“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
Triton Digital released its latest 4-week Podcast Report for LATAM. The company notes that 12 new shows entered the top-100 ranker. This report covers the period from April 13 through May 10. In the LATAM effort, unlike the U.S. Podcast Report, top networks are not included. The top show owns a gigantic lead over the other 99. Continue Reading
We received a note from PRX with the news that the audio network has scored distribution rights for Latino USA, a national news and cultural affairs program, for release to 220 public radio stations across the U.S. The Latino USA podcast (see it HERE) will join PRX’s portfolio of on-demand audio. The program is anchored by journalist and Futuro Media Group founder Maria Hinojosa. Continue Reading
Times Radio, a new 24-hour news station created by Rupert Murdoch’s Wireless Group in collaboration with The Times news organization. We see a 24-hour schedule in this all-out BBC competitor, and archived shows (“catch-up”) for time-shifted listening. The website also promotes a slate of traditional, stand-alone podcasts. Continue Reading
In its first Latino Podcast Listener Report, Edison Research revealed a raft of statistics about a key American listening segment. Twenty-five percent of U.S. Latinos are monthly podcast listeners. Perhaps more important, 20% are weekly listeners, nearly matching the percentage of the total U.S. (13+) population. Continue Reading
In a press release from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Triton Digital is announcing a new partnership in its globe-spanning relationships. ADTIMA, the Vietnamese company which owns and operates the ZingMP3 online music platform, has selected Triton to monetize its ZingMP3 platform. Continue Reading
A new venture, Podation, is readying for launch. Podation provides “Pay Per Listen” monetization to podcasters. The idea here is to lure the long tail of podcasters away from automated podcast advertising as a business model. Instead, Podcation offers a way to carve out selected content that users pay to hear. Podation provides the presentation and transaction tools.
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If time seems to fly, consider this: A new five-year royalty period (2021-2025) for statutory payments from music streaming services to recorded music owners is approaching. The royalty period and the legal process which precedes it are nicknamed “Web V,” as it will be the fifth such royalty period regulated by the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. There might be a delay. Two pieces of news have just been posted in a new Order from the CRB. Continue Reading
The British public broadcaster has rebranded its production division, formerly BBC Radio & Music Production, which relaunched today as BBC Audio. This is part of a widespread de-platforming of radio and broader reconceptualization as audio. Four people staff the new unit, headed by Clare McGinn, previously Head of Production for BBC Radio 4 in Bristol. McGinn is a career BBC’er. Continue Reading
Burgeoning podcast network ActionPark Media, helmed by actor-director Kevin Connolly, is partnering with ad-tech specialist DAX (a division of UK-headquartered Global), to build audience and monetization for a growing slate of shows. Connolly is known for playing the character E in Entourage. ActionPark Media is starting up with an existing portfolio of eight podcasts. Continue Reading
This is the debut of Jeff Umbro’s weekly LinkedIn column, Podcast Perspective, in RAIN News. Jeff is the CEO of The Podglomerate podcast network. In this column, he reviews recent industry news, and interviews Chris Morrow, head of The Loud Speakers Podcast Network. Continue Reading
Podcast ad-rep firm True Native Media has hired a new VP of National Sponsorships, Laurel Earhart. Earhart comes from Entravision, where she was Senior Director of Sales. The hires come in what founder HeatherOsgood characterizes as an expansive growth period for her company and for podcasting. Continue Reading