In a large research study in which Edison Research surveyed over a thousand U.S. adults audiobook listeners, respondents preferred AI-driven multi-voice performances to traditional single-voice narration. There is another meaningful result which might surprise many. Continue Reading
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the influential trade and advocacy group, has released its mid-year report. It’s a state-of-the-industry snapshot that also includes a ten-year view of revenue growth. Today’s release puts the 2026 mid-year status in a larger 10-year perspective Continue Reading
In one of the most intriguing surveys we’ve seen in a field which generates surveys aplenty, Edison Research at SSRS has announced AI vs. Human Audiobook Narration: A Blinded Survey of 1,000 Listeners. This piece of work will be presented via webinar. Click for details and registration link. Continue Reading
In this monthly feature, we look back one decade and revisit selected headlines. Today: highlights from September 2016.
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This morning advertisement measurement company Podscribe launched a framework for measuring conversion of YouTube advertising. A process called probabilistic modeling comes into play. Click for details. Continue Reading
Global audio tech and services company Triton Digital has partnered with broadcast software provider RCS for programmatic advertising on over-the-air radio. This linkage enables broadcasters to make their over-the-air ad inventory available through the same workflows advertisers already use to buy streaming audio and podcast inventory. Continue Reading
For this edition of Magellan’s quarterly report nearly 95,000 podcasts in four languages were analyzed. This file examination can detect number of ads, an estimate of downloads, cost of advertising per thousand plays (CPM), type of ad (e.g. host-read or produced), and whether ads are delivered programmatically or purchased directly. We hand over some key metrics, and link to the source. Continue Reading
In a large-scale project to glean how consumers regard podcast advertisers, audio-first market research firm Signal Hill Insights gathered results from 2024-25 survey results of nearly 39,000 consumers who were exposed to pre-roll, midroll, or post-roll ads. The goal was to create a set of benchmarks illustrating the effectiveness of podcast advertising. The survey was based on a response scale that ranged from familiarity with the brand, to purchasing intent. Click for details and graphics. Continue Reading
Much of the conversation around AI in audio centers on its helpfulness in various publishing scenarios that include streaming, radio, and podcasting — the three content tentpoles covered in RAIN News. New studies flip that, focusing on how radio and podcast advertising can help AI brands gain marketing advantage. Here, we review research from ad agency Oxford Road. Continue Reading
Driving Return (Paul Riismandel)
Her America (Dolly Parton)
More than fair (MC Lyte) Continue Reading
We are not surprised that Steve chose the (unconfirmed but generally believed) upending report that Spotify is developing an ad-skipping button for podcasts. As always, this column’s argument is cogent: It’s a battle between listening experience and publisher monetization. Read straight through to Steve’s punch-in-the-gut final line. Continue Reading
Bygone (Columbia House Record Club)
Ditching the human (Time Magazine)
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