Audio Ink

Tagstation, owner of the NextRadio app, announced on Tuesday that Samsung, the largest Android handset maker in the world, is the latest device to continue its support for NextRadio by unlocking the FM Chip in upcoming smartphone models in the U.S. and Canada.

On Monday iHeartMedia announced a slew of new integrations for iHeartRadio, just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Listeners will now have the ability to access iHeartRadio through a bot for Facebook Messenger; Samsung’s new voice service, Bixby; Jibo, the first social robot for the home; Garmin’s new GPS running watch, and Roku.

Orman has signed a deal with PodcastOne to produce and distribute a new program in 2018 that focuses on personal finance. The certified money expert and podcast fan will also be able to spontaneously turn on the microphone, inform and help people whenever it matters most in today’s rapidly changing world.

Make-A-Wish – the global organization that grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses – has launched a new podcast miniseries, The Power of a Wish. The two-episode series highlights the impact of these wishes and the stories of the people who work to make a child’s wish a reality.

The Pac-12 Conference and SiriusXM announced a multiyear agreement to create the SiriusXM Pac-12 Radio channel. The channel will serve as the most in-depth audio platform covering the conference, providing 24-7 programming for fans across the country.

Laugh Out Loud, the comedy brand and multi-platform network created by Kevin Hart and Lionsgate, and SiriusXM announced, Wednesday, an agreement to launch a new full-time comedy channel with Hart. The new channel will launch in early 2018.

Pandora has hired former Gap Executive Aimée Lapic as its new CMO. Lapic spent 13 years at The Gap where she served most recently as CMO for Banana Republic. Lapic replaces Nick Bartle who left earlier this year on the same day Founder Tim Westergren resigned. 

TechCrunch is reporting that Apple may announce as early as today that it is acquiring Shazam, the app that identifies songs by listening to an audio clip. TechCrunch reports it has a source that says the price tag for Shazam could be as high as $400 million. Shazam launched way back in 1999.

The streaming giant’s 200-plus channels are now available on Apple TV 4K and Apple TV (4th generation) via the SiriusXM app. With the SiriusXM app on AppleTV, SiriusXM trial or paid subscribers with streaming access have many new options.

On November 30, Dr. Ronald Hoffman’s Intelligent Medicine podcast logged its five millionth download. His nationally syndicated radio show continues to be one of the top health/medical radio programs in the country, airing on more than 120 stations.