Interviews with, and contributions from, the most perceptive voices in the online audio industry.
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 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
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 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 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 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
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
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, how Spotify is eating into AM/FM listening — data is from Morgan Stanley. Also: The BBC in the pandemic. AM radio declining in Europe. Collectors of radio station beers. And much more. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James enthuses about the first Infinite Dial UK released by Edison Research. Also, the all-podcast radio format has been dropped from two iHeartMedia stations after “dismal audience figures,” DAB in Brisbane, and how BBC Radio 4 dropped off the air. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James anticipates The Infinite Dial UK study from Edison Research, set to be presented this week in London. Also, fun history about CBS Mystery Theater, and a great documentary. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James examines The Spoken Word Audio Report, produced by Edison Research with support from NPR. Speaking words is where radio should excel in the future, according to this perspective: “Radio’s unique selling proposition – the thing radio does that nobody else does – is the human being. Not the music; we can get that everywhere.” Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with an epic edition of his weekly column, starting with new research spanning survey respondents in Australia, Europe, and the U.S. — 80% of them really like radio to other listening experiences in the car. Then, a big radio acquisition in Brisbane. Much more, including a “youthquake.” Continue Reading