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These six radio mainstays have all earned iHeartRadio Titanium Awards for their songs that reached 1 billion spins across iHeart stations in 2022, Billboard can exclusively reveal. iHeartMedia revealed the Titanium Award-winning songs on Tuesday (June 20), including Doja Cat‘s “Woman,” Ed Sheeran‘s “Shivers,” Jack Harlow‘s “First Class,” Latto‘s “Big Energy” and Wizkid and Tems‘ “Essence.” Sheeran was honored with his award while visiting iHeartRadio in New York recently. “Wowzas,” the 32-year-old […]
Monday night’s (March 27) iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrated the artists we hear most across the airwaves, with Lenny Kravitz hosting and performing.
Taylor Swift collected the Innovator Award and Pink won the Icon Award, but who else took home prizes?
Find the night’s big winners below:
Song of the year“About Damn Time”- LizzoWINNER: “Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift“As It Was”- Harry Styles“Big Energy”- Latto“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)”- Imagine Dragons“First Class”- Jack Harlow“Ghost”- Justin Bieber“Heat Waves” – Glass Animals“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow“Woman” – Doja Cat
Artist of the yearBeyoncéDoja CatDrakeDua LipaHarry StylesJack HarlowJustin BieberLizzoTaylor SwiftThe Weeknd
Best duo/group of the yearAJRBlack Eyed PeasBlackpinkGlass AnimalsWINNER: Imagine DragonsMåneskinOneRepublicParmaleeRed Hot Chili PeppersSilk Sonic
Best collaboration“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”- Elle King & Miranda Lambert“Cold Heart”- Elton John & Dua Lipa“half of my hometown”- Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny Chesney“I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Post Malone ft. Doja Cat“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow“One Right Now”- Post Malone & The Weeknd“Sweetest Pie” – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa“Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras“Wait For U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems“You Right” – Doja Cat ft. The Weeknd
Best new pop artistDove CameronGayleWINNER: JaxNicky YoureSteve Lacy
Country song of the year“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny ChesneyWINNER: “She Had Me At Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell“The Kind of Love We Make” – Luke Combs“Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen
Country artist of the yearCarrie UnderwoodJason AldeanKane BrownLuke CombsWINNER: Morgan Wallen
Best new country artistBailey ZimmermanWINNER: Cody JohnsonElle KingElvie ShanePriscilla Block
Afrobeats artist of the yearBurna BoyCKayFireboy DMLTemsWizkid
Hip-hop song of the year“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”- Hitkidd & GloRilla“First Class” – Jack Harlow“Girls Want Girls” – Drake ft. Lil Baby“Super Gremlin”- Kodak Black“Wait For U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems
Hip-hop artist of the yearDrakeFutureKodak BlackLil BabyMoneybagg Yo
Best new hip-hop artistB-LoveeGloRillaLattoNardo WickSleazyWorld Go
R&B song of the year“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé“Free Mind” – Tems“Hrs And Hrs” – Muni Long“I Hate U”- SZA“Smokin Out The Window” – Silk Sonic
R&B artist of the year BlxstMuni LongSilk SonicSZAYung Bleu
Best new R&B artist BlastBrent FaiyazWINNER: Muni LongSteve LacyTems
Alternative song of the year“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers“Edging”- Blink-182“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)”- Imagine Dragons“Heat Waves”- Glass Animals“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”- Kate Bush
Alternative artist of the yearImagine DragonsMåneskinRed Hot Chili Pepperstwenty one pilotsWeezer
Best new artist (alternative & rock)Beach WeatherBoyWithUkeWINNER: Giovannie and the Hired GunsTurnstileWet Leg
Rock song of the year“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers“Patient Number 9”- Ozzy Osbourne ft. Jeff Beck“Planet Zero”- Shinedown“So Called Life”- Three Days Grace“Taking Me Back”- Jack White
