Salem Media privatizes, delists, now owned by WaterStone
Christian/conservative multimedia company Salem Media has completed its acquisition by WaterStone (also known as The Christian Community Foundation). Continue Reading
Spotify begins nine-figure stock buyback
Music streaming giant Spotify has added a new chapter to its novelistic finances with a stock share repurchase program, just authorized by the company Board. Investors appear to approve. Continue Reading
Apple Music mandates AI labeling
As the identification of AI-made audio content continues to be a mandate in some settings, we learn that Apple Music is starting to require “Made With AI” labels on AI-created music uploads. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein: Only 10 Top Podcasts Have Video? Not So Fast
A stat is circulating on LinkedIn and in newsletters stating that only 10 out of the top 200 podcasts have video. The implication being that 95% of podcasters aren’t doing video. Guest columnist Steve Goldstein notes that It’s a comforting number if you’ve been skeptical of the video push, and an alarming one if you just spent money building a studio. The only problem is the stat is out of context. Continue Reading
Quote Marked: National Radio Day
Quote Marked is a feature of the RAIN Daily Digest email newsletter. In this special Quote Marked website edition, we are highlighting industry reactions to National Radio Day. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: August 20
Non-thieving exposure (Dave Van Dyke)
Approval with conditions(Cumulus Media)
Perrennial topic(Podglomerate) Continue Reading
Youtube announces new definition of video views, roiling podcast metrics
YouTube has opened the gates of controversy with an announcement defining how it will count a video view. There’s no complex formula or sophisticated calculation.Starting August 24, YouTube will count a public video view from the first frame that plays.… Continue Reading
The Podcast Academy launches submission phase of 2027 Ambies
The Podcast Academy announces that submissions are open for the 2027 Ambies, the preeminent awards celebration of podcasting. Click for categories and more. Continue Reading
Spotify graduates “User Notes” from trial
Spotify’s “User Notes” feature was introduced last August, enabling listeners to comment on music tracks — a significant tool which inched Spotify more into the social media realm. Today we learn about the introduction of Spotify Playlist Notes, which invites users and Spotify editors to add descriptions and notes to individual tracks within playlists. Continue Reading
Music publisher sues two AI firms in latest infringement cases
Indie publishing company Round Hill Music has filed the latest in a stream of copyright infringement lawsuits seeking damages from AI companies for using owned music as training material. AI firms Suno and Anthropic — two of the largest — are the targets in this case. Continue Reading
Cumulus “positioned to emerge” with Q2 earnings posted
Cumulus Media released Q2 earnings numbers on Friday, the first comprehensive financial release since initiating Chapter 11 proceedings in March. The numbers came with a brisk statement from CEO Mary Berner. Continue Reading
The diztractables: Gen Z media juggling
We learn from EMarketer that Gen Z podcast listeners have extra room in their brains to consume a second stream of content. Texting is the most popular second stream — 45% of survey respondents do that. When the entire survey… Continue Reading