Ahead of launching a paid-for Spotify rival early next year, iHeartRadio has brought its free internet radio service to Canada via a partnership with broadcaster Bell Media.
It will arrive on October 10th after a preview period and is free to Canadians via iOS and Android apps, and at iHeartRadio.ca.
Notably, iHeartRadio’s biggest rival, Pandora, is not available in Canada after exiting the market in 2007 over reported difficulty obtaining licenses.
Users of iHeartRadio’s service in Canada will get instant access to hundreds of music, news/talk, comedy and sports stations from Bell Media’s 105 licensed English and French radio stations including Virgin Radio, TSN Radio and Newstalk.
Also included is more than 100 curated streaming music channels and exclusive album sneak previews, secret sessions for fans, exclusive interviews and live performances.
Content can be searched for and customised by the user, who can move between stations and genres based on their mood, and set favourites to match preferences.
Randy Lennox, President of Entertainment Production and Broadcasting at Bell Media, said: “iHeartRadio Canada harnesses the strength of Bell Media’s radio stations in addition to more than 100 exclusive, curated digital music stations, placing them all conveniently at the fingertips of every Canadian.
“iHeartRadio is an enormously successful brand that will represent Bell Media’s radio strategy in Canada, in many incarnations, including must-see live concerts, events, and more.”
randy lennox, bell media
“iHeartRadio is an enormously successful brand that will represent Bell Media’s radio strategy in Canada, in many incarnations, including must-see live concerts, events, and more.”
Also announced today is the inaugural iHeartRadio Canada Jingle Ball.
Taking place on November 25th at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre, the line-up consists of The Weeknd, The Chainsmokers, Alessia Cara, Hedley, and more.
Additional Canadian concerts are soon to be announced – ranging from big arenas to smaller, more intimate venues.
As we reported in September, iHeart’s streaming products iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access will hit the marketplace in January 2017, fully licensed by the major music companies.
The former is believed to be an ad-free radio listening offer for $5-a-month, while the latter is clearly a $10-a-month all-you-can-eat rival to Spotify and Apple Music.
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