RAIN Notes: Wednesday, June 21
— Clearing the Myst (CoHost)
— Learnings (Arielle Nissenblatt)
— Cutback Clouds (LAist Studios)
Author: Brad Hill
Twenty percent of AM/FM listening is streaming; heavy podcast listening on the rise — Nielsen
In Nielsen’s recently released Audio Today 2023 bundle of research, we are not surprised to learn that AM/FM listening remains top of the time-spent audio sources. Among all U.S. adults 18 years and older, radio reaches 91% percent. The domination is decisive. Click for graphs. Continue Reading
Spotify reportely to launch “Supremium” plan with higher monthly rate
Spotify will launch a third subscription tier to its legacy two-tier access, introducing a “Supremium” plan above its current subscription and free-listening options. This according the Ashley Carman’s reporting at Bloomberg — and CEO Daniel Ek promised it during the Q1 earnings call. We look at the rumored benefits, and compare to competitors. Featuring RAIN’s Spotify user growth chart. Continue Reading
iHeart-owned Triton Digital acquires ad revenue management platform Manadge
Triton Digital announced its acquisition of Manadge, and advertising intelligence and revenue management platform. Manadge offers publishers management of sales inputs from all demand-side partners. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, June 19
— Driving Success(Veritonic)
— Riveting (AdvertiseCast)
— On The Move (Rob Greenlee)
Gen Z: Voracious and experienced podcast listeners, friendly to ads. (Edison Research / SXM Media)
Edison Research interviews 1,003 Gen Z respondents (13-24) in the U.S. to field the Gen Z Podcast Report 2023. The effort is sponsored by SXM Media, and we covered the teaser report from SXM a couple of weeks ago (here). Now, Edison releases the full detail — 45 pages of Z-specific metrics around podcast listening, discovery, acceptance of advertising, and more. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Friday, June 16
— Driving Success(Veritonic)
— Riveting (AdvertiseCast)
— On The Move (Rob Greenlee)
Wondery sales and the CounterClock podcast notable in US Podcast Report (May, Triton Digital)
A quick glance at the interactive version of Triton Digital’s US Podcast Report for May (more exactly, May 1-28) shows two notables — in a mostly stable ranking one network (NPR) and one podcast (CounterClock) stand out. However, the top 100 podcasts remain identical (with minor position jumping) as the previous month. Click for details and links. Continue Reading
Katz integrates with Audiomob to further digital audio advertising in online gaming
Katz Digital Audio is trumpeting a new agreement with Audiomob, a mobile gaming ad company. Katz’s ad sales vertical will sell advertising in Audiomob’s in-game audio ad technology. Katz markets as “the largest digital audio network,” claiming a reach of 230+-million consumers monthly. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, June 15
— Deep Analysis (Eric Nuzum)
— Flipping (Rockie Thomas)
— Is it AI? (Paul McCartney)
Cloned “AI Ashley” debuts on Live95.5, replacing non-AI Ashley in midday. Twitter revolts.
In what might be the first realization of synthesized DJs in actual broadcast shifts, “AI Ashley” — a voice-cloned version of Live95.5 midday host Ashley — works her (its? their?) first realtime shift. Click for the video, which includes an AI-synthesized voice conversing with a listener who won a contest. Continue Reading
National Music Publishers Association sues Twitter for unpaid music use ($250M)
The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) has brought a lawsuit against Twitter, claiming the social outlet has failed to pay for music placed on its platform. The action seeks $250-million in damages, and compares Twitter’s alleged negligence with compliance practices in place on other social networks.
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