RAIN Notes: Wednesday, January 12
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— AI in NYC (veritonic)
— Dewing It (AdLarge)
— Owning the Fail (DAX)
— Turning the Wheel (Larry Linietsky)
National Aircheck adds granular podcast search to its radio/audio monitoring service
Audio monitoring and verification service National Aircheck has evolved its traditionally radio-oriented technology, adding podcasts to its existing capability of searching tens of thousands of radio stations. Interesting customizations are available. Also, the website is new. Continue Reading
Spotify unplugs in-house podcast studio in wake of Pod City opening in L.A.
In a widely cited article, The Verge reported that Spotify shut down its in-house founding podcast studio, internally called Studio 4 and publicly named Spotify Studios. While there is no reported connection, we observe that ending Studio 4 comes less than a month folloing the opening of Pod City, Spotify’s plush and elaborate podcast production facility in downtown L.A. Continue Reading
Acast highlights podcasters’ first recorded words in new marketing campaign
Podcast platform Acast is launching an interesting new ad campaign for its services, and is keying it to “First Words” — the literal first words uttered on some of the biggest shows in its network of 35,000 podcasts. Also featured — video interviews with well known podcasters, challenging them to recall their first words. Continue Reading
PRX gets distro/sponsorship agreements with Magnificent Noise, WaitWhat, and Skeptoid Media
PRX has evidently been busy making deals, and today released three of them. The public media organization is partnering with Magnificent Noise, WaitWhat, and Skeptoid Media to distribute selected podcasts, and provide sponsorship and promotional support. Click for details. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Tuesday, January 11
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— iHeartSafety (iHeartRadio)
— Peer Power (Sports Podcast Awards)
— Takin’ the Lead (Somethin’ Else)
AdLarge joins with G Networks for “ad sales powerhouse”
AdLarge is announcing today an audio ad sales partnership with G Networks, a content, marketing, and sales company. In the arrangement, AdLarge will oversee the management, sales, and fulfillment of the network audio ad sales inventory for both companies. G Networks will continue to offer its programming and services through their existing affiliations team to radio stations across the U.S. Continue Reading
Google loses patent suit vs Sonos, downgrades Nest features for speaker groups
A patent lawsuit pertained to Sonos controls of speaker groups, and Google lost all five counts of infringement that Sonos bought against the company’s Nest speaker technology — smart speakers which embody the Google Assistant artificial intelligence. Rather than pay royalties to Sonos, Google is downgrading a certain cluster of features in its smart speakers. Users aren’t thrilled. Click for details. Continue Reading
Audioboom 2021: Triple-digit revenue growth outpaced projections
Audioboom released its 2021 annual finance report this morning, containing ready-made headlines for promoting the company’s recent success. Click through for lots of numbers and 2022 forecasts. Continue Reading
Podcasters now have a large catalog of (very old) music to legally use
Before this year, no music recording has ever resided in the public domain under U.S. federal copyright law. As of January 1 the situation has changed: Any recording made before 1923 is in the public domain now, and can be freely used. Not much practical application for podcasters, admittedly. But 400,000 records released to free use is a blockbuster milestone in music copyright, and a fascinating trove. Click through for collections that anyone can explore. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, January 10
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Dream Destination (E.B. Moss)
— Robot Reveries (Shawn Cole)
— Sourcing Antiquity (PRX)
RAIN Notes: Friday, January 7
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— All About Production (Benztown)
— A New Role (Acast)
— Sounds of CES (Popsci)