‘Efficiencies’ Define Spotify’s Q4 Results As Markets Take Note
Market optimism is growing in the newly-leaner Spotify, which unveiled its Q4 2023 financials on Tuesday. Following a year marked by layoffs, royalty policy reworking, and podcasting troubles, the company finished far ahead of analyst expectations.
iHeart’s Black Information Network Launches First Podcast
iHeartMedia's Black Information Network has unveiled its premiere podcast, Black Land, aimed at exploring the nuanced lives of individuals within the Black community through their remarkable stories of adversity and achievement.
Former iHeart Exec Outlines Podcasting’s New Rules
Despite sinking CPMs and mass layoffs across podcasting, one former iHeartMedia executive is bullish on the state of the industry. Chris Peterson served as iHeart's EVP of Podcasting during the HowStuffWorks acquisition, going on to found DWNLOAD Media.
AI Ad Tech Expands Personalized Audio Geo-Targeting Abilities
As the FCC revives the FM geo-targeting debate, digital audio advertising firm AMA has unveiled a new enhanced artificial intelligence "Long List" feature to its Studio.AI product. Advertisers can specify up to 100,000 locations to have them inserted into personalized ads.
Publishers Celebrate Spotify-Driven Audiobook Surge
Spotify's recent venture into the audiobook market is paying off for both the streamer and for publishing houses. Data from Bookstat reveals that Spotify captured an 11% market share of the US audiobook market in Q4 of 2023.
Union Blasts Audacy’s “Dehumanizing, Cruel” Podcast Layoffs
The Pineapple Street Union, representing members at Audacy's Pineapple Street Studios, has expressed its disappointment and anger over the broadcaster's decision to cut 25% of the studio's workforce. Eleven of the twelve layoffs were WGA East members.
Podcast Ad CPMs Stagnate In Sluggish Q1 Start
Libsyn has released the Podcast Advertising Rates for January 2024, showcasing the top-earning categories alongside the most accessible for marketers. The average cost per thousand for a 60-second ad fell more than a dollar per ad in the last month.
Acast Yanks YouTube’s Podcast Access Over Monetization Rights
Podcast hosting and sales company Acast has blocked YouTube's access to its RSS feeds saying that the burgeoning podcast platform's requirement that all submitted podcasts be free of ads clashes with its revenue model.
Audacy Makes Podcasting RIF As Restructuring Continues
Audacy has announced cuts to its podcast division, laying off around 25% of its Pineapple Street Studios staff. The company will be eliminating approximately 12 roles, as reported to Bloomberg by an anonymous source close to the matter.
iHeart Announces A Trio Of Podcast Series Updates
iHeartPodcasts has released updates on three podcasts, ranging from a focus on pop culture's strangest moments to searching for a modern media recluse. The news also includes the rebranding of sports personality Jay Glazer's series.
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Lifetime Leadership Award Honoree Harvey Nagler
The $250 Question: Inflation and Contesting
