RAIN Notes: Tuesday, March 8
Jottings of Note
— DAnxIety (Digiday)
— Celebration (iHeartRadio)
— Deep Identity (CMO)
News
Amazon launches Amp, a social audio / music show competitor to Clubhouse and Spotify Shows
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
BuzzFeed partners with Acast to launch podcast network
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
Audience shows big gains (Podtrac) and RAIN Remix of February Top Publishers ranker
In Podtrac’s Top Podcast Publishers monthly ranker for February we learn that podcast audience growth has enjoyed a strong upswing, as represented by Podtrac’s top 20 publishers. (Podtrac measures its clients.) Click through for the results, and RAIN’s remix, which re-sorts the top publishers by average listeners and plays per show. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, March 3
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— True Lyme (Eve Bishop)
— Withdrawal Symptoms (Podshape)
— The Entirety (Conal Byrne)
Audioboom Studios expands portfolio with three new podcasts
Audioboom launched its creative division, Audioboom Studios, last October. Recently three shows were added to its production schedule — two in the True Crime category, and one which sounds like a crossover dating/cooking show. Details in the post. Continue Reading
“Audio is the most powerful way of communicating”: Notes from Veritonic Audio Intelligence Summit
RAIN News dropped in for the Veritonic Audio Intelligence Summit in Manhattan yesterday. In the “Second Story” space of the Kimpton Hotel Eventi, a Covid-vaxxed and tested audience of audio industry professionals gathered to attend a series of presentations which evangelized and explained how audio branding is made and tested, and how it can define brand identity. A key presentation was about sonic diversity. Then there was Tostitos. Continue Reading
“A radical opportunity to democratize audio” Kerri Hoffman at RAIN Podcast Business Lunch (transcript)
Kathy Doyle, VP of Content Development at Macmillan Publishers, appeared on RAIN’s Podcast Business Lunch to discuss the business details of the only podcast network with a “Big 5” book publishers. This is the transcript. Continue Reading
LinkedIn launches podcast network, “The Voices at the Heart of Professional Conversation”
Business shows fill a big category in podcasting, and it makes sense that the venerable B2B social network LinkedIn would develop a brand of business shows. It has, with a nascent network of 12 shows to date. Verizon is the overall sponsor of the entire group. Continue Reading
Libsyn launches online podcast production studio, leveraging its Auxbus acquisition
Venerable podcast hosting and advertising company Libsyn has launched Libsyn Studio Beta, an early version of a cloud based A-to-Z production suite. It is an outgrowth of Auxbus, which Libsyn acquired a year ago. Continue Reading
Hot Pod Summit brings podcasters and businesses together in Brooklyn
RAIN News attended the Hot Pod Summit at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn yesterday, a Covid-vaccinated gathering which, to some attendees we spoke to, signaled a hopeful return to in-person business gatherings. In a charming urban-rustic setting at the Wythe, an estimated 200 attendees mostly represented the creative community of podcasting. At the same time we saw many industry pros from the network and technology sides. Click through for details. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, February 24
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Starring role (a16z)
— Money to Burn (Fireside)
— Crossover (Amazon/Wondery)