Audacy announced the launch of the Audacy Digital Audience Network (ADAN), an addressable aggregate of over 60 million listeners that other platforms and streaming platforms do not reach. Each month, Audacy connects with 200 million fans across its broadcast and digital assets. Over 60 million of these listeners can be found on ADAN across its streaming content, on the Audacy app and on its podcasts.

Through this high-performing audience solution, ADAN can target precise audiences at scale and deliver high-performing digital audio media strategies for Audacy’s advertising partners. Fully integrated into its tech stack, ADAN plans are optimized in real time, yielding actionable brand insights and detailed campaign reporting.

Through ADAN Audacy can reach the highest quality addressable audience in audio. Audacy continues to provide exclusive content across news, sports, talk, music and podcasts that its listeners seek and trust as a daily habit. ADAN audiences skew more affluent, are more likely to be college educated and are more diverse – collectively bringing the highest value consumers to advertisers. ADAN provides an unduplicated reach to listeners that other audio platforms do not deliver.

“The creation of ADAN is exciting as we continue to build our Audacy streaming audio and podcast assets,” said Brian Benedik, Chief Revenue Officer, Audacy. “The marketplace has moved to audience-based investment and our new ADAN offering is highly scaled with unduplicated digital listeners. We can target these audiences with precision and optimize campaign performance for better marketer outcomes. Our Audacy local and national sales teams are looking forward to working with our agency and brand partners in this capacity.”

Components of the Audience Network include over 230 of Audacy’s broadcast brands and thousands of critically acclaimed podcasts from Audacy’s Cadence13, Pineapple Street Studios, American Public Media and more, including We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, 9/12 and Welcome To Your Fantasy. Exclusive stations, curated music stations from Audacy brands, talent and influencers and digital streams of MLB play-by-play broadcasts via flagship partnerships are also included in ADAN.

Audacy welcomes Shirin Peykar as Senior Vice President of Performance Sales, effective January 19. In this role, Peykar will lead Audacy’s performance sales team and sell across its portfolio of products, leaning heavily into the company’s robust podcast library. Peykar will also strategize to drive the business forward and expand Audacy’s relationships with performance-driven marketers. She will report to Ken Lagana, Executive Vice President of Digital Sales.

Audacy also welcomes Dan Wolman as Vice President of Performance Sales, reporting to Peykar. Also beginning January 19, Wolman will work with performance clients and agencies to sell across Audacy’s portfolio of digital audio brands, with a focus on its podcasting business.

“Shirin’s rich experience leading multi-faceted ad sales operations for premier media and entertainment companies makes her a valuable addition to our performance sales business,” said Lagana. “We’re equally as excited about the addition of Dan to the team, which will collectively strive to drive revenue, market share and profit performance for our portfolio of assets.”

“I’ve been watching Audacy’s progression in the podcast space over the past couple of years and their commitment to building a world class podcast portfolio has really impressed me,” said Peykar. “When you couple that dedication to the podcast space and audio in general, I couldn’t be more excited about bringing this portfolio to our performance clients and agencies!”

Peykar is a seasoned advertising sales executive with nearly 20 years of experience at 33 major television networks. She joins Auduacy after spending the last two years as Senior Vice President of Direct Response Ad Sales for Stitcher. Prior to that, she served as Vice President of Direct Response for Midroll Media, a Stitcher company. Additional roles include Vice President of Ad Sales for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, Vice President of Direct Response Ad Sales fro Univision Communications, Director of Direct Response Ad Sales for Nickelodeon, Account Executive – Director of Direct Response Ad Sales – Music Cluster, and Account Executive – Direct Response for Viacom. She launched her career as a sales coordinator for USA Networks in 2000.

“Audacy is the industry leader in audio while remaining innovative, representing chart-topping content, generating loyal listeners, and serving as home to influential talent,” said Wolman. “This is a performance sellers dream! I am excited to leverage my linear, OTT and audio experience with this role and celebrate many wins with Audacy and our client partners.”

