iHeartmedia, Inc. Reports Results for 2025 Fourth Quarter and Full Year

iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:IHRT) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2025.

Financial Highlights:¹

Q4 2025 Consolidated Results

• Q4 Revenue of $1,127 million, up 0.8% (Excluding Q4 Political Revenue, Q4 Revenue up 7.7%)
• GAAP Operating income of $86 million, compared to a GAAP Operating income of $105 million in Q4 2024, down 18.0%
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $220 million, compared to $246 million in Q4 2024, down 10.5%
• Cash provided by operating activities of $156 million
• Free Cash Flow of $138 million, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales of $158 million
• Cash balance and total available liquidity² of $271 million and $640 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2025

Q4 2025 Digital Audio Group Results

• Digital Audio Group Revenue of $387 million up 14%
  • Podcast Revenue of $174 million up 24%
  • Digital Revenue excluding Podcast of $213 million up 7%
• Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $132 million up 11%
  • Digital Audio Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.1%

Q4 2025 Multiplatform Group Results

• Multiplatform Group Revenue of $665 million down 3%
  • Excluding Multiplatform Group Q4 Political Revenue, Multiplatform Group Q4 Revenue up 2%
• Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $129 million down 14%
  • Multiplatform Group Adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.4%

Full Year 2026 Guidance

• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA³ expected to be approximately $800 million
• Free Cash Flow of approximately $200 million
• Projected in year cost savings of $100 million, inclusive of additional $50 million announced today
• Total Programmatic Revenue of approximately $200 million, up approximately 50%
• Year End 2026 Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ("net leverage")⁴ to be in mid-fives

Q1 2026 Guidance

• Consolidated Revenue expected to increase high-single digits
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA³ expected to be approximately $100 million

Full Year 2025 Highlights⁵

• Revenue of $3,865 million, flat YoY, up 3.6% excluding political
  • Digital Audio Group Revenue up 14%
    • Podcast Revenue up 26%
    • Digital Revenue excluding Podcast up 7%
  • Multiplatform Group Revenue down 4%
    • Excluding Multiplatform Group Political Revenue, Multiplatform Group Revenue down 2%
• GAAP Operating loss of $21 million improved from GAAP Operating loss of $763 million in the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily due to the $923 million of non-cash impairment charges recorded in 2024 related to our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets balances compared to the $213.9 million of non-cash impairment charges primarily related to our FCC licenses recorded in 2025
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $686 million, down from $706 million in the year ended December 31, 2024
• Cash provided by operating activities of $93 million
• Free Cash Flow of $11 million; Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales of $31 million

Statement from Senior Management

"We're pleased with our fourth quarter results, generating Adjusted EBITDA of $220 million, at the midpoint of our previously provided guidance range, and our consolidated revenue was $1.1 billion, up 0.8% compared to prior year and above our guidance; excluding the impact of political, our consolidated revenue was up 7.7%," said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc. "Our podcast momentum continues, growing 24.5% compared to prior year, above our guidance of ‘up in the mid-teens,' and we have the number one audience in podcasting as measured by both Podtrac and Triton. In 2026 a major goal of ours is to return the Multiplatform Group to segment Adjusted EBITDA growth and we continue to invest in our broadcast programmatic efforts and working with partners like Amazon DSP, Yahoo! DSP and other to include our broadcast radio inventory on their programmatic platforms. We also see some of our recent announcements as validation of the power of broadcast radio, with companies like Netflix and TikTok coming to partner with us and our broadcast radio assets."

"In the fourth quarter, the Digital Audio Group's revenue was $387 million, up 14.1% year over year and above our guidance, segment Adjusted EBITDA was $132 million, up 10.7% year over year, and our Q4 Adjusted EBITDA margins were 34.1%. The Multiplatform Group's revenue was $665 million, down 2.8% compared with prior year and in line with our guidance; the Multiplatform Group's Adjusted EBITDA was $129 million," said Rich Bressler, President and COO of iHeartMedia, Inc. "In Q4 our Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales was $158 million and we converted approximately 70% of our Adjusted EBITDA into this Free Cash Flow, which demonstrates the company's high Free Cash Flow conversion characteristics and gives us confidence in our ability to generate meaningful Free Cash Flow in 2026 and thereafter. We are looking forward to 2026 to be an Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow growth year for iHeart, driven by our strong podcasting momentum, our growing programmatic revenues and the return of the Multiplatform Group to segment Adjusted EBITDA growth."

