Spotify is putting its podcasting initiative more in the public eye with the launch of top-100 charts on a public website. Interestingly, Spotify has developed a Top Episodes chart for the USA. We poked around the new product, and reached out to Chartable CEO Dave Zohrob for his view. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— Seriously (Podcasting Seriously Award Fund)
— A Squad (She Podcasts)
— A Startup Guide (NPR)
The rumored in-car listening device from Spotify, playfully called Car Thing, has arrived. The voice-controlled, knob-adjusting device is flagrantly designed to push aside both the car radio, the in-car smartphone, and in-dash systems … for Premium subscribers, at least, who get the device free during an introductory period. Click for pics and more.
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Trade group AudioUK has announced the formation of a business affairs service for the media, entertainment and creative industries, especially the UK podcast and radio production markets. The new services are created in collaboration with Mint & Co. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— Reviews for Good (Podchaser)
— Branded Podcast How-to (FieldCast)
— Key Topic (Instreamatic)
Podcast publisher Audioboom is announcing an exclusive distribution and monetization deal for the True Crime Obsessed podcast. In a separate agreement Audioboom will fund the development of new shows in the Obsessed Network. Audioboom stock is … well, booming. Click through to see. Continue Reading
The Podcast Academy has released its choice to receive the first Governors Award to WTF with Marc Maron, an indie podcast which launched in 2009 as an outgrowth of Maron’s radio career. Click through for details. Continue Reading
Another month; another acquisition by hosting network Libsyn. An announcement comes in this morning that Libsyn has acquired Glow, a podcast monetization platform that enables podcasters to create and distribute premium subscription content on any listening platform. Continue Reading
As we reported in detail last week, Entercom rebranded all its corporate entities as Audacy. This morning featured a splashy celebration of the changed stock ticker symbol, as the opening bell of the NYSE was brand-decorated with the orange Audacy logo. Click through for a screenshot and link to video. Continue Reading
Audioboom has partnered with London-based MAPP Media to provide dynamic ad insertion commercials across Audioboom’s 8,000 podcasts. Audioboom serves 25-million unique monthly listeners who download 85-million episodes. The company is bringing MAPP into an existing premium sales enterprise which places bespoke host-read sponsor messages into podcasts. Click through for details. Continue Reading
Jottings of note:
— Power Pressing (Blubrry)
— Refreshed (SpokenLayer)
— Selective Culling (Spotify/Rogan)
Newark-based Audible has brought in a Head of Audible Studios from Los Angeles, and it is Zola Mashariki. She comes from stints at Fox Searchlight Pictures, BET, and Good Films, where at each company she held executive content roles. She is a lawyer/executive who has acquired numerous books for crossover production projects. Continue Reading