RAIN Notes: January 6
The comeback of Rock – Alan Cross
The disappearance of leaders – Charleen Li Continue Reading
AM/FM “solace” for Canadian listeners
Canadian media/data company Numeris has released its AM/FM Radio Listening study for winter 2025. The word “solace” is interestingly used to describe Canadians’ use of in-home radio during the cold season. Click for metrics, graphs, and the download link. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein: Podcasting 2026: The Ups and Downs of Audio in 2025
An even dozen. That’s the number of key developments in audio last year. “In 2025, the story wasn’t just about growth. It was about acceleration, convergence, and mounting pressure on long-standing models, metrics, and assumptions.” We are delighted to run Steve Goldstein’s first guest column of 2026, and look forward to many more. Continue Reading
RAIN Time Travel: January 2016 headlines
In this monthly feature, we look back one decade to January 2016, and revisit selected headlines. Click any item to visit the article. Happy decade surfing. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: December 23
Back to (New) Normal – Edison Research
Car/AM Predictions (AI) – NAB Continue Reading
New study lowers value expectation of YouTube for podcast advertising
Released on the cusp of the new year, a new study from podcast advertising agency Oxford Road seeks to debunk any assumption that YouTube simulcasting of podcasts is necessarily more effective than original audio for advertisers. Continue Reading
iHeart jumps on the video podcast train with built-in support
iHeartMedia announces the addition of video podcast production to its existing audio toolset. The video workflow is described as “seamless.” Creators will be enabled for audio and video distribution in both the app and web versions of iHeartRadio. In this announcement, iHeart is careful to honor the primacy of audio.” Continue Reading
Deloitte doubles down on video pod prediction
Finance and consulting giant Deloitte has doubled down on a podcast prediction, issuing the same basic forecast in a Wall Street Journal column, and on its home website. Video Podcast Market Poised for Booming Growth is the WSJ header. As… Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: December 23
Predictions (human) – CoHost
Predictions (AI) – ManticAI
Renewal – DAX Continue Reading
iHeartMedia plans video podcast rollout
iHeartMedia announced its intent to add video podcasting to its creative platform. The rollout date is obscure, defined by iHeart as “early 2026.” No added cost to creators, and the feature will be implemented with standard RSS. Three important features keep the podcaster in control. Continue Reading
CRB raises mechanical royalty for music creators — gradually over five years
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board has announced new mechanical royalty rates for the creative side of the music industry — songwriters and music publishers. The new rates apply to 2026 and 2027. They are the final two years of the current rate-setting period. Click for details. Continue Reading
Acast acquires key German podcast studio
Global podcast giant Acast has acquired Wake Word Studios, an audio and video production house based in Munich and Berlin. Wake Word gives up its indie identity in the deal, rebranding as Acast Creative Studios and bolstering its presence in the German market. Continue Reading