Month: December 2020

SPLiCE Studios Selects Triton Digital’s Omny Studio Podcast Platform

~ jen

Triton Digital, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry, and SPLiCE Studios, creator of English & Asian language audio content for broadcast, film, corporate and online media, announced that SPLiCE Studios has selected Triton’s Omny Studio platform to power the creation and distribution of their growing podcast strategy.

Through this partnership, SPLiCE Studios will utilize the comprehensive tools within Omny Studio to create, publish, and promote their evolving portfolio of original and third-party podcast content to audiences across a wide range of devices and platforms, including smart speakers, social media networks, smart phones, and more.

SPLiCE Studios will leverage the rich distribution tools within Omny Studio platform to provide an increasingly engaging experience for its audience, including customizable and multi-lingual web and embed players, automated transcriptions, audiograms, and more.

“We are thrilled to be leveraging Triton’s Omny Studio platform to help us create and manage our podcast content through a more optimized and seamless workflow,” said Kenn Delbridge, Owner & Sound Designer at SPLiCE Studios. “The platform contains all of the tools we need to create more content and distribute it to our loyal listeners in fun and engaging ways, which will undoubtedly help us further our reach and the reach of our clients.”

“We are proud to be providing SPLiCE Studios with the technology and support they need to further their podcast business,” said Sharon Taylor, Managing Director, Triton Digital. “We are confident that our platform will enable SPLiCE Studios to continue to grow and evolve while making the process of producing and sharing content more efficient”.

More Spotify Listeners Can Now Ask Alexa to Play Podcasts

~ jen

Last year, Spotify announced that U.S. listeners could ask their Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts. Now, listeners in 11 new markets – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India, Austria, and Ireland – can ask Alexa to do the same.

Podcasts delight, entertain, inform, and inspire people across the world, and there’s always more to stream, for both Free and Premium listeners. Now with Alexa, you can get listening to any of the millions more on Spotify—just by using your voice.

Ready to get started? Setup is easy, and only takes a few moments:

  • Go to the Amazon Alexa App.
  • Open the menu, head to Settings, then Music & Podcasts.
  • If Spotify is not connected, tap “Link New Service” and select Spotify”.
  • Link your Spotify account to your Alexa account.
  • If you’re in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, or the UK, tap “Default Services,” and then select
  • Spotify as the default podcast service.
  • Say “Alexa, play [your podcast of choice] podcast on Spotify” and get listening!

Spotify has created a short video to walk people through the process of connecting Spotify to Alexa. Not sure what podcast to start with? New podcasts from every market and in many languages are increasingly available on Spotify. For each of the 11 new markets that can play podcasts on Alexa, Spotify has a podcast suggestion.

Blubrry Adds JioSaavn and Gaana as New Podcast Distribution Platforms

~ jen

The wonderful thing about podcasts is that they’re available anywhere, anytime, all over the world. And sharing your podcast with podcast listeners in India became much easier this month after Blubrry integrated new platforms, Jiosaavn and Gaana.

Jiosaavn has 104 million users. Gaana has 150 million users. These are both primarily music-streaming platforms with a growing spoken-word library. With a massive audience of 250 million potential new listeners, podcasters have a significant reason to make sure that their podcast is available on these platforms. Blubrry Statistics include tracking for their platforms and India, so be sure to keep an eye on your statistics once you’ve submitted your show.

Luckily, it’s incredibly easy to submit. Any Blubrry user can add their podcast to these platforms, regardless of where they host their podcast. Simply head to the Blubrry Podcaster Dashboard and locate the Distribution section and then Destinations to and follow the prompt to submit your show.

“As a podcaster myself I’ve always enjoyed seeing where my listeners are located,” said Todd Cochrane, CEO of Blubrry. “Hosting a multitude of shows over the past 15 years, statistics have shown me that I have reached a global audience. This wouldn’t be possible without the open distribution model that makes podcasting special.”

Blubrry’s Destinations section has grown quite a bit in 2020. They’ve put in the time and effort to make sure that they’re helping podcasters expand on their podcast audiences. You, as the podcaster, create the content for the masses, and Blubrry does their best to make sure it is easy for you to get it out there.

NPR StoryCorps Podcast Launched New Season with New Host

~ jen

NPR announced that listeners can once again hear intimate, emotional, conversations from StoryCorps in their podcast feed. The StoryCorps Podcast has kicked off its new season with a new host, Kamilah Kashanie. Over 12 episodes, the StoryCorps Podcast will share stories from people who have lived through great change – from historical moments to personal ones – as they try to glean some wisdom from the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Listen to the first episode of the season, out now, on NPR One, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are available. New episodes will be available every Tuesday and excerpts air weekly on NPR’s Morning Edition on Fridays.