Rock artist of the yearGhostWINNER: Papa RoachRed Hot Chili PeppersShinedownThree Days Grace
Dance song of the year“Cold Heart”- Elton John & Dua Lipa“Escape”- KX5, Kaskade, Deadmau5 ft. Hayla“Heaven Takes You Home”- Swedish House Mafia & Connie Constance“Hot In It”- Tiësto & Charli XCXWINNER: “I’m Good (Blue)”- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha
Dance artist of the yearWINNER: Anabel EnglundJoel CorrySofi TukkerSwedish House MafiaTiësto
Latin pop/reggaeton song of the year “El Incomprendido” – Farruko/ Víctor Cárdenas/ DJ AdoniWINNER: “MAMIII”- Becky G & Karol G“Me Porto Bonito”- Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone“Moscow Mule” – Bad Bunny“Provenza”- Karol G
Latin pop/reggaeton artist of the year Bad BunnyDaddy YankeeFarrukoKarol GRauw Alejandro
Regional Mexican song of the year “Cada Quien”- Grupo Firme ft. Maluma“Cómo Te Olvido” – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho“Si Te Pudiera Mentir”- Calibre 50“Ya Solo Eres Mi Ex” – La Adictiva“Ya Supérame”- Grupo Firme
Regional Mexican artist of the yearCalibre 50Christian NodalEl FantasmaWINNER: Grupo FirmeLa Adictiva
Best new Latin artistBlessdKali UchisQuevedoRyan CastroVenesti
Best lyrics (socially voted category)“About Damn Time” – Lizzo“abcdefu” – Gayle“Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift“Buy Dirt”- Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan“Glimpse Of Us”- Joji“Lift Me Up”- Rihanna “N95” – Kendrick Lamar“pushin P” – Gunna ft. Future, Young Thug“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj “Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen“We Don’t Talk About Bruno”- Lin-Manuel Miranda performed by the Cast of Encanto
Best music video (socially voted category)“Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift “As It Was” – Harry Styles “Calm Down”- Rema & Selena Gomez“Don’t Be Shy”- Tiësto & Karol G “Don’t You Worry”- Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, David Guetta“Envovler” – Anitta “Left and Right”- Charlie Puth ft. Jung Kook of BTS“Pink Venom”- BLACKPINK “Tití Me Preguntó” – Bad Bunny “Yet To Come” – BTS
Best fan army (socially voted category)“Barbz”- Nicki Minaj “Beliebers”- Justin Bieber “BeyHive” – Beyoncé“Blinks”- Blackpink “BTSArmy”- BTS “Harries” – Harry Styles “Hotties”- Megan Thee Stallion “Louies”- Louis Tomlinson “RihannaNavy”- Rihanna “Rushers”- Big Time Rush “Selenators” – Selena Gomez “Swifties”- Taylor Swift
Social star award (socially voted category)Bailey ZimmermanCharli D’AmelioEm BeiholdGayleGloRillaJVKELauren Spencer-SmithYung Gravy
Favorite tour photographer (socially voted category)Bad Bunny – SiemprericDemi Lovato – Angelo KritikosDua Lipa – Elizabeth MirandaHalsey – YasiWINNER: Harry Styles – Lloyd WakefieldLouis Tomlinson – Joshua HallingLuke Combs – David BergmanMachine Gun Kelly – Sam CahillOlivia Rodrigo – DonslensPost Malone – Adam DeGrosstwenty one pilots – Ashley OsbornYUNGBLUD – Tom Pallant
TikTok bop of the year (socially voted category)“About Damn Time”- Lizzo “As It Was” – Harry Styles“Bad Habit” – Steve Lacy “Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift “Big Energy”- Latto “Cuff It”- Beyoncé“Envolver”- Anitta “Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert “Made You Look”- Meghan Trainor “Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj “Unholy”- Sam Smith & Kim Petras “World’s Smallest Violin”- AJR
Favorite documentary (socially voted category)Halftime – Jennifer Lopez Life in Pink – Machine Gun Kelly Love, Lizzo– Lizzo Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar With Lewis Capaldi – Niall Horan + Lewis Capaldi Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me – Selena Gomez Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl – Shania Twain Sheryl – Sheryl Crow Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby – Lil Baby
Favorite tour style (socially voted category)Bad BunnyCarrie UnderwoodDua LipaElton JohnHarry StylesLady GagaLil Nas XLizzoMachine Gun KellyOlivia RodrigoRosalíaThe Weeknd
