Pandora has introduced a new feature for creating playlists that combine music and podcasts or other spoken word content. The format is called Pandora Stories, and it’s being slowly rolled out in collaboration with a few celebrity curators. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has acquired Radiojar Information Technology, an online audio company based in Greece. Radiojar is a centralized, cloud-based platform for audio playout. Following the acquisition by iHeartMedia subsidiary RCS, Radiojar’s tools will be used at the media conglomerate to combine elements of bradcast radio into digital channels such as podcasts and music streaming. Continue Reading
Yesterday we noted that Gimlet Media appeared on Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list, Advertising category. Today we notice that Cadence13 and Wondery are also honored, in the Media category. Continue Reading
The audio industry and broader media landscape are both shifting to accommodate the rising interest in podcasts. A series of graphs from podcasting data and analytics company Chartable show exactly how much the format has grown in content, audience, and revenue, and why we’re beginning a “golden age of podcasts.” Continue Reading
Cumulus Media has inked a deal with DAX, Global’s digital audio advertising branch. Under this multi-year arrangement, DAX will be the exclusive third-party sales representative for network radio streaming and national programmatic advertising alongside Cumulus’ in-house sales teams. Continue Reading
Spotify has been positioning itself to roll out in India for many months, but its plans have hit a big hurdle. Warner Music Group has sued the streaming service, filing an injunction against it playing music by its songwriters in India. Continue Reading
Audioboom announced that it has raised £1.5 million in support of its original programming efforts. The new equity funding stemmed from a subscription of new ordinary shares with a price of 1.3 pence per share. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: What does it mean when a major radio advertiser starts focusing on podcasts? Several features and stories from behind the scenes in the UK media industry. Continue Reading
Gimlet Media has been recognized in Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” awards. Particularly notable to Fast Company is the development of Chompers, a short toothbrushing show for children. Continue Reading
The podcast industry is still unpacking the impact of Spotify’s acquisition of Gimlet Media and Anchor. Research from Panoply Media, described in a blog post indicates that Spotify already might have a good deal of sway in podcast listening. Continue Reading
A new version of the Local Radio Freedom Act has arrived before Congress, the third effort to pass legislation about radio industry royalties. The bill calls for protections that will block “any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge” from being levied against radio stations because they “provide free publicity and promotion to the recording industry and performers.” Continue Reading
Digital content startup WaitWhat has landed an investment of $4.3 million. The company, founded by former TED executives June Cohen and Deron Triff, has quickly established itself as a player in podcasting. Along with the funding news, WaitWhat also announced the launch of a new podcast in partnership with Quartz called Should This Exist? Continue Reading