RAIN Notes: Thursday, January 13
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Emphasis on Building (iHeartMedia)
— ReminiSNL (Cadence13)
— A Back Catalog for the Ages (The Kitchen Sisters)
News
Unbounce acquires LeadsRx, sharpening its marketing attribution service across audio channels
Conversion intelligence platform Unbounce has bought LeadsRx, a marketing analytics software and service company founded in 2015. LeadsRx operates with a focus on digital, radio, podcasts, streaming services, and TV. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia plants a stake in the meta era with VR and tokenization plans
In what Chairman/CEO Bob Pittman calls “a unique opportunity,” and Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne calls “the incredible potential of web3,” iHeartMedia announced its intention to develop “meta” experiences on the Roblox platform. There is an emphasis on tokenized communities — click through for more on that. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, January 12
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— AI in NYC (veritonic)
— Dewing It (AdLarge)
— Owning the Fail (DAX)
— Turning the Wheel (Larry Linietsky)
National Aircheck adds granular podcast search to its radio/audio monitoring service
Audio monitoring and verification service National Aircheck has evolved its traditionally radio-oriented technology, adding podcasts to its existing capability of searching tens of thousands of radio stations. Interesting customizations are available. Also, the website is new. Continue Reading
Acast highlights podcasters’ first recorded words in new marketing campaign
Podcast platform Acast is launching an interesting new ad campaign for its services, and is keying it to “First Words” — the literal first words uttered on some of the biggest shows in its network of 35,000 podcasts. Also featured — video interviews with well known podcasters, challenging them to recall their first words. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Tuesday, January 11
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— iHeartSafety (iHeartRadio)
— Peer Power (Sports Podcast Awards)
— Takin’ the Lead (Somethin’ Else)
AdLarge joins with G Networks for “ad sales powerhouse”
AdLarge is announcing today an audio ad sales partnership with G Networks, a content, marketing, and sales company. In the arrangement, AdLarge will oversee the management, sales, and fulfillment of the network audio ad sales inventory for both companies. G Networks will continue to offer its programming and services through their existing affiliations team to radio stations across the U.S. Continue Reading
Google loses patent suit vs Sonos, downgrades Nest features for speaker groups
A patent lawsuit pertained to Sonos controls of speaker groups, and Google lost all five counts of infringement that Sonos bought against the company’s Nest speaker technology — smart speakers which embody the Google Assistant artificial intelligence. Rather than pay royalties to Sonos, Google is downgrading a certain cluster of features in its smart speakers. Users aren’t thrilled. Click for details. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, January 10
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Dream Destination (E.B. Moss)
— Robot Reveries (Shawn Cole)
— Sourcing Antiquity (PRX)
RAIN Notes: Friday, January 7
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— All About Production (Benztown)
— A New Role (Acast)
— Sounds of CES (Popsci)
Spotify intros interactive call-to-action cards for podcast advertisers, reducing reliance on discount codes
Spotify is hoping a new podcast advertiser product — call-to-action cards — will bring interactivity to podcast sponsorship, allow listeners to easily pursue advertised offers, and double the benefit of podcast advertising to companies which offer products directly to consumers. The cards exited a testing period into formal launch today. Continue Reading