Month: February 2021

TED Launched TED Audio Collective for Podcasts

~ jen

On February 22, 2021, TED will launch the TED Audio Collective to house its growing collection of podcasts.

The podcasts in the TED Audio Collective are for listeners curious about everything from philosophy and psychology to science, technology, business and unexpected pathways in between – all curated through TED’s lens of “ideas worth spreading.” Here’s a sneak peek of exciting new content to expect over the coming months.

New in the TED Audio Collective:

Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter: Dr. Jen Gunter is on a mission to make us experts on the way our bodies work. Body Stuff is an original show developed by TED that aims to demystify the systems of the body while debunking medical myths along the way.

Lost Birds with Mona Chalabi: In this original, sound-rich series, data scientist Mona Chalabi will take listeners on an inquiry into the central question: How can we use data to make sense of our lived experiences, and what are the limits of the data?

Conversations with People Who Hate Me: TED alum Dylan Marron is joining the TED Audio Collective to continue exploring what happens when online feuders step out from behind the keyboard and get to know the human on the other side of the screen. Don’t be fooled by the title! It’s actually a loving show that fosters unlikely connections in an age of increasing digital isolation.

Design Matters: The iconic Design Matters with Debbie Millman pulls back the curtain on how incredibly creative people design the arc of the lives. It’s the world’s first podcast about design – an inquiry into the broader world of creative culture through wide-ranging contemporary thought, Design Matters joined the TED Audio Collective in October 2020 and is independently produced independently, with TED amplifying the podcast to its global audience.

New episodes will come from the following TED Audio Collective podcasts:

ZigZag: hosted by Manoush Zomordi – A business show about being human.

TED Business: hosted by Columbia Business School professor Modupe Akinola – A show that explores the most powerful and surprising ideas that illuminate the business world.

WorkLife with Adam Grant: Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes listeners inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to explore the science of making work not suck.

Taken for Granted: TED is also launching a companion series inspired by Adam’s popular long-form interviews with luminaries like Esther Perel. Starting with Brené Brown, Malcolm Gladwell, Jane Goodall, and Glennon Doyle.

The TED Interview: hosted by Head of TED Chris Anderson. He speaks with some of the world’s most interesting people to dig into the provocative and powerful ideas of our time.

TED Radio Hour: hosted by Manoush Zomorodi who explores a big idea through a series of TED Talks and original interviews, inspiring us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves. TED Radio Hour is a co-production of NPR and TED.

Acast Acquires RadioPublic

~ jen

Acast announced the acquisition of RadioPublic, a US podcast technology start-up founded in Boston, Massachusetts. The acquisition will boost Acast’s presence in the US and further develop its world class tools and talent. RadioPublic’s Listener Relationship Management platform, which allows podcasters to foster even deeper relationships with fans, is at the heart of the acquisition.

The deal comes off the back of several important moves for Acast in the Americas, including its recent collaboration with leading member platform Patreon – which enables podcasters on the platform to distribute private, patron-only content to their listeners’ podcast app of choice – as well as the hiring of Heather Gordon as its new managing director for Canada, and the launch of Acast in Mexico last year.

Leandro Saucedo, Acast’s Chief Business and Strategy Officer said: “The acquisition of RadioPublic is fundamentally a partnership of values. We both firmly believe in the open ecosystem of podcasting and have a shared commitment to aid listener discovery and support all creators.

“We’re impressed with what RadioPublic has achieved and we believe that now – as podcasting is gaining more momentum than ever before – is the ideal time to bring RadioPublic’s talented team and company missions into the Acast fold. This deal continues our quest to support all audio storytellers around the world, giving their stories the audience they deserve.”

Along with a suite of industry-leading tools including the Listener Relationship Management platform — which helps podcasters identify potential new listeners, gain interest in their shows, and connect with fans — the acquisition also sees RadioPublic co-founders Chris Quamme Rhoden (CTO) and Matt MacDonald (Chief Product Officer) join the Acast team. Co-founder and CEO Jake Shapiro has joined Apple Podcasts as Head of Creator Partnerships.

Chris and Matt have more than a decade’s experience in podcasting as part of PRX’s pioneering tech team, where they helped build the first generation of podcast listening apps for This American Life and WNYC. At RadioPublic, Matt and Chris led the development of the innovative suite of Listener Relationship Management platform products including Podsites, HearMarks, PodPass, and RadioPublic’s popular web embed player, iOS, and Android apps.

MacDonald added: “I’m thrilled to scale up how we’ve helped podcasters grow their audience and make more money now that we’re working with the talented, global team at Acast. There’s such strong alignment between the Acast and RadioPublic philosophies in our mutual support for — and belief in — a financially healthy, robust, open podcast marketplace. It’s exciting to think about bringing our insights and growth marketing tools to a large community of global podcasters.”