Favorite residency (socially voted category)“An Evening with Silk Sonic” – Silk Sonic“Enigma + Jazz & Piano” – Lady Gaga “Let’s Go!” – Shania Twain “Love In Las Vegas”- John Legend “Love On Tour” – Harry Styles “Play”- Katy Perry “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” – Carrie Underwood“Usher: My Way – The Las Vegas Residency” – Usher“Weekends with Adele” – Adele
Favorite use of a sample (socially voted category)Beyoncé’s “Summer Renaissance” – sampled Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”Blackpink’s “Pink Venom” – sampled 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P,” Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay,” andBiggie’s “Kick In The Door”Chlöe’s “Treat Me” – sampled Bubba Sparxxx & Ying Yang Twins’ “Ms. New Booty”David Guetta & Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” – sampled Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”DJ Khaled & Drake’s “Staying Alive” – sampled The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”Doja Cat’s “Vegas” – sampled Shonka Dukureh’s “Hound Dog”Jack Harlow’s “First Class” – sampled Fergie’s “Glamorous”Latto’s “Big Energy” – sampled Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”Lizzo’s “Break Up Twice” – sampled Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” – sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak”Taylor Swift’s “Question…?” – sampled Taylor Swift’s “Out of The Woods”Yung Gravy’s “Betty (Get Money)” – sampled Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”
Most Played ArtistWINNER: Doja Cat
Country Album of the YearWINNER: Luke Combs, Growin’ Up
Taylor Swift is set to receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Innovator Award at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27. Previous recipients of the Innovator Award are Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, U2, Bruno Mars, Chance the Rapper and Alicia Keys.
In addition to her musical accomplishments, iHeart notes in a statement that Swift is “an advocate for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community, using her music and platform to inspire young people to use their voting power.”
iHeart also notes that Swift’s smash “Anti-Hero,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks from November into January, “is currently the most played song across iHeartRadio.”
P!nk will receive the 2023 iHeartRadio Icon Award, honoring “her impact on pop culture, longevity and continued relevance as a touring and radio force with a loyal fan base worldwide.” Previous recipients are Bon Jovi, Elton John and Jennifer Lopez.
Swift and P!nk, of course, have both received enough awards to fill a warehouse. Both are multiple Grammy winners (12 for Swift, three for P!nk). Both have received Billboard’s Woman of the Year honor (Swift has received it twice). Both have received top honorary awards at the Brit Awards.
P!nk will also perform on the show, as will Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Muni Long, Cody Johnson and Coldplay (the latter performing live from Brazil).
These bookings are considered a boon for relative newcomers Long and Johnson as they strive to build on their 2022 breakthroughs. Both landed their first top 20 hits on the Hot 100 last year, with “Hrs and Hrs” and “’Til You Can’t,” respectively.
Clarkson’s performance on the iHearts is somewhat surprising, because her focus in the past few years has been on her hugely successful daytime talk show.
Benatar and Giraldo are 2022 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which John Sykes also oversees. (Sykes, the president of entertainment enterprises for iHeartMedia, is also the chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.)
Now in its 10th year, the iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2022,
Fan voting will determine this year’s best lyrics, best music video, best fan army, the social star award, favorite tour photographer, TikTok bop of the year, favorite documentary, favorite tour style, favorite residency and favorite use of a sample.
