Pandora has released a slew of holiday 2018 playlists, representing an imaginative, sometimes amusing sweep of holiday joy and stress. There is also a special Pandora Premium promotion set for Dec. 1 in the Google Android store. Continue Reading
The Amplifi Media CEO aggregates several noteworthy statistics that help outline the latest trends in audio and media. This batch has some especially interesting numbers for smart speakers and traditional television. Continue Reading
Audio.ad, a specialist in digital audio advertising for Latin American and Hispanic audiences, has launched a new self-serve advertising platform. AudioSpot.shop will allow small and mid-sized businesses to create and manage their own custom campaigns. Continue Reading
Podcasting company Voxnest has entered into a partnership with DAX, the digital audio advertising platform of Global. This deal unites the expertises of both parties to create audio monetization opportunities for publishers that will help them grow audiences and revenue. Their collaboration will create a turnkey solution for creating, monetizing, and distributing digital audio. Continue Reading
Programmatic advertising is likely to continue an upward trajectory, commanding a projected 65% of all money spent on digital media in 2019. That’s the figure given by market research from Zenith Media. Programmatic audio is participating in the programmatic momentum to varying degrees. Continue Reading
Corus Entertainment, a top media company in Canada, announced the launch of the first science and technology podcast for its Curiouscast network. Super Awesome Science Show debuts today and will release new episodes weekly on Tuesdays. The podcast will explore answers to big questions in science topics such as blockchain, climate change, and artificial intelligence. Continue Reading
Leon Neyfakh is departing Slate. He announced his exit in a Twitter thread that was first picked up by Hot Pod. Neyfakh is a reporter as well as the host and narrator of the Slow Burn narrative podcast. He’s leaving to start a new show called Fiasco in partnership with “an innovative platform you’ll be hearing more about soon,” according to the tweets. Continue Reading
YouTube is joining the ranks of music services offering special deals for students. The new student subscriptions are $4.99 a month for access to YouTube Music Premium and $6.99 a month for YouTube Premium. Those services usually cost $9.99 or $11.99 per month, respectively. Continue Reading
Streaming platform Mixcloud has signed a multiyear direct licensing network with Merlin Network, an independent label group and music rights agency. The deal will ensure that recording artists represented by Merlin will receive royalties when their music is played on the Mixcloud streaming service and on its upcoming subscription service. Continue Reading
The Washington Post is joining an increasingly crowded field of daily news podcasts, and has chosen to enter its new show, Post Reports, in the late afternoon slot. The show drops December 3, with T. Rowe Price as launch sponsor. Eight staffers reportedly are assigned full-time to the show’s production, including five newly hired audio producers.
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has announced the launch of an upgraded Video Ad Service Template (VAST) standard that includes attributes of the IAB’s digital audio set of ad standards called DAAST (Digital Audio Ad Serving Template). The purpose of DAAST has been to promote a technical ecosystem in which advertisers, publishers, agencies, and consumer playback devices are aligned to coherently deliver and track streamed audio advertising. Continue Reading
Belgium hosted its annual symposium about DAB+ earlier this month. During the event, Flemish Media Minister Sven Gatz said that the country would pick its date for a switch from FM radio to DAB+ once 50% of the audience was listening to digital radio. Continue Reading