Jottings of note:
A Passion For Building
John Morris, veteran executive in streaming audio, has joined multifaceted audio platform SoundStack, taking the role of Chief Product Officer. “Morris is widely-respected in digital audio as an innovator,” the PR reads, “who has architected some of the most robust, cloud-based streaming and podcasting platforms in media.” That is certainly true. Morris was CTO at Abacast, the streaming enabler founded in 2000 which was acquired by WideOrbit in June of 2014 and rebranded as WO Streaming. Audacy acquired WideOrbit in 2021, rebranding it as AmperWave (RAIN coverage HERE). “I’m a passionate builder,” Morris said. “I need to be in a company where everyone is excited to innovate in a way that solves real problems for the digital audio industry.”
How Audiences Differ
Sounds Profitable kicks off its Educational Series with a webinar hosted by TomWebster. Called The Business Podcast Consumer, it measures the audiences for business podcasts, and how they differ from listeners to other genres. The study is accomplished in partnership with American Public Media, and examines the demographics and media consumption habits of this audience, and how they respond to brand involvement in podcasting. It’s a 30-minute session, with guest speaker David Brancaccio, host of the widely consumed Marketplace show. Go HERE for the video and study download link.
Lacking The Buzz?
“I liken that experience to drinking non-alcoholic beer.” That’s from a listener to an AI experiment — the new Virtually Parkinson Podcast hosted by an AI version of Sir Michael Parkinson, with guest musician Jason Derulo. The conversation unfolds smoothly enough to be an impressive demonstration of a virtual personality, if not a totally convincing one. After the interview producers Benjamin Field, Mike Parkinson, and Jamie Anderson discuss the innovative process behind creating this groundbreaking AI-hosted experience, analyzing the good, the bad & the ugly before deciding how to improve the AI model for the next guest — a post-interview breakdown that that is arguably the best part. Watch on YouTube HERE.
At The Vanguard
The Miami MusicTech Summit has been announced and scheduled for March 25. It’s a single-day gathering spotlighting those at the vanguard of music, the internet, and technology. The organizers promise a proactive, deal-making environment. It’s a spinoff of the well established SF Music Tech Summit. Info and link to registration are HERE.
January 21, 2025
