Auddia Launches Discovr Radio: A Big, Bold Shift in How Artists Get Discovered on Radio Streaming

BOULDER, Colorado (Jan. 20, 2026) — Auddia Inc. (NASDAQ: AUUD; AUUDW), an “AI-first” technology company focused on reinventing how people engage with audio, has officially launched Discovr Radio, a new artist and label promotion platform designed to modernize music discovery inside radio streaming. The company says the product goes live on January 20 with an initial pilot group of about 300 customers, and then expands in phases as usage grows across Auddia’s flagship app, faidr.

In simple terms, Discovr Radio introduces a new model where artists and labels can place songs into AM/FM streaming feeds during traditional ad slots—without turning the listener experience into a clunky interruption. Behind the scenes, Auddia’s proprietary technology, including an AI Placement Engine, aims to match songs to listeners using contextual, behavioral, and listening data. The company also highlights “guaranteed plays” and transparent performance reporting as key parts of the pitch to artists and labels.

This launch also arrives alongside a corporate update: Auddia said its merger discussions are continuing to progress toward definitive documents. The company noted that a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) was extended through the end of January to allow time to complete the process. Auddia said the planned merger would reposition it as a holding company named McCarthy Finney trading under the symbol MCFN, with Auddia remaining as one of its subsidiaries.

What Is Discovr Radio, and Why Is It Different?

Music discovery has always been a bit of a tug-of-war. Artists want exposure. Labels want measurable results. Listeners want entertainment without annoying disruptions. Radio stations want revenue. Streaming apps want retention. The problem is that traditional promotion often forces one group to “lose” so another group can “win.” Discovr Radio is Auddia’s attempt to change that by weaving discovery into a moment that already exists in the listening flow: the ad slot.

According to Auddia, Discovr Radio allows artists and labels to insert music into AM/FM streaming feeds during those ad moments. Instead of hearing an advertisement, the listener may hear a song that the platform believes fits their taste. The goal is to keep the experience smooth while giving artists a direct, trackable pathway into radio audiences.

A New “Discovery Slot” Built Into Radio Streaming

Discovr Radio’s approach stands out because it treats music discovery like a personalized “placement” opportunity. Auddia describes it as a model that provides:

• Direct music insertion into AM/FM streaming feeds during traditional ad slots
• AI-driven matching based on listener context and behavior
• Guaranteed plays for participating campaigns
• Measurement and analytics that show engagement and outcomes

Think of it like this: instead of hoping a programmer adds your song, or spending money on ads that don’t prove who listened, Discovr Radio aims to create a more direct and measurable path—while still fitting inside a “radio-like” environment.

The AI Placement Engine: Matching the Right Song to the Right Listener

Auddia says Discovr Radio is powered by a proprietary AI Placement Engine that matches songs to listeners using “contextual, behavioral, and listening data.” The company’s message is clear: discovery should feel relevant, not random.

In practice, relevance matters because listener patience is thin. If a “discovery song” feels wildly off, the listener may skip, disengage, or leave. If it fits well, it can feel like a pleasant surprise—one that benefits the artist without frustrating the audience.

Launch Plan: Pilot First, Then Weekly Expansion

Auddia says Discovr Radio launches on January 20 with an initial pilot group of around 300 customers. From there, the company plans to onboard additional customers weekly, and it will pace expansion based on overall user growth of its faidr app.

Why Start With a Pilot?

Starting with a pilot is a common move for products that depend on real-world feedback. Auddia said the initial phase is designed to:

• Refine platform performance
• Optimize campaign outcomes
• Gather insights from early customers

That matters because music discovery is not just a technical problem—it’s also a human one. Listeners behave differently by station, by city, by time of day, and by mood. Early campaigns can reveal what works, what annoys listeners, and what creates real engagement.

Growth Tied to faidr’s Audience

Discovr Radio is integrated directly into faidr, which is described as the platform’s first distribution partner. That means faidr is the main starting point for Discovr-powered listening experiences. As faidr’s user base grows, Auddia says Discovr Radio will expand accordingly.