Wolman also joins Audacy from Stitcher, where he spent the last two years as Vice President of Performance Sales for the company and SXM Media. Prior to that role, he served in various sales executive roles for Hulu, Univision Communications and Turner Broadcasting, helping to build and grow their performance sales teams.

Audacy welcomes Brian Benedikas as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer, effective December 1. As a key member of the executive team, Benedik will lead all aspects of revenue generation across corporate, national, regional, and local levels and develop fully integrated, multiplatform, sales solutions and breakthrough strategies to attract new revenue streams. He will report to Chief Operating Officer Susan Larkin.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Brian to Audacy and our executive leadership team,” said Larkin. “His resume speaks for itself, with key roles at audio publishers like Spotify, iHeart Radio, Audible and Katz Media, where his strategic vision enabled the former to quickly elevate from a newcomer in our industry to a multi-billion dollar leader in the audio streaming space. Brian’s considerable expertise and experience will amplify our revenue generation efforts as Audacy continues its upward trajectory.”

“The audio industry is booming with innovation and consumers are enjoying wonderful content experiences across a number of platforms. The Audacy re-imagination efforts are beyond impressive and the portfolio of assets across radio, streaming, podcast, live events, sports play-by-play and sports betting are best in class. I’m looking forward to working with David Field, Susan Larkin and the Audacy executive team to drive value to marketers and our loyal users.”

Brian Benedik joins Audacy from Niantic, an AR developer platform and real world gaming publisher, where he served as VP/Global Head of Revenue. Prior to Niantic, Benedik spent over 25 years in the over-the-air and digital audio space across a number of global and U.S.-centric organizations. For seven formative years at Spotify, Benedik was a key member of the senior leadership team as SVP/Global Head of Sales and Operations leading a team of over 550 people in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. As the leader of the Spotify Global Advertising Business, Benedik oversaw the direct, programmatic, podcast, re-seller and self-serve platform teams as well as ad and sales operations, trading, global agency and accounts and training groups.

Other previous roles include Founder and President of Katz Digital, President of Christal Radio within the Katz Media Group; and General Sales Manager for WHTZ-FM New York at iHeartMedia. Benedik has held strategic advisory roles for Audible, an Amazon company, and Targetspot, a division of Audio Valley. He is currently a board member at Podcast Tech platform, Sounder.fm, The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University, The American Advertising Federation and PTTOW. Benedik holds degrees from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and Columbia School of Business’ Continuing Executive Education program.

Audacy announced the appointment of Palak Forbes as Senior Vice President, Digital Business Operations. Reporting to Audacy’s Chief Digital Officer, J.D. Crowley, and partnering with the leaders of Audacy’s award-winning podcast business, while working across Audacy’s entire digital portfolio and key strategic partners to enable continued strong growth in Audacy’s digital and podcast business.

“As we make consistent strides to evolve and enhance our digital and podcast businesses, Palak is a perfect choice to lead our day-to-day efforts to provide a world-class experience for our customers, creators, and consumers,” said J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer, Audacy.”Her deep experience launching and scaling innovative new businesses, and expertise managing strategic relationships with companies across the media and technology sectors enable us to continue delivering robust growth.”

“Digital audio is in a really exciting phase where we have evolving audio formats and listening experiences as well as new ways of life emerging from the pandemic,” said Forbes. “Audacy has brought together a portfolio of innovative brands to meet the needs of the modern listener, content creators, and advertisers alike. I’m so excited to operationalize our strategy across the digital portfolio. It’s an honor to join the leading creator of original and premium audio during this time of growth and transformation.”

Palak Forbes brings extensive experience driving digital innovation for global media brands to Audacy. She was most recently Head of Business Development & Operations at The New York Times, where she oversaw the development the company’s audio business and spearheaded their foray into virtual reality with the NYT VR app which won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions. Forbes also led strategic and commercial partnership teams to broaden and deepen reader experiences from Apple News to the digitization of millions of historic photos with Google Cloud. With her leadership, the sales team drove multi-million dollar deals and beat goals. Previously, Forbes was The New York Times’ VP Corporate Strategy & Development leading new ventures, off-platform relationships, and M&A; and programming the Board of Directors’ special committee on Technology & Innovation. Prior to that, Forbes was Vice President of Strategy at Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational media company, where she advanced the company’s EdTech initiatives and led international expansion in India. She has also held digital advertising strategy and subscriber marketing roles at Viacom and HBO, respectively.

