RAIN Notes: Tuesday, September 26
— Tuning In (TuneIn)
— Scroller Derby (TikTok)
— Driving Forward (SXM Media / Studio Resonate)
Mark Mulligan: Streaming’s problems will not be fixed by royalties alone
by Mark Mulligan
The royalty agreement crafted by Universal Music Group and the Deezer streaming platform has gotten a lot of attention. In his latest guest column, MiDIA Research chief Mark Mulligan says both parties want that attention, if not necessarily the exact commentary they hoped for. “Streaming royalties are not adding up because streaming is not adding up. Fixing royalties is only part of the solution,” Mark asserts. Part of the solution requires understanding how these services have evolved, and solutions must consider the audience’s needs. A must-read.
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Spotify launches AI podcast translations; potential for instant global reach
Spotify is piloting an AI tool which translates any podcast into alternate languages, called Voice Translation for Podcasts. The translation is one part. Perhaps more startling is the AI technology which also synthesizes a voice sounding identical to the original. Click for more. Continue Reading
Edison Research releases Top 25 Podcasts in the UK
Edison Research released its survey-generated list of Top 25 Podcasts In The UK. As with the company’s other rankers, this one is calculated from conversations with podcast listeners, not by counting downloads. Americans will recognize the #1 show. We compare the UK top 25 with the U.S. top 25. Continue Reading
Four companies combine to launch Podcast Radio in the U.S.
Podcast Radio, the UK-based non-interactive all-podcast radio outlet, Has announced a major expansion into the U.S. radio market. Four companies worked together to make this initiative a reality. Continue Reading
Three brands dominate again in monthly podcast ad spend (Magellan AI, August ranker)
In Magellan AI’s reckoning of the top podcast advertisers (by spend) in August, we see a lot of repetition from the previous two months. Seven of the top 15 in the previous month of July landed on the July list again. Click for RAIN’s tracking. Continue Reading
CORRECTED: 97 of top 100 remain unchanged in Triton Digital Sept podcast ranker
CORRECTED: In a demonstration of stability (or staleness?) Triton Digital’s Podcast Ranker for August shows 97 of the same 100 podcasts as the July ranker.In our thinking two principles are at work: First, that people listen to what they already know, and second, that podcast discovery remains a commanding challenge for creators and producers. Click for deets. Continue Reading
RIAA revenue second look: Not record-breaking when adjusted for inflation
Earlier this week we reported the mid-year update from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which tabulates revenue for the U.S. recorded music industry. That report broke new ground with the highest dollar amount in the span of the RIAA’s public reporting period (1973-2023). But a different reality emerges when we consider relative dollar value. Click for an illustrated comparison. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, September 21
— Triangulating (The New Media Show)
— Enduring Partnership (Blubrry)
— New Phase (Michael Fischer)
NPR re-ups with Veritonic, and expands across podcasts and broadcast
Veritonic announces that high-profile client NPR has renewed its relationship with the company, and expanded its use of Veritonic’s solutions. Specifically, NPR is now assessing brand advertising effectiveness across its podcasting and broadcast empires. For Veritonic, the continued engagement highlights its Brand Lift solution, which measures the recall and sentiment listeners have for audio ads. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, September 20
— Triangulating (The New Media Show)
— Enduring Partnership (Blubrry)
— New Phase (Michael Fischer)
Steve Goldstein: The Three Eras Of Podcasting
by Steve Goldstein
In his latest guest column, Steve Goldstein takes a big view of podcasting from start to present, and he sees three evolutionary periods. Baked-in host endorsements, dynamic insertion, content experimentation, new platforms … it’s an ultra-concise history. Continue Reading