The Pocket Casts podcast listening app is making its debut on Amazon Echo smart speakers with its first Alexa skill. This update will see shows be accessed on the hardware with voice commands. Continue Reading
The RIAA has elected a new board of directors that will serve their posts until 2022. Many labels are represented on the board, which is the latest development in a continuing shift to the trade organization’s leadership. Mitch Glazier was officially instated as the RIAA’s chairman and CEO, and Michele Ballantyne was named as its COO in January. Continue Reading
Cadence13 and Panoply Media have entered a new partnership that will see Cadence13 bring its podcast roster to the Megaphone for distribution and campaign management. Megaphone is the podcast hosting and ad-insertion platform from Panoply Media. Continue Reading
Apple Music may be getting a bigger smart speaker footprint soon. An eagle-eyed reader of MacRumors noticed that Apple’s music streaming service is now listed within the latest update to the Google Home iOS app, but it can’t currently be connected to one of the smart home devices from that product line. Continue Reading
Pandora has introduced a new feature for creating playlists that combine music and podcasts or other spoken word content. The format is called Pandora Stories, and it’s being slowly rolled out in collaboration with a few celebrity curators. Continue Reading
iHeartMedia has acquired Radiojar Information Technology, an online audio company based in Greece. Radiojar is a centralized, cloud-based platform for audio playout. Following the acquisition by iHeartMedia subsidiary RCS, Radiojar’s tools will be used at the media conglomerate to combine elements of bradcast radio into digital channels such as podcasts and music streaming. Continue Reading
Yesterday we noted that Gimlet Media appeared on Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” list, Advertising category. Today we notice that Cadence13 and Wondery are also honored, in the Media category. Continue Reading
The audio industry and broader media landscape are both shifting to accommodate the rising interest in podcasts. A series of graphs from podcasting data and analytics company Chartable show exactly how much the format has grown in content, audience, and revenue, and why we’re beginning a “golden age of podcasts.” Continue Reading
Cumulus Media has inked a deal with DAX, Global’s digital audio advertising branch. Under this multi-year arrangement, DAX will be the exclusive third-party sales representative for network radio streaming and national programmatic advertising alongside Cumulus’ in-house sales teams. Continue Reading
Spotify has been positioning itself to roll out in India for many months, but its plans have hit a big hurdle. Warner Music Group has sued the streaming service, filing an injunction against it playing music by its songwriters in India. Continue Reading
Audioboom announced that it has raised £1.5 million in support of its original programming efforts. The new equity funding stemmed from a subscription of new ordinary shares with a price of 1.3 pence per share. Continue Reading
James Cridland’s International Radio Trends is a column by the Australia-based radio futurologist. THIS WEEK: What does it mean when a major radio advertiser starts focusing on podcasts? Several features and stories from behind the scenes in the UK media industry. Continue Reading