Comprehensive coverage of the podcasting industry and its business ecosystem.
Acast Creative, a unit of the global podcast company which produces podcast content (shows and/or episodes) for brands, is expanding with a U.S. launch this week. Acast has tapped Shantae Howell as Creative Director of the Americas to lead the team and expand the success of Acast Creative in the U.S. market. Continue Reading
L.A.-based Echoverse, a podcast creation studio specialized in science fiction, supernatural and fantasy audio dramas, is releasing its new portfolio of projects. “It’s been a very busy year,” said Mark Stern, head of the network who owns a long executive resume in SciFi production. Click for show summaries. Continue Reading
Audio industry advocacy group AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) is announcing today its 2021 group of “New Voices” — an annual award and career support program. Each of the 16 honorees will receive personal mentoring and networking opportunities over a five-month period, and a $1,000 stipend. Click for honoree profiles. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has announced a multi-year deal with Sports Illustrated. It includes original podcast production and the formation of Sports Illustrated Studios. iHeartPodcast Network will distribute the new shows, naturally, as well as SI’s existing portfolio. Most of the new shows will be launched in 2022; one new title scheduled for later this year. One of the new audio sports network podcasts will dip its toe into the true crime genre. Continue Reading
In its quarterly survey of podcast listening, Media Monitors determined that iHeartRadio and NPR were the top two podcast publishers in Q2, as in Q1, based on the number of network-owned podcasts cited by survey respondents. Our comparison of the Q1-Q2 results shows much sameness in top networks. Continue Reading
Canadian media company Corus has started distributing its podcast content to radio, via “The Curiouscast Podcast Hour.” The shows are heard weekly on seven Corus radio stations, hosted by Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, director of Streaming and Podcasting. Click for stations and broadcast times. Continue Reading
Crooked Media, the network home of Pod Save America and over 20 other podcasts, has entered a partnership with Acast to unlock international advertising. The deal announcement is focused on Acast’s English-speaking markets: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Continue Reading
Last December the IAB announced that the annual Podcast Upfront showcase to advertisers was shifting to a spring event, to place it closer to the Video Upfronts. That rescheduled event did take place (virtually) in May, but now the IAB announces a fall podcast event as well, on September 9-10, timed with a new research report. Click through for details and confirmed presenters. Continue Reading
Triton Digital released its latest U.S. Podcast Report, a four-week measurement. In the Top 15 Networks portion, Average Weekly Downloads dropped 11% from the previous four-week period. That doesn’t necessarily mean a drop in listening. Click for details and the list. Continue Reading
Automattic, parent company of WordPress has acquired podcast listening app Pocket Casts from NPR and a consortium of public stations. The idea is to integrate a respected audio platform with the world’s dominant blogging platform, which already has text-to-speech capability. Lots of potential and interest here.
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UTA has signed signed podcasting/YouTube stars Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar for talent representation. Additionally, UTA will represent ad sales for the podcast. Continue Reading
In an interesting piece of technology development, Audioboom introduced AdRip, a tool which removes host-read commercials from old episodes, creating a new ad break into which timely marketing can be inserted. The company says that 50% of downloads are from back catalogs. Continue Reading