Australia-based Omny Studio will announce a new tool which easily converts audio to a video player for posting on Facebook. This clever automated workaround solves one of the most vexing problems in social audio for podcasters and broadcasters — Facebook’s inexplicable lack of native audio. Continue Reading
iTunes Radio, a late-arriving Internet radio initiative, once widely appraised as a “Pandora killer,” will end as a free, ad-supported service on January 29. On that date the lean-back listening service will become part of Apple Music’s monthly music subscription offering. Continue Reading
VuHaus, public media’s video network, has told RAIN News that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has renewed an initial grant for $430,000. RAIN spoke with principals Mike Henry and Erik Langner about VuHaus of the past, present, and future. Continue Reading
Southern Cross Austereo, Australia’s largest commercial radio group, has reportedly started turning on the webcasts of its radio stations. At least 18 stations are now simulcasting. It has been two years since, in a startling boycott of Internet-delivered radio, Australian radio stations shut off their streams as an act of protest. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Doc Searls observes the thinning out of AM stations in the U.S., and FM stations abroad. Then, there’s the impact of the Internet. “This doesn’t mean radio is going away,” he explains. Continue Reading
Things have gotten real for small webcasters. December 31 came and went like a silent specter, as the law which gave special royalty rates to hobby and semi-pro online radio stations expired, its death seemingly unattended by the institutions which have power to revive or replace it. Perspectives from copyright attorney Kevin Goldberg and StreamLicensing founder Marvin Glass. Continue Reading
In December we wrote about the Listomania research from Chris Price of New Slang Media. Part two of Listomania goes deeper and more granular with a case study of Justin Bieber’s hit song, “Love Yourself.” What are the respective roles of streaming and broadcast radio in fostering a global hit song? Continue Reading
Webcast listening in November dropped slightly from the previous month, but still showed a 12% year-to-date increase during 2015, according to Triton Digital’s Webcast Metrics Top 20 Ranker, released today. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia is partnering with Canada’s largest media company, Bell Media, to take iHeartRadio to Canada this year. The exclusive deal pairs iHeart’s listening platform, one of the three leading streaming audio services in the U.S., with Bell Media’s 106 licensed radio stations across Canada. Continue Reading
Music and radio technology company 7digital today announced an acquisition agreement with French competitor Snowite. 7digital will absorb Snowite from French insolvency court (similar to U.S. bankruptcy), pending approval of that court. Continue Reading
This morning Triton Digital launched Tap Podcast, a new advertising platform for podcasts. Tap Podcast is a customized version of the Triton Advertising Platform (Tap), built to provide targeted ad injection in podcasts.
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Happy New Year!
In last year’s edition of RAIN’s annual predictions, we wrote: “2015 will be an eventful year for all stakeholders in online audio.” It was. This year will carry forward the audio industry’s reputation for disruptive change. RAIN News is pleased to present predictions from 23 thought-leading guest futurists Continue Reading