iHeartMedia has announced it has released a revamped version of the iHeartRadio app calling it the most significant product update since its initial launch in 2011.

The company says the app embraces the ease and simplicity that listeners want and have come to expect with broadcast radio in the car — bridging the gap between the traditional car radio experience and mobile streaming. The app design is meant to mimic features from a car radio including:

• Presets: In an audio-industry first and drawing inspiration directly from the car dashboard, custom presets allow listeners to save up to 15 of their favorite radio stations, playlists, podcasts and artist radio stations — the ones they love listening to the most and come back to most often. The presets will be available throughout the app.
• Scan Button: In another audio-industry first, listeners can discover new stations with scan, and seamlessly sample nationwide radio stations, or filter by city or genre. It’s a brand-new way for app users to navigate iHeartRadio’s unparalleled broadcast radio dial, ensuring their new favorite stations are never out of reach – and they can discover new ones that they’ll love.
• Live Radio Dial: This new app feature enables listeners to easily explore the best live stations across the country. This experience mimics the same car radio experience that listeners know and love, but has the added benefit of being organized by genre and location for ease of discovery.
• What’s Trending Rankers: Users will have access to an innovative discovery feature that allows them to see what’s trending at that moment among other listeners across Top Podcasts, Top Playlists and Top Artist Radio stations, as well as features that are trending on iHeartRadio.
• Lyrics: The most requested new listener feature, iHeart is now the only digital radio app to offer lyrics for the song users are listening to on live radio. Users will also be able to follow lyrics karaoke style for tracks on artist radio and playlists.

The app will also provide editorial content produced by iHeartMedia stations across the country, in-studio interviews, and contesting.

iHeartMedia Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman said, “Our listeners have made it clear that they want a streaming audio platform that’s intuitive and familiar, reflecting the simplicity of the car radio while embracing the full capabilities of streaming technology. The redesigned iHeartRadio app does just that, bringing together the best features of the car radio and the mobile app. We are excited to offer this new and improved iHeartRadio app just in time for Christmas – it’s our special gift to our listeners.”

iHeart Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne added, “The new iHeartRadio app further underscores iHeartMedia’s mission to use the power of audio to build companionship and connection. This experience blends the familiarity of the car radio with digital innovation to enable users to easily find the stations, artists and podcasts they know and love, fostering the fun, spontaneous discovery and connection that comes with live car radio – all through their phones, anywhere they go.”

The new app rollout begins today on Android and iOS and should be available to all by December 17.