Transcript: Heather Osgood at Podcast Business Lunch: “We have to go to programmatic”

Heather Osgood, Founder and CEO of podcast ad-rep company True Native Media, joins Brad Hill for the RAIN Podcast Business Lunch. The conversation roams across the needs and expectations of podcast advertisers, both new and experienced, and how podcasters deliver to those needs. Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Shortwave radio: who owns the receivers?

by James Cridland

An English-language Russian radio station is taken off the air. So was Echo of Moscow — and a journalist from that station was asked about what’s next. James also shows off a speaker badge from a Ukraine event at which he spoke. And a detailed review of shortwave radio. And more — among the news items: Union Jack Radio in the UK has closed.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Emergency broadcasting, radio’s market share, and the launch of Alfred

by James Cridland

James maintains his column schedule even as his home town of Brisbane (Australia) is flooded with nonstop rain. He tuned into radio during this time of weather emergency, and has things to say about public network ABC — “a good calming listen” (especially as the studio had to be evacuated). Then, his traditional linkfest, including a graph showing U.S. radio ad revenue market share. Continue Reading

Steve Goldstein: This Undeniable Trend Should Frighten Every Talk Radio Station

by Steve Goldstein

In the latest guest column from Steve Goldstein, he cites Edison Research indicating that spoken word’s share of all audio listening continues to rise. That’s good news, according to Steve, but the breakdown is troubling for talk radio stations. “Talk radio needs to think beyond the transmitter.” Click through for more metrics and graphics. Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The curious case of the radio station that broke peoples’ cars

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, an HD Radio debacle that breaks receivers in some Mazda cars, which cost $1,500 each to replace, but Mazda is offering a free replacement because apparently the problem is with Mazda, although one Seattle radio station seems to have started it all, and anyway, no receivers are available. Whew … and there’s much more here, including Absolute Radio giving a station to a listener.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The end of open, as audio goes exclusive

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James laments two business moves that restrict access to audio. The BBC will “window” some of its podcasts into the BBC Sounds app — a maneuver which James calls “another disappointing move from a broadcaster that should be widening its potential audience, not limiting it.” Also, Bauer Media plans to remove its radio stations from TuneIn. Other media groups in Europe don’t escape James’s withering gaze. But later, the BBC is redeemed with an audio piece which is “sublimely excellent.” And much more in this generous column.
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James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Is no news good news? And: funding the BBC

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James considers the length of news bulletins, citing examples from Radio 2 and other outlets. Upshot: Radio news has changed more than the style of news bulletins. Then — how to fund the BBC. Also, the demise of the Audio Content Fund. And more. Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: The BBC’s fight against stupid

by James Cridland

James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James utters a phrase never before seen in this space: “dangerously dim-witted oxygen-thieves.” The word “stupid” appears too many times to count. It’s a bracingly frank argument on behalf of the BBC, in an argument with the UK government. Then, after a deep breath, a dozen links to interesting news items and columns. Continue Reading

Steve Goldstein: Ask These 9 Questions to Determine Whether Your Business Should Have a Branded Podcast

by Steve Goldstein

Guest columnist Steve Goldstein follows up yesterday’s exploration of why so many branded podcasts fail. Today, a checklist to determine whether your company, or any company, should have a branded podcast. One of them: “Can you think of 10 episode topics?” Continue Reading

Jeff Vidler: How Can the Podcast Industry Best Manage the Ad Revenue Boom?

by Jeff Vidler
In his latest guest column, Jeff Vidler contemplates U.S. ad spend on podcasting has nearly doubled every two years since 2015. Listeners are receptive. The blend of advertisers is changing, and so are ad types. The highly successful host-read ad is difficult to scale. As podcasting steers toward programmatic, Jeff examines new formats and campaign types. Continue Reading