Podcasting shines in global marketer study as 2021 buying intent soars (Kantar)

Research firm Kantar has released its Media Reactions 2020 report, self-defined as “a global ad equity ranking for media channels and media brands.” The report is authored by Jane Ostler, Global Head of Media, and Duncan Southgate, Global Brand Director. Podcasts rank 2nd in ad equity ranking of online channels, among marketers surveyed. Click through for details and graphics. Continue Reading

Hillary Clinton to launch podcast with iHeartMedia

Titles You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton, the ex-Secratary of State is down for hosting an iHeartRadio Original Podcast. It’s too facile to say this project was inspired by Michelle Obama’s show on Spotify, but it does optically represent a counterpoint. Launching september 29, it’ll be a conversational program, featuring what we think is a pretty interesting lineup of guests. Click through for details and to hear the trailer. Continue Reading

Libsyn partners with Player FM for greater exposure for hosted podcasts

Podcast hosting giant Libsyn is announcing a new partnership with Player FM, a podcast listening app and discovery engine. The deal is effective immediately, and Libsyn’s clients can distribute their shows to Player FM starting now. Libsyn’s research indicates that Player FM is a top-10 3rd-party aggregation app by number of downloads. Continue Reading

Steve Goldstein: How to Know When to Pull The Plug on Your Podcast

by Steve Goldstein
Everyone knows about podfades, podcasts that start but don’t continue due to lack of initiative. “Many are started on a whim; some creators hope for instant stardom and riches,” Steve Goldstein observes. But this column is about making a strategic choice to end a podcast run. “The ongoing question for podcast producers and creators to ask when thinking of pulling the plug is whether a show is on its way up, sideways, or out.” Goldstein itemizes and explains six decision points in this important column. Continue Reading

As ownership/listening increase, smart speakers could shift balance of power in advertising

According to a newly released consumer survey study by Adobe, twice as many smart speaker users report hearing advertisements than in the year-ago study. When you consider Amazon’s lead over Google in the realm of smart speaker devices, a general shift in the balance of advertising power could be underway as the marketplace becomes more saturated with the devices. Continue Reading

Spotify upheaval over Rogan content

Spotify employees are more than unhappy with Joe Rogan’s controversial guests and remarks in some catalog episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, which is starting an exclusive distribution deal. Much of the turmoil is reportedly centered around perceived transphobia expressed in the show. rogan recently apologized … for something else. Spotify staff have petitioned leadership for pre-publishing editorial control of the podcast. According to anonymously sourced reports, Daniel Ek has decided against that. Continue Reading

Acast enters Canada; Heather Gordon exits CBC to manage; set to speak at RAIN Digital Canada

Acast announces today that it is launching its podcast advertising technology and marketplace in Canada. Heather Gordon, formerly Digital Sales Director at CBC/Radio-Canada, is  taking the role of Managing Director, Canada for Acast. Gordon is also set to speak at RAIN Digital Canada this week, Thursday Sep 24, in a Zoom extension of RAIN’s annual Canadian summit. Continue Reading

Magellan AI to podcast advertisers: Book your placements now (research study)

Podcast advertising intelligence company Magellan AI released some research on how buyers place their holiday marketing in podcasts. Looking at last year’s holiday advertising, and examining podcast holiday content, the company comes up with recommendations for this year. Chief among them to buyers: Get your podcast advertising in place now. Click through for details, charts, and a download link. Continue Reading

AdLarge/cabana joins Triton Digital U.S. Podcast Report with #6/7 spots

Triton Digital released the latest edition of its U.S. Podcast Report, an ongoing ranker which covers a rolling view of 4-week reporting periods. This one is for August 3 through August 30. Stability reigns in this report, as we noted previously. But, one startling newcomer is AdLarge/cabana, which landed at #7 in the Average Weekly Downloads list, and #6 in the Average Weekly Users list. Click through for more details. Continue Reading

Audio/podcasting entrepreneur Jake Shapiro leaves RadioPublic for Apple

As announced on his LinkedIn feed, RadioPublic and Podfund Founder/CEO, and RAIN Summit keynote speaker Jake Shapiro has joined Apple as Head of Creator Partnerships, Apple Podcasts. Shapiro notes that his former companies will continue with new leadership, as of now undisclosed. Shapiro’s appointment seems to indicate Apple’s growing interest in becoming an original content network. Continue Reading