The case for news radio advertising (Audacy)

The Marketers’ Guide to News Radio, a new info-promo by radio giant Audacy, makes a richly graphical case for the quality of news radio audiences, and the unique values to advertisers. The presentation deck represents a 2024 study conducted for Audacy by market research company Alter Agents. In it, we are drenched with affirmations about the credibility and stickiness of radio news, and the advantages of advertising in that channel.  Continue Reading

BMI takes legal action in royalty conflict with SiriusXM

“Years of negotiations.” That’s how performing rights organization (PRO) BMI describes its patience and perseverance in royalty dealings with SiriusXM. With patience and perseverance evidently expired, BMI filed a legal action to determine what it calls “fair and appropriate fees.” Click for details — all from BMI’s perspective. No public word from SiriusXM at posting time. Continue Reading

Five new shows out of 200 (Triton Digital Australian Podcast Ranker)

Triton Digital’s Australian Podcast Ranker for august, a 10-page PDF listing 200 shows, has been released to our eager grasp. As expected from previous monthly releases of this accounting, the Hamish & Andy podcast, produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, owns the #1 spot as it has in previous months. We look for debut entrances to the list, and find just five of them. Click for more metrics and links to both versions (sortable and unsortable). Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: DAB means even more new stations

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James shares takeaways from the recent Radiodays Asia and Podcast Day Asia conferences. He brings back intel about the DAB digital radio format, which he reports is gaining interest in Asian countries. And James evangelizes the format, saying it offers a surprising amount of new choice for broadcasters, which helps draw new listeners. UK radio group Global announced twelve new stations. ALSO: a wide range of observations and news from Europe, Australia, and Connecticut. It’s not called International for nothing. Continue Reading

Steve Goldstein: Key Takeaways from ‘A View from the Top’

In his latest column, guest contributor and Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein transcribes an industry discussion he moderated at the recently concluded POdcast Movement conference. The high-IQ panel comprised Ross Adams (CEO, Acast), Dan Misener (Co-founder, Bumper Media,) Andrew Mason (Founder/CEO, Descript) Elsie Escobar (Director of Community and Content, Libsyn), and Farid Haji (Senior Director – Partnership, The Roost Podcast Network). Key takeaways here include video importance, multi-platform strategies, engagement vs. reach, the evolution of monetization, AI, changing audience dynamics, and future opportunities. Without question a must-read, even for those who attended the session. Continue Reading

Al Michaels went AI at the Olympics. Radio DJs don’t love the idea, but 20% would do it. (Jacobs Media)

While watching the recently completed 2024 Summer Olympics, we didn’t realize that the nearly ubiquitous voice of Al Michaels, heard round the clock, was not the physical (and presumably sleepy) Al Michaels. But while studying a new survey research deck from Jacobs Media this morning, we encountered “AI Al Michaels.” Jacobs surveyed on-air talent to discover their attitudes about AI generally, and the specific use in the Olympics. The result is part of a 66-page study. Continue Reading

Steve Goldstein: Unleashing The Power Of Effective Audio Promos

Fresh from Podcast Movement, RAIN guest columnist Steve Goldstein contributes this detailed tutorial in creating an audio promo, distilled from his PM keynote. The focus is squarely on podcasting, but the principles apply to any audio promotion. Creating podcast promos is low priority for many, Steve notes, making the seven takeaways he describes here essential learning. Beware dullnes — the cost is tune-out and dismissal. That is bedrock — and then he gets into left-brain and right-brain theory. An essential seminar. Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Multi-platform changes to radio, and respect

by James Cridland

In his pre-Podcast Movement weekly bulleting, James documents a well publicized radio closure in New York (CBS AM) and another in Sydney. James muses on these two events, and moves on to an intriguing graphic which illustrates the market share of radio stations in Dublin.
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