Songtradr, the digital music distribution and synch licensing platform, has hired Virginie Berger in the role of VP, Rights Management. Berger made the announcement on LinkedIn. She will will lead Songtradr’s Rights Administration platform and manage relationships with PROs, CMOs, and other key industry leaders, and will work across Songtradr’s many offices in four continents. Continue Reading
ARN, the Australian media group which manages the iHeartPodcast Network on that continent, released listening numbers that could fairly describe a COVID success story. Podcast tech company Megaphone measured ARN listening from January to mid-March, and compared it to mid-March through June. Several categories, and overall listening, rose during the COVID period.
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Toronto-based TPX (more lengthily known as The Podcast Exchange) is announcing the availability of programmatic podcast advertising. The tech is powered by Triton Digital. While this initiative obviously targetsCanad, TPX’s home market, the PR carefully points out it is for “premium domestic and international podcast publishers.” TPX anticipastes questions about the initiative, and answers important ones in an unusually detailed press release. Continue Reading
In its latest app update, Pandora now offers offline listening to podcasts — in other words, downloading them. We had read that the feature was exclusive to subscribers, of which there are two tiers: Plus, and semi-interactive streaming service, and Premium, a fully interactive audio listening and collection service. We thought this limitation was unusual, and reached out to Pandora for confirmation, which we received. Click through for a perspective.
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After 48 hours of rumors, today we get … well, sort-of confirmation that SiriusXM will acquire Stitcher from E.W.Scripps. The confirmation part is from the Wall Street Journal. The sort-of part is the article’s first sentence: “Sirius XM Holdings Inc. is near a deal to buy E.W. Scripps Co.’s Stitcher.” There is no visible confirmation from Sirius, Stitcher, or Scripps. But, as of this morning, industry-wide assumption is that the deal is all but done … in a “poised to buy” sort of way. This acquisition adds a chapter in the corporate life of each company involved. Continue Reading
If time seems to fly, consider this: A new five-year royalty period (2021-2025) for statutory payments from music streaming services to recorded music owners is approaching. The royalty period and the legal process which precedes it are nicknamed “Web V,” as it will be the fifth such royalty period regulated by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. There might be a delay. Two pieces of news have just been posted in a new Order from the CRB. Continue Reading
Podcast ad-rep firm True Native Media has hired a new VP of National Sponsorships, Laurel Earhart. Earhart comes from Entravision, where she was Senior Director of Sales. The hires come in what founder HeatherOsgood characterizes as an expansive growth period for her company and for podcasting. Continue Reading
There’s not reason why a smart speaker must comply with the traditional stand-alone, single-function design which has made voice assistants famous. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has crowdfunded its way to releasing the Xiao Ai mouse, a smart peripheral does performs all normal mouse-like duties, and is equipped with a microphone and speaker. And smarts. Continue Reading
9to5 Mac sorted through Apple WWDC slides and found one revealing that the company’s smart speaker, HomePod, will open up to allow non-Apple streaming music services. Doing so would represent an important strategic change. Continue Reading
When is less more? Perhaps APM’s marketplace is answering thast question with its new Marketplace Minute audio program, slated for ubiquitous radio/podcast distribution in alliance with Westwood One. The new show is a 60-second audio economic news report distributed nationally on commercial radio, across major podcast platforms and on smart speakers. It is the first time a public media entity has partnered with a commercial audio network to distribute a news product in these formats. Continue Reading
TuneIn has launched a media campaign to build awareness of its listening platform, and emphasize its ubiquity. The clever campaign tagline is “Hear, Here.” TuneIn listening has grown 27% year-over-year. Click through for a video featured in the company’s new marketing. Continue Reading
Podcast creative network Wondery is launching its own listening app, a first for the company. In doing so, wondery gives extra support and a more coherent presentation of the Wondery Plus subscription service, which offers ad-free listening to Wondery shows. Continue Reading