Forbes earned her MBA in Marketing from Columbia Business School and her Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Information Systems from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Audacy has elevated Tim Clarke to Senior Vice President, Digital Audio Content on the company’s central digital team, effective immediately.

In this role, Clarke will be responsible for audio content across the Audacy digital platform, which includes the Audacy app, Audacy.com, and Audacy’s station websites. Clarke will drive strategy and execution for new exclusive and original content for the platform and will have oversight of Audacy’s new exclusive digital music stations. He will also be responsible for the digital audio experiences of Audacy’s portfolio of broadcast stations, local and national station affiliates, and podcast partners. Clarke will work alongside Pam Russo, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Audacy digital platform; and John Pacino, Executive Vice President of Product. He will also work closely with Executive Vice President and Head of Programming Jeff Sottolano and Audacy’s programming and content teams across the company to develop new and innovative listener experiences by combining the technology of the platform with Audacy’s best-in-class audio content and talent, while collaborating with podcast studio leadership and local teams and talent to further enhance and grow Audacy’s local podcast content and audience.

“Tim is a rising star in our industry and we’re excited to add his talents and capabilities to our digital business,” said J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer, Audacy. “He brings rich experience leading content and consumer strategies that we trust will enable him to help us further elevate our mission of delivering dynamic digital audio content through a listener-friendly platform every day.”

“I am truly honored to join our industry-leading digital and content teams as we build the future of audio with Audacy,” said Clarke. “A sincere thanks to the team at Audacy, including Mark Hannon and my colleagues in Boston. I have loved working with the incredible people and brands in this market and look forward to seeing their continued success under Mike Thomas’ leadership.”

Clarke joined Audacy in March 2021. He previously served as Vice President of Content and Audience for Cox Media Group (CMG). In this role, he oversaw all content, programming, marketing and digital audience strategies for the company’s radio properties. Prior to that, Clarke was Senior Director of Digital Audience, where he was responsible for digital content, audience and product strategy for CMG’s radio stations. Other positions with Cox Media Group include Director of Branding and Programming for CMG Tampa’s “Hot 101.5” WPOI-FM, Director of Social Media for all six of CMG’s Tampa properties, Program Director at CMG Jacksonville’s WAPE-FM and Music Director for CMG Long Island’s WBLI-FM. In 2011, Clarke was honored by Edison Research as one of their “Top 30 Under 30” in media.

Audacy subsequently welcomes Mike Thomas to succeed Clarke as Senior Vice President and Market Manager of its Boston market. In this role, Thomas will oversee the market’s six stations including Big 103 (WBGB-FM), Magic 106.7 (WMJX-FM), Mix 104.1 (WWBX-FM) WEEI (WEEI-FM), WEEI (WEEI-AM) and WVEI (WVEI-AM), effective November 1.

“I am thrilled to welcome Mike back to Boston to lead Audacy’s leading brands here,” said Mark Hannon, Regional President, Audacy. “Mike’s a proven winner and his leadership will be critical in moving the business forward. I also want to thank Tim Clarke for the exceptional job he has done this past year and wish him continued success as he moves to our central digital team.”

“Boston evokes memories of great times and celebrations,” said Thomas.” “When Mark Hannon reached out about coming back and leading such a diverse group of stations, it was exhilarating! I can’t wait to reconnect with a lot of talented people, some which I spent over a dozen years working side-by-side with, and celebrating many more victories.”

Thomas joins Audacy from Good Karma Brands, where he served as Market Manager of ESPN Chicago 1000 AM since December 2019. Prior to that role, Thomas was the Brand Manager for 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston from 2017 to 2019. During his tenure, the station was awarded three Marconi Awards for Sports Station of the Year. Thomas spent nine years with CBS Radio, holding multiple roles including Vice President of Sports Programming in which he worked with the program directors of the company’s 18 owned and operated local sports stations across the country, as well as Vice President of Programming for CBS Radio Boston and Program Director, including for Marconi Award-winning WZLX for 11 years. Thomas launched his career at Clear Channe/iHeart, serving as Program Director and on-air personality for KGB-FM in San Diego and WFBQ-FM in Indianapolis, as well as Rock Brand Manager in 2001 for the company’s eight Classic Rock stations in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.

