RAIN Notes: February 18
— Who Needs a Rest? (Start Here podcast)
— Words and Cars (Jacobs Media)
— Commitment (Jack Myers)
News
The Podcast Academy announces nominees for 5th annual Ambies
The Podcast Academy, which produces the annual Ambies podcast awards, has released nominees for the 2025 celebration. Click for ceremony details and the top nominees. Continue Reading
ABC expands “Start Here” podcast to 7-day schedule; now also a radio show
ABC’s morning News podcast Start Here will expand its weekday schedule into the weekend. In the second part of a double announcement, the show will be syndicated to the ABC News Radio syndicates. Click for details. Continue Reading
Smilestone: Acast’s full-year profitability
Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, is blasting out celebratory vibes over a milestone: Full-year profitability for 2024. This first-ever announcement comes on the heels of Acast’s profitable Q4 release. Click for the CEO’s video announcement and details. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: February 11
Podcast producer Red Seat Ventures acquired by Fox
In a significant claim to podcast credibility, and reclaiming of star affiliations, Fox Corp. has acquired Red Seat Ventures, an audio and video producer with a specialty in podcasting. The deal reclaims two former Fox stars. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: February 10
The many shades of podcast advertising (Ad Results Media)
Measurability of podcast advertising has been a hurdle for buyers and sellers across the entire life of the category. Despite many meaningful advances in campaign measurement across the decades of audience growth, efforts to educate and reassure buyers are often part of agency promotions. A new study from podcast advertising agency Ad Results Media is both informational and tutorial, per that company’s defining style. Click for details and the download link. Continue Reading
Podcasts paying off at Google/Alphabet, and Q4 earnings
In this week’s lengthy Q4 earnings call, the word “podcast” was mentioned six times: Three times each by Sudar Pichai (CEO, Google and Alphabet) and Philipp Schindler (Chief Business Officer, Google). Click for those details, and the financial rundown. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: February 6
— Continuing Self-Reinvention (Universal Music Group)
— The Enduring Top 3 (Edison Research)
— — Head First (Dane Cardiel)
Steve Goldstein: AI Slop is Everywhere – and it’s getting worse
Guest columnist Steve Goldstein concentrates his latest article on “AI slop” — low-quality, generic, or soulless AI-generated content that clutters the digital space. Many AI products and enhancements feel like solutions in search of a problem. Yes, “AI” moves markets, but at what cost? Steve dives deep in his analysis of AI content, consumer reaction to it, and — crucially — five types of damage from sonic slop. A must-read. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: February 3
— Closing the (Audio)book, Spotify Prevails in Lawsuit Defense (Spotify)
— Nominations Welcome (Women’s Podcasters Awards)
— Onward and Upward (PQ Media) Continue Reading