RAIN Notes: Friday, March 26
Triton Digital intros Streaming Metrics for the Netherlands
Triton Digital has expanded its well-known and often consulted Streaming Metrics rankers, adding a Netherlands-specific product. The new addition is launched with reports for January and February. The new Netherlands product is more complicated than the familiar U.S. reports. Continue Reading
Deezer seeks to democratize high-rez streaming, adding families to HiFi plans
Deezer’s push into high-rez audio streaming takes an additional step now, as the company announces an expansion of the HiFi listening plan to families. Five additional accounts can be added to an existing HiFi subscription for five dollars. Continue Reading
Samsung launches Samsung Podcasts feature for Galaxy phone users
Samsung has launched a podcast listening component to some of its phones, appropriately called Samsung Podcasts. The company says it’s for “users who want easier access to their favorite podcasts.” The feature is limited to certain Galaxy phones. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: Thursday, March 25
Jottings of note:
— New exec hire: A Million Ads
— Radio HoF open voting
— Voice AI webinar
— Manoush zigzags Continue Reading
Pod Drop: Winding paths, deep questions, and basketball
New podcasts of note.
The Path HERE (Scott Savlov)
Takeline (Crooked Media)
Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver (iHeartRadio)
Will Packer Media partners with iHeartMedia for new podcasts
Will Packer Media is entering a formal and longer-range partnership to create a slate of scripted and unscripted podcasts for iHeart. Will Packer is a Hollywood producer. James Lopez is his production partner in the Fight Night podcast, a true crime show which was placed in iHeartRadio in 2020. The first spawn of this new arrangement will be an urban drama scripted series centered in present-day Oakland, California. It is set to launch in the second quarter of 2021. Continue Reading
Podsights ad validation company raises $4M and charts business growth
Podcasting attribution company Podsights has announced a $4-million fundraise from existing and new investors. Staff expansion is in the works, and the announcement includes several job listings. Also a growth chart. Continue Reading
Podcast Radio’s latest expansion: Birmingham
Podcast Radio, the UK all-podcast, 24/7 radio station on the DAB platform, has informed us that Birmingham has been added to the station reach. It is Britain’s second largest city. The expansion builds on the station’s existing footprint covering London, Surry, Manchester, and Glasgow. Continue Reading
Podcast-to-radio: Success for AM talkers in Westwood One
Migrating podcasts to radio is sometimes hindered by radio’s rigid hourly clock. Westwood One has found success crossing over two political talk stars, Dan Bongino and Ben Shapiro, into radio syndication. Click for details and metrics. Continue Reading
NPR rises, iHeartRadio dips in Triton Streaming Metrics (January)
Triton Digital’s Streaming Metrics monthly ranker of measured streaming entities is out for January streaming, and shows iHeartRadio in its newly established leading position, but with a dip over the past two months. NPR, meanwhile, approached 100,000 Average Active Sessions (AAS), Triton’s measurement of average simultaneous streams. Click through for the chart. Continue Reading
Spotify vs. Netflix: User growth 2015 – 2020. Spotify wins total; Netflix wins subs.
Spotify has only 76% the number of monthly paid subscribers as Netflix, but 31% more total users than Netflix subscribers. Further, Spotify is growing monthly subscribers at a quicker rate than Netflix, closing the gap year-over-year since 2015, though at a decelerating pace. Click through for details and graphic. Continue Reading