Audacy welcomes Lena Moss Glaser as Vice President and Executive Producer of 2400Sports, the newest podcast studio in Audacy’s award-winning digital audio portfolio. In this role, Glaser will oversee all production and content operations for all 2400Sports podcasts, partnering with producers and talent internally and externally to develop slates of new podcasts, reporting to J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer, Audacy.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Lena to Audacy and our podcast team as we continue to scale our newest studio 2400Sports,” said Crowley. “Her deep experience in sports media, from digital and social-first content to international productions at the biggest sporting events in the world, and her ability to find unique stories that engage a diverse range of audiences, combined with her reputation as an incredible leader, makes her a perfect fit to lead 2400Sports, and we’re looking forward to Lena lending her voice, skills and talent to our team.”

“I’m excited to be joining Audacy and to have the opportunity to lead 2400Sports at a time when the way we consume sports and connect with athletes is constantly evolving,” said Glaser. “We will work to deliver fans the content they crave, to tell stories that take them somewhere new, and to champion emerging voices. As a fan of the shows created by Audacy’s other podcast studios, I am so excited to be working alongside them as we build this brand, and to get to work making 2400Sports a home for every kind of sports fan.”

A veteran sports studio producer and five-time Sports Emmy Award winner, Glaser began her career with NBC, where she produced network studio shows for four Olympic Games and served as Coordinating Producer of NBC’s Paralympics coverage in Sochi, Rio, and Pyeongchang. She produced the National Dog Show and in 2021 launched the network’s first ever live Olympic studio show on Twitter. Glaser received a 2015 Sports Emmy nomination for feature producing.

Her additional remote, studio, and feature credits include work on the US Open, Wimbledon, and Roland Garros; three Super Bowls, and “Football Night in America.” After NBC, Glaser worked for Katie Couric Media running branded content initiatives. In 2019 she partnered with TFA Group to develop the documentary “Watershed,” which tells the story of Paralympic swimmer and gold medalist Mallory Weggemann, working alongside Weggemann as Executive Producer. Glaser re-joined NBC in 2021 as Coordinating Producer of “On Her Turf,” the first ever Olympic broadcast and podcast dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. She remains dedicated to growing both the women’s sports and Paralympic and adaptive sports media spaces.

Audacy announced Steve Perrault as Senior Producer for Major League Baseball Content for its newly launched 2400Sports podcast studio. In this role, Perrault will oversee the creation and production of all MLB team podcasts and be a contributor to national podcast co-produced in conjunction with MLB, following Audacy’s content partnership with the league.

Perrault will co-host a new Boston Red Sox podcast under 2400Sports, which will debut in 2022 and will also serve as an on-air contributor for WEEI (WEEI-FM), the flagship radio station of the Red Sox. This will be in addition to his current role as co-host of the Live BP Baseball Show on the station.

“As we continue expanding our new 2400Sports podcast studio and embark on our new expansive podcast partnership with Major League Baseball, we’re thrilled about adding Steve to our team to launch a new show centered around the Boston Red Sox,” said J.D. Crowley, Chief Digital Officer, Audacy. “This podcast, which will be intensely focused on fan engagement and fan-created content, will lend a unique perspective to everything Red Sox, and we believe Steve truly encompasses the dynamic of the show.”

“I’m beyond excited for this new opportunity with Audacy and 2400Sports,” said Perrault. “We have the potential to make this something really special, and I can’t wait to be a leading force with that. Baseball over everything. Let’s go.”

Perrault joins Audacy from Barstool Sports, where he served as co-host and producer of the company’s Red Sox-focused Section 10 Podcast for seven seasons. He served as a content producer for Bleacher Report since 2015 while contributing to the company’s new baseball brand “B/R Walk-Off” this year.