In an environment of consolidation, Audioboom waves its flag
Audioboom is promoting its availability as a takeover target, as a bustling era of podcast consolidation has left few large targets behind. Click for details. Continue Reading
News
Megaphone integrates with Headliner; adds new publishers to hosting/monetization platform
We got a note from Megaphone announcing its integration with headliner, a leading service which easily creates video promotions of podcasts for social network promotion. Also, new enterprise clients recently added; one of them is MLB. Continue Reading
Spotify’s eight thousand vaccine-themed playlists, and renaming Locker Room
Spotify will rename its recent acquisition from Locker Room to Spotify Greenroom, expanding its social audio focus beyond sports to music creators and culture subjects. Also, a lot of vaccine playlists. Continue Reading
SiriusXM Q1 earnings: 31M subs, Pandora’s 56M monthly users, stock is steady
In Q1 2021, SiriusXM added 126,000 net subscribers. Revenue grew 5% from a year ago. Net income was $219-million. Company execs answered questions about podcast subscriptions, and Pandora performance. Continue Reading
Spotify redesigns “Your Library” for better sorting and finding personal audio
The last time Spotify meaningfully redesigned the Your Library panel in its mobile app was shortly about a year after the platform began offering podcasts. Today Spotify is announcing a redesigned Your Library mobile app experience to better organize and find content. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday April 29
Jottings of note:
— Back in the Room (CES)
— Planning Ahead (She Podcasts)
— The How of HiRez (WIRED)
Spotify earnings: Modest rise of users, revenue as expected, skidding stock
Spotify (SPOT) released its Q1 earnings this morning, showing strong year-over-year growth and mixed quarter-over-quarter results. Investors sent the stock skidding nearly 10% (at this writing). Click for finance details and graphs showing user distributions.
Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday April 28
Jottings of note:
— Productive Breakage (Integr8 Research)
— Playlisting the Game (iHeartRadio)
— Executive Promotion (LiSTNR)
— The Stoop Steps Up (Radiotopia/PRX)
Instreamatic completes $6.1-million fundraising
Voice dialog marketing company Instreamatic is today announcing the completion of a Series A $6.1-million round of fundraising led by Progress Ventures. The investment money is targeted to product development and increasing the staff. Continue Reading
New CEO at TPX as Jean-Marie Heimrath retires.
Lina Kim, formerly Managing Director at Havas Media Group, takes the CEO role at Toronto-based TPX (The Podcast Exchange) today, as former CEO Jean-Marie Heimrath retires. Heimrath remains on the board. Continue Reading
Riverside.FM raises $9.5-million dollars for product dev and doubling staff in 2021
Tel Aviv-based Riverside.FM, a browser-based recording studio that offers fluent interplay of audio and video, raised $9.5-million in a round led by Alexis Ohanion’s Seven Seven Six. New product features have just been released, and the company plans to double staff from 20 to 40. Click through for details and link to job openings. Continue Reading
Westwood One Podcast Network will rebrand as Cumulus Podcast Network
Cumulus Media-owned Westwood One Podcast Network will rebrand as Cumulus Podcast Network, the change taking place on May 6. Suzanne Grimes, Executive Vice President Corporate Marketing and President, Westwood One, will retain responsibility for the Company’s podcast sales network. The public-facing renaming makes eminent sense. Continue Reading