Pew Research released new data about the growing field of smart speakers. The organization’s survey from June 2019 identified trends in ownership of the devices, as well as gathering opinions about privacy and personalization in this emerging product segment. Continue Reading
CBC/Radio-Canada announced that Acast will be its first official podcast partner for international sales. “Our mandate is to inform, enlighten and entertain listeners, and we are excited to be partnering with Acast to support our global ambition and reach, as we look to bring Canada to the world through our unique and diverse original programming,” said Heather Gordon, a director for the public broadcaster. Continue Reading
Triton Digital has announced a partnership with audio and podcast technology company Voxnest. “After receiving our own IAB Tech Lab certification, we wanted to prioritize linking arms with other leaders in the industry,” Voxnest President Francesco Baschieri said. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: Developments in personalized audio from Spotify and Google Assistant. Possible new stations at the BBC, and presenter changes at TripleJ. Continue Reading
New research from Voicebot.ai, Voices.com, and Pulselabs explored consumer preferences in voice assistant technology. The survey found that users much prefer the AI to have a human voice rather than a synthetic one, with human voices scoring 71.6% higher. Continue Reading
Luminary, a paid subscription platform for podcasts, is now offering listeners a discount for its service. The offer is available to new subscribers until December 4. Continue Reading
Spotify has been churning out industry partnerships at a break-neck pace for the past several months. The latest updates from the streaming service include four deals to expand access to Spotify Premium and a branded concert deal. Continue Reading
Play it again, Congress. Legislators are making another effort to create performance royalties for radio airplay. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) have introduced the Ask Musicians for Music, or AM-FM, Act. Continue Reading
Sonos released its fourth-quarter financial results, closing out its first fiscal year as a publicly traded company. Revenue rose 8% on-year to $294 million. In addition to the financial results, Sonos has also announced an acquisition of a startup called Snips. Continue Reading
Whooshkaa, an Australia-based digital audio company, has entered a partnership with Malaysian radio network Astro Radio. The two parties plan to release a multi-language on-demand audio venture for Asian audiences. Continue Reading
Spotify is hosting an awards show next spring. The streaming platform announced that the inaugural Spotify Awards will take place in Mexico City on March 5. Continue Reading