Opinion & Features

Mark Mulligan: Unintended consequences – the year ahead for streaming

Posted on by Mark Mulligan

by Mark Mulligan

“Streaming may be maturing from a revenue perspective but with two-tier (‘artist centric’) licensing and supremium, 2025 is set to be a year of transformative change in both product and business terms. While each of these initiatives were designed with clear objectives, it is not so much the immediate consequences but the second order consequences that warrant most attention. As is so often the case, it is the unintended knock-on effects of actions that will likely prove to be most impactful, for both the business and culture of music. Here is what some of these may be for two-tier licensing and supremium.” Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein: Podcasts: The Power Behind The Word “Podcast”

Posted on by Steve Goldstein

The definition of “podcast” is changing, but the opportunity may be bigger than ever. In this edition of Steve Goldstein’s guest column, The Amplifi Media Founder/CEO weighs whether podcasting is more of an experience than a platform. At the same time, the term podcasting still matters, though it might need a redefinition. Continue Reading →

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 James Cridland

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 →