Clubhouse, a pioneer in social audio and the most recognized brand in that field, has emerged from a year-long beta period, celebrating the new phase as “Opening Day.” Key to the emergence is the elimination of the invite-only method of bringing in new users. Now, anyone can join. Click through for several usage statistics, and a link to 30 job openings. Continue Reading
Spotify-owned podcast publisher and ad-tech platform Megaphone has signed The Weather Network in Canada. This deal brings The Weather Network’s flagship podcast, “This Day in Weather History” onto the platform. Continue Reading
Deezer is promoting its Deezer for Creators toolset. It offers metrics related to track plays and demographic info about listeners, as well as features that enable public sharing of the information. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Toss the TOS (James Cridland on Fireside)
— I Want My… (MTV. Bob Pittman celebrates)
— Quick and Dirty (History)
Australian media company Southern Cross Austereo has added 10 music stations to its LiSTNR app, bringing its total station count to 25. The company is calling the additions “DAB+ music stations,” but the emphasis is more on the app than on DAB+ reception and listening. Adding pure music streams to radio-based apps is a familiar strategy. Continue Reading
In its quarterly survey of podcast listening, Media Monitors determined that iHeartRadio and NPR were the top two podcast publishers in Q2, as in Q1, based on the number of network-owned podcasts cited by survey respondents. Our comparison of the Q1-Q2 results shows much sameness in top networks. Continue Reading
James Cridland returns with a richly informative newsletter about radio around the world. In this edition: A suggestion for UK’s Podcast Radio, from a Canadian initiative. A discovery in Deezer. Why doesn’t Spotify do this thing? And riffing on iHeart’s new AI thing. Continue Reading
Darren Davis, the president of iHeartRadio for nearly eight years, and a near-30-year veteran of iHeartMedia, is formally leaving the company at year’s end. He will maintain an advisory role. We reminisce across the career milestones of a valued RAIN partner. Continue Reading
Leading branded content podcast company Pacific Content has fleshed out its platform, adding pre- and post-production service to legacy show production skill. We talked to the company to get details. Continue Reading
Jottings of Note
— Psychic Prowess? (Jason Brownlee)
— Toutes les Felicitations (AdsWizz)
— New Leash on Life (Gary Reisman)
Canadian media company Corus has started distributing its podcast content to radio, via “The Curiouscast Podcast Hour.” The shows are heard weekly on seven Corus radio stations, hosted by Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, director of Streaming and Podcasting. Click for stations and broadcast times. Continue Reading
As the beleaguered Tokyo Olympics get underway this week, with the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday, NBC Olympics is promoting its range of Olympics podcasts. The network’s emphasis is on its Apple Podcasts channel, where the shows are grouped. Click for details. Continue Reading