Podcasting

Comprehensive coverage of the podcasting industry and its business ecosystem.

Omny Studio launches secure distribution for private or subscription listening

Posted on by Brad Hill

Through its parent company Triton Digital, Omny Studio announced today the launch of secure distribution of podcasts. Systems like this enable podcasters to separate some content from the main feed. Access to the private content can be regulated by subscription payment or some other premium system. The typical secure distribution model is creating ad-free episodes for paid subscription listening.  Continue Reading →

Brad Smith, CEO Simplecast, joins upcoming RAIN Summit (free registration)

Posted on by Brad Hill

In the wake of SiriusXM’s acquisition of podcast hosting and tech company Simplecast, RAIN is pleased to announce that CEO Brad Smith will speak at the Global Podcast Leadership Summit, a ZOOM event, on July 29. Smith will speak with Anne Frisbie, SVP of Global Supply & Partnerships at ad-tech company AdsWizz, in a session titled The Evolution of Podcast Content: From Creation to Monetization. Continue Reading →

Pocket Casts gets a new CEO: John W. Gibbons

Posted on by Brad Hill

Podcast listening app Pocket Casts has filled the CEO position that was exited by predecessor Owen Grover in march, with the hiring o f John W. Gibbons. Gibbons brings with him more than 20 years of experience in digital media and entertainment with globally recognized brands. Most recently, he served as a Principal at Atom Tickets as well as a strategic advisor to Podchaser and Props Project. Continue Reading →

IAB Podcast Revenue Report: Revenue nears $1B; host reads still dominate

Posted on by Brad Hill

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released its annual Podcast Advertising Revenue Study for 2019. It contains last year’s metrics and projections for full-year 2020. COVID-19 is built into the forecast research. $1B annual revenue is in sight, though projections have slowed down that track. Host-read ads still dominate. So do direct-to-consumer ads. Click through for much more. Continue Reading →

DAX scores exclusive sales for Wondery in Canada

Posted on by Brad Hill

Podcast content network Wondery has appointed DAX as its exclusive advertising partner in Canada, we are learning today. DAX will offer Canadian advertisers spot ads and host-read sponsorship messages. Wondery continues to be enterprisingly international. Although translation is probably not necessary for the Canadian market, wondery has been a pioneer in translating hit shows for non-English speaking audiences in other parts of the world. Continue Reading →

New York Magazine (Vox) hires editorial director for audio: Hanna Rosin

Posted on by Brad Hill

Another legacy media brand dives deeper into podcasting. New York Magazine (a Vox company) hired its first editorial director of audio, Hanna Rosin. A Stanford University alumna, D.C.-based Rosin comes to New York Magazine from The Atlantic and Slate, according to her LinkedIn page, but is probably better known to many as co-host of NPR’s Invisibilia.  Continue Reading →

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Michael Robertson: Is the Spotify Deal With Joe Rogan Illegal?

Posted on by Michael Robertson

by Michael Robertson

This guest contribution by iconic digital audio entrepreneur Michael Robertson digs into the U.S. copyright code and finds a statute which might relate to, and potentially invalidate, Spotify’s exclusive distribution deal with Joe Rogan. Continue Reading →

Podtrac Top Podcast Publishers (June), plus RAIN remix

Posted on by Brad Hill

Podtrac has released the June edition of the measurement company’s Top Podcast Publishers ranker. Many publications make noise about NPR reclaiming the #1 spot from iHeartRadio (and we hereby note it dutifully), but these two podcast powerhouses are separated by a small fraction of the key metric, US Unique Monthly Audience, and they flip back and forth. Click through for the chart, and RAIN’s remix based on per-show averages. Continue Reading →