Chloe Straw has been named as the new Managing Director of AudioUK, the trade body for audio production companies making high quality podcasts, radio and audiobooks. She replaces previous Managing Director Will Jackson, who left in January, and Tim Wilson who filled the role on an interim basis. Continue Reading
Singer, songwriter, actor, and Sony Music artist Paloma Faith has revamped the Paloma’s Bedtime Alexa experience, and added “In-Skill Purchasing” (ISP), an Amazon/Alexa technology. Paloma Faith is the first Sony artist to introduce premium content in the voice-driven Alexa OS. Continue Reading
PayTunes is the first audio-only ad aggregation DSP in India, starting in 2016. The company has integrated with Triton Digital’s audio programmatic marketplace, Triton has announced. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Funereal Opinions (Clubhouse)
— Job Well Done (Erik Diehn)
— Attribution (IBA)
— Executive Hires (TuneIn)
Internet radio aggregator and podcasting resource Live365 blasted out a note today about a full-site redesign. We took advantage of the review opportunity to update our understanding of business details. Click through for screenshots and a rundown of features. Continue Reading
Starting today, Apple Music is streaming what it calls Spatial Audio, which is the Dolby Atmos format often called immersive audio. Dolby Atmos is not new, but its implementation by Apple is, announced yesterday at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). The launch in Apple Music matches Amazon Music’s similar dive into the specialty high resolution music format. Both companies are refuting the once-standard model of charging more for HiRez listening. Continue Reading
A new eMarketer research study performed in April forecasts growth in time spent listening to digital audio, especially in mobile delivery, while radio listening is predicted to dip slightly. But the story is a little more nuanced. Continue Reading
Les Hollander has been named CEO, North America at DAX, the digital audio ad exchange, according to a release from parent company Global. That announcement is wrapped in a company realignment which sees DAX US and DAX Canada brought together into a single operation. Continue Reading
Spotify CEO and Chairman Daniel Ek has received a letter from the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Congress. The letter questions the working and purpose of Spotify’s relatively new “Discovery Mode,” a promotional tool offered to recording artists and record labels which influences which songs get onto listener playlists in exchange for lower royalty rates when those placements are streamed — a potential payola issue. Click for an explanation of Discovery Mode and the complete letter. Continue Reading
In a UK-based consumer survey report based partly on podcasts and partly on digital audio generally, results indicate that marketing in both realms is beneficial to advertisers, and in many respects is superior to TV advertising. The research was conducted by MAGNA and funded by Spotify. Click through for details and the download link. Continue Reading
Podtrac released its two highly visible ranking for the month of May: Top Podcast Publishers, and Top Podcasts. Comparing both lists to their April counterparts, we see one change in the Publishers list, and two changes in the Podcasts list. Click through to see everything. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— The How (The Drum)
— Good Ones (Welp Magazine)
— It’s Not the Size that Counts (AdWeek)