News 111 - RAIN News

Spotify launches Car Thing: voice controlled, knob-assisted, dashboard-placed, outright challenge to radio and the commute

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Brad Hill

The rumored in-car listening device from Spotify, playfully called Car Thing, has arrived. The voice-controlled, knob-adjusting device is flagrantly designed to push aside both the car radio, the in-car smartphone, and in-dash systems … for Premium subscribers, at least, who get the device free during an introductory period. Click for pics and more.
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AudioUK forms business affairs service to members, benefitting podcast and radio

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Brad Hill

Trade group AudioUK has announced the formation of a business affairs service for the media, entertainment and creative industries, especially the UK podcast and radio production markets. The new services are created in collaboration with Mint & Co. Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Tuesday April 13

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Brad Hill

Jottings of note:

— Reviews for Good (Podchaser)

— Branded Podcast How-to (FieldCast)

— Key Topic (Instreamatic)

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Audioboom gets exclusive distro + monetization of “True Crime Obsessed,” plus dev deal with network

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Brad Hill

Podcast publisher Audioboom is announcing an exclusive distribution and monetization deal for the True Crime Obsessed podcast. In a separate agreement Audioboom will fund the development of new shows in the Obsessed Network. Audioboom stock is … well, booming. Click through to see. Continue Reading →

Marc Maron to receive inaugural Governors Award from The Podcast Academy

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Brad Hill

The Podcast Academy has released its choice to receive the first Governors Award to WTF with Marc Maron, an indie podcast which launched in 2009 as an outgrowth of Maron’s radio career. Click through for details. Continue Reading →

Libsyn adds to acquisition run with podcast monetization platform Glow

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Brad Hill

Another month; another acquisition by hosting network Libsyn. An announcement comes in this morning that Libsyn has acquired Glow, a podcast monetization platform that enables podcasters to create and distribute premium subscription content on any listening platform. Continue Reading →

In splashy ticker relaunch, Audacy rings NYSE opening bell

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Brad Hill

As we reported in detail last week, Entercom rebranded all its corporate entities as Audacy. This morning featured a splashy celebration of the changed stock ticker symbol, as the opening bell of the NYSE was brand-decorated with the orange Audacy logo. Click through for a screenshot and link to video. Continue Reading →

Audioboom chooses MAPP Media for dynamic ad insertion in podcasts

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Brad Hill

Audioboom has partnered with London-based MAPP Media to provide dynamic ad insertion commercials across Audioboom’s 8,000 podcasts. Audioboom serves 25-million unique monthly listeners who download 85-million episodes. The company is bringing MAPP into an existing premium sales enterprise which places bespoke host-read sponsor messages into podcasts. Click through for details. Continue Reading →

RAIN Notes: Thursday, April 8

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Brad Hill

Jottings of note:

— Power Pressing (Blubrry)

— Refreshed (SpokenLayer)

— Selective Culling (Spotify/Rogan)

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Audible appoints book adaptation expert as Head of Audible Studios: Zola Mashariki

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Brad Hill

Newark-based Audible has brought in a Head of Audible Studios from Los Angeles, and it is Zola Mashariki. She comes from stints at Fox Searchlight Pictures, BET, and Good Films, where at each company she held executive content roles. She is a lawyer/executive who has acquired numerous books for crossover production projects. Continue Reading →

Colin Rushing, SoundExchange, honored as Billboard Top Lawyer

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Brad Hill

Colin Rushing, Chief Legal Officer of SoundExchange and RAIN Summit speaker, is honored in Billboard’s release of its Top Music Lawyers 2021. It is the only award in its category (Performing Rights) that relates directly and exclusively to streaming audio. Continue Reading →

TuneIn continues to deploy November investment; markets 20 key job listings

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Brad Hill

As we reported in November, venerable streaming platform TuneIn received investment from Innovation Endeavors. The dollar amount was undisclosed, but the timing conicided with a CEO change, as Richard Sterm went over over from Audible to take the helm. Today we notice the company has unfruled a raft of 20 job listings across different levels, and is self-referring as “a growth-stage company.” Continue Reading →