Opinion & Features

0

Steve Goldstein: Podcasts: It’s Not One Thing Or The Other

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

A key metric: 85% of podcast consumers say a podcast can be audio or video. That number has been growing for years. In this edition of Steve Goldstein’s guest column, we learn that 77% of podcast listeners alternate between video and audio. “Video is a significant and growing force, especially with younger audiences.” And YouTube dominates podcast discovery. But there is a head-snapping surprise in this piece, and it’s about smart TV consumption. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: How Podcasting Reaches $5 Billion

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

In his latest guest column, Steve Goldstein interviews Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer of Cumulus Media. It is a deeply detailed conversation, the thrust of which is how to grow the podcast category to its next major revenue level, 2.5 times more lucrative than its current position in the online audio advertising realm. The questions ask for details, and Bouvard is a fount of expertise. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio in the car: and bad software

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James Cridland buys a new car and reports on its audio features — especially the radio tuner. DAB is there, and FM, but no AM at all. Not a crisis, he observes, because AM is simulcast on DAB. But there is unfavorable UX in other ways, and the screen fail one usability test after another. All this while James is at the 14th Atelier Radiophonique Romand in Switzerland, listening to Tomas Granryd discuss the EBU’s Connected Car Playbook. Swinging over to a review of that document, James finds a mix of great ideas and self-serving ones. As always, an interesting read. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: The Ups and Downs of Audio in 2024

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

In his latest guest column, Amplifi Media chief Steve Goldstein dishes a year-end review of podcasting in 2024. From the election to YouTube’s ravenous appetite. From Spotify’s envy to radio companies on edge. From public radio’s erosion to Sirius XM’s pivot. From subscriptions to audiobooks. This is a year-end must-read. Settle in. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Should Podcasters Worry About Google’s AI NotebookLM?

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

In his latest guest column, Amplifi Media chief Steve Goldstein tries out Google’s new NotebookLM AI tool, and shares the AI-generated audio. He calls it impressive, jaw-dropping, exciting, weird, and unsettling. We agree. Steve also pulls back from the amazement of it, reassuringly to human podcasters. In the past, we have called out some of Steve’s columns as “must read.” This one is on a higher level of must read … and listen. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio advertising: your winners and duds

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James unearths an old print ad for two Australian radio stations, and puzzles over a few conundrums. “There’s a lot to unpack from this press ad over thirty years later.” ALSO: A study from Audacy, an amazing face\t about Star Wars, the BBC applying for funds, James’ visit to the Pacific island of Niue, and more. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Steve Pratt — How to Earn & Keep Attention

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

Recently we covered the release of Steve Pratt’s newly published book, Earn it: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers. Here, guest columnist Steve Goldstein interviews Pratt about verified listening as a key statistic, “Tik Tok brain,” surpassing mediocrity, the difference between attention and retention, the multi-platform challenge, the pressure to create at volume, and focusing on underserved audiences.Lots of gems in this one. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: DAB means even more new stations

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James shares takeaways from the recent Radiodays Asia and Podcast Day Asia conferences. He brings back intel about the DAB digital radio format, which he reports is gaining interest in Asian countries. And James evangelizes the format, saying it offers a surprising amount of new choice for broadcasters, which helps draw new listeners. UK radio group Global announced twelve new stations. ALSO: a wide range of observations and news from Europe, Australia, and Connecticut. It’s not called International for nothing. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Key Takeaways from ‘A View from the Top’

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

In his latest column, guest contributor and Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein transcribes an industry discussion he moderated at the recently concluded POdcast Movement conference. The high-IQ panel comprised Ross Adams (CEO, Acast), Dan Misener (Co-founder, Bumper Media,) Andrew Mason (Founder/CEO, Descript) Elsie Escobar (Director of Community and Content, Libsyn), and Farid Haji (Senior Director – Partnership, The Roost Podcast Network). Key takeaways here include video importance, multi-platform strategies, engagement vs. reach, the evolution of monetization, AI, changing audience dynamics, and future opportunities. Without question a must-read, even for those who attended the session. Continue Reading →