iHeartRadio

Review

Common Sense Media says

Hear live radio or custom stations; iffy lyrics possible.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning1
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that iHeartRadio is an app that plays both live radio and custom radio. With live radio, you'll hear what's being played on select radio stations across the country. Custom radio allows you to create a station based on a song or singer you like, and may include explicit content depending on the songs or artists you choose. To use custom radio, you have to first connect to Facebook, and iHeartRadio asks to access your basic profile information (name, profile picture, gender, networks, friend list, and other details).

  • Ease of use4
    The app walks you through how to set up a station and has easy-to-navigate lists of the local and musical genre-based stations.
  • Violence3
    If the account has custom radio enabled, depending on which songs/artists users pick, stations could include songs that mention or glorify violence. Custom radio may be disabled in settings, but it's not possible to password-protect the setting.
  • Sex3
    If the account has custom radio enabled, depending on which songs/artists users pick, stations could include songs with sexual content. Custom radio may be disabled in settings, but it's not possible to password-protect the setting.
  • Language3
    If the account has custom radio enabled, depending on which songs/artists users pick, stations could include songs with mature language. Custom radio may be disabled in settings, but it's not possible to password-protect the setting.
  • Consumerism3
    Some pre-existing stations include ads, and in 2012 custom stations will as well; you can also purchase songs through stores like iTunes.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Songs and comedy routines that mention beer, pot, and other substances are available.
  • Privacy & safety3
    To create your own station, you need to log in using Facebook, and the app will access your photo, name, networks and any other profile info you've made public. There are settings to control whether you share your listening activity on Facebook or make your iHeartRadio profile visible to your Facebook friends.
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What kids can learn

1

Kids can learn about local and world events through regional, news, and talk radio stations. The app’s ability to let users create stations based on their favorite musicians or songs is likely to be the biggest draw. However, if kids are willing to tune in to the available news coverage, they’ll learn about global happenings and news from more than 35 states. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t offer any written materials -- which would help kids learn more about the topics that are discussed. Kids could learn about current events with iHeartRadio, but they'd need to make a special effort.

Subjects
  • Arts
    music, rhythm
  • Hobbies
  • Language & Reading
  • Math
Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
    listening, multiple forms of expression
  • Creativity
  • Emotional Development
  • Health & Fitness
  • Responsibility & Ethics
  • Self-Direction
  • Tech Skills
    evaluating media messages, social media
  • Thinking & Reasoning
See more details

What's it about?

Select a regional, news, or sports-based radio station from the iHeartRadio app’s ample list, or create a station based on one of your favorite artists or a specific song. (The station will include that musician's songs and ones from similar artists.) You can select stations at random with the scan feature and like or dislike songs to further customize your self-made stations. The app requires you to register through Facebook or enter an email address. It’s free, easy to use, and offers a hefty list of stations and songs.

Is it any good?

 

The IHEARTRADIO app offers music fans two choices: Select one of more than 800 regional radio stations, or create a personalized station based on one of your favorite artists or a specific song. (The station will include that musician's songs and ones from similar artists.) Some features echo the Pandora app -- you're encouraged to rate songs, and you can only skip so many. However, iHeartRadio's regional stations offer some unique extras. The scan feature should please incessant car radio flippers, and the station list gives a thorough mix of cities -- you can tune in to stations from Sarasota to Seattle. Stations are also listed by their musical genre and by subject matter, such as news, comedy, or sports.

Until the end of 2011, the user-created stations are commercial-free. However, if you're hoping to create or save your own station, you're required to log in using Facebook first. The app will access your basic profile information -- including your name, friend list, and other details. Custom stations may include mature content; helping kids pick musicians to create stations can also help prevent them from stumbling across content meant for older listeners.

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This review was written by Erin Brereton

What kids can learn

1

Kids can learn about local and world events through regional, news, and talk radio stations. The app’s ability to let users create stations based on their favorite musicians or songs is likely to be the biggest draw. However, if kids are willing to tune in to the available news coverage, they’ll learn about global happenings and news from more than 35 states. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t offer any written materials -- which would help kids learn more about the topics that are discussed. Kids could learn about current events with iHeartRadio, but they'd need to make a special effort.

Subjects
  • Arts: music, rhythm
  • Hobbies:
  • Language & Reading:
  • Math:
  • Science:
  • Social Studies: events, global awareness
Skills
  • Collaboration:
  • Communication: listening, multiple forms of expression
  • Creativity:
  • Emotional Development:
  • Health & Fitness:
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Self-Direction:
  • Tech Skills: evaluating media messages, social media
  • Thinking & Reasoning:

What's it about?

Select a regional, news, or sports-based radio station from the iHeartRadio app’s ample list, or create a station based on one of your favorite artists or a specific song. (The station will include that musician's songs and ones from similar artists.) You can select stations at random with the scan feature and like or dislike songs to further customize your self-made stations. The app requires you to register through Facebook or enter an email address. It’s free, easy to use, and offers a hefty list of stations and songs.

How kids will learn

Kids can have a lot of fun using iHeartRadio, and it's the type of app they'll want to come back to. But what and how much they learn will depend heavily on what kinds of stations they seek out. They may discover new artists and gain some music appreciation by creating customized stations, but in order to learn about current events, they'll need to look for news and talk radio stations. 

 

How parents can help

  • Discuss some of the topics and events mentioned on the news stations.
  • Talk with kids about how to evaluate media messages and detect biased reporting. Some of the stations on iHeartRadio have a conservative or liberal slant.
  • Create playlists for your kids based on age-appropriate artists. Have teens create lists for you, too!
This review was written by Erin Brereton
Teen, 14 years old
December 21, 2011
AGE
11
 
Facebook Charged Radio App
This app is greaat to download is you wanna listen to music (which has all kinds of appropreate and inapropreate content) However there's a catch, you must be a facebook member.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (8) | Had useful details (9) | Read my mind (8)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
March 10, 2012
AGE
8
 
Great App
It's basically the radio on an iphone. So if you let your children listen to the radio then this app should be fine.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
Flag as inappropriate 
See all user reviews
This review was written by Erin Brereton
Category:Music
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire, BlackBerry
Price:Free
Size:4.90 MB
Publisher:Clear Channel Management Services, LP
Version:4.0.1
Release date:September 21, 2011
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.0 or later; Android 2.1 and up
This review was written by Erin Brereton

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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