Month: December 2023

Vox Media Partners With SXSW To Program An Official Podcast Stage

~ jen
Vox Media and South by Southwest announced that the award-winning Vox Media Podcast Network will be officially partnering with the Conference for 2024. 

Running from March 8-10th at the JW Marriott, The Vox Media Podcast Stage at SXSW will bring fan favorite shows from across the Vox Media to the stage, including Pivot (hosted by Kara Swisher and NYU Stern Marketing professor Scott Galloway), On with Kara Swisher (hosted by Swisher), Where Should We Begin? (Hosted by acclaimed psychotherapist Esther Perel), Today, Explained (featuring host Noel King), Decoder (hosted by The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel), The Vergecast (co-hosted by Patel, The Verge’s editor-at-large David Pierce, and managing editor Alex Cranz), Point Forward (co-hosted by former NBA stars Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner), Stay Tuned With Preet (Hosted by former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Baharara), Waveform: The MLBHD Podcast (Hosted by tech reviewers Marques Brownlee), and MMA Hour (hosted by sports journalist Ariel Helwani) – with more to be announced soon. The hosts will be interviewing special guests from the worlds of tech, business, culture, and more.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to bring our slate of premium podcasts to South by Southwest, with whom we’ve had a longstanding relationship,” says Jacqueline Cinguina, Vox Media’s CEO. “Like SXSW, our shows at Vox Media fosters thoughtful conversations led by authoritative experts on a wide range of topics, and we couldn’t be more excited to complement SXSW’s programming with three days of live conversations, interviews, and so much more.”

“The Vox Media Podcast State at SXSW will bring an exciting slate of top programming to the 2024 event, said Jann Baskett, SXSW Co-President and Chief Brand Officer. “Vox Media has been a fantastic collaborator over the years as their forward-thinking perspective lends itself well to our content and activations.”

One of the top 10 largest U.S. podcast publishers, Vox Media is home to the most influential podcast franchises and audio creators from Swisher, Galloway, and Baharara, to acclaimed psychotherapists Esther Perel, sports journalist Ariel Helwani, and more. 

Sitting at the intersection of authority and influence, the Vox Media Podcast Network covers every major content category, from news and technology to culture and entertainment. At SXSW, Vox Media will engage business-minded and consumer audiences alike, with programming that complements the festival’s tracks and engages the conference and festival’s global community of digital creatives, professionals, and consumers.

About Vox Media

Vox Media is the leading modern media company, reaching audiences everywhere they are. Known for editorial properties including Vox, SB Nation, New York Magazine, Eater, and The Verge, the company’s portfolio features the most relevant, respected and engaging editorial properties and voices. The company is also home to award-winning storytelling businesses such as Vox Media Studios and the Vox Media Podcast Network, as well as innovative technologies that support the entire media industry, including the Concert advertising marketplace.

AdLarge Strengthens Sales Team, Welcomes Tom Brady

~ jen

AdLarge announced that Tom Brady has joined the company’s sales force. In this new role, Brady will work directly with EVP of Audio Sales, Robin Sloan.

With over two decades of experience in audio sales, Tom Brady stands as a distinguished veteran in the industry. In his most recent role as Senior Director, East Coast Audio Sales at Disney Advertising Sales, he led a dedicated team overseeing audio sponsorships and ad campaigns for the Disney podcast portfolio and ESPN Radio Network, which consisted of sports talk programming and live broadcasts of MLB, College Football and NFL. 

Tom’s impact spans a diverse range of podcasts, emanating from renowned entities such as ESPN, ABC, National Geographic, 538, and Disney Publishing. Before his tenure at Disney/ESPN, Tom made significant strides at the ABC Radio networks, excelling in selling advertising across Talk, Music and News programming. 

Robin Sloan, AdLarge SVP Audio Sales commented on the announcement, “I am thrilled to welcome Tom Brady to the AdLarge family. His extensive industry experience and proven track record working with massive brands align seamlessly with our commitment to excellence. Tom’s addition to our team is a testament to our dedication to providing unparalleled value to our partners. We are eager to witness the impactful contributions he will undoubtedly make as we continue to elevate the standards of success in the audio sales landscape.”

“I’m delighted to be joining AdLarge Media,” added Brady. “The AdLarge portfolio is extremely impressive and provides marketers an excellent opportunity to reach potential customers. The radio networks and NASCAR provide tremendous reach and the Podcast portfolio is extremely targeted and best in class. I feel AdLarge is in a terrific position and poised for success.”

About AdLarge

AdLarge Media is an industry-leading independent ad sales company connecting audio publishers, brands, and audiences. Founded in 2011, the diverse audio portfolio at AdLarge reaches over 200 million listeners globally across all audio platforms. The AdLarge team is composed of top industry experts in podcasting radio, and streaming, with ad clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies emerging DTC brands. 

