In this week’s earning call (see RAIN News coverage here), Sirius XM CEO James Meyer and CFO David Frear answered investor questions about connected cars, online streaming, and the recently settled pre-1972 lawsuits. Continue Reading
Classical music is a niche category, one which might be shrinking as its main demographic ages. Its presence on radio has reduced again and again over 60 years, even on public stations where specialized music can find audience. NPR station WGCU went HD with it. Continue Reading
Cumulus/Westwood One leveraged Amazon Prime Day by commissioning an Ipsos study of advertising effectiveness in promoting the event. With the result favoring traditional radio ads, the survey turned a pure digital story into a testimonial of analog reach and power to drive consumer action. Continue Reading
Sirius XM reported its Q2 earnings, and raised guidance on annual revenue and subscriber growth. The report followed and exceeded an exceptionally bullish Q1 report in April. Continue Reading
Music subscription service Rhapsody sent a notice that its Android app has been refreshed with new design and usability features. Version 5.0 includes several key changes, which we tested. Continue Reading
In an unexpected announcement by NextRadio that will be greeted warmly by all advocates of FM reception in smartphones, AT&T has added FM chip activation to the specification list that it gives OEM phone makers. This development carries a hopeful message to Emmis-owned NextRadio, and the stations which participate in that app. Continue Reading
Pandora’s Sponsored Listening program, which began a beta launch period last October, emerges today as a full-throttle marketing opportunity for all advertisers. We spoke to Lizzie Widhelm, VP of Digital. Continue Reading
Audio ad sales company AdLarge Media notified us today that it has acquired exclusive ad-rep rights to Associated Press (AP) on-demand news reports on AudioBoom. Along with extending AP’s exposure to marketers, there is a reach play in the deal, which allows affiliaste radio stations to host AP audio updates on their websites and mobile apps. Continue Reading
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The weekly update of the streaming audio industry, from RAIN News. THIS WEEK: Scripps acquires Midroll Media in first-ever deal of its kind; more. Continue Reading
“I’m looking forward to discussing our strong quarter, and the progress we’ve made across several business initiatives.,” said Brian McAndrews, CEO of Pandora, to start the Q2 earnings call. By any reckoning the call was a success, and for the first time in several quarters, the stock price responded with an upward swing in after-hours trading. Continue Reading
Yesterday’s announcement that E.W. Scripps acquired Midroll Media is a mile marker in the evolution of podcasting as an important media category. We spoke by phone with Adam Sachs (CEO, Midroll Media), and Adam Symson (SVP and Chief Digital Officer, Scripps) about the merger, its aftermath, and implications for podcasting. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. TODAY: Spotify’s tweet sets calculators going; commentary on Neil Young; Apple Music commercials. Continue Reading