RadioPublic was launched in 2016 with backing from a range of institutional and strategic investors, including Project 11, The New York Times, TechNexus, Automattic, Bose, GBH, American Public Media, PRX, and the Knight Foundation. The acquisition will not affect RadioPublic operationally and it will remain functional without change.

iHeartMedia to Acquire Triton Digital

~ jen

iHeartMedia announced it has entered into an agreement with The E.W. Scripps Company to acquire Triton Digital, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio and podcast industry, for $230 million, subject to certain adjustments. With this acquisition, iHeartMedia will now be able to provide audio content to producers and advertisers with an industry-leading full ad service package for streaming and podcasting no matter their size, reach or distribution method.

The addition of Triton Digital’s vast array of infrastructure and measurement solutions will complement iHeartMedia’s current advertising technology service, data platforms and programmatic platforms while providing additional solutions for those in the digital radio industry, allowing iHeartMedia to be the first and only company in the audio market to provide four distribution methods for audio, including on-demand, broadcast and digital streaming radio and podcasting, and to service all audio assets programmatically.

“Adding Triton Digital and its industry leading service to the iHeartMedia audio ecosystem establishes iHeartMedia as the only company with a total audio advertising technology and data solution,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. “iHeart, with our strong leadership position in podcasting, digital radio and broadcast, already provides cutting edge audio management, programmatic and data solutions for the broadcast radio, digital audio and podcasting industries, and this acquisition further strengthens our position as the No. 1 audio company in America and provides unique – and critical – solutions for he industry and our advertisers.”

Operating in more than 50 countries, Triton Digital is a global Advertising Technology SaaS platform for audio streaming, podcasting and metrics that enables publishers to monetize their audiences by providing a highly respected digital audio measurement and advanced audio-focused infrastructure to maximize the yield of audio inventory. The company’s two lines of business focus on advertising infrastructure and measurement, including a content delivery system that distributes digital audio streams and podcasts to listeners while dynamically inserting ads and measurement business that tracks audience and creates ratings reports.

In addition to measuring audiences for customers, Triton Digital operates the world’s first programmatic marketplace for digital audio programmatic ad-buying and Yield-Op, a world-class Supply Side Platform (SSP) that specializes in Audio and enables programmatic audio advertising.

“We are thrilled to join the iHeartMedia family,” said Neal Schore, CEO of Triton Digital. “We remain deeply committed to providing the world’s broadcasters, podcasters, and online audio publishers with continuously innovated, best-in-class solutions and services for online audio management, advertising, and consumption data, and are well positioned to enhance iHeartMedia’s value proposition to audiences and advertisers.”

Podcast Movement 2021 Speaker Submissions Now Open!

~ jen ~ 2 Comments

Podcast Movement 2021 will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 3-6, 2021, with social distancing and safety measures intact. Speaker submissions are now open! Those who are interested in becoming a speaker should be aware that submissions close on March 31, 2021.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity by putting your most creative presentation ideas forward. It doesn’t matter what level of experience you have, we’d like to see your ideas and to try our best to find fits for as many awesome speakers as possible. Your processes, passion, and podcasting skills are likely to inspire to help others, whether they are just getting started, or have been doing it for years. You may have some perspective that helps a veteran to rethink their own technique and systems, or some that help a fellow podcaster finally clear a big hurdle they’ve been struggling with.

All sessions are split up in three ways, so consider what categories are best for your ideas and get ready to send them to Podcast Movement 2021!

Topic Tracks:

  • Creation Track
  • Industry Track
  • Marketing Track
  • Monetization Track
  • Society, Culture, & Advocacy Track
  • Technical Track
  • Audio Drama / Fiction Track
  • Brand & Content Marketing Track
  • Internal & Corporate Podcasting Track

Skill Levels:

  • Beginner (Brand new podcasters)
  • Intermediate (Active podcasters)
  • Advanced (Experienced podcasters)
  • Industry Professional (Professionals within the podcast industry

Session Types:

  • Breakout Sessions – Usually feature one or a few presenters, who are teaching on a topic with an accompanying slide deck and/or visual and audio
  • Fireside Chats – Usually feature a small group “roundtable” type conversation, and often have limited visuals
  • Panel Discussions – Feature a moderator with 3 to 5 panelists, and often have no visuals

Podsights has Acquired Pod.Link

~ jen

Podsights announced that it has acquired the podcast link-sharing platform pod.link, and its founder, Nathan Gathright, has joined the Podsights team. Podsights will continue to invest in the pod.link platform, and Podsights have rebuilt it from the ground up to allow any podcaster to customize and promote their podcast.

