Jeff Umbro: Staring Down the Barrel of 2020 (Podcast Lists)

by Jeff Umbro

In this week’s column, Podglomerate CEO Jeff Umbro unleashes an epic list of lists — 32 media brands which released end-of-year “best podcasts of 2020” roundups. From Esquire to Vanity Fair. From Town & Country to Teen Vogue. Dive in now; thank Jeff later. (Or blame him; your choice.) Continue Reading

Jeff Umbro: Courses, Webinars, and Learning Opportunities

by Jeff Umbro

In this week’s column, Podglomerate CEO Jeff Umbro covers key podcast news items from the past week. In this edition, a rundown of four online courses and webinars for getting a better understanding of podcasting issues and skills. Also — Sirius XM and Howard Stern. Continue Reading

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends: Spotify’s music radio, new stations and lazy Buggles

by James Cridland

The main story in this week’s newsletter from James Cridland is Spotify’s new “Show” product — a couple of new entries are reviewed. Also, new traditional radio station launches in the UK and Australia. Then, more radio news and links to other sources. One of the meatiest columns in this series. Continue Reading

RAIN Digital Britain dazzles with expertise and range from broadcast to podcast

RAIN Digital Britain, the virtual version of RAIN’s annual European Summit event previously produced in London, was held in Zoom today, featuring seven sessions and 21 speakers. Created as a deep dive into the thriving UK digital audio business environment, the sessions and conversations roamed through priorities, challenges, and solutions from radio to broadcasting, plus a session on the quickly growing gaming segment. Click through for quotes and pics. Continue Reading

iHeartRadio Podcast Awards 2021 (virtual) — all the nominees here

iHeartRadio announces today that its Podcast Awards program will continue in 2021, in a virtual format. In past years the January event was staged at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, CA. The 2021 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards will be on January 21, streamed on iHeart’s Facebook and YouTube locations, the iHeartRadio app (naturally), and broadcast or streamed on some iHeartMedia radio stations and virtual sites. Click through for a complete list of categories and finalists. Continue Reading

Magellan & Sounds Profitable create The Podcscape, a graphic representation of podcasting

Podcast advertising intelligence company Magellan AI, in collaboration with the Sounds Profitable newsletter authored by Bryan Barletta, have created an impressive graphic representation of the podcasting industry. It is an impressive project and a useful guide. Click through to see it and get the dowenload link. Continue Reading

Global partners with The Story Lab (Dentsu) for podcast commissioning

UK-centered media company Global has struck a partnership with The Story Lab, an offshoot of dentsu international. The arrangement is focused on podcasts, with the two entities co-commissioning a slate of six new shows over the next 12 months. The launch show is set — it is Hunting Ghislaine, investigating the elusive and controversial life of Ghislaine Maxwell. Other original productions could be in True Crime, Comedy, Entertainment, and Sports. Continue Reading

Highlights from RAIN Digital Australasia: Weaponized podcasts, “stupidly short” content, and more

Yesterday’s virtual event, RAIN Digital Australasia, brought together 25 audio professionals from Australia, Malaysia, India, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Indonesia, Canada, the UK, and the U.S. in a four-hour sequence of discussions about the state and future of the digital audio business. Click through for highlight quotes. Continue Reading