Today sees the launch of a new FOX News audio show for smart speakers: The True Crime Minute, which will be refreshed three times a week. A new longer-form True Crime title has been added to FOX’s True Crime catalog, which now contains nine shows. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— The Question (Signal Hill Insights)
— Everybody Elevated (Everybody Media)
— Challenges (iMarketer)
iHeart Media and the National Basketball Association have revealed a slate of team-specific shows released to what is being called the iHeart/NBA Podcast Network. The lineup includes original podcasts from six NBA teams – the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs. Click through for show details and listen links. Continue Reading
When Mixcloud founder and CEO Nico Perez asked Twitter for reactions to Spotify’s new AI DJ feature he received a short thread of contrasting replies. A well known tech pub calls it “deeply unnecessary.” Meanwhile, Spotify is occupied explaining why nobody can find it. With all this, we are looking forward to it. Continue Reading
Edison Research has released the 2022 version of its Black Podcast Listener Report. Edison’s partners in this deep dive are SXM Media and Mindshare. The survey queried 2,500 American adults 18 years and older, and the deeply detailed report is 59 pages of results and charts. Clik through for key points and download link. Continue Reading
Details are scant, but it is confirmed that Pacific Content — a leading producer of branded podcasts — is undergoing a layoff sweep, as reported in Broadcast Dialogue. The extent of the cuts is not publicly known, but reporting indicates that parent company Rogers Sports and Media has confirmed the action. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
In this latest installment of the Amplifi Media blog, Steve Goldstein interviews Steve Pratt, the founder and ex-CEO of Pacific Content. The conversation vectors into branded podcasts, naturally, as both Steves have a long history producing that format. Click through to read the whole thing, including the marshmallow test and a legenday John Houseman ad. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Sonic Adventuring (Studio Resonate)
— New Native (True Native Media)
— Automated Efficiency (Frequency / Sounds Profitable)
If broadcast radio felt disgruntled by on-demand listening apps before, now there is a new offense: Spotify has introduced a DJ feature which uses a synthetic voice to create a radio-like presentation of the user’s saved music. It is called AI DJ, and the tool uses generative artificial intelligence to intro and extro a mix of tracks from the user’s library. Click for a launch video. Continue Reading
National Public radio will lay off at least 100 people, about 10% of its workforce. The exact positions and layoff count will be determined by March 20. “We’re not seeing signs of a recovery in the advertising market,” CEO John Lansing said. Click for more. Continue Reading
More notes from AIS2023, Veritonic’s Audio Intelligence Summit in New York, featuring Charles Cadbury, Scott Marino, Samantha Sweig, James Clarke, Thad Smith, and Danielle Linden. Continue Reading
Max Cutler, founder of the Parcast production and podcast content group, and Spotify VP, is leaving Spotify. Cutler was an influential force in Spotify’s podcast adventures, and this high-profile exit comes a month after Dawn Ostroff exited the company in a sweeping workforce reduction. It appears to be part of what CEO Daniel Ek promised in a recent Q4 earnings call. Continue Reading