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Borrell: Programmatic advertising will take over by 2024; sales reps gone

Posted on by Brad Hill

Programmatic advertising is well established in the web display industry, and growing fast in video. Radio (broadcast and streaming) lags behind, but awareness is growing as ad-buying software platforms become more sophisticated for audio. What is the future? For Gordon Borrell, the answer is clear: Programmatic will take over audio ad buying and selling, and sales reps face elimination and changing roles. Continue Reading →

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Borrell: Digital dashboards will wipe out half of FM stations

Posted on by Brad Hill

In a fascinating and daring webinar yesterday hosted by Gordon Borrell, attendees were treated to a historical review of media technology disruption, followed by predictions in today’s media. One of those predictions: Half of AM/FM terrestrial stations will disappear by 2024, their demise driven by adoption of alternative in-car listening choices. RAIN spoke with Gordon Borrell. Continue Reading →

adStream: Counting localized vs. non-localized ads

Posted on by Brad Hill

As streaming audio advertising gradually becomes more personalized to the listener, localized ads increasingly appear. One solution — registration data — gives audio publishers a way to sell inventory on a regional basis, so listeners in a state or city hear streaming commercials localized at that level. In our recent ad-stalking, we wanted to anecdotally track how much city-localized advertising was delivered by Pandora in a 90-minute listening session. Continue Reading →

Ad network TargetSpot develops new BizDev unit; Thierry Ascarez appointed head

Posted on by Brad Hill

Global digital audio ad network TargetSpot announced the launch of a new business development division today. Heading up the unit is VP of Business Development Thierry Ascarez, long-time VP of Business Development at Radionomy. Ascarez now holds both titles. RAIN spoke to Ascarez to flesh out the details. Continue Reading →

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Pandora proposes lowering music royalty rates based on “steering” in Merlin agreement

Posted on by Brad Hill

In a revealing document submitted to the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), Pandora argues for lowered music licensing rates in the 2016-2020 statutory royalty period. The proposed rate range is about half the amount suggested by SoundExchange in its submission to the CRB. The key argument discloses aspects of Pandora’s private music licensing agreement with Merlin, a coalition of 20,000 music labels. Continue Reading →

AudioHQ enters ad sales partnership with Jango online radio

Posted on by Anna Washenko

AudioHQ announced a partnership with online radio service Jango for audio ad sales starting in 2015. According to the press release, Jango reaches 3 million listeners in the U.S. each month with its service for social and customizable music stations. This is the second deal to be announced within the past week for AudioHQ. Continue Reading →

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Rumor Fact(ory): Apple could incorporate Beats into iTunes by next year

Posted on by Anna Washenko

Unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal that worldwide music sales from the iTunes Store fell 13%-14% since the start of 2014. A single individual also told WSJ that Apple is in the process of rebuilding Beats Music and will relaunch the service next year as part of iTunes. There hasn’t been any formal word from Apple about its plans for Beats, but that hasn’t stopped the rumors from swirling about their joint future. Continue Reading →