Big Shot Executive Sides With iHeartMedia In Banning AI-Generated Music From Radio
iHeartRadio recently announce that it has strictly banned AI-generated music, AI-powered on-air personalities, and AI-driven podcast content across its entire audio portfolio as of December 2025. Through its “Guaranteed Human” initiative, the company aims to protect artist authenticity and prevent synthetic voices or music from appearing on its platforms. WBIG-Big Shot Radio and WBRJ-Bayshore Radio owner, Michael “Big Shot” Wright, has been way ahead on vetting and banning AI submitted artists from his stations and potentially banning record and radio promoters who knowingly submit AI-artists for airplay consideration without being totally transparent to the station’s programmers of the records creative background.
Ironically, Mike Big Shot and iHeartMedia are on the same page regarding this matter as both WBIG and WBRJ are signed with iHeartMedia and stream on iHeartRadio platforms. Big Shot refuses to replace original human creativity for “bot” enhanced music, not matter how good the record might sound. AI-generated music is a disservice to real human artists of all genres in an already tough music climate.
Today, iHeart maintains that while AI can support workflow, it cannot replace the human presence central to the company’s programming and brand.
All iHeart stations have now incorporated the “Guaranteed Human” phrase into their hourly legal IDs, with new sweepers reinforcing the message that will also air between songs and segments.