ROCK THE VOTE AND IHEARTMEDIA ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT TO THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Rock the Vote, the largest non-profit and non-partisan organization in the United States driving the youth vote to the polls, today announced a partnership with iHeartMedia dedicated to increasing youth registration and turnout for the 2016 presidential election. With over 245 million monthly broadcast listeners, iHeartMedia has the largest audience of any media outlet in America. The new partnership was revealed during the first night of the annual iHeartRadio Music Festival at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena by Ryan Seacrest, who hosts and produces his market-topping Los Angeles morning drive show “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” for iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS-FM.
12,000 Americans are turning 18 every day and Millennials will total over 93 million next year, with the potential to comprise a decisive bloc of up to 40% of the voting electorate. The partnership will leverage iHeartMedia’s 850 radio stations and industry-leading iHeartRadio digital platform to share stories from iHeartRadio artists, on-air personalities and listeners about the importance of voting and provide local information about voter registration deadlines and poll location information. Over the next 14 months, iHeartMedia and Rock the Vote will closely cover all aspects of the election process and offer unique opportunities for listeners to get involved.
“We want iHeartMedia to be a driving force during this cycle, not only in helping to spur new voter registrations but in supporting existing voter engagement, and our primary goal for 2016 is a surge in turnout on Election Day,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. “iHeartMedia provides true national reach and is made up of a number of diverse communities, just like America, across every format — from Top 40, hip-hop and country to classic rock, Spanish and news talk — and with Rock the Vote we will host conversations with voters to explore issues important to them.”
“Since 1992 Rock the Vote has mobilized millions of young people across America to make their voices heard at the voting booth. At iHeartMedia we will engage our 250 million monthly listeners to understand that, regardless of where their political beliefs fall, their most powerful tool is their right to vote,” said John Sykes, President of Entertainment Enterprises at iHeartMedia, Inc.
Ashley Spillane, who has served as president of Rock the Vote since February 2014, underscored the historic opportunity this partnership represents.
“It is incredibly exciting for me personally to be working with John and Bob on this important partnership. It was MTV and Rock the Vote’s partnership and the iconic PSAs they created in the ’90s that helped spark my interest in politics,” Spillane recalled. “I am excited for this new partnership, inspired by the passion that founded both MTV and Rock The Vote, to do the same for millions of young voters across the country.”
iHeartMedia and Rock the Vote’s 14-month campaign, entitled ‘Voting is the Party’ officially launches on-air this Tuesday in conjunction with National Voter Registration Day. The premise of the campaign is to encourage a new generation of voters to join the political process and stresses that it is not about which party you’re with. In America, voting is the party.
About Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is the largest non-profit and non-partisan organization in the United States building the political power of young people. Fusing pop culture, politics, and technology, Rock the Vote works to mobilize the millennial voting bloc and the youth vote, protect voting rights, and advocate for an electoral process and voting system that works for the 21st century electorate. Since 1990, Rock the Vote has revolutionized the use of pop culture, music, art and technology to inspire political activity. Now, for almost 25 years, Rock the Vote has pioneered ways to make voting easier by simplifying and demystifying voter registration and elections for young adults.
Rock the Vote has run the largest voter registration drives for young people on record during the past six Presidential elections. In 2008 and 2012, our on-the-ground efforts, online organizing, and cutting-edge tools and technologies made us the largest non-partisan voter engagement campaign in the nation. All of these efforts have resulted in Rock the Vote processing nearly seven million voter registrations, bringing millions more to the polls, and becoming a trusted resource for young people, government agencies, and technological innovators passionate about political discourse and engagement. Learn more by visiting rockthevote.com or connect with us on social on Twitter or Facebook.
About iHeartMedia
With 245 million monthly listeners in the U.S., 87 million monthly digital uniques, over 75 million social followers and 196 million monthly consumers of its Total Traffic and Weather Network, iHeartMedia has the largest reach of any radio or television outlet in America. It serves over 150 markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company’s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets and smartphones, and on gaming consoles.
iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s digital radio platform, is the No. 1 all-in-one digital audio service with over 700 million downloads; it reached its first 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in Internet history and reached 70 million users faster than any other radio or digital music service and even faster than Facebook. The company’s operations include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (OTCBB: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.