We wrote about Acast’s first podcast competition (Poddnästet) in September. Now the company has found a winner based on a submitted idea. Axel Hietanen Ingman will collect a quarter-million Swedish crowns (about $27,000 USD). Ingman is a 26-year-old social worker and amateur musician. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with the latest installment of his weekly column. In this edition, James utters a phrase never before seen in this space: “dangerously dim-witted oxygen-thieves.” The word “stupid” appears too many times to count. It’s a bracingly frank argument on behalf of the BBC, in an argument with the UK government. Then, after a deep breath, a dozen links to interesting news items and columns. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Deux U! … Not a Curse (Cadence13)
— Sky-high Title (Skyview Networks)
— Taking Charge (CBC)
TuneIn has opened its powerful platform distribution to small broadcasters, specifically educational and non-profit broadcasters, according to an announcement sent to RAIN. The idea is to give the same distribution tools that major broadcasters have to an underserved slice of the audio ecosystem. Click for details, including price. Continue Reading
In Magellan AI’s latest monthly report of top podcast advertisers, tracking December spending amounts, we see many of the same brands that have populated the Top 15 Spenders list for nine months. Only one new entrant among repeaters. Click for details and the RAIN graphic
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Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— Tinkerers (Tinkercast)
— Keeping the Window Open (Threshold)
— Audio Illustrations (iHR + Sports Illustrated)
ABC News is celebrating the 1,000th episode of its daily news podcast, Start Here, hosted by veteran audio journalist, Edward R. Murrow award-winner, and RAIN Summit keynoter Brad Mielke. We asked Brad about recording in the field; he told us all about soft tech. Click for details and a photo. Continue Reading
Podcast hosting and advertising company Acast has added a specialized division to increase audience growth in its Acast Creator Network. Acast is calling it a “growth division,” and has staffed it with employees in the UK, US, and home country Sweden. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
Guest columnist Steve Goldstein follows up yesterday’s exploration of why so many branded podcasts fail. Today, a checklist to determine whether your company, or any company, should have a branded podcast. One of them: “Can you think of 10 episode topics?” Continue Reading
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the major distribution hub for bublic television programming, is entering the podcast sphere with two podcasts derived from two TV shows derived from PBS Digital Studios — the online video production house within PBS. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein In his latest column, veteran podcast executive producer Steve Goldstein provides a tutorial on how to conceive and plan a branded podcast. And good news — this is just Part 1 of a two-parter. Part 2 tomorrow. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note, smart speaker edition
— BIG Award (Black Information NEtwork)
— No Pete Rose (Podcast Hall of Fame)
— Undead (Echoverse)