IHeartRadio, a digital music platform, has announced a partnership with Android Wear to provide easy listening to consumers possessing wearable smartwatches.

The streaming music service will be available for consumers who have an Android smartwatch and have also downloaded iHeartRadio onto their Android smartphones. The partnership will be live on Oct. 15.

?Google has always been a great partner for iHeartRadio, so we've always been one of the first to jump on board with their new devices,? said Darren Davis, president of iHeartRadio and iHeartMedia Networks, San Antonio, TX. ?We work very well together.?

On-the-go listening
The partnership will be ideal for consumers who prefer to listen to music during commutes or exercising sessions. Users can simply say the name of a radio or artist into their phone and listen to one of the platform?s 1,900 live stations.

Consumers can scan live stations from across the United States. iHeartRadio also has a compilation of 450,000 artists in case users prefer to create their own music stations.

The iHeartRadio mobile app syncs with any Android wearable, such as the Moto 360, Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch. All features are voice-activated to optimize streamlined consumer engagement.

Consumers will have quick access to saved favorite stations or shows.

The music brand is also pushing for personalization with tailored recommendations based on previous listening habits. Users can provide easy feedback on their stations by tapping on a ?Thumbs Up? or ?Thumbs Down? button.

Rise of wearables
Wearables are the latest platform for expansion for iHeartRadio, which is available on over 35 other platforms including tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles.

With more retailers and brands venturing into the wearables sector, other services are also clamoring to join the movement (see story). Designers are adding fashionable details to the technology in order to appeal to consumers? every day wear, and digital platforms like iHeartRadio are enticed by the convenience it offers.

Wearables are also being pursued by mobile payment platforms such as Paypal, which piloted a payment method earlier in the year linking Bluetooth beacons with wearables from Samsung Galaxy (see story). 

While iHeartRadio is currently a free streaming service, other platforms with fees may elect to sync with mobile payment systems in order to provide the utmost facility for customers.

?Wearables are growing quickly in popularity,? Mr. Davis said. ?That's why it fits into our strategy - to be everywhere consumers are with the products they expect.

?We want iHeartRadio to be everywhere, so that no matter how quickly or slowly a consumer adopts different technology, we're there waiting for them.?

Final Take
Alex Samuely is an editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York