RAIN Notes: Friday, February 4
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Looking Back (Magellan AI)
— Heroic Listeners (Edison research & Ad Results Media)
— Getting Along Great (PRX and Futuro Media)
News
Spotify crosses 400-million monthly users as revenue grows
While the Joe Rogan controversy appeared to push SPOT stock sharply downward this week, the company’s reported Q4 2021 financials (released earlier this week) draw a less troubled picture with lots of green ink. Click through for a simple breakdown of quarterly and annual comparisons in user growth and revenue growth. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, February 2
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Elevation (Triton Digital)
— New Home (Acast)
— Four-parter (Colorado Public Radio)
— Guidance (Apple Podcasts)
RAIN Notes: Monday, January 31
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Becoming (Mark Mulligan; Spotify)
— Drama Detail (Variety & more Spotify)
— Roosting Again (Rooster Teeth & RTX Austin)
— Awards Celebs (iHeartRadio)
SiriusXM intros AudioID via AdsWizz subsidiary; promises “a new era of identity”
SiriusXM unleashed a press release today — dense and carefully worded — introducing a new SXM Media technology called AudioID on the AdsWizz audio ad tech platform owned by Sirius. The public announcement (read it HERE) promises a new kind of data and personal ID relationship between listeners and marketers, without exactly describing what the changes will be. We dive in. Continue Reading
Neil Young vs. Spotify vs. Joe Rogan: Unclear winners and losers
In a well publicized flare-up, Neil Young hates Joe Rogan and blames Spotify. Young delivered an ultimatum: Ditch Rogan or lose me. Young is gone. It was quick, too, with no reported diplomatic attempts. Click for the continuing narrative.
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RAIN Notes: Thursday, January 27
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Innovating Together Again (SCA)
— Living History (Radiotopia & PRX)
— Sad Passing (Mark Lam)
RAIN Notes: Monday, January 24
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Sound Future (Steve Keller)
— New Shingle (Laura Mayer)
— Nothing More Exciting (John Gibbons)
The Ambies podcast award show scheduled; hosts announced
The Awards for Excellence in Audio, mostly known as The Ambies and produced as the showcase event of The Podcast Academy, is set for March 22. The ceremony will stream live on YouTube and Twitch. The co-hosts are announced, and we glance back at the inaugural ceremony in 2021. Continue Reading
Acast finds a winner in its “Poddnästet” podcast contest; production to begin
We wrote about Acast’s first podcast competition (Poddnästet) in September. Now the company has found a winner based on a submitted idea. Axel Hietanen Ingman will collect a quarter-million Swedish crowns (about $27,000 USD). Ingman is a 26-year-old social worker and amateur musician. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, January 20
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Deux U! … Not a Curse (Cadence13)
— Sky-high Title (Skyview Networks)
— Taking Charge (CBC)
TuneIn On Air launches to benefit small and non-profit broadcasters
TuneIn has opened its powerful platform distribution to small broadcasters, specifically educational and non-profit broadcasters, according to an announcement sent to RAIN. The idea is to give the same distribution tools that major broadcasters have to an underserved slice of the audio ecosystem. Click for details, including price. Continue Reading