Companies are still pushing into podcasting at a fast and furious pace, and the latest new venture is coming to the field with an impressive bank. Himalaya is a podcast network launching in the U.S. this week with initial funding of $100 million. Continue Reading
Sonos is starting off the 2019 fiscal year with some strong numbers, with Q1 marking the speaker company’s most profitable to date. Despite the good performance, an executive departure has made the market skittish. Continue Reading
Peter I. Morris, a media executive in digital, film, and television, has been named CEO of L.A.-based PodcastOne, filling a top role which had been empty for several months. In a pre-announcement conversation at the company’s Beverly Hills office, Founder and Chairman Norm Pattiz extolled Morris’ appointment to RAIN News. Continue Reading
DAX, the digital audio advertising arm of Global, has signed on as the exclusive sales partner for Slacker Radio in the U.S. Under the terms of the deal, DAX will package Slacker’s inventory across its digital audio network and its advertisers will have greater access to the genres, radio formats, and listener demographics within Slacker. Continue Reading
Spotify reported its fourth-quarter earnings, and the streaming company closed out 2018 with a positive performance. Quarterly revenue rose 30% on-year to €1.495 billion. The period also included Spotify’s first ever positive result for operating income at €94 million. Continue Reading
Gimme Radio, the digital music company that made waves with an online radio station specializing in all metal music all the time, is looking to expand. The company has launched a crowdfunding effort on Seed Invest, seeking a round of $1.5 million. The expansion will take the proof of concept in its metal station and apply it to other genres. Continue Reading
DAX, the digital ad exchange of radio company Global, has entered a partnership with Instreamatic.ai, a specialist in voice-activated ads, centered on interactive audio spots. The arrangement will let DAX advertisers place ads with verbal prompts in the mobile apps for streaming audio services such as TuneIn and AccuRadio. Continue Reading
Spotify has acquired not one, but two podcasting companies. The rumor mill hinted this week that the streaming company was in negotiations for podcast producer Gimlet Media, and that is one of the purchases. But Spotify has also acquired Anchor, a straightforward service that lets anyone start creating, distributing, and monetizing podcasts. Continue Reading
The 3rd annual RAIN Podcast Business Summit, March 5 in New York, will feature executive leadership from Google, NPR, iHeartPodcast Network, and several of the most influential podcast and technology companies in the field. Click for details and FIRST MOVER registration. Continue Reading
The Vox Media Podcast Network announced that it is getting its first music show. The podcast Switched on Pop is joining the company and will be officially relaunched next month under that umbrella. Vox will produce the show alongside hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan. Continue Reading
Warner Music Group published the financial results for its fiscal first quarter, which it reports as the three-month period ending December 31, 2018. The company posted total revenue up 15.1% on-year to $1.2 billion, with digital revenue increasing 17.6% to $627 million. Continue Reading
Deezer announced that it has appointed Tarek Mounir as its CEO of the Middle East and North Africa. He will join the company effective April 1 after more than eight years working in the same region for international broadcast media company Turner. Continue Reading