Founders Cathy Csukas & Gary Schonfeld were named two of the “Top 20 Leaders in Radio” in 2021 and 2022, and Cuskas has consistently been named one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” by Radio Ink. AdLarge also continues to receive industry recognition for the Annual Podcast Buying Guide which provides an in-depth analysis on the most current insights, research, and expert advice available on the rapidly evolving medium. 

Since entering in 2013, AdLarge has maintained a top ranked position with Nielsen’s RADAR Network Ratings. Committed to the highest standards of customer service, team up with them from anywhere at AdLarge.com.

 

Cumulus Media Taps Collin Jones To Lead Westwood One

~ jen

Cumulus Media announced that it has appointed Collin Jones as President of Westwood One, effective January 1, 2024, responsible for Westwood One, the largest audio network in America, and the top-rated Cumulus Podcast Network. Jones adds this position to his current role as EVP of Corporate Strategy & Development for Cumulus Media, reporting to Mary Berner, President and CEO of Cumulus Media. He succeeds Suzanne Grimes, who decided to embark on the next chapter of her career after eight years.

Jones joined Cumulus Media in 2011 and is responsible for leading the Company’s strategy, corporate development (including major partnerships and M&A), and investor relations efforts. Jones has led the Company through several strategic transactions and growth initiatives including the acquisition of Westwood One in 2013. Additionally, he oversees IncentRev, the Company’s e-commerce and daily deal platform.

Jones is the National Association of Broadcasters Radio Board Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Radio Music License Committee. Before joining Cumulus, he held positions at Macquarie Capital and Argentum Group.

Mary Burner said, “With his deep understanding of both Cumulus Media and Westwood One, Collin is uniquely qualified for this role and is well-prepared to harness the full power of our platform to help Westwood One grow. Collins has consistently demonstrated his safe business acumen, effective management style, and collaborative spirit, and I have full confidence that he has the skills and the vision to build upon Suzanne’s considerable accomplishments.”

Berner added, “I would like to thank Suzanne for her invaluable contributions and her pivotal role in our success. Under her leadership, we launched the top-rated Cumulus Podcast Network, built the multi-platform Westwood One News/Talk franchise, and established the industry-leading Audio Active Group. Throughout her time with Cumulus, she has been a remarkable leader, colleague, and mentor to many, and we are certain she will accomplish great things whenever he chooses to share her talents next.”

“I am excited for the opportunity to expand upon Suzanne’s successes,” Jones added. “Since acquiring Westwood One in 2013, I have been struck by the breadth of its capabilities, the strength of its content and service offerings, and its enormous influence on the broadening audio landscape. I look forward to working day-to-day with Westwood One’s creative, passionate, and talented team to fuel growth and unlock even more value for Cumulus Media and our shareholders.”

About Cumulus Media

Cumulus Media is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month – wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 403 owned-and-operated radio stations across 85 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, an entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of County Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across more than 9,400 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking.

RØDE Acquires Pro-Audio Leader Mackie

~ jen

RØDE Microphone LLC has announced the acquisition of iconic American pro audio leader Mackie. The acquisition represents a new chapter in the evolution of RØDE and establishes The Freedman Group – parent company of RØDE – as one of the most well-rounded pro audio companies in the world, with an enviable catalog of products spanning a wide range of audio solutions for content creation, home and studio recording, broadcast, and live sound production.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Mackie to The Freedman Group’s roster of iconic audio brands,” says Founder and Chairman Peter Freedman AM. “They are true legends, with a pedigree of live sound expertise that is simply unmatched. RØDE and Mackie are both leaders in audio, and we share the same passion for creating innovative, high-quality products with a strong customer focus. With this acquisition, The Freedman Group is now a premier audio technology company offering world-class products to an even wider range of customers, from up-and-coming content creators to professionals working in live production and everyone in-between.”

Since 1989, Mackie has been a leading designer and manufacturer of pro audio products, including mixers and loudspeakers for home, studio, and stage use. An integral player in the home recording revolution in the 1990s, Mackie quickly made a name for itself as a highly innovative brand with a focus “built-like-a-tank” quality and affordability. Groundbreaking products like the 1602 and D8B mixers and SRM450 loudspeaker were instant classics and, combined with a unique approach to marketing, established Mackie as a go-to brand in the recording and live sound industries – a status they uphold today with leading products like the ProFX series of compact mixers, the Thump series of powered loudspeakers, and the popular CR series desktop production monitors.

