Brad Hill - RAIN News

Millennials love podcasts; everyone likes smart speakers (Jacobs Media Techsurvey)

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Brad Hill

Hot out of the box today for public consumption, the annual Techsurvey from Jacobs Media digs into podcasting, smart speakers, and other media consumption details. The survey groups consists largely of people in radio station databases, so while it is not a pure P1 population, we assume a built-in favorability to radio. That is useful for questions about radio pros and cons, and also an interesting lens for non-radio questions. Continue Reading →

Amazon launches Echo Show, adds video & calls it “ambient computing”

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Brad Hill

Amazon’s voice-activated Alexa operating system, the leading voice assistance platform, introduced a new product today: the Echo Show. Echo Show joins the original Echo smart speaker, Echo Dot miniature device, and Echo Look style assistant. Amazon says it’s about “ambient computing.” Continue Reading →

Pandora releases Q1 earnings; raises $150M; changes board structure; Chair exits

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Brad Hill

In one of the most eventful days in company history, Pandora released its Q1 earnings, disclosed the first subscription numbers for Pandora Premium, announced a new $150-million investment, altered its board rules making it easier to change directors, and accepted the resignation of its board Chairman and another board member. Continue Reading →

Millennials embrace voice assitants; Alexa solidly in the lead (eMarketer)

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Brad Hill

This year, 36% of Americans will use a voice-assisted smart device at least once a month — a 129% jump from last year, according to eMarketer. Over 70% of that usage is through Amazon Alexa, the operating system which lives in the Echo, Dot, and Look devices. Continue Reading →

Brazil’s largest radio group chooses Audio.ad for programmatic audio ad market

Posted on May 5, 2017 by Brad Hill

Jovem Pan, the largest radio network in Brazil with 142 stations, has allied with Audio.ad, the audio advertising company serving Hispanic market in the Americas, to put its digital audio inventory in Audio.Ad’s automated platform. The partnership gives Jovem Pan advertisers access to Tail.digital, an audience data and segmenting platform. Continue Reading →

Webcast listening rose in February +8% (Triton Digital)

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Brad Hill

Webcast listening in February spiked upward by eight percent compared to the previous month, according to Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics monthly Top 20 Ranker, released today. Year-over-year listening to streams gained 12%. Click through for long-term trendlines. Continue Reading →

AdsWizz enters Alexa development with interactive, voice-controlled audio ads

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Brad Hill

Ad-tech company AdsWizz is now in the Alexa development business, partnering with iHeartMedia on the publishing side, and ad agencies Assembly, Mediavest|Spark, and Mindshare. Alexa is the voice-controlled home assistant platform developed by Amazon and embodied in the Echo, Dot, and Look devices. Skills involve interactive listening and voice-activated responses to advertisements. Continue Reading →

RAIN Podcast Business Summit: Registration now open!

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Brad Hill

Registration for the June 21 RAIN Podcast Business Summit opens today, as tickets for the milestone conference go on sale at the Early Pricing level for a limited time. Between now and May 16 attendees may register to be part of the event at New York’s AXA Event & Production Center for $299. Continue Reading →

Varick Media and Triton Digital expand partnership to programmatic audio in Canada

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Brad Hill

Varick Media sent an announcement today that it has expanded its relationship with Triton Digital, using Triton’s a2x programmatic marketplace in Canada. Continue Reading →

The “value gap” as a global priority (IFPI 2016 report)

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Brad Hill

Global streaming revenue was up 60% in 2016, according to the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI) annual report. Streaming revenue nudged the industry upward as a whole. Within that good news, a centerpiece of the report is an analysis of the “value gap,” emblemized by YouTube. Continue Reading →

Webby Award winners in podcasting

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Brad Hill

The Webby Award season concluded last week. Here are the winners in the “Podcasts & Digital Audio” group, across 15 categories. Though some are well-known, and most are from leading networks, the winners (official and People’s Voice) make a good discovery list. Continue Reading →

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Mark Ramsey: This Is How Long Your Podcast Should Be

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Brad Hill

by Mark Ramsey

Guest columnist Mark Ramsey weighs in on a hot debate in podcasting: How long is the best podcast length? Continue Reading →