Quick Hits: Podcasting predictions; podcast music careers; app store crossovers; Kickstarter fulfillment

Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web:

Podcasting predictions for 2016: We can safely say that 2015 was a banner year for podcasting. So what does 2016 have in store? The International Business Times ran a review of what the future might hold. According to this assessment, expect to see even less direct downloading of audio, continued social media influence, and a new emphasis on searchable archives.

New music careers from podcasts: With the big podcast resurgence, there’s an increased demand for music to provide a sonic backdrop for the shows. NPR went to Berklee College of Music and interviewed professors and students who are seeking careers in creating this type of background soundtrack for production libraries, from anything for podcasts to film scores to video advertisements.

When companies make the software and the systems: When big tech companies get into entertainment, one of the big questions is how well they’ll be able to play together with their rivals who also control distribution channels. For instance, Apple, Google, and Microsoft each publish apps, including mobile music services. They also each have app stores. How did that work out? VentureBeat takes a look.

Kickstarter’s independent fulfillment report: Kickstarter commissioned the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School to study the success rates of crowdfunding projects on its site. Impressively, only 9% of the projects on Kickstarter fail to make their goals. The rate was generally consistent across project categories, including music.

Anna Washenko