More daily news podcast success for Podtrac May ranking
Podtrac issued its May list of the top 20 podcasts. Weekday news programs continue to perform well in the Podtrac ranking. Continue Reading
Spotify’s newest exclusive podcast is the third season of Riggle’s Picks
Spotify has folded another popular podcast under its umbrella. The audio company will be the exclusive home of the third season of Riggle’s Picks, a show from comedians Rob Riggle and Sarah Tiana where the pair discuss sports, culture, and life. Continue Reading
Triton Digital integrates a2x with Centro’s Basis
Triton Digital has added another new client integration for its a2x programmatic audio advertising exchange. Centro, an advertising technology provider, will integrate its Basis digital media platform with a2x. Continue Reading
Quick Hits: Analyzing Africa. Podcasts vs radio. Podcasts and crowdfunding. A suddenly famous snore.
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Billboard on Africa’s early streaming moves. Radio + podcasts + promotion. Why podcasts can’t rely on ads. What a snore! Continue Reading
Survey finds mixed feelings in music biz about digital platforms adding podcasts
The UK’s BPI teamed with MusicAlly for a new report on music and podcasts. Their report recapped some existing research on podcast listening from sources such as The Infinite Dial, RAJAR, and the IAB, but it also offered some original research into how the audio format can be a tool for the music industry. The two organizations conducted an online survey of labels, artist managers, music publishers, distributors, and label services for their stances on the potential of podcasts. Continue Reading
Former Echo Nest biz dev exec departs from Spotify
Shane Tobin is departing his role as Head of Partnerships for Content & Creator at Spotify. Tobin was a business development director at Echo Nest prior to its acquisition by Spotify, and he rose through the ranks since the data-focused company folded into the streaming platform. Continue Reading
TikTok claims 120 million active users in India
Short form video platform TikTok has been growing its reach in new markets outside its home base of China. After a brief removal from the mobile app platforms for both Google and Apple in April, the service has resumed in India. The Economic Times reported that TikTok now has 200 million users in India, including 120 million who are active every month. Continue Reading
WorldDAB report: 75 million DAB/DAB+ sets sold by the end of 2018
More than 75 million DAB and DAB+ receivers were sold in Europe and Asia Pacific by the end of the fourth quarter of 2018. That’s the latest report from WorldDAB, which saw the receiver sales grow from 65 million in Q4 2017. Continue Reading
DistroKid announces partnership and new tools to prevent unauthorized streaming uploads
Digital music distributor DistroKid has entered a deal aimed at curbing unauthorized streaming. DistroKid signed an agreement with Audible Magic and will use its new partner’s RightsRxTM solution to check the authenticity of all uploads by its artists. DistroKid is furthering its internal tools for stopping piracy. Continue Reading
Libsyn shareholder complains of executive compensation and calls for new board
We learned from Podnews that Libsyn, one f the largest and most established podcast hosting companies is undergoing tumult. One of its shareholders with 6% interest in the company is calling for a new board of directors, disclosing executive compensation and the company’s 2018 income. Continue Reading
New Spotify redesign will separate Music and Podcast libraries for Premium
Spotify is officially updating its user interface for to create a clearer divide between music and podcasts. The new layout for Your Library will be rolled out to all Premium users. The change seems limited to the mobile experience, at least for now. Continue Reading
Amazon refreshes Echo Dot designed for kids, faces lawsuits on children and privacy
Amazon announced a refresh of its smart speaker designed specifically for children. The Echo Dot Kids Edition was first released last April. Despite the new developments, Amazon and its Alexa voice assistant has raised some kid-focused privacy concerns. Continue Reading