This linkage is important: discovery platforms work best when they have steady traffic, clear feedback loops, and strong distribution. By pairing Discovr Radio’s launch with an existing app environment, Auddia is aiming for a smoother ramp-up rather than trying to build a brand-new audience from scratch.

What Listeners Can Do Inside faidr

Auddia says faidr listeners can engage with Discovr-powered songs in real time. Instead of being passive, listeners can react and explore. The company highlights actions like:

• Liking or disliking tracks
• Visiting artist profiles
• Exploring new music without interrupting the listening experience

This style of interaction turns “discovery” into something measurable. A like/dislike action is more than a feeling—it’s a data point. Over time, that kind of feedback can improve matching quality and help artists understand how audiences respond in different regions or stations.

What Artists and Labels Get: The Discovr Radio Artist Portal

For artists and labels, the biggest frustration with many promotional channels is the lack of clear reporting. You spend money, you hope something happens, and you’re left guessing which parts worked.

Auddia says Discovr Radio includes a dedicated Artist Portal where participants can see detailed performance analytics and campaign-level reporting. The company lists reporting examples such as:

• Total and partial plays
• Skips
• Likes and dislikes
• Listening by location and station
• Cost-per-play

That mix of metrics is meant to answer practical questions artists actually care about: “Where did my song land?” “Did people finish it?” “Did it get love or get skipped?” “What did it cost me to get those listens?”

Why Analytics Could Change the Game

Clear analytics can help artists make smarter decisions, such as:

• Choosing where to tour by spotting cities with higher engagement
• Targeting future campaigns on stations that perform best
• Testing different songs to learn what style clicks with radio audiences
• Comparing cost-per-play across campaigns to control budgets

Even for smaller artists, having a dashboard that shows real responses can reduce the “spray and pray” approach that often drains time and money.

Leadership Comments: “Guaranteed Exposure” and “A Scalable Discovery Engine”

Auddia’s press release highlights leadership comments that frame Discovr Radio as both a creative breakthrough and a measurable marketing channel.

Theo Romeo on Moving From Concept to Reality

The company quoted Chief Marketing Officer Theo Romeo describing Discovr Radio as a major evolution in how artists reach radio audiences, emphasizing “guaranteed exposure” and relevant discovery for listeners.

The message here is straightforward: artists want visibility, but not vanity visibility. They want plays they can count, and an audience that might truly care. If the platform can deliver plays while keeping listeners happy, it creates a rare win-win.

CEO Jeff Thramann on Aligning the Ecosystem

Auddia also quoted CEO Jeff Thramann stating the goal is to align the interests of listeners, artists, and the radio ecosystem by combining AI-driven placement, guaranteed plays, and transparent analytics into a scalable discovery engine.

That “alignment” idea is key. Radio has historically balanced programming, ads, and audience loyalty. Discovr Radio tries to keep that balance but adds a modern layer: personalization and reporting.

How Discovr Radio Fits Into Auddia’s Bigger Strategy

Auddia describes itself as an AI-first technology company that has built a proprietary platform for audio identification and classification, aiming to reinvent how consumers engage with audio. Discovr Radio is positioned as a major piece of that plan, especially on the artist promotion side.

The company also highlights faidr as its flagship “audio superapp” with multiple “industry firsts,” including:

• Ad-free listening on any AM/FM station
• Content skipping across any AM/FM station
• One-touch skipping of entire podcast ad breaks
• Integrated artist discovery experiences

Put together, Auddia appears to be building an ecosystem where listeners get more control, and artists get more direct pathways to exposure with clearer feedback.

Merger Update: Moving Toward “McCarthy Finney” (MCFN)

Alongside the product launch, Auddia provided an update on its merger process. The company said merger discussions are continuing to progress toward execution of definitive documents, and that its non-binding LOI was extended through the end of January to accommodate completion of the process.

Auddia stated that after executing a binding merger agreement, it expects to begin reporting the details of the merger, including filing a comprehensive S-4. The planned merger is aimed at repositioning Auddia as a holding company named McCarthy Finney trading under the symbol MCFN.

What Would McCarthy Finney Focus On?