Pod.link creates simple, memorable podcast links that make it easy for listeners to subscribe to shows with their favorite podcast app. For more than two years, pod.link has helped independent podcasters and networks like Vox Media and Complex reach new listeners. With a straightforward domain, a built-in player, and support for the most popular podcast apps, pod.link has created a memorable experience that users trust to simplify the process of discovering new shows.

The paid version of pod.link allowed podcasters to customize their URL and remove ads. Podsights wants to expand on what Nathan had built by reducing the friction for independent podcasters, i.e., money.

What was pod.link premium is now available to all podcasters for free. Podsights is excited to add the ability for podcasters to customize the colors of their page to match their brand. They are big believers in visual identity, and wants your pod.link to represent your identity – not Podsight’s identity.

Lastly, Podsights has added the ability for you to add your own Google Analytics ID with IP anonymization. They want podcasters to grow their audience, and you can’t improve what you aren’t measuring. They do not include the Podsights pixel on pod.link by default. WThey will add it if a publisher chooses to use their marketing tools with pod.link, but it will be clearly marked in the URL like UTM parameters.

Acast to Host Free Virtual Workshop for LGBTQ+ Podcasters

~ jen

Aclass: Queer Voices, a free workshop for new and aspiring podcasters in the LBGTQ+ community, will take place on Zoom on Thursday, February 25, from 6:30 – 8:30pm GMT. Anyone can sign up to get a secure spot.

Hosted by Acast, the power source of podcasting globally, Aclass: Queer Voices is the latest in the company’s Aclass event series; created to celebrate and amplify voices from underrepresented communities in podcasting, and enable the next generation of podcasters.

The event is being held during LGBT History Month, an annual month-long celebration and observance of LGBT history and the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements. Acast believes podcasts are uniquely able to amplofy underrepresented voices, and those that are less heard in other mainstream media. Open-to-all and with low-barriers to entry, Acast wants to encourage LGBTQ+ creators to share their story through thought-provoking conversation, interviews, comedy, history, politics, and so much more.

Joining Acast at the workshop is critically acclaimed comedian Suzi Ruffell, and host of Out with Suzi Ruffell; a podcast about the inspiring lives of LGBTQ+ people, featuring guests such as Joe Lycett, Gok Wan, and Steph McGovern. As well as Shivani Dave, BBC presenter and producer of The Log Books: a podcast that explores Britain’s queer history through the records from the LGBT+ helpline Switchboard, and the winner of Best New Podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2020.

“Aclass helps to adapt the podcast landscape for the better, by giving new podcasters the insider tips and tricks we’ve learned from years of experience supporting and nurturing audio creators,” said Sam Shetabi, Content Director at Acast. “It’s especially exciting to launch our next Aclass during LGBT History Month alongside Shivani Dave from The Log Books on the panel – the show is a graduate of our very first Aclass in 2019, and we couldn’t be prouder that a podcast that celebrates Britain’s LGBT+ history earnt such incredible acclaim. Both Shivani and Suzi are outstanding creators, and we’re excited to welcome them at Aclass: Queer Voices, for LGBTQ+ storytellers to learn and be inspired.”

Aclass will take place virtually on Zoom, Thursday February 25, from 6:30 – 8:30pm GMT. To register attendance, sign up here.

Neon Hum Goes Behind the Scenes of Reality TV with Spectacle

~ jen

Acclaimed podcast production house Neon Hum, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, today announced the debut of Spectacle, a new podcast tracing reality television back to its inception. The 10-episode series is hosted by writer and comedian Mariah Smith and the first three episodes are available now.

The show kicks off with a deep dive into the 1970’s series “An American Family” and continues on in episode two to tackle the complexities and lasting impact of “The Real World.” In each episode, Smith takes fans on a journey to relive the scenes that stuck with audiences, while talking to the people who were in the rooms where it happened, from “The Real World” season one cast member Norman Korpi to “Queer Eye” star Bobby Burke.

Spectacle will follow the evolution of reality TV in chronological order, as Smith explores the various ways in which reality programming has changed pop culture over the last 30 years. Upcoming episodes feature conversations around some of the biggest reality programs, including “Survivor,” “The Bachelor,” “Real Housewives,” “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” “90 Day Fiance,” “Queer Eye,” “The Circle,” and “The Great British Baking Show.”

