Month: May 2019

Sony Music Entertainment will Make Podcasts

~ jen

Leading podcast developers Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer and Sony Music Entertainment announced a new joint venture that will find and develop original podcast talent and programming.

Davidson is co-founder of NPR’s Planet Money, and an award-winning contributor to This American Life, and Mayer is a top podcast and public radio producer formerly of Stitcher, Panoply Media and WNYC among others.

The joint venture will create and distribute original scripted and unscripted programming across multiple podcast genres and subject matters. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Davidson and Mayer will lead the yet-to-be named company and focus on cultivating dynamic talent and unique storytelling using Sony Music’s expertise in content creation and supporting new technologies for monetization.

The joint venture brings to the podcast community Davidson’s and Mayer’s expertise in identifying and developing premium content alongside Sony Music’s best-in-class capabilities in marketing, sales and distribution, business development, audio production, and data and analytics.

Variety reported that Sony Music owns 50% of the venture and is investing an undisclosed sum. Davidson and Mayer each hold a 25% stake.

Soundtrap for Storytellers Helps Make Podcasting Easier

~ jen

Soundtrap, a Spotify company, announced Soundtrap for Storytellers, a cloud-based one-stop shop for high-quality collaborative podcast creation that provides podcasters with a powerful, efficient and user-friendly recording and production process.

Now available globally, Soundtrap for Storytellers is a comprehensive podcast solution that offers all of the following features in the same service: recording; remote multi-track interviewing with video chat; smart transcribing and editing of the spoken-word audio file as a text document; full audio production capabilities, the publishing of its transcript to optimize SEO, and the publishing of the podcast to Spotify.

Equipped with a wide range of intuitive features, Soundtrap for Storytellers allows podcasters to focus on the art of storytelling by significantly reducing the time and investment typically needed to make podcasts sound professional. The full suite of services can be accessed via desktop, and a select set of recording and editing features is available on iOS and Android.

Tools available include:

Interactive Transcripts/Editing Studio: Soundtrap for Storytellers saves hours of time by enabling users to transcribe and edit the spoken-word audio file as you would in a text document, eliminating the need to listen to the podcast over and over again. For now, transcription is only available in English.

Collaborate and Remotely Interview Guests: Soundtrap for Storytellers enables podcasters to seamlessly collaborate with others from anywhere around the world. The platform is cloud-based and allows multiple people to talk, record (on separate tracks) and work on the same podcast by sending a link to join the session immediately.

Increase Discoverability: Publish your podcast transcript to increase SEO, drive traffic to your podcast, and gain new fans.

Sound Effects: Create your own jingle and complete your production with sound design using Soundtrap’s built-in instruments and loops, and access an enormous sound library without having to leave the studio.

Soundtrap for Storytellers is available now. Pricing begins at $14.99/month and an annual plan is available starting at $11.99/month.

Audacity 2.3.2 has been Released

~ jen

Podcasters who use Audacity need to know that Audacity 2.3.2 has been released. Audacity 2.3.2 replaces all previous versions for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Improvements include:

  • Audacity now includes the LAME mp3 encoder. Previously, due to now expired patents, you had to download it separately.
  • There is a new “Select” button in the track panel to select the whole track.
  • Audacity mod-script-pipe for driving Audacity from Python now comes with Audacity and can be enabled via preferences.
  • Type to Create a Label is now off by default.
  • A plug-in installer for Nyquist now provides a file browser for selecting ‘.NY’ files to install.

More details about the new improvements in Audacity 2.3.2 can be found in the Wiki Overview.

Over 20 bugs in 2.3.1 fixed, including:

  • Audacity 2.3.1 would crash if append-recording to a collapsed track.
  • Many accessibility bugs on macOS fixed.

More information about bug fixes in Audacity 2.3.2 can be found in Release Notes 2.3.2.

PRX Seeks a Creative Services Manager

~ jen

The PRX Marketing Department is seeking a Creative Services Manager.

PRX Marketing Department is looking for a creative and experienced brand professional to oversee all creative design, graphics, and branding aesthetic. This is an exciting and fast-paced position that supports marketing, distribution, sales, operations, IT and fundraising departments and our podcast network, Radiotopia. This individual acts as a critical team member who helps lead the creative development and implementation of PRX’s brand strategy.

