A weekly column from the preeminent Radio Futurologist. THIS WEEK: How the BBC produced during coronavirus. How is Beats 1 doing? Ten best music radio stations. Radio recovery. Podcast promoter chat. And much more! Continue Reading
PRX, Google’s partner in the Google Podcasts creator program, is announcing a new year of the accelerator, training, and funding program that was first formed in October, 2018. The program’s mission is to provide a global audio community with open resources, empower underrepresented voices, and showcase new work. The 2020 focus differs from 2019. Continue Reading
Entercom-owned Cadence13 is distributing an announcement of a new production segment called C13 Features — a podcast studio for single-episode, movie-length, original fiction audio shows. The company says each production will be “similar to a movie arc, creatively produced and developed for the theater of the mind.” Endeavor Content has an exclusive development role in the venture. Continue Reading
9to5 Mac sorted through Apple WWDC slides and found one revealing that the company’s smart speaker, HomePod, will open up to allow non-Apple streaming music services. Doing so would represent an important strategic change. Continue Reading
When is less more? Perhaps APM’s marketplace is answering thast question with its new Marketplace Minute audio program, slated for ubiquitous radio/podcast distribution in alliance with Westwood One. The new show is a 60-second audio economic news report distributed nationally on commercial radio, across major podcast platforms and on smart speakers. It is the first time a public media entity has partnered with a commercial audio network to distribute a news product in these formats. Continue Reading
Pod Drop features new and returning podcasts. Today: modern skeptical sprituality in Unholier Than Thou, storytelling and laughs in Good Yarns, Hip Hop meets politics in Waiting on Reparations. Continue Reading
TuneIn has launched a media campaign to build awareness of its listening platform, and emphasize its ubiquity. The clever campaign tagline is “Hear, Here.” TuneIn listening has grown 27% year-over-year. Click through for a video featured in the company’s new marketing. Continue Reading
Podcast creative network Wondery is launching its own listening app, a first for the company. In doing so, wondery gives extra support and a more coherent presentation of the Wondery Plus subscription service, which offers ad-free listening to Wondery shows. Continue Reading
In its annual WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) yesterday, Apple set expectations for a new version of Apple Podcasts, by most measures the top podcast distribution platform. The app will offer podcast suggestions based on previous listening as interpreted by the app’s AI. Continue Reading
Edison Research sent out a note from its Share of Ear subscription study, to mark a milestone for broadcast radio. In a May update, Edison found that 105 of radio listening in the U.S. was streamed, against 90% from an over-the-air receiver. The finding implies shifted listening from in-car (where radios are ubiquitous) to in-home (where radio receivers are disappearing). Continue Reading
Spotify, the global audio listening platform which is grabbing chunks of the podcast industry through acquisition, is also applying its customary tech chops to improving advertising effectiveness … while making life a little bit smoother for discount-minded consumers. The prospective feature is called “In-App Offers,” and is basically a link on a podcast’s show page which leads to an advertiser’s discounted offering. Tap through for details. Continue Reading
Today is the day The Podcast Academy really gets rolling. After a couple of explanatory Q&A webinars last week (read our coverage HERE), and development of a governance board before that (see HERE), today podcasters and supporting professionals can apply for membership. Click through for links and requirements. Continue Reading