News

Audible launches Plus subscription, less expensive than existing plan, for access to exclusives

Posted on by Brad Hill

In a peculiar reversal of standard audio subscription value and price points, and a demonstration of Audible’s often-overlooked power in audio publishing, the Amazon-owned company has launced Audible Plus, a subscription plan the provides access to the entire Audible Original library (audiobooks and podcasts) of 68,000 productions. It costs $7.95 per month. The legacy subscription bundles the traditional audiobook catalog with Audible’s original productions for $14.95. It is a dramatic example of Audible’s unique consumer economics and value propositions. Continue Reading →

Echoverse podcast network launches with Whalerock funding and plans to extend into TV/film

Posted on by Brad Hill

We received a notice that Lloyd Braun’s Whalerock Industries has founded a new podcast network: Echoverse, which will be devoted to science fiction, supernatural, and fantasy programming. No podcasts are live yet, but nine are planned. CEO Mark Stern has a deep background in TV and film. Accordingly, Echoverse will serve as both a podcast network and an incubator of extensible content for film and TV. Click through for details. Continue Reading →

Adwizz’s AudioGo launches from public beta, offers easy audio ad buying

Posted on by Brad Hill

We’ve been writing about AudioGo, the audio  advertising buying platform from AdsWizz, for over a year, as  it moved through a public beta. During this  time the service added testing partners including Entravision and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Today the company announces that the service is emerging from beta into a full-on ad-buying service available to all. The platform now has several new features designed to support smaller buyers looking to capitalize on increasing audio consumption. The cost of entry is surprisingly low. Continue Reading →

IAB Podcast Upfront: Schedule and speakers released

Posted on by Brad Hill

In the first online-only version of the annual IAB Podcast Upfront, the virtual format is allowing a greatly expanded version of the event. The 2020 edition of this podcast showcase to advertisers expands from one day to three days. While past years have spotlighted 12 podcast networks at most, this year will feature 20. The speaker list is loaded with celebrities. Click through for details. Continue Reading →

Beats 1 becomes Apple Music Radio, plus 2 new stations

Posted on by Brad Hill

Changes at Apple Music. The Beats 1 global live-streamed station undergoes a branding change, morphing into Apple Music Radio. More descriptive, if also more bland. Additionally, two new stations are created, forming a small ecosystem of streamed programming: Apple Music Hits and Apple Music Country. All three stations are available in 165 countries. Zane Lowe remains as creative director. Continue Reading →

Targetspot brings in Mario Cabanas as COO, and two more executive hires

Posted on by Brad Hill

Through its parent company AudioValley, Targetspot has announced the hiring of mario Cabanas as Chief Operating Officer. The notice comes with confident language around Targetspot’s resilience during and following COVID-19. Two other directorial hires accompany the announcement. Furthermore, AudioVally lists 15 open roles located in Europe on its jobs page. Continue Reading →

Spotify moves forward with more mixed-media playlisting; now it’s Daily Sports

Posted on by Brad Hill

Spotify has announced a new daily sports playlist, appropriately named Daily Sports. This new product triples down on mixed-media programming that combines spoken word and music. As such, the playlists are personalized to each user — at least so far as the music is chosen. Spotify has been down this road twice already, with Daily Wellness and Your Daily Drive. Mixing spoken word with music is part of the company’s effort to diversify listening, and shift usage time into low-cost non-music content. Continue Reading →

Bob Pittman on podcasting, ubiquity, paywalling (Q2 earnings)

Posted on by Brad Hill

In last week’s iHeartMedia (IHRT) earnings call, CEO Bob Pittman discussed podcast strategy, podcast strategy, and podcast strategy. And a bit of radio. The financials included the entire business, and the COVID effect. But the go-forward mission leans heavily into on-demand audio, both as a stand-alone advertising business, and a synergistic opportunity with the largest array of commercial radio stations in the U.S. Click through for quotes. Continue Reading →

Nielsen signs Veriton One to Podcast Buying Power Service

Posted on by Brad Hill

Veritone One is the latest podcast entity to subscribe to Nielsen’s Podcast Buying Power Service, Nielsen is announcing today. Nielsen’s subscription program ties listeners and their buying habits to podcast categories, to help advertisers (especially brand advertisers) plan more effective and targeted campaigns. The Podcast Buying Power Service launched in July of last year, with five major podcast publishers as charter subscribers. As a new subscriber Veritone One is an audio advertising agency. Continue Reading →