Some responsibilities include:

  • Assigns projects to vendors, graphic artists, PR and Marketing Agencies; production houses, utilizing current workload, skill sets and experiences
  • Translate creative briefs into design assets and systems that meet business goals as defined by CMO
  • Produce monthly webinars in collaboration with content and station services departments
  • Ensure producers have a style guide book and kick-off onboarding by walking new and returning producers through the process
  • Monitor producers and shows to ensure compliance with brand and logo use
  • Build and distribute social media toolkits with regular messaging, graphics, audiograms, approved photos, etc.
  • Excellent design an graphics portfolio
  • Acts as a liaison between marketing, production, fundraising, ad sales departments and Radiotopia Network and its producers
  • Builds and maintains PRX, Radiotopia, and PRX Podcast Garage style guidelines

This position is based in Boston, Massachusetts. PRX employees are offered health, dental and life insurance benefits, short- and long-term disability, a 401K retirement plan, and paid parental leave.

Visit the website PRX website where this job listing is posted for more information and to apply for the position.

Anchor Voice Messages Now Available on Web and Mobile

~ jen

Anchor announced that listeners of your Anchor podcast can send you audio messages from any device, browser, or in the show notes of any podcast app. You can put the audio messages right into your podcast. No app required.

How it works:

Listeners can tap a link in your show notes to send you Voice Messages, no matter what device or browser they’re using, or which app they use to listen. They can also click the button on your podcast’s Anchor profile. This will take them to a window where they can record a message up to one minute long. Once they hit send, they’re done! You’ll be notified every time someone sends you a Voice Message.

You’ll find your incoming Voice Messages in the creation screen on Anchor’s mobile app and web dashboard. From here, you can listen to all the messages your listeners have sent, and immediately add any into your next podcast episode. For any messages that you want to include, you can add them as segments in your Episode Builder and easily place them wherever you want in your episode.

Anchor did something that I believe will prevent people from using the Voice Messages feature to harass or threaten Anchor podcasters. Anchor does not permit anonymously sent Voice Messages. Senders will need to sign up or log into an Anchor account in order to send a message, so podcasters can see who the Voice Message is coming from.

Voxnest Audience Network is IAB Podcast Measurement Compliant

~ jen

Voxnest announced its Voxnest Audience Network (VAN), a first-of-its-kind marketplace for in-audio advertising inventory, is now certified by IAB Tech Lab for the new 2.0 measurement guidelines for reporting podcast downloads and listeners.

With VAN, Voxnest offers brands and advertisers the ability to target precise audiences through buys across bundles of content, curated based on proprietary data to deliver impressions from a specific demographic profile.

By successfully completing the IAB Podcast Measurement compliance review and being listed among a very select few who are pushing the podcast industry forward, is further proof that VAN delivers higher engagement and guarantees brand safety for advertisers.

Francesco Baschieri, President of Voxnest stated, “We created VAN as part of our ongoing commitment to increasing the value of audio publishing for content creators, advertisers and audiences alike. As audio advertising increases in popularity, having numbers that companies can trust is the first step in building a company’s credibility, and it is an honor to receive this certification from the IAB.”

ART19 Completed IAB Podcast Measurement Compliance

~ jen

ART19, a pioneer in dynamic ad serving and data targeting, is now IAB Tech Lab certified for the new 2.0 measurement guidelines for reporting podcast downloads, impressions and listeners.

ART19 is excited to be one of the few hosting and monetization companies officially certified by the IAB Tech Lab. IAB version 2.0 is a guarantee ART19 is measuring podcast metrics related to content and ad delivery with a uniform, standardized approach defined by the IAB. This additional rigor ensures ads are delivered in their entirety and specific thresholds are met when measuring content.

“We are excited that adoption of the Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines is gaining momentum and that ART19 is among a group that is taking the lead by having their implementations certified,” said Dennis Buchheim, SVP and GM of IAB Tech Lab. “Through the compliance process, we’re validating that there have been a number of inconsistencies across companies and that the guidelines will significantly benefit the industry by enabling participants to speak the same language.”

Long time ART19 customer Hernan Lopez, Founder & CEO of Wondery, commented “We’ve long been supporters of the IAB V2.0 standard, and commend ART19 for becoming IAB V2.0 certified.”