Consolidated Results of Operations

Fourth Quarter 2025 Consolidated Results

Our consolidated revenue increased $9.0 million, or 0.8%, during the three months ended December 31, 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. Digital Audio revenue increased $47.7 million, or 14.1%, driven primarily by continuing increases in demand for digital and podcast advertising, as well as increased non-cash trade revenue resulting from strategic marketing initiatives. Multiplatform Group revenue decreased $19.2 million, or 2.8%, primarily resulting from lower political revenues, as 2024 was a presidential election year, as well as a decrease in broadcast advertising in connection with continued uncertain market conditions, partially offset by an increase in non-cash trade revenue resulting from strategic marketing initiatives. Audio & Media Services revenue decreased $18.9 million, or 19.3%, primarily as a result of lower political revenues at Katz Media, as 2024 was a presidential election year.

Consolidated direct operating expenses increased $11.0 million, or 2.4%, during the three months ended December 31, 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. The increase was primarily driven by higher variable content costs, including higher third-party digital costs related to the increase in digital revenues, partially offset by lower employee compensation cost in connection with modernization initiatives taken in 2024 and 2025.

Consolidated Selling, General & Administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased $21.2 million, or 4.6%, during the three months ended December 31, 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. The increase was driven primarily by increases in non-cash trade and barter expense related to strategic marketing initiatives and cash-settled share-based compensation expense driven by the increase in our stock price, partially offset by a decrease in costs incurred in connection with executing on our cost savings initiatives, including decreased employee compensation cost due to our modernization initiatives, and lower sales commissions related to the decline in broadcast revenue.

Our consolidated GAAP Operating income was $85.7 million compared to GAAP Operating income of $104.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $220.3 million from $246.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Cash provided by operating activities was $156.3 million, compared to cash provided by operating activities $1.2 million in the prior year period primarily due to the timing of interest payments as accrued interest was paid in the fourth quarter of 2024 upon closing of the debt exchange transaction that would have been paid in 2025 under the old debt terms and an increase in deferred revenues based on the timing of payments received, partially offset by the decrease in political revenues. Free Cash Flow was $137.6 million, compared to ($24.2) million in the prior year period.

Business Segments: Results of Operations

Fourth Quarter 2025 Multiplatform Group Results

Revenue from our Multiplatform Group was down $19.2 million, or 2.8% YoY, primarily due to lower political revenues, as 2024 was a presidential election year, as well as a decrease in broadcast advertising in connection with continued uncertain market conditions, partially offset by an increase in non-cash trade revenue resulting from strategic marketing initiatives. Broadcast revenue decreased $23.4 million, or 4.8% YoY, driven by lower spot revenue. Networks increased $4.9 million, or 4.4% YoY. Revenue from Sponsorship and Events increased $1.3 million, or 1.9% YoY.

Operating expenses increased $2.0 million, or 0.4% YoY, driven primarily by higher trade and barter expenses, partially offset by lower sales commissions related to the decline in broadcast revenue, as well as a decrease in employee compensation cost due to our modernization initiatives.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin decreased YoY to 19.4% from 21.9%.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Digital Audio Group Results

Revenue from our Digital Audio Group increased $47.7 million, or 14.1% YoY, driven by Podcast revenue, which increased $34.1 million, or 24.5% YoY, to $173.7 million, primarily due to a continued increase in demand for podcasting from advertisers, and Digital, excluding Podcast revenue, which increased $13.6 million, or 6.8% YoY, to $212.9 million, primarily due to an increase in demand for digital advertising, as well as increased non-cash trade revenue resulting from strategic marketing initiatives.

