Jottings of note:
Creator and Listener: Who’s In Control?
Spooler Media has released an intriguing audio tool called Dialog, which turns a piece of created audio into a collaborative work for creator and listener. As introduced and described by Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Andy Bowers (who really lives up to that second title here) it works by allowing the listener to interrupt an audio story with input which, via AI, moves the story in new directions, transforming on-demand audio from a monologue into a conversation. Bowers provides a video of this trickery, helpful in understanding how it works. “Two roads diverged in a wood…” and then anything can happen, according to how the tool is prompted. A deeper explanation is HERE.
Retaining the Viall Files
Liberated Syndication (Libsyn) has announced its renewal of its partnership with The Viall Files, a dating and culture podcast produced by author and reality TV star Nick Viall. The podcast is part of a larger agreement which includes Viall’s audio lifestyle company Envy Media. It’s a three-year renewal, and Libsyn brags that it triumphed in a “a fiercely competitive bidding season.” Chief Revenue Officer Rick Selah calls Viall “the consummate professional in our business,” and promises to bring millions of dollars to the property. Details HERE.
Targets
Ross Adams, CEO of global podcast platform Acast, hosted his company’s annual Capital Markets Day, whose purpose is to publicly share Acast’s financial performance, as well as strategic priorities, growth opportunities, and product innovation. On the finance side, new targets were released:
- Organic net sales growth of 15% in the 2025-2028 period.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin between 3% and 5%
- Positive cash flow from operating activities.
Acast asserts that it “created the commercial podcast market.” See Adams’ financial summary HERE.
Monday, April 7
