Webcast listening in September was 8% higher than the year-ago period, as Spotify widened its upward trend advantage compared to Pandora. This according to Triton Digital’s Top-20 Ranker, a monthly report based on Triton’s Webcast Metrics streaming measurement technology. Continue Reading
Spotify has filed a 20-F with the SEC — that is a format for filing an annual report by companies of non-U.S. ownership. In it, Spotify discloses the cost of acquiring Gimlet Media and Anchor, and it is about 47% higher than the previously reported (rumored) amount. Continue Reading
The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), a global trade and advocacy agency for digital media and marketing, is making a slew of announcements on the eve of its Annual Leadership Meeting this week. Key structural changes in the organization include over a dozen new board members, and the decision to include brands in the IAB membership. Continue Reading
Peter I. Morris, a media executive in digital, film, and television, has been named CEO of L.A.-based PodcastOne, filling a top role which had been empty for several months. In a pre-announcement conversation at the company’s Beverly Hills office, Founder and Chairman Norm Pattiz extolled Morris’ appointment to RAIN News. Continue Reading
The 3rd annual RAIN Podcast Business Summit, March 5 in New York, will feature executive leadership from Google, NPR, iHeartPodcast Network, and several of the most influential podcast and technology companies in the field. Click for details and FIRST MOVER registration. Continue Reading
The media sphere burbled over the weekend with late-Friday reporting that Spotify is “in talks” to acquire podcast powerhouse Gimlet Media, with a price tag above $200-million. If this happens, it will be the richest institutional dive into podcasting yet. click through for details, and a history of podcast acquisitions, full and partial. Continue Reading
As predicted in this week’s Sirius XM earnings call for Q4 2018, the Sirius XM acquisition of Pandora closed today. Pandora is now a wholly owned component of the satellite broadcaster. In the earnings call, Sirius CEO Jim Meyer had things to say about Pandora, and was explicit in laying out broad strategic thoughts. Click through for abundant quotes. Continue Reading
Subscription-based online music service Akazoo will be acquired by Modern Media Acquisition Corp. (MMAC), the company founded by ex-CEO of media group Cumulus, Lew Dickey. Complex stock maneuvering will result in new ticker symbol, but straight line for existing investors. Continue Reading
DJ tech solutions provider Dubset has released a piece of software which makes it easy and quick for DJs and remixers to puts their sets into music services. It’s an API which sends the mixes, comprising many tracks mixed into a seamless whole, through an automated ID and licensing process. Continue Reading
Jim Ballas has been named CTO and VP of Operations at PodcastOne, where he has worked since the podcast company’s founding. Today’s announcement marks his fifth titled role in the company. Continue Reading
Audio news has never been so resplendent with listening options. Today brings news (and a trailer) from The Economist, a global current events publication, called The Intelligence. The Economist has been in podcasting since 2006, and claims that podcast revenue has increased 50% in the last year. Continue Reading
Political podcaster Ben Shapiro, recently noted in RAIN News for his wide syndicated extension into broadcast radio, has lost two sponsors after a live podcast performance at a Right To Life rally. The fallout shines a new light on brand safety — a constant concern in advertising that messaging does not appear connected to controversial content. Continue Reading