From SVP Dominick Milano we receive news that Targetspot-owned Winamp, the iconic desktop audio player which arguably started the MP3 revolution, will auction an original NFT of its first “skin” — the app’s appearance in 1997. Proceeds from this effort, and future auctions, will go into a new Winamp Foundation which will collect money to help musicians around the world. Continue Reading
Publicly traded podcast hosting, advertising, and technology company Libsyn has raised $4.75-million dollars in equity financing led by Camac Partners. Camac describes its investments as “long-term in nature” lasting “decades rather than months or years.” Continue Reading
A leadership change in iHeartMedia-owned ad tech company Triton Digital has co-founder Neal Schore stepping aside, and John Rosso stepping up as President and CEO. Rosso was previously President of Market Development. Continue Reading
Public media organization PRX today announced a podcast streaming partnership with Sensical, a relatively new free streaming service from Common Sense Networks. Sensical debuted in June of last year, and launched its podcast slate in December. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Smart v2.0 (APM)
— ‘Tis the Season (Edison Research)
— Following the Followers (Rephonic)
Podcast hosting/tech company Libsyn today released plans for illuminating and amplifying the voices of women in podcasting, as part of Women’s History Month. The company calls its initiative a social movement. It’s a three-part grassroots effort to shine spotlights on women in the field. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Programmatic Need (Heather Osgood)
— Q&A (Francis Currie)
— New Drops (CNN)
Macmillan, the only Big 5 book publisher with its own podcast networks, will partner with kids podcast company Pinna to publish books based on the Pinna original podcast Quentin & Alfie’s ABC Adventures. This interesting partnership leverages Macmillan’s crossover expertise between books and podcasts. Also interesting inasmuch as the deal represents a rare directional crossover of podcast to book. Continue Reading
Triton Digital released a demonstration of its new Demo+ service, releasing a brief study of what podcasts are favored by female listeners (18+ in the U.S.). The study is doubly interesting, not just for the results but also for the methodology. Click for details. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— DAnxIety (Digiday)
— Celebration (iHeartRadio)
— Deep Identity (CMO)
Amazon has launched Amp, a social audio platform with an interesting focus on building music shows. While early reports compare Amp to Clubhouse, Amazon’s promotional emphasis is on building interactive music shows, something like live, interactive radio. It also takes a stab at Spotify Shows. Continue Reading
Digital media outlet BuzzFeed wants a footprint in podcasting, and is partnering with Acast to get it done. The project will live in the BuzzFeed Studios imprint, and the plan is to lift off with six initial shows. Acast will launch and distribute the shows, and provide production assistance. Acast is even pre-credited for “creative direction,” interestingly. Continue Reading