Taking over as host of StoryCorps Podcast is Kamilah Kashanie (she/her), a Production Assistant at StoryCorps. Kamilah’s love for radio is rooted in her desire to understand more about what makes us who we are. As a storyteller, she’s committed to starting conversations to make lasting changes in underserved communities, and to craft narratives that help give voice to individuals who would not have a platform to tell their stories. She’s also a graduate of the Transom Audio Story telling Workshop and the host of Feeling My Flo, a podcast about menstruation from PRX and Lantigua-Williams & Co.

Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has brought more than 600,000 Americans together to record conversations about their lives, pass wisdom from one generation to the next, and leave a legacy for the future. Until now, all of these interviews have taken place face-to-face.

StoryCorps Connect, a first-of-its-kind technology, makes it easy for people to continue participating in StoryCorps with loved ones while observing stay-at-home orders. It uses advanced online video-conferencing technology (built using the Vonage Video API) and wraparound instructional tools to give participants a free, high-quality platform to record StoryCorps conversations remotely. The conversations become instantly accessible and shareable through StoryCorps’ Online Archive and are preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Some of them will be shared in this season’s podcast episodes.

FOX News Media Podcast Catalog Available on Amazon Music

~ jen

FOX News Media announced FOX News Audio’s catalog of over 30 original podcasts are now available to stream on Amazon Music to its more than 55 million customers. Amazon Music customers can access podcasts in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android, on Amazon Echo devices, and at music.amazon.com/podcasts.

As a part of the new venture, FOX News Audio’s entire index of original podcasts, as well as FOX News Radio’s (FNR) three nationally syndicated talk shows, The Brian Kilmeade Show, FOX Across America with Jimmy Failla and The Guy Benson Show, are accessible to stream and download on the Amazon Music app. FOX News Podcasts’ robust lineup features a variety of news, opinion and lifestyle shows, including The FOX News Rundown, an hour-long news brief that premieres a new episode each weekday morning at 5AM/ET. In addition, Amazon Music customers will now have access to audio of FOX News Channel’s (FNC) top-rated 5PM/ET weekday ensemble talk show The Five.

A division of FOX News Media, FOX News Audio encompasses FOX News Radio (FNR), FOX News Podcasts and FOX News Headlines 24/7. According to Podtrac analysis, FOX News Podcasts ranked in the top 20 podcast publishers in the United States for the month of November 2020, based on unique listeners. Additionally, using the same metrics, the network’s FOX News Radio 5 Minute Newscast placed in the top 20 most popular podcasts.

FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and the direct-to-consumer digital streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International as well as the newly announced FOX News Books. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 18 consecutive years, while FBN currently ranks among the top business channels on cable. Owned by FOX Corporation, FOX News Media reaches 200 million people each month.

Food Network Obsessed is Food Network’s First Official Podcast

~ jen

Food Network announced that in just a few short weeks you’ll be able to listen to Food Network’s brand-new official podcast anywhere you get your podcasts!

That’s right. For the first time ever, we’re launching a podcast: Food Network Obsessed. Food blogger, journalist and TV host Jaymee Sire is set to be the host; you may recognize her from classes on Food Network Kitchen or from Beat Bobby Flay and Iron Chef Showdown. Like you and me, she’s a huge (like, HUGE) fan of Food Network. Not only does Jaymee love to watch Food Network shows, but she’s also a passionate eater and she enjoys dabbling in the kitchen as a home cook. So, no matter what you’re craving — be it behind-the-scenes gossip from the Chopped kitchen, interviews with your favorite food stars or chefs’ secrets for kitchen success — you’ll find it with Jaymee on Food Network Obsessed.

Each week Jaymee will welcome a new Food Network favorite as a guest of the podcast, and nothing will be off the menu as they dish on their road to success, their go-to guilty pleasures, and the trends they’re watching closely. Plus, get ready for the guests to share exclusive stories from set as well as insider scoop you’ll definitely want to hear.

Spotify and Archewell Audio Announced Multi-Year Partnership

~ jen

Archewell Audio, the newly-formed audio-first production company, created by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, and Megan, The Duchess of Sussex, has announced a multi-year partnership with Spotify to produce podcasts and shows that tell uplifting and entertaining stories – and inspire even more.

Under this exclusive partnership, Archewell Audio will leverage Spotify’s global reach – with 144 million Premium subscribers and 320 million monthly active users – to spotlight powerful and diverse voices and perspectives.

“What we love about podcasting is that it reminds all of us to take a moment and to really listen, to connect to one another without distraction,” The Duke and Dutchess of Sussex said in a joint statement. “With the challenges of 2020, there has never been a more important time to do so, because when we hear each other, and hear each other’s stories, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are.”

Ahead of the new year, Archewell Audio and Spotify’s Gimlet studio will release their first offering: a holiday special hosted by The Duke and Duchess that will features stories of hope and compassion from inspirational guests in celebration of the new year. In 2021, The Duke and Duchess will produce and host podcasts that build community through shared experiences and values.

The first complete series from Archewell Audio and Spotify is expected next year and will be available to stream for free on Spotify. Follow the show page here.

