In yesterday’s Infinite Dial 2023 report conducted by Edison Research (RAIN coverage HERE) we saw growth stories for online audio generally, and podcasting in particular. Listening to podcasts (and online audio generally) trended upward. At the same time, the monthly CPM ad-cost tracker from AdvertiseCast shows ad rates dropping. Those two trends are not necessarily contradictory. Continue Reading
Welcome to RAIN News industry-leading coverage of The Infinite Dial 2023, the celebratory 25th anniversary of the longest-running and most authoritative survey of digital media consumer behavior in America. Since 1998, this survey of American listening, device usage, and social… Continue Reading
One striking aspect of iHeartMedia’s revenue reporting for Q4 and full-year 2022: Digital revenue leads revenue growth, and podcasting leads even more. The trend is true for Q4 and full-year 2022. Click for details. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Your Thoughts (Podnews)
— Streaming Forecast (TuneIn)
— Colonization Fear (Techdirt)
Today sees the launch of a new FOX News audio show for smart speakers: The True Crime Minute, which will be refreshed three times a week. A new longer-form True Crime title has been added to FOX’s True Crime catalog, which now contains nine shows. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— The Question (Signal Hill Insights)
— Everybody Elevated (Everybody Media)
— Challenges (iMarketer)
iHeart Media and the National Basketball Association have revealed a slate of team-specific shows released to what is being called the iHeart/NBA Podcast Network. The lineup includes original podcasts from six NBA teams – the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs. Click through for show details and listen links. Continue Reading
When Mixcloud founder and CEO Nico Perez asked Twitter for reactions to Spotify’s new AI DJ feature he received a short thread of contrasting replies. A well known tech pub calls it “deeply unnecessary.” Meanwhile, Spotify is occupied explaining why nobody can find it. With all this, we are looking forward to it. Continue Reading
Edison Research has released the 2022 version of its Black Podcast Listener Report. Edison’s partners in this deep dive are SXM Media and Mindshare. The survey queried 2,500 American adults 18 years and older, and the deeply detailed report is 59 pages of results and charts. Clik through for key points and download link. Continue Reading
Details are scant, but it is confirmed that Pacific Content — a leading producer of branded podcasts — is undergoing a layoff sweep, as reported in Broadcast Dialogue. The extent of the cuts is not publicly known, but reporting indicates that parent company Rogers Sports and Media has confirmed the action. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Sonic Adventuring (Studio Resonate)
— New Native (True Native Media)
— Automated Efficiency (Frequency / Sounds Profitable)
If broadcast radio felt disgruntled by on-demand listening apps before, now there is a new offense: Spotify has introduced a DJ feature which uses a synthetic voice to create a radio-like presentation of the user’s saved music. It is called AI DJ, and the tool uses generative artificial intelligence to intro and extro a mix of tracks from the user’s library. Click for a launch video. Continue Reading