RAIN Notes: December 23
Back to (New) Normal – Edison Research
Car/AM Predictions (AI) – NAB Continue Reading
New study lowers value expectation of YouTube for podcast advertising
Released on the cusp of the new year, a new study from podcast advertising agency Oxford Road seeks to debunk any assumption that YouTube simulcasting of podcasts is necessarily more effective than original audio for advertisers. Continue Reading
iHeart jumps on the video podcast train with built-in support
iHeartMedia announces the addition of video podcast production to its existing audio toolset. The video workflow is described as “seamless.” Creators will be enabled for audio and video distribution in both the app and web versions of iHeartRadio. In this announcement, iHeart is careful to honor the primacy of audio.” Continue Reading
Deloitte doubles down on video pod prediction
Finance and consulting giant Deloitte has doubled down on a podcast prediction, issuing the same basic forecast in a Wall Street Journal column, and on its home website. Video Podcast Market Poised for Booming Growth is the WSJ header. As… Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: December 23
Predictions (human) – CoHost
Predictions (AI) – ManticAI
Renewal – DAX Continue Reading
iHeartMedia plans video podcast rollout
iHeartMedia announced its intent to add video podcasting to its creative platform. The rollout date is obscure, defined by iHeart as “early 2026.” No added cost to creators, and the feature will be implemented with standard RSS. Three important features keep the podcaster in control. Continue Reading
CRB raises mechanical royalty for music creators — gradually over five years
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board has announced new mechanical royalty rates for the creative side of the music industry — songwriters and music publishers. The new rates apply to 2026 and 2027. They are the final two years of the current rate-setting period. Click for details. Continue Reading
Acast acquires key German podcast studio
Global podcast giant Acast has acquired Wake Word Studios, an audio and video production house based in Munich and Berlin. Wake Word gives up its indie identity in the deal, rebranding as Acast Creative Studios and bolstering its presence in the German market. Continue Reading
Video, narrative, and ?? Three (kind of) podcast trends
Audio research company Signal Hill Insights has released a findings note with three key trends articulated by company President and Partner Paul Riismandel. Much of this report is concerned with narrative podcasting metrics. Continue Reading
U.S. government threatens Europe with action against firms including Spotify
The Office of the United States Trade Representative has issued a warning to the European Union and certain Member States, and cited Spotify as a threatened EU service provider. Continue Reading
Edison Research adds demographic info to Golden Globes podcast nominees
In the wake of the Golden Globes podcast nominations (RAIN (RAIN HERE), Edison Research is layering its own demographic information atop the honorees. This exercise adds an interesting dimension to each of the of the nominated podcasts. Continue Reading
RAIN Notes: December 16
Humans outnumbered – David Cohen (IAB)
Having it all – Howard Stern Continue Reading