Third Coast has a Fundraiser

~ jen

Third Coast, a name you may recognize from their conferences and International Audio Festivals, is holding a fundraiser. It is an opportunity for you to invest in Third Coast’s future. At the time I am writing this blog post, the fundraiser has 21 days left. It has 97 supporters (so far) and has raised $8,620 (towards a $40,000 goal).

Here is some of the information about the fundraiser:

“This year marks 20 years of Third Coast. Thanks to all of you, we have been building community with audio makers across the globe and elevating stories that bring a shared sense of humanity for two decades. Since our founding, we have supported media makers by convening makers, recognizing talent, curating exceptional audio pieces, bringing the best work of all styles to local and worldwide audiences, and pushing the boundaries of what this industry should look like. We use these opportunities to raise the voices of those historically left out of the conversation: BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ identified, and folx living with disabilities. And we continue to grow…

“…And while our work to become an anti-racist organization and advocate for equity in the audio industry is clear – the truth is we need your help to make it happen. These are extremely challenging times for our organization. This past year has transformed the world, and for Third Coast, a small arts non-profit, we are particularly vulnerable. Despite applying for countless relief loans and grants, and pivoting our programming, we are in need of much more support to keep Third Coast’s doors open. Help Third Coast stay intact in 2021 and beyond…”

It is obvious that 2020 has been a difficult year for many of us. One way to make things a little bit better is to donate to a non-profit like Third Coast who stands up for marginalized groups. You can donate directly from the Third Coast website (linked above).

Estadão Selects Triton Digital to Power its Podcast Strategy

~ jen

Triton Digital, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry, announced that Estadão, the third largest newspaper in Brazil, has selected Triton’s powerful suite of podcast technology to power the management, monetization and measurement of its podcast content.

Through this partnership, Estadão will utilize Triton’s enterprise podcast platform, Omny Studio, to manage their portfolio of podcasts including Estadão Noticias, Noticia no Seu Tempo, and Colunistas Eldorado Estadão. Additionally, Estadão will use Omny to distribute and promote their content to audiences across mobile phones, smart speakers, social networks, and more.

Estadão will also leverage Triton’s ad server to dynamically insert targeted ads into their podcasts, Trition’s Podcast Metrics measurement service to measure their listening audience, and Triton’s programmatic advertising technology to make their podcast inventory available to media buyers around the world.

“Of all the potential partners that we evaluated, Triton’s podcast technology and knowledgable team were simply unmatched,” said Emanuel Ponciano Bomfim, Editor, Audio Center at Estadão. “Where podcasting is a relatively new channel for us, it was critical that we choose a technology partner that could provide powerful, flexible, and easy-to-use solutions that truly streamline the creation, measurement, and monetization of our content. Triton provided all of this, in addition to a level of knowledge and support that we didn’t find in any other partner.”

“Many of the world’s print publications are leveraging podcasting’s year-over-year growth to expand their audience, promote their content, and increase their revenue,” said Sharon Taylor, Managing Director at Triton Digital. “We are pleased to provide Estadão with the technology and support they need to enhance and expand their stories beyond the pages of their publication, while leveraging pre, mid, and post-roll ad insertion to increase their revenue and create an enhanced experience through relevant and targeted ads.”

Podiant Releases “Compassionate Liberal” Manifesto

~ jen

Podiant has affirmed its political and ethical stance with a new “compassionate liberal” manifesto. While most online businesses are trying to make their products appeal to wider audiences, a small company from Birmingham UK is bucking the trend by shunning right-wing rhetoric from its platform.

UK-based podcasting company Podiant launched its “manifesto” to the public on December 1st, positioning itself as outwardly supporting liberal causes like Black Lives Matter, trans rights, and combatting ingrained bias with compassion and patience.

The manifesto takes the form of a snappy video and a series of unequivocal statements, dotted with relevant quotes from thought leaders and fleshed out in plain English.

The opening statement reads:

We are compassionate liberals, and while our social views might not appear in our work, we won’t pass up an opportunity to defend them. We believe that Black lives matter, that anatomy does not determine gender, and that society only improves when we all contribute to help those who need it.

The company is backing these statements with an email inbox setup specifically to field complaints from listeners who feel that content hosted on the platform violates the company’s principles. Customers found to be in violation of those principles will be asked to find a new home.

Podiant founder Mark Steadman says “As hosting companies, it’s easy for us to hide behind free speech or “safe harbour” arguments when we’re confronted with content that conflicts with our ethics or politics. Saying “we welcome all viewpoints” is fine if you’re not interested in what your customers make or do with your product, but that’s not how I see Podiant’s place.”

This closes out a banner year for the company, in which it donated its ad time to indie podcasters on International Podcast Day, introduced a raft of educational resources, and launched a comedy news podcast to celebrate its commitment to UK podcasting.

Podcasters with a liberal leaning can visit podiant.co/us to read the manifesto, signed by the founder.