RAIN Notes: Tuesday, February 8
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Looking Back (Magellan AI)
— Heroic Listeners (Edison research & Ad Results Media)
— Getting Along Great (PRX and Futuro Media)
Edison’s Top 50 U.S. Podcasts 2021: All podcasts eligible; Joe Rogan is #1; and now you can sort it
Edison Research has released its always-interesting Top Podcasts list, this one for all of 2021. (See the bottom of this post.) The Joe Rogan Experience is atop the list, followed by The Daily at #2. Edison’s reckoning of top podcasts is importantly different from Podtrac, Triton Digital, and other machine-based measurements, because no podcast is excluded. Click through for the list, and a link to a nifty interactive version of it. Continue Reading
Canadians, Americans, (and YouTube users) have differing reactions to the Rogan-Spotify controversy
Leaping into the moment, Canadian research firm Signal Hill Insights has produced a survey study of consumer reaction to the controversy swirling around Spotify’s distribution ownership of The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan’s wide-ranging interview show is possibly the most successful podcast in the world. Signal Hill dashed into the field for survey work on February 2 and 3. One fulcrum of opinion lies on the American-Canadian border. Click for findings. Continue Reading
“Don’t do it for the money” — Tom Webster at RAIN Podcast Business Lunch (transcript)
Missed the webinar? Would rather read anyway? Here is the transcript of the inaugural RAIN Podcast Business Lunch, featuring Tom Webster. Continue Reading
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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“You’re Wrong About” wins iHeartRadio Podcast of the Year
In the beautifully produced (virtual only) iHeartRadio Podcast Awards, You’re Wrong About won the Podcast of the Year prize. It is produced by journalist Sarah Marshall, who partners with guests to reconsider a person or event that’s been miscast in the public imagination. Click for competing nominees with their publishers and number of episodes. Also a link to catch-up watch. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Friday, February 4
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Looking Back (Magellan AI)
— Heroic Listeners (Edison research & Ad Results Media)
— Getting Along Great (PRX and Futuro Media)
Spotify crosses 400-million monthly users as revenue grows
While the Joe Rogan controversy appeared to push SPOT stock sharply downward this week, the company’s reported Q4 2021 financials (released earlier this week) draw a less troubled picture with lots of green ink. Click through for a simple breakdown of quarterly and annual comparisons in user growth and revenue growth. Continue Reading
Spotify Q4 earnings: “Our first question today…”
Spotify released quarterly earnings last night. In the investor call, the Q&A session began as many observers probably guessed it would: “Our first question today is going to come from Rich Greenfield on Joe Rogan.” CEO Daniel Ek treated it as a non-emergency, with careful answers. Meanwhile, podcasting contributed to higher gross margins. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, February 2
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Elevation (Triton Digital)
— New Home (Acast)
— Four-parter (Colorado Public Radio)
— Guidance (Apple Podcasts)
Veritonic releases software for analyzing the efficacy of audio
Audio research and analytics platform Veritonic is announcing the release of an API (Application Programming Interface) for accessing the company’s “audio scoring.” In this context “scoring” refers to a proprietary system of grading audio attributes and effectiveness. Those attributes include recall, engagement, and intent. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, January 31
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Becoming (Mark Mulligan; Spotify)
— Drama Detail (Variety & more Spotify)
— Roosting Again (Rooster Teeth & RTX Austin)
— Awards Celebs (iHeartRadio)