Audioburst, an AI-driven audio search and delivery platform, is eager to stream spoken-word audio within mobile apps in categories like fitness, weather, shopping and many others. The company released a study which supports the concept, surveying execs of mobile app companies serving large numbers of daily users. Continue Reading
After a delay to fix widely reported bugs, Apple announces today a firm launch of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, a platform for creators and networks to offer paid listening plans. In most cases, those plans will offer listeners and ad-free experience, and/or unique content not given to non-paying followers. (What will this do to the ongoing confusion of the word “Subscribe” in free podcasts?) Continue Reading
In a continuing follow-up to Friday’s CRB (Copyright Royalty Board) ruling on non-interactive music streaming royalty rates (called Web V), we spoke to Jon Stephenson, CEO of Media Creek, the parent company of webcasting platform Live365. Good planning and a big platform are easing the transition into a new royalty-rate period. Continue Reading
by Jeff Vidler
Guest columnist and Signal Hill Insights President Jeff Vidler identifies three key facts about on-demand content, and speculates about the future. “The audience, not the regulator, is setting the rules.” Continue Reading
by Jeff Vidler
In this valuable column, Signal Hill Insights President Jeff Vidler lays out the six keys to podcast discovery on the creator side. It’s based on survey research conducted as part of the Canadian Podcast Listener 2020. Continue Reading
As the CRB unleashes higher music licensing fees for webcasters, we ask two pioneering and enduring webcasters for their reactions. Rusty Hodge (SomaFM) and Bill Goldsmith (Radio Paradise) gave us insights and wishes for the industry. Should there be a zero-royalty zone? And how will YouTube play in this field? Continue Reading
Delayed five months by Covid, the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) released its new government-regulated royalty rates for the use of recordings on non-interactive streaming. This every-five-year exercise is a crucial business factor for commercial and non-commercial companies which stream music to American audiences. The rate goes up, and minimum payments per channel double. Click for details. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— TV / Podcast (NATPE)
— Talkative Ads (Instreamatic)
— Yikes (The Verge)
Podcast and audio network Audioboom has added two shows to its Audioboom Originals array. The home-grown network swells to 22 podcasts with these additions, many of them personality-driven shows in chat and interview formats. Continue Reading
Audio advertising company Ad Results Media (ARM) has made a significant executive hiring push, with three new VPs and two Directors. Click for details. Continue Reading
Australian radio company Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) announced that its audio listening app LiSTNR hit a record in May: A new record high of 10.9-million active streams were served during the month, a 20% increase year-over-year. That includes live streaming radio, podcasts, music, news, sport, and information. Continue Reading
Digital audio advertising and programmatic platform DAX has signed a multi-year exclusive ad-rep deal with streaming music service AccuRadio. AccuRadio was ranked #10 in Triton Digital’s Streaming Metrics Monthly Ranker for April, and has the highest average TSL (time spent listening) of any Triton-measured streaming entity. Continue Reading