RAIN Notes: Thursday, February 8
— Milestones You Should Know (OmniCast Media)
— Input (Podnews)
— Priorities (Borrell Research)
Spotify Q1: Exceeding expectations
“We had our strongest Q1 since going public in 2018, with nearly all our KPIs surpassing expectations.” With an ebullient tone, Spotify released its Q1 earnings, flush with upward-moving numbers. Click for details, charts, and graphs. Continue Reading
BBC plans new stations via DAB digital delivery
The BBC has announced a plan to expand its radio offering with four new stations on the DAB (Digital Audtio Broadcasting) system. “The new extensions look to delve deeper into specific genres and periods of music with context, curation and storytelling done in a way only the BBC can do,” the organization states. Elaborate descriptions are provided. Continue Reading
Rephonic / PodMatch advice to most podpreneurs: “Stop. Start a business instead.”
Putting aside the “Ouch” factor, a new study offers realistic advice to would-be podcasters, and many existing podcasters. In a report posted on the PodPros website, podcast database Rephonic and podcast guest provider service Podmatch put up some statistics that should give pause to any prospective podcast entrepreneur. Click for results and graphs. Continue Reading
Web VI streaming royalty rate-setting process begins; participants revealed
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has released a participant list in “Web VI” — the petitioning and rate-setting process which will determine what streaming outlets must pay music owners in the 2026-2030 royalty period. This every-five-year exercise is conducted by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), which sets the rates. Today we learn which streaming entities are participating in the two-year-long legal process. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Monday, February 5
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Spinoff stations grow overall reach
by James Cridland
In his latest guest column, James Cridland starts by looking at recent RAJAR statistics measuring UK radio listening. Interesting, he observes, that spinoff stations do not detract listening from their parent stations. Then he compares NPR’s Morning Edition U.S. radio program with the breakfast shows produced by BBC and Australia’s ABC. He is left “a bit cold.” Then he tried wake-up programming at LBC (a UK network) and RTE’s Radio Ireland. And much more. Continue Reading
Hit podcast SmartLess leaving Amazon for SiriusXM. And taking its 4 other shows.
It is a time of shaking loose from original network partnerships. Just as Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper are changing their exclusive relationships with Spotify, the hit podcast SmartLess is leaving its parent network Amazon Music and will be exclusively tied to SiriusXM for distribution and ad sales. Click for more. Continue Reading
Soon to stream everywhere: Rogan & Cooper. But Spotify still makes the money happen.
In a near-simultaneous news blast, podcast superstars Joe Rogan and Alex Cooper both negotiated new contracts with their distribution and advertising partner Spotify. Gone are the exclusive distribution aspects of both contracts. That means The Joe Rogan Experience and Call Her Daddy will be available for playback on any podcast app. Spotify is giving up an exclusivity play, switching to wide distribution and potentially bigger audience as it maintains its ad-rep roles. Continue Reading
Fewer podcasts; more episodes — a productive 2023
Fewer new podcasts were launched in 2023 than the year before, and every year since 2018. But that doesn’t mean podcast output is on the decline; more episodes were produced than in 2023. Click for the graphs. Continue Reading
Radio reach (analog + digital) remains strong in UK (RAJAR)
When we look at the recently released RAJAR report, detailing the radio listening habits in the UK, we see continued strong attachment to radio listening. On average, listeners tuned into over 20 hours of live radio per week. Click for more metrics. Continue Reading
Podcast ad rates dropped in January: Libsyn AdvertiseCast
The average cost per thousand (CPM) for podcast advertising took a small but sharp downturn in January , over one dollar lower than the average rate in November. Click for details and the long-term graph. Continue Reading