Jottings of note:
AMEVA Goes Around Again
We learn from the estimable David Oxenford (Broadcast Law Blog) that the AM for Every Vehicle Act has been introduced in the new Congress, after that body failed to move the proposition to a vote. There is “announced support of a majority in both the House and Senate,” according to Oxenford. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are the motivating forces in this Congress. Unsurprisingly, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is all in, applauding the reintroduction HERE. As in the past, the NAB’s forward-facing argument is about AM’s vital role in disaster information broadcasting: “AM radio has long been a trusted source of emergency information, providing real-time updates when other communications platforms fail. Recent disasters like the Los Angeles wildfires and hurricanes in the southeast underscore AM radio’s unique role in delivering evacuation orders, emergency alerts and recovery information under the most challenging conditions. The bill has collected 41 cosponsors, listed HERE.
Happy 10th; Happy 100 Billionth
Discover Weekly, Spotify’s groundbreaking, proprietary, algo-driven playlist celebrates its tenth birthday with a splashy redesign and a noisy brag: The product has featured over 100 billion tracks in a broad experience the company calls personalized discovery. A technology breakthrough in its day, Discover Weekly was built to understand individual music taste and preferences in musical elements that exist within and across music genres. The experience is intended to foster both surprise and comfort — “unforgettable ‘first listens'”, Spotify calls it. Characteristically, Spotify is celebrating with a slew of metrics:
- 56 million new artist discoveries every week
- Two million times a week, a newly discovered artist is streamed twice; “discvovery becomes fandom,” Spotify explains.
- Emerging artists drive 77% of Discover Weekly streams.
- 556 DW tracks are saved to playlists and “Liked” songs … per year.
The celebrations come with a product update, as Spotify introduces new controls to fine-tune the algorithm: “New controls at the top of your playlist let you guide the vibe with a simple tap. Choose from up to five genre options, personalized based on your listening history, and you’ll get a fresh 30-track playlist inspired by your selection.” This new trick is for mobile only, in a gradual roll-out. See HERE.
Intersecting Passions
Digital sales veteran Douglas Trostler announces that he has joined iHeartMedia as Director Agency Partnerships, Digital Audio. This latest position continues a vigorous career in digital audio sales that includes tenures at Front Porch Media Network (Chief Revenue Officer), Evergreen Podcasts (VP Sales and BizDev), and most recently four years at Libsyn Ads (Director of Sales). “Joining iHeart feels like coming home – bridging my past with the dynamic digital future of audio,” Trostler enthuses. “This new role sits at the intersection of my passions and the expertise I’ve developed over the years.”
July 3, 2025
