RAIN News

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What do audiobook listeners want from narration?

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Brad Hill

Last week we covered an interesting research finding from Edison Research. We learned that fiction audiobook consumers prefer AI to human narration … some of the time, in some ways. This week we attended a deep-dive webinar produced by Edison and sponsored by Spoken: The AI Audiobook Company. Hosted by Edison VP Megan Lazovick and Spoken founder/CEO Philip Marshall, It provided details of the underlying research conducted by Edison. Continue Reading →

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RAIN Notes: September 9

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Brad Hill

Strenthened reach Acast
Bolstered capabilitiesFlightcast Continue Reading →

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NEW: Charting vertical dramas

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Brad Hill

Hollywood Reporter has launched a Microdrama Chart, believed to be the first ranking of vertical drama. (Vertical dramas are Small-format video stories meant to be consumed on smartphones.) Owl & Co produces a data engine which powers the chart. Continue Reading →

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RAIN Notes: September 8

Posted on September 8, 2026 by Brad Hill

Bring it on Edison Research
Ready to signAM Radio mandate Continue Reading →

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A case study of vinyl album success results

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Brad Hill

K-Pop band BTS is making news with its latest album, titled ARIRANG. Using a vinyl-first product strategy, and partnering with data and insights company Luminate (which powers the Billboard music charts), a case study of vinyl album success results. Continue Reading →

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AM Radio law advances to next stage in lengthy process

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Brad Hill

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act which would stop car makers from removing AM reception from new vehicles, is inching along its laborious path to ratification. Continue Reading →

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Fiction audiobook consumers prefer AI to human narration … sometimes, in certain ways

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Brad Hill

In a large research study in which Edison Research surveyed over a thousand U.S. adults audiobook listeners, respondents preferred AI-driven multi-voice performances to traditional single-voice narration. There is another meaningful result which might surprise many. Continue Reading →

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Streaming leads music revenue report; RIAA mid-year update

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Brad Hill

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the influential trade and advocacy group, has released its mid-year report. It’s a state-of-the-industry snapshot that also includes a ten-year view of revenue growth. Today’s release puts the 2026 mid-year status in a larger 10-year perspective Continue Reading →

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AI vs. Human audiobook narration: Listeners decide

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Brad Hill

In one of the most intriguing surveys we’ve seen in a field which generates surveys aplenty, Edison Research at SSRS has announced AI vs. Human Audiobook Narration: A Blinded Survey of 1,000 Listeners. This piece of work will be presented via webinar. Click for details and registration link. Continue Reading →

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RAIN Time Travel: September 2016 headlines

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Brad Hill

In this monthly feature, we look back one decade and revisit selected headlines. Today: highlights from September 2016.
Continue Reading →

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Podscribe launches new method of measuring advertiser success in YouTube

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Brad Hill

This morning advertisement measurement company Podscribe launched a framework for measuring conversion of YouTube advertising. A process called probabilistic modeling comes into play. Click for details. Continue Reading →

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Triton Digital links with RCS for programmatic advertising on radio

Posted on August 31, 2026 by Brad Hill

Global audio tech and services company Triton Digital has partnered with broadcast software provider RCS for programmatic advertising on over-the-air radio. This linkage enables broadcasters to make their over-the-air ad inventory available through the same workflows advertisers already use to buy streaming audio and podcast inventory. Continue Reading →