Social voting will close on March 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT for all categories. Fans can vote on Twitter using the appropriate category and nominee hashtags or by visiting iHeartRadio.com/awards.
Additional categories include label of the year and individual winners for album of the year in various genres, including pop, country, alternative, rock, dance, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and regional Mexican formats.
Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Joel Gallen, for Tenth Planet; and Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters, for iHeartMedia.
Ahead of the event, fans can tune in to the live red carpet pre-show. For breaking news and exclusive iHeartRadio Music Awards content, visit iHeartRadio.com/awards.
The event will air live from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Monday, March 27 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The event also will be heard on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.
These 12 radio mainstays have all earned iHeartRadio Titanium Awards for their songs that reached 1 billion spins across iHeart stations in 2022, Billboard can exclusively reveal.
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iHeartMedia revealed the Titanium Award-winning songs on Thursday (Feb. 2), including Adele‘s “Easy on Me”; Ava Max‘s “Kings & Queens”; Drake‘s “Laugh Now Cry Later,” featuring Lil Durk; Doja Cat‘s “Need to Know”; Ed Sheeran‘s “Bad Habits”; Glass Animals‘ “Heat Waves”; Harry Styles‘ “As It Was”; Justin Bieber‘s “Ghost”; Lil Nas X‘s “THATS WHAT I WANT” as well as “Industry Baby,” featuring Jack Harlow; and late rapper Pop Smoke‘s “What You Know Bout Love.”
In a video celebrating her Titanium Award, Doja Cat expressed gratitude for her fans who have been supporting “Need to Know” — a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit — and the rest of her 2021 album, Planet Her. “I wanted to thank all of my fans and all of the team at iHeartRadio for this award. I have earned 1 billion total iHeartRadio audience spins for ‘Need to Know,’” she shared in the selfie-style clip. “That’s one of my favorite songs, so I like that we’re all on the same page here. But, seriously, I’m very thankful and I’m glad that you guys are are enjoying what’s going on, and I have more coming.”
Doja Cat previously won a Titanium Award for her 2021 SZA collaboration “Kiss Me More.”
Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley also shared a selfie reaction video, thanking iHeart and all the listeners for bringing the song around the world. “I’m sure you all know that this song came out in the pandemic,” he says in the video. “It was a time when we were all trapped here on this little island in the U.K. and we couldn’t travel anywhere, but you guys allowed this song to travel. You did the traveling for us. And I can’t thank you enough. This song is so personal to me. It’s like my favorite child.”
“Heat Waves” spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and is the longest-charting hit in the Hot 100‘s 64-year history, surpassing the 90-week run of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” in October.
“This is a really heavy award — which means all the listens are all in here,” Ava Max jokes in her reaction video, marveling at the “insane” number of 1 billion spins. Max’s “Kings & Queens” was a top 20 hit on the Hot 100, peaking at No. 13.
Total audience spins for the iHeartRadio Titanium Awards are based on Mediabase airplay and are multiplied by the number of persons listening to the radio at the time of those plays, delivering total audience impressions, which is the broadcast equivalent of the number of streams on a streaming service.
Artists who received Titanium Awards in 2022 included Olivia Rodrigo for “good 4 u,” The Weeknd for “Save Your Tears,” Lil Nas X for “Montero (Call Me by Your Name),” and The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber for “Stay.”
The iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 show descended upon L.A.’s Kia Forum over the weekend, and Billboard was backstage to bring you every exclusive moment.
In-between sets by Fall Out Boy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix and Jack White, Billboard social media coordinator Lucy Blonstein chatted up the likes of Jared Leto, CHVRCHES and more on Saturday night. Below, we’ve rounded up seven moments you have to see from backstage.
Leto revealed backstage that out of all the bands on the lineup, he’d want to collaborate with Muse if his band, 30 Second to Mars, ever got the chance. “Because we’ve toured together before, we love them. Great guys, and I think we’d be an interesting, interesting pairing,” he said, standing in front of a giant portrait of Katy Perry. “Yeah, Muse.”
