Entercom: No plan to divest podcast acquisitions (à la Scripps)

In Entercom’s Q4 earnings call this week, podcasting was prominently referenced as part of the company’s digital initiatives. One investor asked whether selling off podcast acquisitions Cadence13 and Pineapple Street Studios might be in the future, if the acquisition value of those outfits exceeded their revenue potential. CEO David Field’s answer was definitive. Continue Reading

iHeartMedia reorgs as two reporting entities in a dramatic organizational and executive reset

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) sent an announcement, just after market close, describing a new corporate reporting and business operation structure. In the new arrangement, all of the company’s digital ventures are broken out as iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. Alongside, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group will include the radio business of America’s largest commercial radio holding company. Click through for the new executive assignments and other details. Continue Reading

Bauer Media enters Ireland vial acquisition of Communicorp Group

Bauer Media, a leading European digital commercial broadcaster and audio operator, will acquire Communicorp, Ireland’s largest commercial radio group. In this merger, Bauer expands its audio business to eight countries reaching over 55-million listeners. Communicorp owns and operates a portfolio of media channels with a strong focus on commercial radio and emerging digital media. Price is reported to be €100m. Continue Reading

Triton Digital streaming audio measurement certified by ACPM

Triton Digital is announcing that its measurement of French-language digital audio streams has been certified by the France-based Alliance for Press and Media Figures (ACPM) association, whose mission is to provide industry-standard measures to certify the audiences of any media that seeks to attract advertisers, including digital radio, websites, applications, podcasts.  Continue Reading

RAIN Notes: Wednesday Feb. 24

Jottings of note:

— Frequency and reach

This Harvard Business Review article separates correlation from causation in digital advertising. Which is better: frequency or reach? P&G and Unilever cut their overall budgets and increased returns.

— Digital marketing predictions

Adobe presents “Three Digital Marketing Predictions for 2021 and Beyond. In briefest summary: Non-linear, privacy, and AI.

— New podcast book

Director of Podcast Pioneers Katharine Kerr is out with a new book: Step by Step Podcasting for Business.

Wednesday, February 24, click through for links Continue Reading

Obama/Springsteen podcast, and other new Spotify exclusives

Many of the announcements in Spotify’s flood of news in yesterday’s “Stream On” presentation were about platform features for creators and advertisers. But new and exclusive podcast content was also featured. The biggest headline is certainly the launch of a Barack Obama / Bruce Springsteen conversational show called “Renegades: Born in the USA.” Also, DC Comics and Ava DuVernay. Click through for info, audio, and video Continue Reading