nissan dashboard as the Japanese automaker has formed a collaboration with TuneIn that will bring its catalog of millions of podcasts and tens of thousands of radio station to select models in the U.S. The deal also covers select Infiniti models. Drivers will be able to access TuneIn through vehicles equipped with Google built-in.

“Drivers want access to the audio they love the moment they start the car,” TuenIn CEO Rich Stern says. “By bringing the full TuneIn experience directly into Nissan’s infotainment system, we’re eliminating friction and giving listeners a safer, faster way to enjoy live sports, trusted news, music and podcasts on every drive.”

The announcement says the drivers will be able to access TuneIn using voice commands with a single tap, powered by TuneIn’s App Driver Distraction Management System. It features new left-side driver controls that should make it easier to play, pause or change audio with quick, one-touch access.

The Nissan partnership builds on TuneIn’s growing automotive footprint, which includes integrations with BYD, Rivian, Lucid and Great Wall Motors, among others.

Stingray Group’s acquisition of TuneIn for up to $175 million announced in November was driven partly by the automotive potential. Stern told Inside Radio that radio’s digital transition is accelerating, and the combined company put radio in a stronger competitive posture as broadcasters face the potential of carmakers no longer keeping AM/FM receivers in their dashboards.

“Our ability to work together with the OEMs can accelerate our distribution in the car for both EVs and for legacy vehicles,” Stern predicted. He also pointed out that automakers are redefining in-car media experiences, with brands retaking control of dashboards from third parties, similar to what BYD has just done with Stingray.

Stingray CEO Eric Boyko also predicted that in the next five to 10 years Stingray and TuneIn will be embedded in every car manufacturer in the world to create OEM-branded radio experiences like “Ford Radio” or “Toyota Radio” that blend Stingray channels, TuneIn’s player, and Stingray’s karaoke product.