“We continue to best serve our publishing clients in giving them best in class metrics and reporting,” says Dan Jeselsohn, SVP of Digital Technology of ART19. “We also know these guidelines will help advertisers reach more listeners with ease. They can operate with comfort and scale knowing there is a transparent methodology for measurement being followed.”

Pandora Launched Desktop App for Mac

~ jen

Pandora announced that the Pandora desktop app for Mac is available now. The Windows version is “coming soon”.

Today, we’re excited to launch our new Pandora desktop app for Mac for listeners across all tiers of service who like to enjoy their personalized Pandora experience on their computers.

The Pandora desktop app gives users full-featured access to Pandora right from their Mac. It solves the problem of having to flip through browser tabs.

New features have also been added:

  • Keyboard controls that let you play, pause, replay, skip, shuffle, or thumb up/thumb down songs right from your keyboard.
  • On-screen song notifications that graphically display the artists albums, and song titles for the music that’s currently playing.
  • App-based controls for Pandora’s new Pandora Modes feature, which lets you customize the music you hear on your Pandora stations using selectable “modes” including Crowd Faves, Deep Cuts, Newly-Released, Artist Only, and more.

Mac users can download the Pandora desktop app for Mac now. It requires macOS version 10.10 and above. Pandora says “stay tuned” for the launch of their new Pandora desktop app for Windows.

The information about the app doesn’t specifically say anything about podcasts, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the desktop app will exclude them. It has been said that Pandora (and Spotify) are hoping that podcasts will increase their revenue. Unlike music, podcasts can be streamed without requiring a company to pay for licensing fees.

AIR and Third Coast International Offer New Voice Scholarships

~ jen

AIR has teamed up with the Third Coast International Audio Festival to identify and cultivate a diverse roster of early-career talent to help programs, stations and networks connect with more ears, homes, and corners of America. The Third Coast Conference takes place in Chicago every year. There is a scholarship offered to help 15 recipients to attend.

The New Voices Scholarships provides 15 recipients with funding to travel to the annual Third Coast Conference in Chicago, Illinois. It will take place on October 31 – November 2, 2019. Those interested can apply for the scholarship on the AIR website. The deadline to submit is May 31, 2019.

They are seeking 15 daring makers from all corners of the country, especially individuals from underrepresented communities and groups.

Those chosen will receive a stipend of $1,500 to attend the 2019 Third Coast Conference, a complementary one-year AIR membership, and special opportunities and support at the conference as well as through the person’s career. All New Voice Scholars are gathered for a two-day retreat on Tuesday, October 29 and Wednesday, October 30, 2019, before the Third Coast Conference begins.

New Voice scholars will receive coaching, professional development support, and structured networking with leaders in the industry. New Voice Scholars will also join a robust alumni network of more than 200 journalists with diverse backgrounds, craft and experience.

More details:

All producers and program makers who self-identify as part of an underrepresented group(s) are eligible to apply. The focus of the Third Coast Conference is radio/audio, but they welcome applicants from the full range of disciplines and practice. All ages are welcome, but anyone younger than 18 will need an adult sponsor to sign off on their application and handle funds.

Underrepresented voices means people who represent groups that are not typically represented in the public media ecosystem. This could be based on a candidate’s race, gender, and class background and/or also vision. The goal is to find candidates who will bring an inclusive and dynamic mix to the conference, to the New Voices group, and to the industry in general.

Blubrry has Partial Download Reporting

~ jen

Blubrry hosted stats just got even better with Partial Download Reporting! You can find this brand new feature in your Stats Dashboard if you are a Blubrry Podcast Hosting customer.

Your pour your heart and passion into every podcast episode, hoping that hard work translates into a growing audience. And you track your podcast stats every episode. But how do you know if those downloads meant a listener downloaded the whole show? How do you know – quantitatively – if your audience paid attention from start to finish? Unless you know that, it can be difficult to improve your programming.

Blubrry was the first podcast host with an IAB Tech Lab Certified podcast stats platform. Partial Download Reporting is free as part of Blubrry Podcast Hosting customer’s hosted stats through 7/1/19. You can purchase this premium feature beginning July 1 (more details to come).

Partial Download Reporting helps podcasters understand their audience’s consumption patterns better. Blubrry’s proprietary system sifts through your downloaded data to determine which downloads were complete and which weren’t.

That means you’ll be able to tell when and where you might have lost your audience’s attention. Which means you have another tool in your arsenal to keep improving your podcast content, pacing, and format.