Brad Hill - RAIN News

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

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Brad Hill

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 →

Rumor Fact(ory): Obamas’ Higher Ground network to leave Spotify

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Brad Hill

This Rumor Fact(ory) comes from Bloomberg, which reports unnamed sources saying that the Obamas will not renew their deal with Spotify on behalf of their podcast creation company Higher Ground. The Obamas are being courted by iHeartMedia and Amazon/Audible, according to those insiders. Continue Reading →

Six podcast advertisers in Top 15 for 12 straight months; BetterHelp retains #1 (Magellan AI)

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Brad Hill

Magellan AI released its always-interesting Top Spenders list, listing the highest 15 spenders for March. BetterHelp lands in the #1 spot, as it has for the last 12 months in today’s RAIN analysis of this ranker. Click through for downloadable 12-month chart. Continue Reading →

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

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Brad Hill

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 →

RAIN Notes: Tuesday, April 19

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Brad Hill

Jottings of Note

— Broad Purview (PRX)

— Bleu (Spotify)

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Podcast listeners are young; YouTube is used as much as Apple (Cumulus “Audioscape”)

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Brad Hill

As we continue to prowl through the Audioscape 2022 report from Cumulus Media / Westwood One (see part 1 HERE), we note a few more items of interest. Click through for charts related to listening platforms, consumer characteristics, and age demographics. Continue Reading →

“Control and scale” — Programmatic podcast advertising with Ivone Schramm at PBL (transcript)

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Brad Hill

Ivone Schramm is the Market Operations Manager at Triton Digital, overseeing Triton’s programmatic marketplace for podcasting and streaming audio. She explains how it works, how it is priced, and trends around the world.
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Over five years: Terrestrial radio -13%, podcasting +266% (Cumulus/Edison)

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Brad Hill

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 →

SiriusXM adds execs to marketing team

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Brad Hill

Two VPs and a Senior Director have just been added to the Brand and Consumer Marketing team at SiriusXM. As a team they will be responsible for driving growth and brand awareness for SiriusXM, Pandora, and its core businesses through innovative marketing initiatives, partnerships and experiences. Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Friday, April 15

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Brad Hill

Jottings of Note

— Critically Impressive (SXM Media)

— Facebotch (LA Times)

— Alexa, Tune Me In (TuneIn)

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IAB schedules 30 sessions for May (virtual) Podcast Upfront

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Brad Hill

Since the IAB launched a second annual Podcast Upfront last spring, the expanded franchise has not diluted demand for presentation spots. Approahced the May 10-12 virtual showcase this year, we see 30 presentations over three afternoons of pre-recorded pitches to advertisers. Click for the agenda.
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“We deliberately did not want to be big.” Eric Nuzum on Podcast Business Lunch (transcript)

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Brad Hill

Eric Nuzum’s podcast roots go deep. From his perch as co-founder of elite production house Magnificent Noise, Eric is both a creator and radical thought leader. Eric’s appearance in the RAIN Podcast Business Lunch turned into an epic survey of his audio career. A must read.
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