RAIN News

Gimlet co-founders open up about sale to Spotify

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Anna Washenko

The audio industry is still adapting to the new landscape of podcasting after Spotify’s move to acquire both Gimlet Media and Anchor. We’ve heard outside opinions and analysis of the deal, but now there’s some information straight from the horse’s mouth. Gimlet co-founders Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber sat down with Recode, fittingly on an episode of the podcast Recode Media With Peter Kafka, to discuss their motivations for selling, Spotify, and the future of their operation. Continue Reading →

Billboard Power 100 reflects streaming success and lots of label love

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Billboard has released its annual Power 100 list, ranking some of the music industry’s most influential leaders. The major labels took several high-ranking spots, but the impact of streaming made its presence known on this chart. Continue Reading →

Spotify will soon suspend or terminate listeners using ad blockers

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Spotify is seeing its ad-supported revenue growing, and it wants to keep it that way. The company has updated its user guidelines with new language to prevent ad blockers, as well as bots and what it broadly calls “fradulent streaming activities.” Continue Reading →

Round up of reactions to Spotify+Gimlet+Anchor

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Anna Washenko

The news that Spotify is acquiring both Gimlet Media and Anchor turned the podcast world on its head. Podnews, the daily briefing of podcasting developments published by James Cridland, collected several of the industry’s reactions. Continue Reading →

Podcast network Himalaya launches in U.S. with $100 million at its back

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Companies are still pushing into podcasting at a fast and furious pace, and the latest new venture is coming to the field with an impressive bank. Himalaya is a podcast network launching in the U.S. this week with initial funding of $100 million. Continue Reading →

Sonos posts most profitable quarter yet, but CFO retirement pushes stock prices down

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Sonos is starting off the 2019 fiscal year with some strong numbers, with Q1 marking the speaker company’s most profitable to date. Despite the good performance, an executive departure has made the market skittish. Continue Reading →

Peter I. Morris takes over CEO role at PodcastOne

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Brad Hill

Peter I. Morris, a media executive in digital, film, and television, has been named CEO of L.A.-based PodcastOne, filling a top role which had been empty for several months. In a pre-announcement conversation at the company’s Beverly Hills office, Founder and Chairman Norm Pattiz extolled Morris’ appointment to RAIN News. Continue Reading →

DAX signs exclusive U.S. ad deal for Slacker Radio

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Anna Washenko

DAX, the digital audio advertising arm of Global, has signed on as the exclusive sales partner for Slacker Radio in the U.S. Under the terms of the deal, DAX will package Slacker’s inventory across its digital audio network and its advertisers will have greater access to the genres, radio formats, and listener demographics within Slacker. Continue Reading →

Spotify posts first-ever quarterly operating profit, reaches 96 million subs

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Spotify reported its fourth-quarter earnings, and the streaming company closed out 2018 with a positive performance. Quarterly revenue rose 30% on-year to €1.495 billion. The period also included Spotify’s first ever positive result for operating income at €94 million. Continue Reading →

Gimme Radio opens crowdfunding investment to expand beyond metal music

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Anna Washenko

Gimme Radio, the digital music company that made waves with an online radio station specializing in all metal music all the time, is looking to expand. The company has launched a crowdfunding effort on Seed Invest, seeking a round of $1.5 million. The expansion will take the proof of concept in its metal station and apply it to other genres. Continue Reading →

Global’s DAX enters voice-activated ad deal with Instreamatic.ai

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Anna Washenko

DAX, the digital ad exchange of radio company Global, has entered a partnership with Instreamatic.ai, a specialist in voice-activated ads, centered on interactive audio spots. The arrangement will let DAX advertisers place ads with verbal prompts in the mobile apps for streaming audio services such as TuneIn and AccuRadio. Continue Reading →

In blockbuster podcast deal, Spotify acquires Gimlet Media and Anchor

Posted on February 6, 2019 by RAIN News Staff

Spotify has acquired not one, but two podcasting companies. The rumor mill hinted this week that the streaming company was in negotiations for podcast producer Gimlet Media, and that is one of the purchases. But Spotify has also acquired Anchor, a straightforward service that lets anyone start creating, distributing, and monetizing podcasts. Continue Reading →