MapQuest is entering the streaming audio space through a new partnership with iHeartRadio that integrates live radio directly into the longtime navigation platform.
The companies announced Thursday that users visiting MapQuest.com can now access live iHeartRadio stations through a new “Live Radio” button positioned in the top-right corner of the map interface. The move marks the first audio integration in MapQuest’s history and is designed to combine navigation with live entertainment and information programming.
The initial rollout is web-based, although the companies say a mobile app integration is planned for a later phase.
For MapQuest, the partnership adds a new layer of engagement to a platform that still attracts tens of millions of monthly users. For iHeartMedia, the deal extends distribution for its live radio streams to another high-traffic digital environment tied closely to in-car and on-the-go listening.
“The open road and great audio have always gone together, which is why this partnership made so much sense,” MapQuest General Manager Doug Berger said in the announcement. “iHeartRadio brings the country’s most popular stations directly into the MapQuest experience, giving our users live entertainment alongside the navigation they already trust. It’s a simple, meaningful upgrade and an exciting first for MapQuest.”
iHeartMedia says the arrangement also provides additional promotional scale through its multi-platform audio ecosystem, which includes broadcast radio stations, podcasts, digital streaming and live events.
“This partnership puts iHeart’s live radio in front of MapQuest’s millions of monthly users, giving consumers more of the content they seek,” Michael Biondo, President of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for iHeartMedia, said. “It’s a simple, intuitive way to extend our reach and enhance how people experience audio on the go.”
The integration reflects continued efforts by audio companies to embed streaming content into platforms already associated with driving and travel behavior. While digital mapping services increasingly incorporate entertainment and utility features, the companies say the new partnership is intended to create a more seamless experience by pairing real-time directions with live audio content.
MapQuest, one of the earliest online mapping brands, continues to operate as a web-based navigation platform offering driving directions, route planning and traffic tools. iHeartRadio, meanwhile, remains one of the largest digital audio platforms in the U.S., with access to thousands of live broadcast stations and podcasts.