Operating expenses increased $34.9 million, or 15.9% YoY, primarily driven by higher variable content costs, including third-party digital costs related to the increase in revenues, and higher non-cash trade expense.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin decreased YoY to 34.1% from 35.1%.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Audio & Media Services Group Results

Revenue from our Audio & Media Services Group decreased $18.9 million, or 19.3% YoY, primarily due to lower political revenues as 2024 was a presidential election year, as well as a decrease in broadcast advertising in connection with uncertain market conditions, partially offset by an increase in digital revenues.

Operating expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 3.0% YoY, due to a decrease in employee compensation cost due to our modernization initiatives.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin decreased YoY to 39.7% from 49.8%.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures: Consolidated

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2025 presentation of financial information throughout the press release.

Liquidity and Financial Position

As of December 31, 2025, we had $270.9 million of cash on our balance sheet. For the year ended December 31, 2025, cash provided by operating activities was $92.6 million, cash used for investing activities was $66.2 million and cash used for financing activities was $15.3 million.

Capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2025 were $81.7 million compared to $97.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024.

As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $5,053.1 million of total debt and $4,540.0 million of Net Debt¹.

Cash balance and total available liquidity² were $270.9 million and $639.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2025 which reflects the $50.0 million of outstanding borrowings under our ABL facility.

Revenue Streams

The tables below present the comparison of our historical revenue streams (including political revenue) for the periods presented:

Conference Call

iHeartMedia, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss results and business outlook on March 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call number is (888) 596-4144 (U.S. callers) and +1 (646) 968-2525 (International callers) and the passcode for both is 8885116. A live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Investors homepage of iHeartMedia's website investors.iheartmedia.com. After the live conference call, a replay will be available for a period of thirty days. The replay numbers are (800) 770-2030 (U.S. callers) and +1 (609) 800-9909 (International callers) and the passcode for both is 8885116. An archive of the webcast will be available beginning 24 hours after the call for a period of thirty days.

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; 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 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 500+ platforms and thousands of 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.

Certain statements herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of iHeartMedia, Inc. and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "guidance," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimates," "forecast" and similar words or expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's anticipated growth and continued investments; our expected costs savings; utilization of new technologies, programmatic platforms, and revenue opportunities; improving operational efficiency; future advertising demand; trends in the advertising industry, including on other media platforms; strategies, goals, partnerships and initiatives; our anticipated financial condition and performance, including our outlook as to first quarter and full year 2026 consolidated results of operations; and our future liquidity and net leverage are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other important factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this press release include, but are not limited to: risks related to global economic or political uncertainty and our dependence on advertising revenues; competition, including increased competition from alternative media platforms and technologies; dependence upon our brand and the performance of on-air talent, program hosts and management; fluctuations in operating costs; technological and industry changes and innovations; shifts in population and other demographics; risks related to our use of artificial intelligence, impact of acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions; risks related to our indebtedness; legislative or regulatory requirements; impact of legislation, and royalty audits on music licensing and royalties; regulations and concerns regarding privacy and data protection and breaches of information security measures; risks related to scrutiny and regulation of environmental, social and governance matters, risks related to our Class A common stock; and regulations impacting our business and the ownership of our securities. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date hereof. Additional risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by any forward-looking statement are described in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in the section entitled "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of iHeartMedia, Inc.'s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and "Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of iHeartMedia, Inc.'s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

APPENDIX

TABLE 1 - Comparison of operating performance

TABLE 2 - Statements of Operations

TABLE 3 - Selected Balance Sheet Information

Supplemental Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

The following tables set forth the Company's Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, revenues excluding political advertising revenue, Free Cash Flow, Free cash flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free cash flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction for the three months and year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, and Net Debt as of December 31, 2025. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as consolidated Operating income (loss) adjusted to exclude restructuring expenses included within Direct operating expenses and SG&A expenses, and share-based compensation expenses included within SG&A expenses, as well as the following line items presented in our Statements of Operations: Depreciation and amortization, Impairment charges, and Other operating expense. Alternatively, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Net income (loss), adjusted to exclude Income tax (benefit) expense, Interest expense, net, Depreciation and amortization, (Gain) loss on investments, net, Loss on extinguishment of debt, Other (income) expense, net, Equity in (earnings) loss of nonconsolidated affiliates, Impairment charges, Other operating expense, Share-based compensation expense, and Restructuring expenses. Restructuring expenses primarily include expenses incurred in connection with cost-saving initiatives, as well as certain expenses, which, in the view of management, are outside the ordinary course of business or otherwise not representative of the Company's operations during a normal business cycle. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Revenue.

