RAIN Notes: Friday, March 12
Jottings of note:
— Will Page’s new book
— The Podcast Academy rebrands
— New leadership for vCreative
— AdLarge promotions Continue Reading
Infinite Dial: Pandora is more recognized, but Spotify is more used
In a peculiar perception vs. reality quirk, more Americans recognize the Pandora name than any other online audio brand, but Spotify is the online audio brand used more often. Click through for graphic illustrations. Also — how does smart-speaker ownership affect which audio service Americans listen to? Continue Reading
Infinite Dial: Older types of listening rule the road as 80% of cars still lack modern in-dash entertainment systems
While listening trends are changeable on the whole, American in-car listening routines are decidedly un-modern. AM/FM radio, owned music files, and CDs are the most-used sources. Online streaming and podcasts are making gains, hampered by an 80% lack of in-dash entertainment systems in the American car fleet.
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Infinite Dial: Podcasting shows continued growth … and still plenty of upside
The “early innings” meme expressed by many leaders of podcast publishing and advertising appears proved out in the 2021 edition of The Infinite Dial 2021. Weekly podcast listening is up year-over-year … but with a long way to grow. Continue Reading
Infinite Dial: Online audio listening stabilizes; about two-thirds of Americans are in
After 19 years of eager growth, listening to online audio among Americans has settled for three years at about two-thirds of the 12+ population. To be precise, 68% in the just-released Infinite Dial 2021. The number skews to younger ages. Continue Reading
Infinite Dial: One-third of Americans own a smart speaker; higher for WFH; multiples increase
In today’s The Infinite Dial 2021, smart speakers received a share of attention. A third of Americans own at least one smart speaker. Perhaps unsurprisingly, survey respondents who work at home registered a greater percentage of ownership. Also, multiple-speaker ownership is steadily growing. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein: Is the Word “Subscribe” Really Going Away From Podcasting?
by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein ruminates on the possible podcast-industry-wide switch from “Subscribe” to “Follow.” He cheers Apple for announcing the switch, but wonders: “Have we seen the last of the term “subscribe” as it relates to podcasts?”
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Podchaser makes double acquisiton: Podcharts and Podrover
Podchaser, a database of podcasting which could be compared to IMDb for movies, is announcing a double acquisition of Podcharts and Podrover. (Illustrating that “pod” is overused by startups.) Continue Reading
Entercom buys indie marketplace Podcorn, adding to podcast holdings
Entercom, the second biggest commercial U.S. radio group, has bought Podcorn, a marketplace which connects indie podcasts with advertisers and agencies. With this acquisition Entercom adds to its podcast holdings which include Cadence13 and Pineapple Street Studios. Entercom hopes to identify talented podcasters deserving of bigger spotlights. Continue Reading
As Acast considers IPO, a release of 2020 insights: Large annual growth in plays, audience, and brand advertising
Acast has released a review of 2020 metrics revealing year-over-year growth metrics and the company’s current global footprint. At the same time, the company sent us a notice of a Board review of “potential strategic and financial initiatives.” Click through for U.S. and global year-over-year listening and audience reach metrics, and growth of programmatic advertising and branded content. Continue Reading
NPM President/CEO Gina Garrubbo elected as Chair of IAB Board
Gina Garrubbo, President/CEO of National Public Media, and RAIN Summit speaker, has been elected as Board Chair at the IAB. She has served as the IAB Board’s Vice Chair since August 2020 and as the Co-Chair of the IAB Audio Committee since 2017. Garrubbo’s placement atop the Board puts an eminent audio executive in the top seat of the trade group which represents digital advertising across all media categories. Continue Reading
ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network (Australia) doubles downloads in year-over-year report
Australian broadcast and audio company ARN has released a metrics report after one year of managing the Australian franchise of iHeartPodcast Network. The headline brag point: Downloads doubled. Some categories outperformed. Click through for insights and a month-by-month graphic. Continue Reading