Downloads up, audience down (Podtrac) and RAIN Remix of September ranker

In Podtrac’s Top Podcast Publishers monthly ranker for September, out this week, we learn that average audience was down month-over-month, and average downloads were up. We present the Podtrac ranker, and the RAIN Remix — which re-sorts the list by average number of plays, and listeners, per show for each publisher. Click through for details and charts. Continue Reading

Cumulus announces Audio Active Group; renames Westwood One blog

Cumulus Media has announced the creation of the Audio Active Group. In the company’s words, it is a “full-service advisory to offer comprehensive insights, media planning, creative, and measurement services for audio advertisers.” The well-known Westwood One blog, edited by Pierre Bouvard, has been renamed. Click for details. Continue Reading

An investment gap: Brand advertising misses the mark — audio.

A newly released study from marketing/strategy firm WARC tells a story of missed opportunity on the buy side, and missing revenue on the sell side of audio. While 31% of the average consumer’s media consumption is now audio, only 8.8% of the average media budget is allocated to audio, and 25% of advertisers do not invest in audio at all. The research identifies audio buyer types, and evangelizes the values of audio marketing. Continue Reading

Jeff Vidler: Helping Brands Think Outside the Audio Box: A Manifesto

by Jeff Vidler
New opportunities for audio are capturing the attention of advertisers. But is audio advertising coming from new sources, or being moved around from one type of audio to another? Guest columnist and Signal Hill Insights President Jeff Vidler discusses how the audio industry is selling audio short. This is a manifesto, and a clear commitment for his company. A must read. Continue Reading