In its 2020 annual finance report, UK-based podcast network and tech company Audioboom raised its revenue and improved its bottom line, both by double digits. We spoke with CEO Stuart Last via email, and dug into Audioboom’s CPM (cost per thousand) metrics for monetizing podcasts with ads. Continue Reading
A new podcast industry watchdog group has been started by Oxford Road CEO Dan Granger. Called the Media Roundtable, the mission is to mobilize marketers to support truth and civility in journalism. Podcasting is part of that overall directive, and the organization will create a podcast ranker based on most-to-least biased. Al Fontes Media, creator of a well known Media Bias Chart, is involved.
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Jottings of note:
— Boom Radio booms
— Late to arrive; early to leave (Apple HomePod)
— New Audible exec
— Who’s your pick? (Radio Hall of Fame) Continue Reading
In one of the most interesting podcast network ideas we’ve heard of, ART19 has collected restaurant servers, chefs, and bartenders to produce shows about the service industry. It’s called the One Star Network, and the launch marketing promises “hilarity and humanity.” Click for show rundowns. Continue Reading
Townsquare media released its Q4 earnings this morning. In a note detailing results sent to RAIN from CEO (and RAIN Summit keynote speaker) Bill Wilson, he described 2020 this way: “Although we are proud of our roots and DNA in local radio and we continue to love local radio, 2020 was the year Townsquare became a ‘Digital First’ company.” Click through for more detail, plus a table, provided by Wilson, which compares TSQ results with six other radio groups. Continue Reading
The live-audio meeting app Clubhouse has announced the launch of a creator accelerator program with an open application program. Twenty recipients will be selected and provided with material assistance and matching with potential brand sponsors with a guarantee of at least $5,000 monthly revenue. Continue Reading
The Latin American (LATAM) market is an important and growing business for music services, so it makes sense that it would be for distribution to those services. One of the leading such companies, TuneCore, has announced its expansion into LATAM countries. Tunecore localizes its efforts, building out member websites in 13 languages. The company pays out about $1M per day in artist royalties. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— Will Page’s new book
— The Podcast Academy rebrands
— New leadership for vCreative
— AdLarge promotions Continue Reading
Podchaser, a database of podcasting which could be compared to IMDb for movies, is announcing a double acquisition of Podcharts and Podrover. (Illustrating that “pod” is overused by startups.) Continue Reading
Entercom, the second biggest commercial U.S. radio group, has bought Podcorn, a marketplace which connects indie podcasts with advertisers and agencies. With this acquisition Entercom adds to its podcast holdings which include Cadence13 and Pineapple Street Studios. Entercom hopes to identify talented podcasters deserving of bigger spotlights. Continue Reading
The annual webinar release of The Infinite Dial, the annual consumer survey project by Edison Research and Triton Digital, is scheduled for Thursday. The two companies are teasing the event by releasing one result of interest: Thirty-three percent of Americans own a smart speaker. That is a 22% increase from last year’s Infinite Dial, and represents an estimated 94-million people. There is a Covid element to this. Click through for more info and webinar registration. Continue Reading
In a notice sent out today, Bauer Media Audio is announcing an agreement to acquire Mediatakojat OY. (OY is a Finnish abbreviation for a limited company.) With the acquisition, Mediatakoja’s radio licenses will be transferred to Bauer Media. The two companies have a history of cooperating, and collaboratively launched two stations last year. Continue Reading