“Mackie is one of the great success stories in pro audio and I have admired them for a long time,” says Mr Freedman. “My background is in live sound production. It’s something I have always been passionate about, ever since I saw Tom Jones at the Chevron Hotel in Sydney as a kid back in ’69 – my father Henry installed the sound system there, as well as many other venues across the city. Live sound is where I cut my teeth in audio, so this very much feels like that part of my career coming full circle.”

He continues: “Having met Greg Mackie before I even started RØDE, I found his passion for audio and approach to business inspiring. Their origin story is uncannily similar to ours. Both brands helped fuel the democratization of DIY recording in their own way, Mackie with their mixers and speakers and RØDE with our microphones. We shared a similar path and today both brands are leaders in what we do, so I am incredibly excited to bring. These two audio icons together.”

Speaking about the acquisition, Alex Nelson, CEO of Mackie says: “The entire Mackie team is excited to be joining forces with Peter, Damien, and their incredible crew. Having worked in the audio industry for many years, I have always held RØDE in high esteem. Their manufacturing capability and technology is second-to-none in pro audio and I think they are the perfect partner to help Mackie expand as we enter an exciting new chapter in our history. Also, the timing could not be better. We have an incredible product roadmap ahead of us, which we’ll remaking some big announcements for leading up to NAMM ’24. This is an extremely exciting time for Mackie, and we couldn’t be happier doing all of this alongside the RØDE team.”

Greg Mackie, founder of Mackie and audio industry legend, shares a similar sentiment, saying: “I can’t think of a better company for Mackie to be associated with RØDE.”

“RØDE and Mackie are incredibly harmonious brands,” says Freedman Group CEO Damien Wilson. “This acquisition diversifies our product offering in a very complimentary way. We now offer end-to-end audio solutions for everyone from musicians setting up a home studio to professional live sound engineers. Whilst Mackie’s brand, manufacturing and operations will remain unchanged, there are incredible opportunities to combine the complimentary IP, infrastructure and resource of both brands in powerful ways. I am very excited about the potential this offers RØDE and Mackie.”

Commenting for RØDE Microphones LLC, Joe Hockey says: “This acquisition offers powerful growth opportunities for RØDE and is a significant milestone in their global expansion. It is exciting to see RØDE continue to invest in their future, and I am looking forward seeing the ongoing successor these two legendary brands.”

Libsyn Unveils November 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates and 5 Developments To Watch in 2024

~ jen

Libsyn Syndication Inc. (“Libsyn”), the leading all-in-one podcasting platform for creators and advertisers, announced its November 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates, including the highest and most accessible CPM categories, and shares 2024 podcast advertising predictions.

2024 Podcast Advertising Developments to Watch

Podcast advertising has experienced a meteoric rise in recent years, and as we enter 2024, there is no sign of this growth abating. According to IAB research, in 2023 alone, U.S. podcast ad revenue is projected to soar to $2.28 billion, up 25% year over year – and will reach $4 billion by 2025. With more people immersing themselves in their favorite podcasts, listenership and engagement is surging, offering advertisers a golden opportunity to connect with dedicated and loyal audiences.

Dave Hanley, Chief Revenue Officer of Libsyn AdvertiseCast, outlines five predictions for podcast advertising in 2024, underscoring the industry’s continued momentum.

Persistent Brand Safety Concerns Put to Rest: Advertisers will become more comfortable with brand safety in the podcast channel due to recent technology and procedural developments. The emphasis will shift towards brand suitability, authenticity in tone, and aligning with the right content creators. As brands recognize this, the call to action will be clear: Don’t sit on the sidelines in 2024 – leverage the genuine connection podcasts offer to engage audiences effectively.

AI-Powered Contextual Targeting Expands Ad Inventory: Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast expects a rise in adoption of AI and predictive contextual targeting in the year ahead. Leveraging innovative tools to provide accurate context to content will unlock a wealth of relevant inventory for advertisers. This ensures that their messages will resonate with intended audiences, driving precise targeting and ad effectiveness, while eliminating waste.

Regional & Local Ad Boom with Data-Driven Precision: Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast anticipates more regional and local advertisers will enter the podcast advertising space, fueled by the growing interest in data-driven targeting. Advertisers can now geo-target with increased precision to connect with desired local podcast audiences across hundreds of audience segments.

Surge in Video Enhancing Discoverability: The growing popularity of video podcasts will see the further blurring of lines between audio and video. Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast, which already offers a “simulcast” ad product to advertisers, recognizes the significant advantage of using video to improve podcast discoverability. This approach amplifies the reach and impact for creators – thereby attracting more advertisers.

