RAIN Notes: Wednesday, January 24
Triton U.S. podcast ranker: NPR returns; stable top 10; only three new
Triton Digital released its U.S. Podcast Ranker for December, ranking the top 100 podcasts measured by Triton’s service. As always, this list connects each of the 100 listed shows with its sales network. As always, Triton’s online presentation of the ranker is highly interactive, allowing you to sort the order by Average Users, representing audience size, downloads, and sales networks, and more. Click for highlights. Continue Reading
Audacy projects ambitious revenue growth in streaming and podcasting, including a paid subscription service
Radio giant Audacy, rocked by bankruptcy debt restructuring, is forging ahead with a five-point business projection. Looking at the company’s business plan filed with the SEC, we see five areas of focus. Click for details, graphs, and a link. Continue Reading
Radio advertising and “mental availability” — Peter Field’s study of marketing effectiveness
Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer at Cumulus Media / Westwood One, is distributing recent analytical work by London-based author and marketing expert Peter Field. It’s a metrics-jammed 25-page presentation. Among the many metrics and charts, we find “mental availability” a compelling and interesting value. Continue Reading
Steve Goldstein: The Truth About Podcasting’s Measurement Makeover
by Steve Goldstein
Apple changed podcast measurement when it changed how downloads are counted. Numbers dropped, but integrity rose. “The podcast industry supported the move to uphold the integrity of the metrics advertisers see {…} cognizant that downloads would take a hit but chose long-term credibility over the vanity.” In his latest guest column, Steve Goldstein tours through media categories including radio, digital advertising, email marketing, television, and print media. In all cases, measurement is a challenge. This is an illuminating read. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Analysing morning news shows
by James Cridland
In his latest guest column, James Cridland reviews and analyzes the Today program at BBC Radio 4. The exercise was enjoyable enough to motivate him to do the same for Australia’s ABC morning show. Also, how to effectively promote radio listening on the air. Continue Reading
“Fair training” becomes a thing to protect copyrighted audio in AI training
A unique type of content ownership certification is in the works from a non-profit group called Fairly Trained. As the name implies, the focus is on media content — including music — used to train artificial intelligence services. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Friday, January 19
European Parliament wants revision of streaming royalty calculations to favor “less popular” music
The European Parliament, a 705-member body which works with the European Union to consider and create legislation, has issued a statement regarding artist payment by streaming music platforms. This week the EP called for new EU rules regulating a “fair and sustainable” streaming sector, and cultural diversity. In short, the European Parliament wants streaming royalty calculations to be revised to favor “less popular” music. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, January 18
— Trimming (Google / YouTube)
— Unparalleled (Sonnant / Salem)
— Upward (iHeart / BIN)
RAIN Notes: Wednesday, January 17
— Good or Bad? (Oxford Road)
— Sorting Down Under (Triton Digital)
— Challenging Landscape (Amazon Audible)
“Definitive Guide” to Spotify’s updated royalty system pits labels vs. artists
Jeff Price, indefatigable advocate for independent musical artists, has produced an information/fact sheet which explains how Spotify royalty calculations and payments work. This effort comes after the streaming company made significant changes to its payment allocations. Carrying the weighty title “The Definitive Guide to Spotify’s Changes In Sound Recording Royalty Calculations — And Its Impact on Artists,” the 26-page PDF (available HERE) is part explainer, part statistical sheet, and part accuser. It’s deep, complex, illuminating, and freely available. Continue Reading