Spotify 14 - RAIN News

Google advances its programmatic audio buying tools

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Brad Hill

Google has raised its game in programmatic audio. Google’s broad digital advertising platform, Ad Manager, is getting audio programmatic for the first time. Additionally, Google’s DV360 is enhancing its existing tools. DV360 is the abbreviated brand name of Display & Video 360, formerly called DoubleClick. The systems stumbles over RSS feeds, perhaps slowing adoption ion podcasting, though independent distribution platforms like Spotify and Pandora work fine. Continue Reading →

Spotify launches “track IDs” curated by DJs

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Brad Hill

Spotify’s newly launched playlist feature, track IDs, is based on this question: “Do you ever dance to your favorite DJ and wonder what track they’re mixing?” The answer is supplied by an array of 23 playlists curated by DJs and the Spotify editorial team. The volume of music is impressive. Continue Reading →

Spotify reaches 299M users, 138M subscribers, 92 markets (Q2 earnings)

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Brad Hill

In a consumer-friendly infographic, Spotify highlighted some key (non-finance) results related to its Q2 earnings report last week. Juuust under 300-million users now, and 138-million subscribers. And the service is available in 92 countries. Click through to see the whole thing. Continue Reading →

Spotify talent acquisition: Duplass Brothers

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Brad Hill

We learned from Engadget that Mark and Jay Duplass have signed with Spotify to create Spotify-exclusive podcasts. This is not presented as an acquisition of the Duplass Brothers Productions firm, but that detail is unclear. What does seem clear is that the two men will jointly create new shows for Spotify, exclusively for Spotify distribution. Continue Reading →

Spotify announces video podcasts

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Brad Hill

On Spotify’s announcement blog, the company announced yesterday that video blogging is now native to the platform. The feature is not Spotify’s first foray in video presentation, but it is a new global feature for the company’s podcast service. This feature seems like a stage-setting for Joe Rogan’s video format, which moves exclusively to Spotify by end-of-year. Continue Reading →

“The Michelle Obama Podcast” announced as a Spotify exclusive

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Brad Hill

Spotify knows a magnetic star when it sees one. Last month, Joe Rogan. today, Michelle Obama. The audio platform has signed the former First Lady and memoir author for a conversational podcast that promises real-life inspiration. In the trailer (listen below) Obama plans to speak with members of her inner circle to start, then expand outward. Click through to hear the trailer. Continue Reading →

Spotify adds new podcast charts; we dive in

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Brad Hill

Spotify has offered podcast recommendation lists for a long time. today comes the announcement that the mobile apps (Android and iOS) now feature numbered lists — podcast rankings. The two flagship charts are Top Podcasts and Trending Podcasts — nothing innovative there, as other charting apps do the same. Click through for our experience prowling through the charts. Continue Reading →

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Michael Robertson: Is the Spotify Deal With Joe Rogan Illegal?

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Michael Robertson

by Michael Robertson

This guest contribution by iconic digital audio entrepreneur Michael Robertson digs into the U.S. copyright code and finds a statute which might relate to, and potentially invalidate, Spotify’s exclusive distribution deal with Joe Rogan. Continue Reading →

Spotify appears to be increasing the subscriber lead over Apple Music (Statista)

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Brad Hill

“Spotify Keeps Apple Music at Arm’s Length” is the title of a new graph sent to us by Statista. The upshot is that Spotify appears to be reaching for a 2-to-1 subscriber advantage over Apple Music. Continue Reading →

“What was that promo code again?” Spotify testing a universal answer

Posted on June 22, 2020 by Brad Hill

Spotify, the global audio listening platform which is grabbing chunks of the podcast industry through acquisition, is also applying its customary tech chops to improving advertising effectiveness … while making life a little bit smoother for discount-minded consumers. The prospective feature is called “In-App Offers,” and is basically a link on a podcast’s show page which leads to an advertiser’s discounted offering. Tap through for details. Continue Reading →

Stock chart update: SPOT, SIRI, IHRT, ETM

Posted on June 19, 2020 by Brad Hill

Here is the latest in our perio;dic update of major audio stock performance. In the chart below, we see the violent fluctuations in stock value for Spotify (SPOT), SiriusXM (SIRI), iHeartMedia (IHRT), and Entercom (ETM). These four companies embody numerous audio creation, distribution, and technology entities, including: Gimlet Media, Parcast, Anchor, Pandora, AdsWizz, Simplecast, iHeartPodcast Network, Stuff Media, Cadence13, RADIO.com, and Pineapple Street Studios. Continue Reading →

“The Show Must Be Paused” in Apple Music and Spotify

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Brad Hill

During fast-moving upheaval, one initiative strives to create stillness: “The Show Must Be Paused,” a plea started by two Atlantic Records execs , directed at the music industry, to publicly recognize racism generally, and the deaths of blacks at the hands of police specifically. Apple Music and Spotify are both participating. Continue Reading →