RAIN Notes: Wednesday, October 4
— In and Out of China (TED)
— Crushing News (Podnews)
— Long-form Advertising (Acast) Continue Reading
News
Spotify unlocks 150,000 audiobooks for free listening, with limits
Today, Spotify announces the unlocking of more than 150,000 titles, making them free to Premium subscribers. But there remains a limitation: 15 hours of listening per month. Users can spread that allotment over an unlimited number of titles — so nibbling is allowed. Click for more. Continue Reading
Acast inks Warner Bros. Discovery for podcast distro / sales
Acast has signed an agreement with Warmer Bros. Discovery to be the exclusive distributor and monetization partner for some of Discovery’s podcasts. Warner Bros. channels involved in this arrangement include Food Network, TLC, HGTV, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, and the Travel Channel. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, October 2
— Awarded (Brisith Podcast Awards)
— Down Under Demos (YouGov)
— Crime Truth (Lava For Good) Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Friday, September 29
— THE Analysis (Adam Bowie)
–Canadian Trends (Triton Digital)
— Explaining (Veritonic) Continue Reading
Evergreen Podcasts partners with Sounder in latest AI collab for ad targeting
Production network Evergreen Podcasts is now partnering with AI-powered intelligence platform Sounder in a strategic partnership that prioritizes brand safety and contextual targeting. The partnership seems to climb aboard a quickly moving train in which AI is leveraged to give advertisers a more crystalline understanding of a podcast’s content, its level of safe language, and other attributes important to advertisers. Continue Reading
Songtradr acquires Bandcamp, promises continuity and new opportunities
Music distribution and licensing company Songtradr has acquired music marketplace and community platform Bandcamp. Bandcamp is owned by interactive entertainment company Epic Games. As announced on the Songtradr blog, it appears that Bandcamp — which provides track and album e-commerce for independent artists — will continue operating, and one important new licensing opportunity will be in play. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, September 28
— Thinking Out Loud (Conde Nast)
— Jobglomerate (The Podglomerate)
— Punchy (Brandy Jingles)
Triton Digital Canada Podcast Ranker (August); 3 new entries; 1 new top-10
Triton Digital released its Canada Podcast Ranker for August, listing the top 100 shows operated by Triton client networks. It shows one new entry in the top 10: 48 Hours (Paramount), entering the list at #10. Interestingly, for the Canada report Triton observes English and French language podcasts, and breaks out the top-3 mini-ranking of both. Click for more and a link to the interactive report. Continue Reading
Spotify gets more social with “Jam” group playlisting
Spotify is raising its social media game with the launch of a new collaborative function called Jam. It’s a group-playlisting feature that builds on the previously released Collaborative Playlist by putting the social activity in realtime, and giving it a phone-touching in-person aspect. Unlike many cautiously incremental launches, Jam is available globally now. Premium users start Jams, then any user can join. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Tuesday, September 26
— Tuning In (TuneIn)
— Scroller Derby (TikTok)
— Driving Forward (SXM Media / Studio Resonate)
Four companies combine to launch Podcast Radio in the U.S.
Podcast Radio, the UK-based non-interactive all-podcast radio outlet, Has announced a major expansion into the U.S. radio market. Four companies worked together to make this initiative a reality. Continue Reading