RAiN Notes: May 26
– One step at a time (David Oxenford)
– The benefits of relaxation (David Oxenford again) Continue Reading
“Pennies on the dollar” — AI in the audiobook narration business
We asked the audiobook narration community in Reddit how AI is affecting the freelance narration business. Much of the audition and contracting business transpires in Amazon’s ACX platform, which for years as served as the main open-to-all audition and contracting… Continue Reading
Four AI radio stations demonstrate potential and peril
Andon Labs, a San Francisco research company that evaluates AI safety and capability, turned its attention on the susceptibility of radio to AI takeover. The company created four online radio stations fully operated by AI models. The AI general managers (as it were) received budgets to acquire music, program schedules, sell ad space, take customer calls, and voice the DJs. Results? Impressive and attention-getting. Continue Reading
AI platform sued by music group for using their songs as training material
It had to happen. Instrumental group The American Dollar has brought suit against AI music platform Suno, alleging that the AI company used their songs as training material for Suno’s AI music-creation models. The music group is represented by Poseidon… Continue Reading
Edison Research schedules “The Podcast Consumer 2026” release webinar
Edison Research, a subsidiary of SSRS since its acquisition in October, has announced that The Podcast Consumer 2026 will be presented in a webinar. Using the original research resources for which Edison is famous, we are expecting a comprehensive view of podcast consumption in the U.S. Click for registration details. Continue Reading
Sports & Comedy over-represent in top podcast spending list (Magellan AI)
We learn two broad lessons from the release of Magellan AI’s two new rankers: The top spenders in podcast advertising fall almost exclusively in the Sports and Comedy categories. The top month-over-month budget increases are in the hundreds of percentages. Click for details. Continue Reading
iHeart/Netflix collaborate on radio-to-Netflix project
The Breakfast Club, a hit morning radio show starring Charlamagne tha God, DJ Envy, and Jess Hilarious, will expand with a live simulcast to Netflix starting June 1. It will be the first daily live program to run on Netflix. Continue Reading
Triton Digital seeks to solve audio’s lag in programmatic buying
Triton Digital says that the audio business lags in the programmatic arena; the company calls it “a blind spot.” The Sounder AI platform is a remedy with which Triton promises greater precision and a cleaner path to scale for audio budgets. The Trade Desk is involved. Continue Reading
Radio Hall of Fame’s new inductees
The Museum of Broadcast Communications announced its selection of eight inductees to the Radio Hall of Fame. (One is co-Chair.) Continue Reading
Two award programs for Spanish podcasts
It’s not called the Spanish Podcast Awards, but the podcasts are in Spanish. Spotify is the producer. Fans vote to determine winners. Continue Reading
Jonas Brothers enter podcasting with iHeart
American pop band Jonas Brothers are entering into podcasting with a weekly video show called “Hey Jonas!.” It’s personal and biographical, covering their brotherhood and personal lives during their touring career. Exec producers are Amy Sugarman and Danielle Romo. Sugerman… Continue Reading
Amazon’s Alexa+ Now produces AI podcasts en masse.
Amazon’s Alexa+ virtual assistant has been conversationally answering user questions since 2014. Now, in a dramatic and consequential upgrade, Alexa+ has been upgraded to allow users to generate a conversational answer staged by AI-generated co-hosts. Continue Reading