Merlin, the digital rights agency and independent label network, shared two big announcements. First, it has released its annual report with details about member revenue. Second, its longtime leader is stepping down. Continue Reading
Google and Genius are having a complicated squabble over sourcing lyrics. Genius, a lyrics annotation service, claimed that Google has been scraping its content and publishing it without appropriate credit, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Continue Reading
Spotify is continuing to roll out new features and functions to its burgeoning podcasting efforts. The latest development is the ability for advertisers to target its free tier of listeners based on the shows they listen to. Continue Reading
Podcast ad network AdvertiseCast has gained exclusive advertising representation with Wisecrack, a boutique podcast network that specializes in humorous educational programs. AdvertiseCast claims a reach of 30,000,000 monthly listeners across 1,500 podcasts, and an inventory of 7,500 ad spots. Continue Reading
Loup Ventures has published its latest update to its forecast of smart speaker sales. The revised predictions anticipate that 2019 will see 72 million unit sales, up from 52 million sales in 2018. The company is adding Chinese manufacturers to its global model, reflecting the growing presence those brands are having on international sales. Continue Reading
Getting paid is usually at the front of any artist’s mind, and while it seems like there have never been more options for making money in a digital economy, the existing platforms can change at a moment’s notice. One such service is Drip, which was initially a fan service for indie music that Kickstarter acquired in 2016 and relaunched the following year for broader aristic subscription support. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has partnered with WPP on a new venture called Project Listen. The audio advocacy project will help brands to engage with their consumers and to provide insights, planning, and creative services in audio. Ad Agency GroupM is participating in the arrangement. Continue Reading
Adobe Digital Insights conducted a survey about voice services. The participants shared details on how and when they used voice technology. About three-quarters (73%) of smart speaker owners use the devices daily. Music, weather, and silly questions were the most frequent use cases for the AI assistants. Continue Reading
Podtrac issued its May list of the top 20 podcasts. Weekday news programs continue to perform well in the Podtrac ranking. Continue Reading
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 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
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