Billboard was also on the ground to catch Fall Out Boy headed backstage after their nostalgia-fueled set, which included classic hits like “Sugar We’re Goin’ Down,” “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” “Thnks Fr the Mmrs” and more, and even caught a candid Pete Wentz whistling as he made his way through the backstage throngs, his long, bleach-blonde hair tied up in a bun and wearing the band’s own merch.
CHVRCHES, meanwhile, shared their “quite boring” pre-show rituals with Billboard, which happen to include vocal and instrument warm-ups, a couple of cocktails made by touring drummer Jonny Scott and listening to music to “get in the ‘zone’,” as singer Lauren Mayberry said. “And that’s about it,” she added. “But yes, no Satanic rituals yet. Maybe on album five.”
Billboard‘s December 2022 Chartbreaker Rosa Linn was also at the big show, where she performed “WDIA (Would Do It Again),” “Never Be Mine” and TikTok breakthrough “Snap.” The Eurovision competitor posed for our camera after leaving the stage, showing off “#ARtSAKH” painted on the sleeve of her jacket to bring attention to the ongoing blockade between Artsakh and Armenia.
Other famous faces we caught up with backstage included Phoenix, Jack White and Beach Weather. Check out exclusive photos and videos from backstage at iHeart’s ALTer EGO show below.
Jared Leto Shares His Dream Collab
Pete Wentz & Our Backstage POV of Fall Out Boy
Pete Wentz backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum
Wes and Alex
CHVRCHES Share Their Pre-Show Rituals
Jack White Backstage
Jack White backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum
Wes and Alex
Phoenix Backstage
Phoenix backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum
Wes and Alex
Rosa Linn Backstage
Rosa Linn backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum
Wes and Alex
Beach Weather Backstage
Beach Weather backstage at iHeart ALTer EGO 2023 at L.A.’s Kia Forum
Wes and Alex
Shawnae Corbett-Rice was promoted to senior vp of marketing at Warner Records. Based in Los Angeles, she will continue to oversee marketing campaigns focused on artist development. She reports to executive vp of marketing & artist development Dionnee Harper.
Jon Zellner was named president of programming operations and digital music for iHeartRadio, effective immediately. Zellner was previously president of programming operations. In the new role, Zellner will manage the programming, content and strategy for iHeartRadio’s digital channels and playlists while continuing to oversee iHeartMedia’s programming operations. In addition to running programming and strategy for the iHeartMedia custom and format center stations, he will continue to lead the company’s commercial production center, national imaging center, audio distribution center, on-air partner and client integration and the technical and broadcast operations teams.
Artist Partner Group (APG) promoted Brett Copell to senior vp of legal & business affairs and Alexis Warner to marketing director. The company also hired Sebastien Christie as senior director of A&R administration and Jesse Wylde as senior director of artist & business development. Copell will continue to act as lead attorney for both APG and its publishing arm, Artist Publishing Group. He will oversee legal and administration departments at both companies and focus on new business opportunities for APG at large, while Warner will continue spearheading marketing campaigns for APG artists. Christie, who previously operated his own music consultancy company, will focus on prepping releases by clearing samples, producer agreements and more. Wylde, who joins from Web3 startup Rally.io, will help develop the careers of APG artists and songwriters, focusing on promo, touring and business strategy/partnerships.
The Harlem Festival of Culture (HFC), launched in April 2022 as a reimagining of the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969, appointed Fugees co-founder and solo artist Wyclef Jean as chair of the music advisory board for the organization. Jean will advise executive leadership and help engage the artist community to drum up support around the festival.
Big Loud Records hired Nate Yetton as vp of A&R, effective immediately. Yetoon will spearhead the discovery and signing of talent in alternative genres including Americana, indie, folk, acoustic, singer/songwriter/roots, alt-country and more in collaboration with existing Big Loud Records and Big Loud Publishing A&R teams. He can be reached at nate@bigloud.com.
