RAIN Notes: Thursday, June 15
— Deep Analysis (Eric Nuzum)
— Flipping (Rockie Thomas)
— Is it AI? (Paul McCartney)
Month: June 2023
Cloned “AI Ashley” debuts on Live95.5, replacing non-AI Ashley in midday. Twitter revolts.
In what might be the first realization of synthesized DJs in actual broadcast shifts, “AI Ashley” — a voice-cloned version of Live95.5 midday host Ashley — works her (its? their?) first realtime shift. Click for the video, which includes an AI-synthesized voice conversing with a listener who won a contest. Continue Reading
National Music Publishers Association sues Twitter for unpaid music use ($250M)
The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) has brought a lawsuit against Twitter, claiming the social outlet has failed to pay for music placed on its platform. The action seeks $250-million in damages, and compares Twitter’s alleged negligence with compliance practices in place on other social networks.
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News podcasts stable w/ favorable demographics — massive international study (Reuters/Oxford U.)
An annual research study jointly conducted by Reuters Institute and Oxford University reveals the stability of news podcasts, and shapes the profile of the category listeners. A project of extraordinary reach, this survey examines frequency of use, country-level comparisons, top ten rankers, and much more. This is a global research project, and the PDF delivers 160 pages of country-specific results. Click for samples, graphs, and links to an executive summary and the entire study (160-page PDF). Continue Reading
Spotify intros new Ad Analytics program, promising attribution, conversion, and brand lift metrics
In a vigorous and comprehensive product launch, Spotify today introduces Spotify Ad Analytics, a set of advertiser tools and solutions across podcast and music advertising. The new pixel-based technologies announced today grew from the company’s acquisition of then-indie attribution company Podsights over a year ago. Click for details and analysis of this important evolution in Spotify’s ad business. Continue Reading
Disney completes exit from radio … nine years later
It was the summer of 2014 when The Walt Disney Company announced that it was exiting the broadcast radio business to focus on digital audio. Nine years later, it has sold the final station, once the flagship. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, June 12
Triton Digital offers consolidated advertising across digital and broadcast segments
Audio adtech giant Triton Digital has announced that buyers can now streamline and consolidate their advertising across all audio segments — podcast, streaming, and broadcast. The broadcast piece is added by Triton’s workflow automation partner Basis Technologies, which expanded its integration to give brands and agencies programmatic guaranteed buying access to broadcast radio ads. Click through for details. Continue Reading
Brand safety, identity, the future: AdsWizz “State of Audio Technology 2023”
Audio adtech giant and SXM Media subsidiary AdsWizz has released a deep and detailed guide to technology tools in digital audio advertising, matched to advertiser expectations and future needs. It is a formidable whitepaper, casting a knowledge net over the industry punctuated by company-specific technologies, products, and solutions. Click for an overview and an essential download link. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Friday, June 9
— Quiet Fascination (The Verge)
— Dialing Down Under (Edison Research)
— It’s Due (NAB)
Podcast listeners well disposed to political ads (Veritonic)
Audio intelligence company Veritonic got interested in political ads in podcasts, and fielded a survey of 333 18+ people in the U.S. All participants self-reported as podcast listeners, and registered voters. The topic at hand: How these podcast listeners feel about political ads, and ads in general. Click for graphics and study link. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Radio 360 launches in Australia: new research
by James Cridland
In his latest piece, guest columnist James Cridland reports on a big change to the way Australian radio stations were measured – and how it’s reported. . Australian radio will be measured by all three available methods: Diaries, research surveys, and electronic measurement. Early results are revealing for radio’s multiplatform future, James reports. Many other interesting ratings realities are emerging from the new reporting. Continue Reading