RAIN Notes: May 28
Appearances – Hernan Lopez
Coming Home – The Association of Independents in Radio
Deepening The Presence – Molly DeMellier Continue Reading
News
Spotify, BBC, YouTube win in UK podcast listening; audio and video both robust. (Ofcom)
This is Part Two in our coverage of the Audio Listening in the UK report from London-based UK communications regulator Ofcom, 2025 edition. The survey-based study examines audio listening preferences, needs, and expectations. Click for details, and link to Part One. Continue Reading
UK listeners embrace smart devices in home and car: Edison Research
In the latest release of its iconic The Infinite Dial UK survey report, presented at this week’s The Podcast Show in London, Edison Research reports that UK consumers embrace smart devices in-home and in-car. Continue Reading
Ad-supported audio: 66% of time spent with radio; 19% podcasts; 12% streaming audio … and more from Nielsen/Edison
In the newly released Q1 edition of The Record — the quarterly series measuring how consumers spend their listening day with ad-supported online audio — we learn that radio rules the time spent metric, especially in older demos. Click for details, charts. Continue Reading
Local digital advertising at “historic threshhold” (Borrell Associates)
In 48 data graphs across 67 pages, local business analyst Borrell Associates tracks how the advertising industry in its many segments has transitioned to a digital medium. “Local digital advertising cleared a historic threshold in 2024,” Borrell states, noting that it topped $100 billion at that point, and accounted for about 70% of all local ad spending.” Click for metrics, an elaborately revealing chart, and a link to an upcoming webinar.
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YouTube starts micro-placement of ads with AI-located “peak moments”
AI meets hyper-exact ad placement in YouTube’s latest pitch to advertisers. YouTube has announced a new ad placement scheme based on AI assessment of something called Peak Points — the moments in videos which have highest engagement, or are emotionally impactful.
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RAIN Notes: May 13
Leaving the Nest – AJ Feliciano
Support – Alison Craiglow
Two Realities – John O’Donnell
Everyone’s a Marketer – Jimmy Fallon Continue Reading
Sales growth and “monetization momentum” for Acast in Q1
Publicly traded podcast giant Acast released a Q1 financial report, disclosing net sales growth and gross margin for the quarter. The fine print reveals key sales, costs, profit, EBITDA, and other metrics, comparing them across one and two years. We see positive movement year-over-year in sales, cost, profit, and EBITDA. Quarter-over-quarter comparisons are also revealing. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: May 5
Rude Celebration – iHeartPodcasts
Women, Indie, $30 – Women Who Podcast Awards
Slammed By Sound – Pandora Continue Reading
Rumor Fact(ory): Tencent Music said to plan acquisition of Ximalaya
2.4 billion dollars — that’s the speculated price for Tencent Music to acquire Chinese podcast behemoth Ximalaya. Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME) is likewise a giant Chinese audio platform. This news appears to be unconfirmed by principles as of this posting. Click for speculative details.
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RAIN Notes: April 30
Outgrowing the Word – Eric Nuzum
Read All About It – PocketCasts
Tops – (Maria (Micchelli) Tullin Continue Reading
Spotify releases Q1 finances: “We are pleased.”
Global streaming behemoth Spotify released its Q1 finance/product update for the first quarter, clearly pleased with its results across earnings, subscriber data, user count, and all reported financial indicators. Investors appeared to be vigorously pleased. Click for metrics.
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