Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s is partnering with PRX to launch a branded podcast. Called Blackberry Jams, the show drops August 31. The trailer is out now. Click for more info and link. Continue Reading
In a trans-continental venture, iHeartMedia is partnering with French media company NRJ Group to create new French podcasts, translate existing iHeart podcasts, and use iHeart subsidiary Triton Digital to monetize everything via French audiences. Click for details. Continue Reading
by Matt Deegan
Guest columnist Matt Deegan (Folder Media) reports on radio and podcast acquisition activity. In this edition, Matt muses on iHeartRadio’s tie-up with TuneIn, which put iHeart’s radio station streams in TuneIn’s streaming audio app. He notes that BBC pulled its streams out of TuneIn, and speculates on how Global fits into iHeart’s larger picture … or vice versa. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with a richly informative newsletter about radio around the world. In this edition: As one European country readies its abandonment of FM radio, a campaign to rescue it begins. BBC Sounds releases Q2 stats. And much more. Continue Reading
The Australian Radio Network is frequently known as “ARN,” and today begins a new era in which the company formally adopts that acronym as the enterprise brand. The rebrand signals a recognition of, and commitment to, the broader defining concept of audio. Click for details and a clarifying graphic. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Charting a Career Move (Karo Chakhlasyan)
— More Than Opinionated (NY Times)
— Not Called Artists for Nothing (TuneCore)
Acast Creative, a unit of the global podcast company which produces podcast content (shows and/or episodes) for brands, is expanding with a U.S. launch this week. Acast has tapped Shantae Howell as Creative Director of the Americas to lead the team and expand the success of Acast Creative in the U.S. market. Continue Reading
L.A.-based Echoverse, a podcast creation studio specialized in science fiction, supernatural and fantasy audio dramas, is releasing its new portfolio of projects. “It’s been a very busy year,” said Mark Stern, head of the network who owns a long executive resume in SciFi production. Click for show summaries. Continue Reading
Audio industry advocacy group AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) is announcing today its 2021 group of “New Voices” — an annual award and career support program. Each of the 16 honorees will receive personal mentoring and networking opportunities over a five-month period, and a $1,000 stipend. Click for honoree profiles. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has announced a multi-year deal with Sports Illustrated. It includes original podcast production and the formation of Sports Illustrated Studios. iHeartPodcast Network will distribute the new shows, naturally, as well as SI’s existing portfolio. Most of the new shows will be launched in 2022; one new title scheduled for later this year. One of the new audio sports network podcasts will dip its toe into the true crime genre. Continue Reading
Spotify-owned podcast publisher and ad-tech platform Megaphone has signed The Weather Network in Canada. This deal brings The Weather Network’s flagship podcast, “This Day in Weather History” onto the platform. Continue Reading
Deezer is promoting its Deezer for Creators toolset. It offers metrics related to track plays and demographic info about listeners, as well as features that enable public sharing of the information. Continue Reading