Kobalt invests in Slipstream, creating synergistic partnership covering the entire music ecosystem

Posted on by Brad Hill

Kobalt, the world’s largest independent music publisher, has acquired an equity stake in leading music licensing company Slipstream. The result is a licensing/content behemoth. The announcement from Slipstream says the deal “brings together complementary technology and expertise to serve the entire music publishing ecosystem, from the world’s top songwriters to brands and creative businesses of all kinds. This significant alliance comes on the heels of Slipstream’s acquisition of Anthem Entertainment earlier this month, also covered by RAIN. Continue Reading →

AM/FM maintains dashboard ubiquity, but not monopoly (Quu)

Posted on by Brad Hill

In-car technology research company Quu has released its 2024 In-Vehicle Visuals Report, examining radio’s place in top-selling new U.S. vehicles. It is also the inaugural year for this study. Staunchly pro-radio Quu states “With so much listening happening in cars, we must identify our strengths and weaknesses.” In addition to study results, we reveal detailed key takeaways from six industry experts. Continue Reading →

Spotify “Super Premium” — hints become expectations for 2025

Posted on by Brad Hill

Spotify, the most popular music streaming service in the world, serving over 100 million tracks to 240 million monthly active users, does not have a high-resolution (“lossless”) audio option. That lack is an unusual lag for a dominant consumer service which leads the industry with many other consumer innovations. The missing piece could be plugged in soon. Continue Reading →

Comedy and conversation lead in AnalyticsIQ study of podcast listening behaviors

Posted on by Brad Hill

The firehose of podcast advertising research brings a new deck from AnalyticsIQ, an Atlanta-based research consultancy. The study is titled Podcast Listening Behaviors, and takes its data from Pew Research Center, Forbes, and the IAB.The report’s thesis hangs on two basic facts: Podcasts have grown in popularity, and that growth is an opportunity for marketers. We dive into the numbers.
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Heather Osgood: Do You Really *NEED* a CTA?

Posted on by Brad Hill

by Heather Osgood

Is call-to-action (CTA) always the best approach to podcast advertising? Not necessarily, and that is the subject of this guest column by Heather Osgood, Founder and CEO of podcast ad-rep company True Native Media. A more nuanced approach is sometimes suggested. And this comes with a reassurance: “The absence of a CTA doesn’t mean the absence of KPIs” (key performance indicators). Click to learn about the power of connection over direct action, and avoiding audience fatigue. Continue Reading →

The 50/50 growth proposition in podcasting (The Podcast Marketing Academy)

Posted on by Brad Hill

The Podcast Marketing Academy (whose manifesto is HERE) has released results of a study conducted in Q1 this year: Podcast Marketing Trends. The field work interviewed 515 respondents, all of them podcasters. That group represents over two billion cumulative downloads and 28,000 produced episodes. The survey is characterized as “sadistically long and detailed.” This is Part 1 of our coverage. Continue Reading →