“I’m so excited for listeners to dive into the world of reality with me, because these shows are so much more than just a guilty pleasure,” said Mariah Smith. “We’ll cover everything from dating shows to baking competitions and analyze how and why ‘Housewives’ and the ‘Fab 5’ have become so central to shaping our culture.”
The series is produced by Mariah Smith and Joanna Clay at Neon Hum. Jonathan Hirsch and Shara Morris are executive producers and Catherine Saint Louis is the editor.

Listeners can subscribe to Spectacle on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. For more information on Spectacle and all other Sony Podcast shows, follow @SonyPodcasts on Twitter and Instagram.

iHeartMedia Announced iHeart 3D Audio and Binaural Audio Technology

~ jen

iHeartRadio announced iHeart 3D Audio and its strategic expansion into binaural podcasting, an innovative new method of producing podcasts that places listeners into the middle of an audio soundscape, immersing them in the story like never before. Tapping into the potential of innovative 3D audio, iHeartMedia will debut a captivating new slate of podcasts, cementing itself in this category of experiential media and spearheading the exploration of what’s possible with cutting-edge audio technology.

Binaural, or 3D audio, creates a sense of movement, location and triggers other senses, enhancing listening experiences and providing a new way for people to hear high quality, surround sound, immersive content, and reproducing real-life experiences, much like virtual reality has done for video, right in their own homes. With in-person entertainment on hold, consumers are gravitating toward digital format entertainment and podcasting has taken center stage, with listenership expected to grow by 30 million listeners each year through 2023. Amid this new paradigm, iHeartMedia is dedicated to evolving its podcast network, providing a more multifaceted at-home listening experience for more fulfilling entertainment.

Through iHeart 3D Audio, iHeartMedia will launch a new slate of podcasts that is underpinned by the unique recording technology. Building on the success of its previously-launched binaural audio series 13 Days of Halloween from iHeartMedia and Blumhouse Television, which drove more than 2.8 MM listens, iHeartMedia, in collaboration with renowned writer, creator and producer Aaron Mahnke, will expand upon the series and release a seasonally focused “13 Days” franchise of podcasts correlating with various major holidays. The new iHeart 3D Audio slate will also include the upcoming podcast The Mantawauk Caves, a co-production with Blumhouse Television, as well as a series of bonus 3D episodes across the year for hit shows like The Ron Burgundy Podcast.

iHeartMedia’s new iHeart 3D Audio slate of podcasts will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network, which is home to more than 750 original podcasts with over 253 million downloads each month. iHeartRadio Original Podcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime—and everything in between—making iHeartRadio the largest publisher of podcast content in the world.

Business of Podcasting Summit will Take Place in March of 2021

~ jen

The Business of Podcasting Summit is a virtual event that will take place on March 6, 2021. Registration is open now, with prices ranging from $45 to $85. Here is more information about the Blk Podcasting Summit:

There’s much more to podcasting than recording & editing. However, with all of the information out there it can be difficult to know where to start.

This is where The Business of Podcast Summit fills the gap. Streamyard & Blk Pod Collective have come together to bring you a day long interactive virtual event, featuring 4 workshops, 2 panels and various vendors.

We aim to provide independent podcasters with information needed to protect and grow your brand.

Workshops:

  • Podcast Legalities
  • Instagram for Podcasters
  • Enhancing your Podcast SEO
  • Taxes & Accounting for Creatives

Panels:

  • Understanding Brand Sponsorship
  • Securing Jobs Within the Industry

Libsyn Announced Acquisition of Auxbus Podcast Creation Platform

~ jen

Libsyn announced the acquisition of the Auxbus podcast-creation software platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The web-based Auxbus is designed to save podcasters time, while producing professional-quality podcasts that are easy for even the most novice audio creators. Auxbus guides first-time podcasters through planning and creating their content. Auxbus hold proprietary, patent-pending technologies that automatically complete and distribute finished, polished podcasts in moments.

Auxbus features include:

  • Content guide that answers podcasters’ questions, includes links to learn more, and provides playable examples;
  • Show organizational tools to save users time on every episode, including writing show descriptions, uploading artwork, and creating reusable intros, outros, and calls-to-action;
  • Easy recording with any microphone: professional XLR, USB, wired and built-in;
  • Automatic episode assembly and sound leveling for high-quality episodes, fast; and
  • A selection of built-in music, or users can upload their own.

Libsyn provides its podcasters with a professional platform that are available everywhere podcasts are played. Auxbus will continue to operate independently within Libsyn, and its features and technologies are expected to be integrated into the Company over time.

Auxbus Chief Engineer and system architect, Ryan DuVal, will join Libsyn to lead its newly formed Creation product line. Auxbus founder, Dan Radin, will provide transitional and strategic consulting services to Libsyn.