On the Move tracks hires, promotions, and other notable personnel changes within the online audio industry. Today’s moves include a departure from Spotify’s Australia/New Zealand branch, plus new titles bestowed at YouTube and Ingrooves. Continue Reading
Amazon is launching a feature called Alexa Cast that will allow smartphone controls for devices enabled with its voice-activated technology. That includes both speakers from its Echo product line as well as devices from other hardware companies that integrate Alexa. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: The latest updates from the audio industry in Austria, Africa, Afghanistan, and more. Continue Reading
Today NPR and Edison Research released the latest edition of The Smart Audio Report, an ongoing consumer survey of how American adults are acquiring and using smart speakers. The information was released in an online webinar presented by Edison Senior Vice President Tom Webster. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: International news and insights from Germany and Canada. Podcast linking best practices, and calls for a UK podcast chart. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: New BBC Sounds app launches in the UK. Some questionable research into ad length. Much more from across the audio landscape. Continue Reading
Songtradr has rolled out new tools in digital distribution and audience metadata. The platform can deliver music to streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, and Deezer. Continue Reading
Sonos has taken its ambitious next step into the smart speaker space with a new product that supports multiple voice assistants and changes the form factor. The Sonos Beam is a sound bar, a much larger device than the most popular tabletop smart speaker designs currently on the market, that’s capable of providing quality audio for a range of entertainment purposes in small- or medium-sized rooms. Continue Reading
In 2018 there is a fresh sense that programmatic audio is coming into an era of recognition and marketplace maturity. RAIN spoke with Scott Walker, Pandora’s SVP of Programmatic Sales, and Alexis van de Wyer, CEO of AdsWizz. The conversation touched on Google’s entry into programmatic audio, predictions of the future, and Pandora’s acquisition of AdsWizz.
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Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the independent label sector, is sending out a 10th-birthday notice. To mark the milestone, Merlin is announcing three hires. the agency started operating in May, 2008, with three people. It now employs 21 people across four offices on three continents, serving tens of thousands of indie labels. Continue Reading
Edison Research and Triton Digital have released the 2018 edition of the Infinite Dial Australia study, It is the second investigation from the pair detailing the latest trends and habits for listeners down under. The results are pulled from a national telephone survey of more than 1,000 Australians aged 12 and up during the first quarter of 2018. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s Future of Radio is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: A mishap with premature prizes in a radio promotion. Will podcasting devour radio? Much more from around the globe. Continue Reading