Streaming Pandora and IHeartRadio to Chromecast via Google Home not working

[jondargage]

For a long time, I was able to ask my Google smart speaker (JBL Link Portable) to stream a station on SiriusXM, Pandora or IHeartRadio to a ChromeCast that I had hooked up to a receiver via a HDMI converter and some outdoor speakers.  It worked great.

As summer approaches, I went to use it again and it is not playing.  No amount of resetting has gotten Pandora or IHeartRadio to work, though SiriusXM still does. 

I've also tried replacing the Chromecast with with a WiiM Pro streamer, but getting Pandora/IHR to stream via voice command still doesn't work (SiriusXM continues to function though).  Pandora/IHR do stream just fine if I play them via the WiiM app, but I really want the voice command functionality again. 

Is there a fix to this yet, as it seems others have similar problems (though it is mostly in context to Spotify, which I don't use)?

[virnab]

Hi jondargage,

Thanks for reaching out to our community.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing troubles streaming SiriusXM, Pandora, and iHeartRadio through your speaker JBL Link Portable and Chromecast. I appreciate your troubleshooting efforts to restore the voice command functionality and your Chromecast. No worries, help is here.

Before I start further troubleshooting, let me ask you a few questions:

• What model of Chromecast are you using? you can use this help center as a model reference Chromecast and Google TV Streamer specifications
• Are you using an Android or an iPhone device to set up your Chromecast?
• Is your Google Home app updated?

• Is your mobile device updated to the latest version?
• Is your speaker JBL Link Portable updated to the latest version?
• How far from the router is your Chromecast?

• Is your phone connected to the same WiFi network or linked to the same Google account as your speaker JBL Link Portable and Chromecast?
• Have there been any recent changes to your WiFi network or home environment?

• What’s the firmware version of your Chromecast? You can use this Google help center article as a reference: Find your device’s firmware version.
• Is your Chromecast connected to a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi network?

In the meantime, I recommend you follow these steps:

1.  Unlink your radio services on the Google Home app:

• Open the Google Home app.
• Tap your account in the top right.
• Tap “Settings.”
• Under Services, tap “Radio.”
• Tap the radio service you want to unlink. In your case, it is iHeartRadio and Pandora. 
• Tap “Unlink.”

2.  Link your radio on the Google Home app:

• Open the Google Home app.
• Tap your account in the top right.
• Tap “Settings.”
• Under Services, tap “Radio.”
• Select the radio service you want to connect to. In your case, it is iHeartRadio and Pandora.

3. Try to stream iHeartRadio and Pandora through your speaker, JBL Link Portable, and Chromecast.

Please let me know how it goes.

Best regards,

Virna

[jondargage]

I'm currently using:

• JBL Link Portable as my smart speaker; Cast firmware is 1.52.272222
• I have a 3rd generation chromecast: cast firmware 1.56.291998
• I also have a WiiM Pro as a chromecast device:  Cast firmware is 1.56.310669
• My Google Home app on my iPhone is updated.
• Wifi is 5 GHz; wi-fi connectivity has never been an issue.  All devices are on the same network and within about 30 ft of each other.  No configuration changes have been made in years.
• They are all linked to the same google account

The system worked just fine when I used it last year (it's usually used for an outdoor speaker setup, so we use it far less frequently in the winter.  I noticed it stopped working just in the last month or so as we have begun preparing the outdoors for spring and summer activities again.  The same issues are present with both the chromecast and the WiiM.  

• Sirius XM streaming works exactly as it had previously with voice commands to the speaker ("Hey Google, play Sirius XM [station name] on Backyard Stereo"), so all good there.
• If I ask the JBL speaker to play Pandora or IHeartRadio on its built-in speaker, it works fine.
• Neither Pandora nor IHeartRadio stream to either chromecast or the WiiM when using voice commands to the speaker.  The speaker acknowledges the request and says it's working, but no music gets streamed.
• Unlinking/relinking Pandora doesn't correct the issue.
• I can stream Pandora and IheartRadio using the WiiM app, but I'm really trying to retain the voice command control, as that is our preferred interface.

[jondargage]

Also, just to round out the combinations:  Using the Google Assistant feature in the Google Home app to voice command streaming has the same results....SiriusXM works as expected, Pandora/IHeartRadio commands are acknowledged and say they are working, but music doesn't actually stream.  So this implies the JBL speaker isn't the issue.

[virnab]

Hi jondargage,

Thanks for keeping me posted. I’m sorry to hear that, despite following the suggested troubleshooting steps, you are still experiencing difficulties with streaming Pandora and iHeartRadio. Don't worry, we're here to help.

The team would like to learn more about this behavior. When you get a chance, please fill out this form and let us know when you’re finished. We’ll have someone reach out to you via email from there.

Please keep me posted.

Best regards,

Virna

[jondargage]

Thanks.  I filled it out and submitted it this evening.

[virnab]

Hi jondargage,

We've received your form and appreciate the details you provided. Please keep an eye on your email, as someone from my team will contact you shortly to help.

If you have any questions or concerns in the future, feel free to reply to this post.

Regards, 

Virna