Magellan AI is making moves. The company has promoted Jim Ballas to President of Measurement
What We Know: Ballas joined Magellan AI in 2022 as GM of Measurement. Since then, he built the division into a core business driver. Most notably, he led the March 2026 launch of Broadcast Radio Attribution. That product lets brands evaluate radio campaigns alongside podcasts, streaming audio, and connected TV in one unified view. Additionally, Magellan AI just expanded its partnership with iHeartMedia. That deal leverages iHeartMedia’s simulcast data to connect broadcast radio exposure to measurable outcomes — including web visits, leads, and purchases. Furthermore, attribution reporting through that data is available exclusively to advertisers working with iHeartMedia. Going forward, Ballas oversees strategy, product development, and growth across the entire measurement operation.
What They Said: Cameron Hendrix, CEO and Co-Founder of Magellan AI: “Jim has been instrumental in building Magellan AI’s measurement business into what it is today. From expanding attribution into broadcast radio to scaling tools that help advertisers make smarter decisions across their media mix, Jim’s vision and leadership have been central to our growth. Promoting him to President, Measurement reflects the importance of this business and our confidence in Jim to lead it.”
What Remains Unclear: Magellan AI hasn’t detailed its product roadmap under Ballas’s expanded leadership yet. Furthermore, the company hasn’t outlined plans to grow its broadcast radio measurement footprint beyond the iHeartMedia partnership. The industry will watch closely for additional updates.
What It Means: Radio has consistently struggled to prove its value alongside digital. Consequently, these two developments together matter more than either one alone. Magellan AI isn’t just building analytics — it’s building an infrastructure that gives radio sellers a credible seat at the advertiser’s table. Moreover, the iHeartMedia partnership puts real scale behind that argument. For anyone buying or selling audio advertising, pay attention to what Magellan AI does next.
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Jason Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Barrett Media. The company launched in September 2015 and has provided consulting services to America’s top audio and video brands, while simultaneously covering the media industry at BarrettMedia.com, becoming a daily destination for media professionals. Prior to Barrett Media, Jason built and programmed 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He was also the first sports programmer for SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, which later became 97.5 The Fanatic. Barrett also led 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY, and worked on-air and behind the scenes at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years at ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT producing ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ and ‘GameNight’. JB can be reached on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