According to the release, McCarthy Finney would focus on delivering AI and web3 capabilities to its subsidiaries, and Auddia would be one of those subsidiaries.

It’s worth noting that merger processes can change as negotiations progress, and forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Auddia included typical forward-looking statement language, directing readers to its SEC filings for risk factors and related disclosures.

Why This Matters to the Music Industry Right Now

Even in 2026, radio remains a powerful discovery channel—especially when it’s blended with streaming. But discovery has become crowded. Artists can post everywhere, run ads everywhere, and still struggle to break through because attention is fragmented.

Discovr Radio’s promise is not just “more plays.” It’s a more structured form of discovery that tries to be:

• Targeted (using AI to match songs to the right listener)
• Measurable (through analytics like plays, skips, likes, and cost-per-play)
• Integrated (built into a real listening environment via faidr)
• Scalable (weekly onboarding and expansion tied to user growth)

If Auddia can maintain listener satisfaction while delivering meaningful results to artists and labels, Discovr Radio could become a notable bridge between traditional radio reach and modern, data-driven marketing expectations.

How Discovr Radio Could Affect Listeners, Stations, and Advertisers

Any product that touches the “ad slot” raises a big question: what happens to advertising revenue and the listening experience?

For Listeners

Listeners could benefit if discovery songs feel more enjoyable than standard ads. But relevance will be everything. If the AI matching is strong, discovery moments could feel like bonus content instead of interruption.

For Stations

Stations and radio streaming ecosystems generally need to protect revenue. Discovr Radio’s model, as described, attempts to create a promotion format that still respects the structure of the stream while delivering a different kind of “paid slot.”

For Advertisers

Traditional advertisers may watch closely. If discovery placements expand, the broader market may evolve toward more blended monetization models—some time devoted to ads, some to sponsored music discovery. Whether that becomes common will depend on results, listener retention, and revenue performance.

Where to Learn More

Auddia directs readers to Discovr Radio’s website for details: discovrradio.com.

For company information, Auddia also references: auddia.com.

FAQ: Discovr Radio and Auddia’s Merger Update

1) When did Discovr Radio officially launch?

Auddia said Discovr Radio goes live on January 20, 2026, starting with an initial pilot group of about 300 customers.

2) What is Discovr Radio supposed to do for artists?

Auddia says Discovr Radio helps artists and labels promote music by placing songs into AM/FM streaming feeds during traditional ad slots, supported by AI-driven matching and “guaranteed plays.”

3) How does Discovr Radio decide which listeners hear which songs?

The company says it uses a proprietary AI Placement Engine that matches songs to listeners using contextual, behavioral, and listening data.

4) What can listeners do when they hear a Discovr-powered song in faidr?

Auddia says faidr listeners can like or dislike tracks, visit artist profiles, and explore music in real time without interrupting their listening experience.

5) What analytics are available to artists and labels?

Auddia says the Artist Portal includes metrics such as total and partial plays, skips, likes/dislikes, listening by location and station, and cost-per-play.

6) What is the latest update on Auddia’s merger plans?

Auddia said the merger process is progressing toward definitive documents, the non-binding LOI was extended through the end of January, and after a binding agreement it expects to report merger details including filing a comprehensive S-4. The merger is aimed at repositioning Auddia as a holding company named McCarthy Finney under the symbol MCFN.

Conclusion: Auddia Bets on AI-Powered Discovery and Measurable Promotion

With Discovr Radio, Auddia is making a clear bet: that the next era of radio-streaming discovery will be powered by AI matching, built into real listening moments, and backed by transparent analytics. The company’s phased rollout—starting with a 300-customer pilot and expanding weekly as faidr grows—signals a careful, scale-ready approach.

At the same time, Auddia’s merger update suggests the corporate structure could evolve soon, with a proposed move toward becoming a holding company called McCarthy Finney (MCFN) while continuing to develop AI and web3 capabilities across subsidiaries.

Whether you’re an artist looking for smarter promotion, a label aiming for measurable results, or a listener hoping discovery feels more like fun than noise, Discovr Radio is a launch worth watching closely in 2026.

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