Acast goes public
Podcast hosting, content, and advertising company Acast has launched its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq North Premier Growth Market. Co-founder Johan Billgren made the announcement. Continue Reading
Nearly half of Americans subscribe to paid audio (Edison Research)
Edison Research has released a research nibble from the company’s ongoing Share of Ear consumer research, as it does from time to time. This one is a measure of Americans’ keenness to pay for audio via subscription. That number has more than doubled since 2015. Click for details and a prediction. Continue Reading
Sean Rameswaram promoted to greater scope in Vox audio
This is Sean Rameswaram, host of the news podcast Today, Explained, explaining his promotion: ““Eight hundred episodes in, I couldn’t be more thrilled to have finally been promoted to co-host of Today, Explained.” That was tongue-in-cheek, and there is more to the announcement. Continue Reading
“Call Her Daddy” exits Barstool Sports for Spotify-exclusive deal ($60M)
“You wanna know who we’re crawling into bed with this time? […] We are now officially in an exclusive relationship with Spotify.” –Alex Cooper’s in-character announcement of a buyout deal with Spotify. The high-rated show will be exclusive starting July 14. Continue Reading
Employees want to hear podcasts — from their bosses.
A 2021 Kantar study of American employees found that 83% of respondents are interesting in getting company news via podcasts, and 78% would like to hear from company leadership via internal podcasts. An appetite for work-specific audio is the impetus behind FieldCast — which supported the Kantar research — a full-service platform for private enterprise podcasting. Continue Reading
Soundtracking your favorite app: Audioburst releases a support study
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 delay, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions launches today
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
“We were not surprised.” Jon Stephenson, head of Live365, on the new CRB royalty rates
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
Jeff Vidler: Where Is the Growth of On-demand Content Leading Us?
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
Jeff Vidler: One in Two Million: How Listeners Discover New Podcasts
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
“A higher barrier to entry.” “Will they double again in 5 years?” Two renowned webcasters share CRB reactions.
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
Copyright Royalty Board unleashes new royalty rates for internet radio and streaming music
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