The Download on Podcasts is a weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
Podcasting goes back to 2003, with its technology underpinnings stretching back even further. But for iTunes, which added shows in 2005, and therefore for most of the podcasting listenership, the category is 10 years old this summer.
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The headline isn’t breaking news, but a new research report by Clammr quantifies a couple of realities of the podcast industry. Apple’s apps drive a majority of mobile (and probably all) podcast listening. Continue Reading
The Download on Podcasts is a weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
When NiemanLabs produced an analysis last week of NPR’s first-quarter listening statistics, the main lesson was this: People are migrating from real-time listening to time-shifted listening. does this represent an opportunity for all of radio?
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The Download on Podcasts is a weekly feature sponsored by PodcastOne.
One bifurcation of the podcast market illuminates a new level of professionalism: Informal chatting vs. highly produced infotainment shows. What is the future of “chatcasting”? A suggestion for iTunes.
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With podcasting top-of-mind in the online audio industry, a potential new player is Spotify, according to unnamed sources reported by Bloomberg Business. Competition with Apple? Catching up to Deezer? Continue Reading
Today’s brief news items are all about Apple: competing with Snapchat for a label; an App Store model for iTunes; and an Editorial Producer for hire. Continue Reading
Apple released some mind-boggling financial figures from the first quarter in its latest SEC filing. The company’s net income for Q1 was $18.02 billion on net sales of nearly $74.6 billion. Underneath the huge revenue, though, the news was not so good for iTunes. Continue Reading
Apple has filed for a new patent that could change how digital rights management is handled in its music properties. iTunes buyers could potentially share files downloaded from the store. If it plays out that way, it could open a secondary revenue stream for Apple’s decelerating music store. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Sonos exec talks streaming and speakers; did iTunes end Single of the Week promo? Continue Reading
In an impactful announcement, CBS launched Play.it, a web-based podcast network. The venture brings CBS’ significant talent assets, program brands, and promotional power to the growing podcast network industry. The initiative is co-developed by CBS Radio and CBS Local Digital Media. Continue Reading
Publisher Kobalt announced that for the first time, its writers received greater royalties from Spotify than from iTunes. During the first quarter of 2014, Spotify royalties in Europe were 13% higher than those earned from iTunes downloads in the region. We’re still a long way from declaring victory for the streaming financial model, since this change has only been observed in Europe for Kobalt’s stable of about 6,000 songwriters and artists. However, Spotify’s first success over the long-dominant Apple-owned store is still a notable milestone. Continue Reading
Unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal that worldwide music sales from the iTunes Store fell 13%-14% since the start of 2014. A single individual also told WSJ that Apple is in the process of rebuilding Beats Music and will relaunch the service next year as part of iTunes. There hasn’t been any formal word from Apple about its plans for Beats, but that hasn’t stopped the rumors from swirling about their joint future. Continue Reading