ESPN’s 30 for 30 podcast series (announced in RAIN News in March) launched yesterday, and the company released a sponsor lineup that includes four national brands. The announcement is significant as the podcast economy is at an inflection point, attempting to evolve beyond its reliance on DRM (direct response marketing) advertisers, and draw money from the big marketing budgets of national branding campaigns. Continue Reading
Personalized playlists are one of the big highlight features for streaming services, and the offerings frequently wind up overlapping. Apple Music has a new addition to its playlists called My Chill Mix. This list of 25 tracks will be updated weekly on Sundays. Continue Reading
TargetSpot has announced a partnership with AppNexus, an independent advertising technology company for real-time sale of digital advertising. This arrangement will see AppNexus advertising partners able to programmatically buy targeted digital audio ads from TargetSpot’s inventory. Continue Reading
UK teens are heavy music consumers on digital and streaming platforms. BPI and the ERA commissioned a study from MIDiA Research about the music habits of Generation Z, which includes millennials up to age 19. The report noted trends about their musical platforms of choice as well as other online behaviors. Continue Reading
Along with the recent shifts to leadership, Pandora is planning to shut down its operations in Australia and New Zealand. Those two markets are the only ones where Pandora has expanded outside the United States. Operation in those regions will end over the coming few weeks. The shut-down is expected to impact about 1.2 million subscribers. Continue Reading
ABC Radio announced a new podcast called Motivated. The program, hosted by ABC News Correspondent Mara Schiavocampo, will address health, wellness, nutrition and spirituality. New episodes will air weekly on Mondays. Continue Reading
Public Radio International announced a partnership with Slate Magazine to expand the podcast development and digital distribution for Studio 360. The show is a Peabody Award-winning program about creativity, pop culture, and the arts. Studio 360 launched in 2000 and is hosted by novelist and journalist Kurt Andersen. The show had previously been a production between PRI and WNYC. Continue Reading
The UK’s Official Charts Company announced a structural change aimed at avoiding one artist dominating the ranks. Beginning in July, artists will only be allowed to have their three most popular tracks included on the charts. Track popularity will be based on sales and streams. Continue Reading
B2B music provider 7digital has entered a partnership with SoundHound. The two companies will collaborate to develop digital music solutions. SoundHound’s Houndify platform will provide voice AI and speech recognition tools that 7digital will use to offer customers more experiences centered around music. Continue Reading
Reported yesterday and confirmed this morning, founder and CEO Tim Westergren has left Pandora. He steps down from the chief executive position, and exits the board of directors. President Mike Herring likewise leaving. The CFO is now interim CEO. A new board member takes a seat, as directors start searching for the next CEO. Continue Reading
Spanish online radio association Aero announced the launch of its first directory. The online radio directory incorporates nearly a thousand entities, including radio stations, content platforms, and aggregators. Continue Reading
Tidal is joining the bandwagon of streaming music sites to expand into podcast hosting. Tidal On Air is its new podcast hub, which has already signed on five shows centered on music. Their first episodes will be available exclusively to Tidal subscribers. Continue Reading