Month: January 2021

Descript raises $30M Series B, plans to expand enterprise tools

Posted on by Brad Hill

Descript gets a cash pile of $30-million to further its audio/video production business. The plan is to expand from a consumer service targeting amateur creators, adding a new focus on enterprise tools for the internal communication needs of companies. Currently, Descript markets to independent creators, amateur, semi-pro, and professional, with smart tools that record, transcribe and edit audio and video combined. Click through for details. Continue Reading →

Podchaser raises $4M; plans new features

Posted on by Brad Hill

Podchaser, a podcast database company and social network of sorts for podcast listeners, announces today that it has raised $4-million from lead investor Greycroft, plus a slewe of additional investors and participating angels. The service plans to build gamification and discussion features into an environment that self-describes as “The IMDb of Pdcasting.” Continue Reading →

AdLarge Media goes with TPX for exclusive ad-rep in Canada

Posted on by Brad Hill

AdLarge Media is announcing its agreement with TPX (Toronto-based The Podcast Exchange) for exclusive representation of AdLarge’s digital audio inventory. The cabana division of AdLarge is where that inventory resides, and is mostly podcasts. This initiative represents AdLarge’s first entry into a non-U.S. market.  Continue Reading →

Jeff Vidler: Just Because ‘Podcast’ Rhymes with ‘Broadcast’ Doesn’t Mean…

Posted on by Jeff Vidler

by Jeff Vidler
Signal Hill Insights President Jeff Vidler says podcasting has key differences from broadcasting. “Podcasts and broadcast radio are vastly different. Yes, they’re both based on audio, so certain audio skills are transferable. But that’s about it.” He breaks out three important podcast characteristics that radio professionals could be aware of. Continue Reading →

iHeartRadio and NPR demonstrate key network strategies (Podtrac Top Publishers)

Posted on by Brad Hill

In the December 2020 Top Podcast Publishers report from Podtrac, iHeartRadio held the #1 slot and NPR maintained its #2 ranking — those two networks remaining invulnerable to competitive infringement in the entire history of Podtrac’s ranking. As we have noted before, iHR and NPR pursue opposite audience concentration strategies. A glance backward shows that each of these two juggernauts has doubled down on its strategy. Click through for numbers and an illustrative chart. Continue Reading →

Podcast Taxonomy Consortium seeks to standardize creative roles in broad industry effort

Posted on by Brad Hill

A venture called the Podcast Taxonomy Consortium, which consolidated and formulated its key product through the second half of 2020, has  come into public this week. The output is a whitepaper called Podcast Taxonomy which establishes and defines creative roles in podcasting. The effort certainly is broadly collaborative, with a working group that spans across 39 organizations and 53 individuals. Click through for the basic taxonomy the group has developed, and links to more info. Continue Reading →

Tom Hanks vaults TuneIn app to top10, with 28% increase in U.S. downloads

Posted on by Brad Hill

Has A-list actor Tom Hanks joined TuneIn’s corporate communications team? No, but he did shine love on the TuneIn app when Stephen Colbert asked Hanks to name his favorite app. “Camera,” Hanks said. Answer disqualified by Colbert because the camera is built in. It took Hanks one second to assert: “I’ll go to TuneIn Radio because I can listen to any radio station in the world.” TuneIn’s Apple app shot up instantly. Click through for the clip, and for TuneIn’s audience metrics. Continue Reading →

Podcast listeners are young, avid, and growing their listening (Westwood One)

Posted on by Brad Hill

Westwood One has released the latest in its Audioscape series, posted by Brittany Faison to the Westwood One blog. The data are taken from Edison Research, and the focus of this release is squarely on podcasting. For years, Westwood One has been the most forthcoming distributor of metrics from Edison’s proprietary subscription product, Share of Ear, and that’s where this info comes from. Click through for key points and graphics. Continue Reading →

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The Podcast Academy resets Board of Governors

Posted on by Brad Hill

In what Rob Greenlee termed a “changing of the guard,” both he (as Chair) and Kerri Hoffman (as Secretary) are shifting out of their roles in the Board of Governors at The Podcast Academy. Greenlee told RAIN, “The leadership change in the Board of Governors was planned and is happening per our organization’s Bylaws.” Click through for more info about new Board officers and members. Continue Reading →