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, among other measures, to evaluate the Company's operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is among the primary measures used by management for the planning and forecasting of future periods, as well as for measuring performance for compensation of executives and other members of management. We believe this measure is an important indicator of the Company's operational strength and performance of its business because it provides a link between operational performance and operating income.

The Company believes the presentation of these measures is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by the Company's management. The Company believes it helps improve investors' ability to understand the Company's operating performance and makes it easier to compare the Company's results with other companies that have different capital structures or tax rates. In addition, the Company believes this measure is also among the primary measures used externally by the Company's investors, analysts and peers in its industry for purposes of valuation and comparing the operating performance of the Company to other companies in its industry.

Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, it should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, Operating income (loss) as an indicator of operating performance and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily a measure of the Company's ability to fund its cash needs. As it excludes certain financial information compared with Operating income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions which are excluded.

We define Free Cash Flow as Cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures, which is disclosed as Purchases of property, plant and equipment in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Free cash flow including net proceeds from real estate sales further adjusts Free Cash Flow to add back net proceeds from real estate sales. We use Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, among other measures, to evaluate the Company's liquidity and its ability to generate cash flow. We believe that Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales is meaningful to investors because it provides them with a view of the Company's liquidity after deducting capital expenditures, which are considered to be a necessary component of ongoing operations; and include proceeds from real estate sales in the case of Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales.

We define Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction as Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, while further excluding the Debt Exchange Transaction fees. We use Free Cash Flow measures, among other measures, to evaluate the Company's liquidity and its ability to generate cash flow. We believe that Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction are meaningful to investors because they provide them with a view of the Company's liquidity after deducting capital expenditures, which are considered to be a necessary component of ongoing operations, and excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction in the case of Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction.

In addition, we believe that Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction help improve investors' ability to compare our liquidity with that of other companies.

Since Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction are not measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, Cash provided by operating activities and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction are not necessarily measures of our ability to fund our cash needs.

The Company presents revenue, excluding the effects of political revenue. Due to the cyclical nature of the electoral system and the seasonality of the related political revenue, management believes presenting revenue, excluding the effects of political revenue, provides additional information to investors about the Company's revenue growth from period to period.

We define Net Debt as Total Debt less Cash and cash equivalents and Debt Premium. The Company uses Net Debt to evaluate the Company's liquidity. We believe this measure is an important indicator of the Company's ability to service its long-term debt obligations.

Since these non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures as an indicator of operating performance or liquidity.

As required by the SEC rules, the Company provides reconciliations below to the most directly comparable measures reported under GAAP, including (i) Adjusted EBITDA to Operating income (loss), (ii) Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss), (iii) Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction to Cash provided by operating activities, (iv) revenue, excluding political advertising revenue, to revenue, and (v) Net Debt to Total Debt.

We have provided forecasted Consolidated Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance for the quarter ending March 31, 2026, which reflects targets for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. Our Earnings Call on March 2, 2026 may present additional guidance that includes Adjusted EBITDA. A full reconciliation of the forecasted Adjusted EBITDA to the respective most-directly comparable GAAP metrics cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying with reasonable accuracy significant items required for the reconciliations, including gains or losses on investments, extinguishment of debt, equity in nonconsolidated affiliates, impairment charges, stock based compensation, and restructuring as well as the Company's cash and cash equivalent balance.

Reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA

Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

Reconciliation of Cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow including net proceeds from real estate sales, and Free Cash Flow excluding the impacts of the Debt Exchange Transaction

Reconciliation of Revenue to Revenue excluding Political Advertising

Reconciliation of Total Debt to Net Debt

Segment Results

The following tables present the Company's segment results for the Company for the periods presented:

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302019651/en/

For further information:

Media

Wendy Goldberg

Chief Communications Officer

(212) 377-1105

[email protected]

Investors

Andrey Hart

SVP of Investor Relations

(703) 956-0115

[email protected]