Vox Media announced Sunday evening that it has acquired Cafe Studios, co-founded in 2017 by Preet Bharara. Cafe Studios explores how law and policy intersect with politics, news, business, history, and technology. The acquisition will be placed in Vox Media Podcast Network, a division of Vox Media Studios, a unit of Vox Media. Continue Reading
Podtrac released its monthly rankers for March: Top Podcasts, and Top Podcast Publishers. Each list has 20 spots, and they measure U.S.-derived statistics among Podcast measurement clients. There is never a great deal of movement in the monthly drumbeat of these high-profile rankers, and the March metrics are remarkably locked-in from the previous month. Click through for highlights and the lists. Continue Reading
As we reported in detail last week, Entercom rebranded all its corporate entities as Audacy. This morning featured a splashy celebration of the changed stock ticker symbol, as the opening bell of the NYSE was brand-decorated with the orange Audacy logo. Click through for a screenshot and link to video. Continue Reading
Unionization of Gimlet Media and The Ringer has been completed via agreements with parent company Spotify. Gimlet has 48 union members; The Ringer has 65. Click through for comprehesive lists of job titles and minimum salaries for each job role. Continue Reading
Audioboom has partnered with London-based MAPP Media to provide dynamic ad insertion commercials across Audioboom’s 8,000 podcasts. Audioboom serves 25-million unique monthly listeners who download 85-million episodes. The company is bringing MAPP into an existing premium sales enterprise which places bespoke host-read sponsor messages into podcasts. Click through for details. Continue Reading
Digital audio advertising revenue grew 13% in 2020 compared to 2019, according to the IAB’s newly issued Internet Advertising Revenue Report, conducted by PwC. Click through for a breakdown of desktop vs. mobile. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— Power Pressing (Blubrry)
— Refreshed (SpokenLayer)
— Selective Culling (Spotify/Rogan)
Casted, which calls itself an first Amplified Marketing Platform for B2B marketers, has raised seven million dollars in a Series A round led by Revolution Ventures. Other investors include High Alpha Capital, Elevate Ventures, and Tappan Hill Ventures. The company quadrupled revenue in 2020, and one key investor predicts a multi-billion dollar sector. Continue Reading
Newark-based Audible has brought in a Head of Audible Studios from Los Angeles, and it is Zola Mashariki. She comes from stints at Fox Searchlight Pictures, BET, and Good Films, where at each company she held executive content roles. She is a lawyer/executive who has acquired numerous books for crossover production projects. Continue Reading
New podcasts of note.
Politics of Food (DCP Entertainment & Westwood One)
Tulsa’s Buried Truth (ABC Audio)
Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin (iHeartRadio)
Colin Rushing, Chief Legal Officer of SoundExchange and RAIN Summit speaker, is honored in Billboard’s release of its Top Music Lawyers 2021. It is the only award in its category (Performing Rights) that relates directly and exclusively to streaming audio. Continue Reading
As we reported in November, venerable streaming platform TuneIn received investment from Innovation Endeavors. The dollar amount was undisclosed, but the timing conicided with a CEO change, as Richard Sterm went over over from Audible to take the helm. Today we notice the company has unfruled a raft of 20 job listings across different levels, and is self-referring as “a growth-stage company.” Continue Reading