Rukus Avenue Radio, the #1 South Asian Radio Station in the World, Joins the iHeartRadio App

iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America, and Rukus Avenue Radio, the world’s largest South Asian radio and podcast network, announced a partnership to make iHeartRadio the exclusive home for Rukus Avenue Radio.

iHeartRadio launched Rukus Avenue Radio this week, making it the first-ever mainstream network in North America dedicated to South Asian culture. From a robust catalog of celebrity-hosted podcasts to being on the pulse of Indian and South Asian music, adding Rukus Avenue Radio will offer something unique for iHeartRadio’s millions of listeners.

South Asia makes up the largest addressable marketplace in the world of over a billion and a half people. With Indian media and entertainment expected to rise to a $74B per year enterprise by 2027 globally, Rukus Avenue Radio’s emergence is a larger illustration of the growth of South Asians consuming podcast and radio content.

“This moment is indeed transformative,” said Sammy Chand, Chairman & CEO of Rukus Avenue. “Our South Asian culture is rich and diverse, and we have so much to share with everyone. Having Rukus Avenue Radio on iHeartRadio not only celebrates our community, but also gives people of all backgrounds a common place where they can press play and experience the best our culture has to offer.”

Rukus Avenue Radio aired special programming from January 19-21 to celebrate its launch on iHeartRadio, with its regular slate of shows beginning on January 22. With programming raging from Punjabi to Carnatic to the rise of South Asian Hip Hop music, to Bollywood culture and socially relevant discussions that help shape the evolving identity of the South Asians living abroad, Rukus Avenue Radio provides listeners the opportunity to hear weekly one-hour shows from hosts covering the hot topics that matter to the South Asian diaspora around the world.

About Rukus Avenue Radio, Inc.

Founded in 2018, with a current listenership of over 10 Million listeners a month, Rukus Avenue Radio is the most listened-to South Asian radio and podcast network globally. With over 50 hosts recording weekly shows around the world, Rukus Avenue Radio generates over 200 hours of original content a month.

Rukus Avenue Radio is a subsidiary of Rukus Avenue Music Group. Founded in 1996 by Sammy Chand, Rukus Avenue is noted for spearheading India’s hip-hop movement and guiding the cross-country careers of some of the top Indian artists in North America and India, Rukus Avenue has been Hollywood’s go-to for all things India related. Twice Emmy nominated for their music supervision work, Rukus Avenue’s music has been featured in over 75 film and TV shows (including “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, “Indian Matchmaking” and David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction”).

Rukus Avenue assembled the largest collection of artists to ever come together for a charitable album, when they collaborated with the United Nations and their fight against human trafficking on a 60 track, 55 artist, triple CD compilation (featuring some of the world’s most famous musicians, activists, and dignitaries including President Jimmy Carter, Quincy Jones, and AR Rahman).

For more information visit www.rukusavenueradio.com or www.rukusavenue.com

About iHeartMedia, Inc.

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. It consists of three business groups.

With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company’s live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry’s largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.

The iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group includes the company’s fast-growing podcasting business -- iHeartMedia is the number one podcast publisher in downloads, unique listeners, revenue and earnings -- as well as its industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service, available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices; the company’s digital sites, newsletters, digital services and programs; its digital advertising technology companies; and its audio industry-leading social media footprint.

The company’s Audio & Media Services reportable segment includes Katz Media Group, the nation’s largest media representation company, and RCS, the world’s leading provider of broadcast and webcast software.

Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.