TuneIn strikes in-car audio deal with iM Media Labs

TuneIn has partnered with iM Media Labs to make its audio service available through iM Media Hub in connected vehicles, extending its push into in-car distribution.

The deal will bring TuneIn's live sports, news, music, podcasts and radio to iM Media Hub, a vehicle-native platform that combines multiple forms of media in a single interface for carmakers and drivers. The service will be integrated directly into in-vehicle systems rather than relying on phone projection.

Drivers in cars equipped with the platform will be able to access TuneIn through an OEM-branded in-vehicle interface. Existing users will also be able to reach their favourites and recently played content from the car, helping them continue listening across devices.

The agreement adds another automotive outlet for TuneIn, which is owned by Stingray. TuneIn has more than 75 million monthly active users across 122 countries and is distributed across 200 platforms and connected devices, according to the company.

Automotive expansion has become increasingly important for streaming audio companies as carmakers seek tighter control over dashboard software and entertainment services. Vehicle-native media systems are being positioned as an alternative to smartphone mirroring, with car brands aiming to keep users within their own interfaces while still offering access to a broad range of audio and video services.

Rich Stern, Chief Executive Officer of TuneIn, said the agreement is part of that effort. "Automotive is a key growth area for TuneIn, and this partnership is another step in making our content available wherever drivers choose to listen," Stern said. "iM Media Labs shares our vision for delivering exceptional in-vehicle audio experiences, and together we're making it easier for listeners to discover and enjoy live audio content on the road."

iM Media Hub is designed to aggregate entertainment options including music, radio, podcasts, news, sports, audiobooks and video from multiple providers. The platform also includes recommendation tools intended to help users find stations, shows and podcasts based on their listening behaviour.

In-car platform

For iM Media Labs, adding TuneIn broadens the range of radio and spoken-word content available through its dashboard software. The addition brings access to more than 100,000 radio stations, along with sports, news, music and podcasts, through a system that can be adapted to each carmaker's brand and interface, the company said.

John Jasper, Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of iM Media Labs, explained the rationale for the addition. "Media Hub is built to give drivers one intuitive place to access the entertainment they enjoy most," Jasper said. "Adding TuneIn significantly expands that choice, bringing more than 100,000 radio stations, live sports, news, music and podcasts into a consistent experience designed around each automaker's brand."

The companies also said eligible new users who access TuneIn through iM Media Hub will receive a free trial of TuneIn Premium. That subscription tier includes commercial-free news and music channels, fewer advertisements across more than 100,000 radio stations, access to more than 100,000 audiobooks and live sports coverage.

The move reflects a broader shift in the automotive media market, where content distributors are trying to secure space in software platforms embedded directly into vehicles. For streaming and radio groups, native integrations can help preserve audience reach as drivers move from traditional broadcast listening and phone-linked apps to dashboard systems that combine navigation, entertainment and vehicle controls.

TuneIn has been expanding its automotive presence over the past year through partnerships with Nissan and BYD Auto. The latest agreement suggests the company is pursuing both direct carmaker relationships and alliances with in-car platform providers as competition for dashboard access intensifies.

iM Media Labs said its technologies have been deployed in more than 100 million vehicles worldwide through its team's previous work in the sector. It is positioning Media Hub as a single environment that gives automakers greater flexibility over the in-vehicle media experience while offering content partners another route to reach listeners.

For Stingray, TuneIn's owner, the deal adds another distribution channel for one of its largest audio brands. The Montreal-based group said it reaches hundreds of millions of consumers each month across connected televisions, smart speakers, mobile devices, connected cars and retail outlets, with a portfolio that includes music channels, live radio stations, concerts, karaoke products and wellness channels.

The latest integration underlines how dashboard entertainment is becoming a contested area for both media companies and software suppliers, as drivers increasingly expect direct access to streaming services from the moment they enter the car. TuneIn will now sit within a platform designed to bring those options together in a single in-vehicle destination.