Spotify released its Q2 financials and user metrics today. The story for investors seems to be disappointment with missed guidance around user growth. The story for everyone else appears as positive change in all key metrics. Click for graphics and charts. Continue Reading
L.A.-based Echoverse, a podcast creation studio specialized in science fiction, supernatural and fantasy audio dramas, is releasing its new portfolio of projects. “It’s been a very busy year,” said Mark Stern, head of the network who owns a long executive resume in SciFi production. Click for show summaries. Continue Reading
Audio industry advocacy group AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) is announcing today its 2021 group of “New Voices” — an annual award and career support program. Each of the 16 honorees will receive personal mentoring and networking opportunities over a five-month period, and a $1,000 stipend. Click for honoree profiles. Continue Reading
Digital media campaign buying and management company WideOrbit is remaking its executive ranks, as Bruce Roberts prepares to step down as President and EVP of Sales after 20 years. He will remain in the traditional role of advisor to the company. Seven new executive appointments flow into upper management at the company. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has announced a multi-year deal with Sports Illustrated. It includes original podcast production and the formation of Sports Illustrated Studios. iHeartPodcast Network will distribute the new shows, naturally, as well as SI’s existing portfolio. Most of the new shows will be launched in 2022; one new title scheduled for later this year. One of the new audio sports network podcasts will dip its toe into the true crime genre. Continue Reading
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