News

iHeartMedia reorgs as two reporting entities in a dramatic organizational and executive reset

Posted on by Brad Hill

iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) sent an announcement, just after market close, describing a new corporate reporting and business operation structure. In the new arrangement, all of the company’s digital ventures are broken out as iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. Alongside, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group will include the radio business of America’s largest commercial radio holding company. Click through for the new executive assignments and other details. Continue Reading →

Bauer Media enters Ireland vial acquisition of Communicorp Group

Posted on by Brad Hill

Bauer Media, a leading European digital commercial broadcaster and audio operator, will acquire Communicorp, Ireland’s largest commercial radio group. In this merger, Bauer expands its audio business to eight countries reaching over 55-million listeners. Communicorp owns and operates a portfolio of media channels with a strong focus on commercial radio and emerging digital media. Price is reported to be €100m. Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Wednesday Feb. 24

Posted on by Brad Hill

Jottings of note:

— Frequency and reach

This Harvard Business Review article separates correlation from causation in digital advertising. Which is better: frequency or reach? P&G and Unilever cut their overall budgets and increased returns.

— Digital marketing predictions

Adobe presents “Three Digital Marketing Predictions for 2021 and Beyond. In briefest summary: Non-linear, privacy, and AI.

— New podcast book

Director of Podcast Pioneers Katharine Kerr is out with a new book: Step by Step Podcasting for Business.

Wednesday, February 24, click through for links Continue Reading →

Obama/Springsteen podcast, and other new Spotify exclusives

Posted on by Brad Hill

Many of the announcements in Spotify’s flood of news in yesterday’s “Stream On” presentation were about platform features for creators and advertisers. But new and exclusive podcast content was also featured. The biggest headline is certainly the launch of a Barack Obama / Bruce Springsteen conversational show called “Renegades: Born in the USA.” Also, DC Comics and Ava DuVernay. Click through for info, audio, and video Continue Reading →

Spotify links podcasting to blogging with text-to-speech WordPress/Anchor hook-up

Posted on by Brad Hill

In the slew of announcements during Spotify’s “Stream On” presentation Monday, the company seemed to recognize an affinity between podcasting and blogging. Spotify’s new agreement with WordPress.com, which leverages Spotify’s Anchor podcasting platform, bridges the two realms. The result is near-instant podcasts. We now await the reverse.

Continue Reading →

TED forms a podcast network, pitches solution to advertisers in “oversaturated market”

Posted on by Brad Hill

TED is a highly differentiated brand, and its TED Radio Hour (150 episodes; #1 in Apple Technology) and TED Talks Daily (160 episodes; #1 in Spotify Business) are steady category leaders. TED cites that its podcasts are downloaded an eye-popping 1.65-million times a day. It makes sense for TED to extend its brand patina outward, and that is what the company has done with TED Audio Collective. The pitch to advertisers: “Stand out from the pack in an oversaturated market.” Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Monday Feb. 22

Posted on by Brad Hill

Jottings of note:

— AIMP Webinar

“Live Streaming in the COVID Era,” an AIMP webinar, is on Thursday (2/23) at 5:30 ET. It’s about revenue and rights, moderated by Arthur Levin. Free to register.

— Thoughts on Timed  Audio

Dan Misener of Pacific Content posted a column about Apple’s “Time To Walk” audio feature. Dan expands the idea to music, and why activity-based audio could be important to brands.

— Podcast Discovery

Metronome, the Malaysia-based podcast landing page provider, has launched a new Episode Reminder feature to encourage listeners moving sideways in a podcast to hear other episodes.

— Partnership

Lori Lewis, well known social marketing exec in audio, and Rob Wagman’s Straight Path Media + Marketing have partnered. Not exactly a merger, each is still reachable: lori-at-lorilewismedia.com & straightpathmande-at-gmail.com

Monday, February 22 Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Friday Feb. 19

Posted on by Brad Hill

Jottings of note:

— Spotify webinar

Spotify is promoting its “Stream On” virtual event, Monday Feb. 22 at 11am ET. No registration necessary — just go to http://spotify.com/StreamOn

— Major league rep

Lemonada podcast network, famous for its “Last Day” podcast and others, signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

— Superstudy

Coleman Insights has announced its third annual “Contemporary Music Superstudy.” Results will be publicized in April.

Friday, February 19 Continue Reading →