Through its media buying agent, Google paid iHeartMedia more than $2.6 million to have its on-air personalities record ads for the company’s Pixel 4 to run on iHeartMedia stations. iHeartMedia gives selected on-air personalities the option to make more money by recording ads for specific clients that will run on iHeart stations.Įnter Google. The largest owner of radio stations in the United States, iHeartMedia has more than 850 AM and FM stations and also streams content online with a total of 245 million listeners each month.

The combined financial penalties in the state actions: $9.4 million. In proposed settlements announced in conjunction with actions brought by State Attorneys General, the FTC alleges that Google and iHeartMedia aired nearly 29,000 ads featuring iHeart radio personalities touting their positive personal experiences with Google’s Pixel 4 phone when the purported endorsers hadn’t used the product. If there’s one point to take from the FTC’s action against Google and iHeartMedia, it’s that the FTC doesn’t heart endorsements given by people who haven’t actually used the product they recommend. About the FTC Show/hide About the FTC menu items.News and Events Show/hide News and Events menu items.

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Hey google play iheartradio