BBR Music Group hired Allan Geiger as director of content creation and Taylor Scheese as manager of partnerships. The company also promoted Kennedy Nickerson to senior coordinator of A&R. Geiger, who joins from his creative agency Artistnoize, will handle the creation of creative assets and graphic design for the label group’s artist roster while reporting to vp of creative & imaging Jen Morgan. Scheese, who joins from Thinkswell, will work on driving brand partnership deals for BMG’s recorded label and publishing roster, with a focus on BBR Music Group’s artist roster, while reporting to director of brand partnerships Daron Moore. Nickerson, who has moved from BMG’s publishing arm where she served as income tracking coordinator, will report to vp of A&R Katie Kerkhover. Geiger can be reached at allan@bbrmusicgroup.com, Scheese can be reached at taylor.scheese@bmg.com and Nickerson can be reached at kennedy.nickerson@bmg.com.
Chris Taillie was promoted to vp at Shore Fire Media; he was previously publicity director. The New York-based Taillie’s music clients include Angélique Kidjo, Cyndi Lauper, Esperanza Spalding, Floating Points, Jacob Collier and Rhiannon Giddens. Taillie can be reached at ctaillie@shorefire.com.
The Chamber Group promoted Shannon Atran to associate director of public relations and hired Edwin Tetteh as public relations manager. The New York-based Atran will serve as the company’s independent public relations executive, responsible for developing, executing and overseeing PR campaigns for clients including Big Sean, T.I., Lil Wayne, Pusha T and more. Tetteh will collaborate with internal and external partners in developing and implementing PR strategies on behalf of his client roster, which includes Jon Batiste and Mariah Carey. He joins from the Lede Company. Atran can be reached at shannon@thechambergroup.com and Tetteh can be reached at Edwin@thechambergroup.com.
Elijah B Torn was named head of creative production at Found Objects, the original music and sound collective founded by film and TV composers Jay Wadley and Trevor Gureckis. Torn, who was previously global creative director at MassiveMusic New York, will oversee the creative and production team.
iHeartMedia Atlanta president Drew Lauter has departed the radio giant after video surfaced of the executive using racial and misogynistic slurs. The national radio conglomerate confirmed to Billboard on Friday (Oct. 14) that Lauter was no longer with the company, stating, “allegations of this nature go against our company values and our policies and we take them very seriously.”
The videos – provided to the local news station WSB-TV Atlanta, which first reported the news – shows Lauter repeatedly telling the driver, a fellow iHeartMedia executive, to “run over n—os” and using other racist language in front of two other iHeart employees, one of whom filmed the incident. According to attorneys Jason Castle and Roosevelt Jean, who are representing the client who filmed the incidents, the videos were recorded in August 2021 after a charity event.
In two videos, Lauter can be heard repeatedly using racial and sexist slurs and groping a male coworker while stating, “you better give me that t-tty.” Castle and Jean’s client – who is a top-ranking Black iHeart executive in the Atlanta region – claims to have reported the incident to his immediate supervisor at the time. He informed his attorneys that this was not the first instance of Lauter using racially insensitive language in front of employees.
In a statement provided to Billboard, an iHeart spokesperson said, “As soon as [the videos] were brought to our attention we acted quickly, retaining an outside investigator to conduct a thorough review, and when we received the outside investigator’s findings we immediately took decisive action.”
“From our client’s perspective, this isn’t about our client,” Castle tells Billboard. “It’s that this particular video is a representation of the hostile work environment and the discriminatory and racially insensitive, as well as sexually harassing environment that existed in the iHeart Atlanta offices.”
iHeart employees were reportedly informed of Lauter’s departure on Thursday, the same day the WSB-TV investigative report aired.
Castle says his client has not filed any legal action against iHeart or Lauter.