RAIN Notes: Thursday, February 24
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Starring role (a16z)
— Money to Burn (Fireside)
— Crossover (Amazon/Wondery)
Author: Brad Hill
Libsyn acquires podcast ad company PAR
This morning venerable podcast hosting platform Libsyn announced its acquisition of Podcast Ad RepsLLC, known as PAR. PAR will be bundled into AdvertiseCast, a previous Libsyn acquisition. Rick Selah and Anthony Savelli, PAR’s founders, and Co-CEOs, will join AdvertiseCast’s leadership team. Continue Reading
Website builder Wix splashes into both of Magellan’s top podcast advertiser lists
If there is a winner in Magellan’s two monthly rankings of podcast advertising spend for January, it is website builder Wix, which landed in Top Spenders and Top Movers & Shakers. Click for details. Continue Reading
Targetspot launches Targetplay; audio advertising in gaming
Targetspot is commiting to building upon and growing the gaming and in-app advertising category for audio. Most recently comes the announcement that the ad-tech company has launched Targetplay. The new division is led by UK Country Director and RAIN Summit… Continue Reading
“The growing and emerging value of audio” Kathy Doyle at RAIN Podcast Business Lunch (transcript)
Kathy Doyle, VP of Content Development at Macmillan Publishers, appeared on RAIN’s Podcast Business Lunch to discuss the business details of the only podcast network with a “Big 5” book publishers. This is the transcript. Continue Reading
Magellan adds PRX podcasts to its Verified Downloads beta system
Podcast advertising market intelligence company Magellan AI is announcing a new partnership with PRX, wherein podcast download data from PRX is ingested to Magellan’s media planning platform, called Magellan AI Verified Downloads, which launched late last year in beta. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, February 17
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Helping Or Hurting (Hollywood Reporter)
— Pitch Guide (Apple Podcasts)
— Identify (CMO)
Podcast “Super Listeners” soak up 11.2 hours/week, via YouTube & Spotify more than Apple
Super Listeners 2021, a consumer research study by Edison Research with support from Houston-based Ad Results Media, was released in a webinar yesterday co-hosted by Edison SVP Tom Webster and Ad Results Media CEO Marshall Williams. Fascinating results ensued. Click through for details, graphics, and a download link. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia partners with Veritone’s synthetic voice/translation tech to broaden global podcast reach
In a signal of how well resourced networks can use technology to enlarge their footprints, iHeartMedia is pairing with audio-AI company Veritone to translate and synthetically voice iHeart’s leading podcasts for Spanish-speaking markets. Click for details, and a link to RAIN’s interview with Veriton president Ryan Steelberg. Continue Reading
Spotify acquires Chartable and Podsights
In an ambitious and consequential grab, Spotify has acquired two pillars of podcast advertising attribution, Chartable and Podsights. The additions fortify Spotify’s inceasingly formidable podcast tech stack, at the center of which is the Megaphone hosting and ad-tech platform. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, February 16
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Data Chat (Edison Research)
— House of Pods (Mark Mulligan)
— An Early Bet (Squarespace; NYTimes)
The Podcast Academy releases “The Ambies” nominees: 25 categories; 178 shows
The Podcast Academy’s second annual “The Ambies” award ceremony is scheduled for March 22 as an online presentation only. The livestream will be on Twitch exclusively. Today, the Academy releases the nominee field — 178 shows and individuals across 25… Continue Reading