As rumors go, Liberty Media’s interest in acquiring Pandora is both apparent and remote. Now the CEO reportedly has told analysts that he is uninterested in the streaming business model … but if he did buy Pandora it would be positioned within Sirius XM. Continue Reading
Podcast measurement company Podtrac today released the July edition of its Industry Ranking Top 10 Podcast Publishers. Overall podcast listening with the top-10 group grew 5% over the month before. Continue Reading
In a recent advertising conference, one head of creative services warned that programmatic advertising could kill podcasting. Right or wrong? There are several points to argue against the dire prediction. Continue Reading
Today brings an announcement that the Apple Music’s Android app has emerged from beta. We hoped (unrealistically) that the official Android app might give us a glimpse of a redesign, which has been pre-announced for the fall. No joy on that point. And other bumps. Continue Reading
Podcasting is the hot audio category, and podcast measurement is its most important issue. Omny Studio and RAIN News are partnering to produce a free webinar: Beyond the Download: A Deeper Understanding of Podcast Listening. Register now for Tuesday, August 16 at 4pm EDT. the illuminating session will be presented by Matt Saraceni, Head of Content at Omny Studio. Continue Reading
ART19, a San Francisco-based podcast host, distributor, and monetization platform, officially launches today after eight months of technology development and partnership formation. Launch partners include Midroll Media), DGital Media, and Wondery. The platform offers technology designed to advance the podcast advertising business. We spoke with co-founder Sean Carr. Continue Reading
PRX, the world’s largest open marketplace for public radio, is opening Podcast Garage, a training and recording facility meant to assist the professionalization of budding podcasters. Continue Reading
Sirius XM held its Q2 earnings call last week, and investors pursued two lines of questioning about Pandora. First as a potential acquisition, thanks to a recent revelation that Liberty Media, parent company of Sirius XM, had made an offer to Pandora. Second as a potential threat to Sirius XM’s business. CEO james E. Meyer addressed both points. PLUS, more from the call. Continue Reading
Often the most interesting parts of an earnings call are beyond the numbers, especially in the investor Q&A which follows the prepared statements. We took a deep dive into the unscripted portions of last week’s Pandora Q2 results. Continue Reading
Omny Studio and RAIN News are partnering to produce a free webinar: Beyond the Download: A Deeper Understanding of Podcast Listening. Register now for Tuesday, August 16 at 4pm EDT. the illuminating session will be presented by Matt Saraceni, Head of Content at Omny Studio. Continue Reading
Pandora has announced a technology solution to the problem of in-stream video and display ads being delivered to listeners who aren’t watch their screens. Through partnering with technology provider Moat, Pandora can assure advertisers of 100% in-view impressions in mobile and desktop listening, in accordance with MRC (Media Rating Council) standards. To understand just what this means technically, and to Pandora advertisers, we spoke with Chris Record, Pandora’s VP of Revenue Operations. Continue Reading
NPR is taking steps to deal with its generational programming crisis, announcing that Car Talk will be moved off the lot in September 2017, five years after the show ended new production. With Prairie Home Companion also ending, NPR faces audience development challenges and opportunities. Continue Reading