sponsored by PodcastOne
Nearly two years ago, an article that questioned why audio doesn’t go viral, went viral. The article’s complaint has not been fully answered. Recently WNYC posted one of its podcasts to Facebook, but had to wrap it in a video because Facebook doesn’t have native audio. Podcasting might be the catalyst which changes the lack of social sharing in audio. Continue Reading
Consumer spending on digital products will grow a projected 5.1% to $2.1-trillion in 2019, according to McKinsey’s newly released State of Global Media Spending report. Advertiser spending on digital is growing even faster, and the trend, when combined with new CRB webcaster rates, might have implications for radio stations. Continue Reading
Live365, one of the most venerable brands in this industry, is affected by shifting regulations that change the cost of music on January. In addition, the company’s investors have pulled support from the company, forcing an immediate financial crisis. RAIN News has learned that as a result, nearly the entire staff was laid off this week. Continue Reading
Smooth Jazz Chicago, a RAIN Pureplay of the Day recipient, announced that it will end its three-year Internet radio business on December 31. Founder Rick O’Dell explained that the business cannot afford the new webcaster royalty rates without small webcaster protection which is expiring. Continue Reading
Small webcasters feel left out. The music licensing terms under which they have been operating since 2006 are about to expire. Countless small businesses, many of them streaming unique programming in specialized music categories, could shut down this week. Owners of independent streaming stations who have contacted RAIN News have expressed dismay, fury, and guarded hope that the omission of a carve-out for small webcasting represents a delayed announcement that could still arrive in time. Continue Reading
We have commented on Facebook’s lack of native audio, and reported on an experiment with NPR. Now, Facebook is wading a little deeper into native audio via an agreement with Deezer. Users will be able to share 30-second clips from Deezer’s big music library, directly to Facebook. Continue Reading
The Beatles are finally on-demand. It’s not the first time a celebrated hold-out splashily entered the interactive streaming space. But it feels different, closing the loop on a tectonic disruption of music consumption. Continue Reading
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The second season of Serial has launched, before the first season’s hype has expired. If a second phase of the podcast resurgence is at hand, what might the future bring? Continue Reading
AccuRadio has expressed the giving spirit of the season with a daily charity drive, soliciting listeners to choose the non-profit recipients. For 30 days, ending tomorrow, Christmas Eve, AccuRadio will have donated $1,000 each day to various causes in its Season of Sharing campaign. There’s still time to participate! Continue Reading
Pandora announced breakthrough content licensing deals this morning with ASCAP and BMI, the two largest Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) representing songwriters, publishers, and composers. With two separate multi-year agreements, Pandora puts to bed acrimonious lawsuits that have troubled its key relationships for two years. Continue Reading
While albums fade as commercial products, and radio is challenged by streaming audio, is there a new power product that drives listens and accelerates hit-making? U.K.-based consultant and founder of New Slang Media, Chris Price, has emerged as a specialist in identifying the power of playlists, and quantifying their influence. Listomania is his new research study. Continue Reading
Triton Digital will host broadcast law attorney David Oxenford in an interactive webinar on Monday, December 21, at 3pm. Titled The New Streaming Music Rates; Everything You Need to Know, the 30-minute session will include an interview with Oxenford on key points of this week’s CRB rate ruling. Continue Reading