SXM Media, the supply-side audio ad sales network of Sirius XM, which bundles inventory in satellite radio and its digital audio subsidiaries Pandora and Stitcher, is launching AQ Academy. Think of “AQ” as audio intelligence (IQ + audio = AQ). Continue Reading
VURBL, a free streaming audio platform for all audio types, has struck an agreement with DAX for U.S. ad reselling. It is an exclusive deal for DAX. Continue Reading
Acast Creative, a unit of the global podcast company which produces podcast content (shows and/or episodes) for brands, is expanding with a U.S. launch this week. Acast has tapped Shantae Howell as Creative Director of the Americas to lead the team and expand the success of Acast Creative in the U.S. market. Continue Reading
Crooked Media, the network home of Pod Save America and over 20 other podcasts, has entered a partnership with Acast to unlock international advertising. The deal announcement is focused on Acast’s English-speaking markets: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Continue Reading
In an interesting piece of technology development, Audioboom introduced AdRip, a tool which removes host-read commercials from old episodes, creating a new ad break into which timely marketing can be inserted. The company says that 50% of downloads are from back catalogs. Continue Reading
Audio Valley subsidiary and digital audio solutions company Targetspot released first-half earnings for 2021, comparing the results to the same period a year ago. Revenue lifted 51% year-over-year. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has disclosed a trio of launch sponsors for the company’s My Cultura podcast network, which seeks to amplify Latinx voices. In addition, four new shows with July launch dates are detailed. The company promises a monthly drumbeat of new My Cultura shows. Continue Reading
The rationale of branded podcasts is to build an audience around a show which is affiliated with a brand, but avoids outright marketing. In many, the brand is rarely mentioned. SXM packaged a Buick sponsorship production of a bonus episode of “Office Ladies.” Click for audio. Continue Reading
As of today, global audio streamer Deezer has joined Ad For Good, a certification label that encourages brands to give at least one percent of their media budgets to social or environmental causes, and provides technology to do so via partnership with Boon.Today. Click for details.
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If podcast rankers reveal stagnation at the top levels of popularity (they do), Magellan AI’s monthly ranking of top advertisers shows the same characteristic. Looking at the just-released list of top 15 spenders in May, and comparing it to April, we see the same top five advertisers: BetterHelp, HelloFresh, ZipRecruiter, Amazon, and Geico. Click through for comparison chart. Continue Reading
Audio advertising company Ad Results Media (ARM) has made a significant executive hiring push, with three new VPs and two Directors. Click for details. Continue Reading
Veritonic’s Audio Logo Index 2021 ranks branded sound bites with a combination of AI and a large cross-continental human panel. Click through for audio samples and top-level ranking results. Continue Reading