Voiceflow, which seeks to be the leading drag-and-drop voice app builder, has closed a fundraising round totaling $3-million. Total fundraising over the last five months is $3.5-million. A roster of other investors reads like a Who’s Who of entrepreneurship. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Zach Fuller, of MIDiA Research, looks at the history of audio disruption, and explores how Amazon’s free streaming service could advance the company’s global aspirations. “Embellishing the Prime pipeline through a free-streaming service is effectively the same strategy that RCA employed to incentivise radio adoption.” Continue Reading
The great Luminary rollout continues. Today’s ruffle is less about publishers withdrawing from the platform, and more about technical issues. Twitter arguments in progress. And Luminary suggests that hyperlinks in show descriptions are security risks. Continue Reading
The Webby Awards were released this week, and the focus here is the Podcasts category. Scripps and Wondery each won a handful. Continue Reading
If smart speakers need a content hit to reach a next level (RAIN’s hypothesis, and we’re not alone), the Westworld experience on Alexa is pointing in that direction. The elaborate “skill” has won AdAge’s Creativity Award 2019 for Best Use of Voice Tech. The campaign was built by ad agency 360i. Continue Reading
Spotify’s launch in India’s listening market has proceeded with good news this year, but has reportedly hit a stumbling point in its negotiation with Saregama, India’s oldest record label. Continue Reading
In what is shaping up as a daily Luminary update, today we report more podcasts which have withdrawn permission to be included in the Luminary listening app. We learn from Podnews that Barstool Sports, a top U.S. publisher according to Podtrac’s monthly ranker, has pulled its 26 shows from Luminary. Endeavor Audio, creator of Blackout and The Bellas, is also out. Continue Reading
In a tech + tech deal, podcast platform Acast has acquired podcast hosting company Pippa. Acast’s offering and marketplace are dramatically expanded. Pippa said the acquisition is important and necessary. Continue Reading
From BIA Advisory Services comes the Investing In Radio Market Report, which documents revenue growth as well as investment in station transactions. The top 10 radio stations in total revenue are also listed. Continue Reading
Nielsen is announcing today a deepening of its relationship with radio group Entercom, which will enhance its portfolio of Nielsen measurement tools. The essential addition is Nielsen Media Impact. Continue Reading
As the rollout of podcatching service Luminary continues, Hot Pod reports this morning that The Joe Rogan Experience has requested to pulled from the Luminary catalog of free-listening shows. Joe Rogan’s interview show is one of the world’s most successful podcasts. Continue Reading
After much speculation and apprehension, in which Luminary was fearfully criticized as a potentially ruinous force in podcasting which could blot out traditional free listening, the app is in hand. As of today, Luminary is a routine podcatcher that presents “hundreds of thousands” of shows, and offers a premium subscription for original, ad-free programs laced with celebrity names. Continue Reading