by Jeff Umbro
In this week’s column, The Podglomerate CEO Jeff Umbro grapples with the often-overlooked, always-challenging topic of podcast content moderation. Should podcasting undergo the level of scrutiny that social networks do? Along with these ruminations, the column catches up with news from Spotify, Apple, and elsewhere. Continue Reading
by Matt Deegan
Guest columnist Matt Deegan (Folder Media) traces the evolution of direct subscription to all kinds of content, and speculates about new monetization methods. Next up for podcasts in 2021: a “battle of the models.” Continue Reading
Starting in February, ad-tech company Targetspot will integrate Tru Optik’s identity resolution platform, offering Targetspot advertisers enhanced targeting of ads to U.S. homes. Through this integration, buyers and sellers are able to identify and segment audiences across mobile and streaming audio devices, including smart speakers. Click through for details of both companies. Continue Reading
Evergreen Podcasts, a four-year-old network representing 64 shows that were downloaded over 4-million times in 2020, has acquired an undisclosed equity share of Ars Longa Media. Ars Longa is a preeminent podcast company serving the health, wellness, and medical education genres. The group owns 13 shows. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
In this guest column, Steve Goldstein describes high points of the recently concluded virtual CES from the audio business perspective. Podcasts, in-car audio, and autonomous cars are highlighted. Plenty of links to session video available to watch.
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A loose organization of 200 public media professionals, including some of NPR’s most illumined leaders, has been organized by public radio veteran Celeste Headlee. A months-long collaborative effort to remedy institutional racism is brought into public view today. It is a 6,500-word roadmap for structural corrections in public media related to diversity, equality, and the very conception of journalism. Continue Reading
by Jeff Umbro
In this week’s column, The Podglomerate CEO Jeff Umbro catches up after a mini vacation, rounding up the latest acquisitions, a prediction, a podcast recommendation, and other topical items. Continue Reading
There are many ways to measure a hit podcast. Audience reach. Downloads. Number of reviews. Star rating. Another is to observe how persistent the back catalog is in charts. We looked at Apple’s top-200 Episodes chart in the U.S., in the Comedy category — with a goal of discovering which shows hold the most chart placements. Click through for the results. Continue Reading
Guest columnist Eric Nuzum offers an insightful analysis and prediction. In this view, 2020 was better than you might think, and the future could be more challenging than you assume. This is a must-read piece. Continue Reading
by Matt Deegan
In his inaugural guest column in RAIN, Folder Media’s Matt Deegan describes the challenges, opportunities, and potential futures of audio in four categories: Heritage broadcast radio, digital linear channels, music services, and podcasts. It’s a terrific analysis and outlook for the upcoming new year. Continue Reading
Podcast advertising intelligence company Magellan AI released its “Spenders, Movers & Shakers” list for November. Bank of America and McDonald’s take the #1 and #2 spots for increased podcast ad spending. Bank of America jumped from $128,000 in October to 1.9-million in November. Mcdonald’s jumped from $174,000 to $1.7-million. Click through for context and the full list. Continue Reading