Spotify opens Video Podcasts out of testing with subscriptions, “backgrounding,” and integration with Riverside

In a significant product evolution, Spotify has announced the release of its Video Podcasts product from testing, making it available to all creators in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K. It is an exceptionally mature launch, startlingly packed with features helpful in production, monetization, audience engagement, and analytics. Click for lots of detail. Continue Reading

Media Creek becomes SoundStack in reorg-rebrand; launches SoundStack Engine; Live365 unchanged

Media Creek, an audio-tech holding company launched in February 2018, announces today a rebranding as SoundStack. In what a company representative calls “a unification/rebranding of all of the collective Media Creek brands,” SoundStack encompasses existing services Live365 and Empire Streaming. Also announced today: A newer service called SoundStack Engine, a platform for both live streaming and podcast distribution. Continue Reading

Over five years: Terrestrial radio -13%, podcasting +266% (Cumulus/Edison)

Cumulus Media / Westwood One has released its 2022 Audioscape bundle of research metrics under the banner of its Audio Active Group brand led by Chief Insights Office Pierre Bouvard. It’s a big book of data; today, we look at the growth of podcast listening share compared to terrestrial radio. Continue Reading