Cause-based Advertising – An Untapped Opportunity: An untapped opportunity lies in the underutilization of cause-based advertisers collaborating with podcast hosts. The influential voice of podcast hosts presents a powerful platform for promoting social and environment causes, and this synergy fosters impactful conversations and prompts action. Beyond cause-based campaigns, we see this strategy being applied for political advertisers gearing up for the 2024 election cycle.

Hanley commented, “Podcasting has emerged as one of the fastest-growing advertising channels, and its trajectory remains on an upward curve. With greater access to sophisticated audience-based targeting and attribution measurement, new advertisers are capitalizing on the expanding opportunities to achieve their brand goals, be it direct response or brand awareness. We’ve been at the forefront of delivering new capabilities for advertisers, and since introducing programmatic ads in August 2022, we’ve witnessed a threefold increase in advertisers utilizing our automatic ad solution.”

November 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates

The three highest CPM categories in November based on delivered advertising were:

Kids & Family: $27

Arts: $26

Education: $25

Moreover, three categories where advertisers can effectively tap into highly engaged audiences at more accessible CPM rates include History, TV & Film, and True Crime, which averaged around the low 20s in November.

Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast combines an industry-leading ad buying and management platform with full-service capabilities that makes it easy for podcast advertisers to initiate and manage targeted and measurable campaigns, while providing maximum return for creators. Historical monthly CPM rates can be found on AdvertiseCast’s website. https://www.advertisecast.com/podcast-advertising-rates 

 

SoundStack Hires Digital Audio Vet Michael Fischer To Expand Streaming Audio

~ jen

SoundStack, the audio-as-a-service (AaaS) company, announces the appointment of Michael Fischer as Vice President of Business Development. The appointment bolsters the company’s growing publisher discipline – which also includes customer enablement, support, and podcast business teams – with a further focus on broadcast audio enterprises, including National Public Radio member stations.

“With years of experience in multiple ends of the audio ecosystem – from mobile, to enterprise tech platforms, to renowned communications companies – Michael brings tremendous knowledge that will make it easier for an array of streaming businesses to grow,” stated Rockie Thomas, CRO of SoundStack. “He’s a perfect addition to the team as we continue to work with publishers who understand how partnering with an independent tech platform will open up to more choices and, in turn, more listeners and streaming/podcast revenue.”

An all-encompassing tech platform, SoundStack combines podcast/streaming audio hosting/delivery, monetization, and insights in one place. Advertising and publisher partners on or off “the stack” can also buy and sell audio ads programmatically in the SoundStack Marketplace.

Fischer has been selling digital services to media companies for more than a decade, with an emphasis on audio streaming. He joins the team after nearly seven years as EVP/Business Development with mobile application provider AirKast, where he guided broadcasters, podcasters, and independent audio communities on content and sales strategies. His varied experience includes over four years at Triton Digital as SVP of Engagement, and he was Director of Business Development RAIN (Radio and Internet News).

First focusing on a range of broadcast audio enterprises in the U.S., Fischer will also spearhead development of global markets.

About SoundStack

SoundStack is the audio-as-a-service (AaaS) company for every kind of digital audio business – podcasters, digital broadcasters, platforms, advertisers and more. Giving those businesses equal access to big tech that’s easy-to-use, and the ability to connect with any provider across the market, SoundStack makes audio hosting/delivery, monihtazation, and analysis simple and effective for everyone. Fully independent, the company’s team of 70+ audio tech experts is guided only by what delivers the best results for its 14k+ customers. SoundStack is headquartered in Pittsburgh with offices around the country, and is the parent company of Live365.

Visit www.soundstack.com for more info.

Spoken Word Audio In U.S. Hits Highs For Audience Reach and Share

~ jen

Spoken word audio listening time and audience size attain record highs in the U.S. according to The Spoken Word Audio Report 2023 released from NPR and Edison Research. The fifth iteration of the annual report places special focus on listening locations and explores spoken world audio consumption at home, at work, in-car, or other locations. The findings were presented in a webinar hosted by National Public Media (NPM) VP of Sponsorship Marketing Lamar Johnson and Edison Research VP Megan Lazovick and are available now at npr.org/spokenword audio.

Key findings from the report include:

Spoken Word Audience size and listening time attain record highs: Almost half (48%)— approximately 135M people — of those in the U.S. age 13+ listen to some type of spoken word audio daily, up two percentage points (46%) from last year. Listeners in the U.S. age 13+ spend 31% of their daily audio time with spoken word, which is a 55% increase over nine years ago (20%).

Spoken word listening at home has grown dramatically: Sixty percent of the total daily audio time spent with spoken word audio is at home, 24% in the car, 13% at work, and 3% at some other location. The time spent listening to spoken word audio at home has grown to 41 daily minutes in 2014. Increases in at-home spoken word audio listening are seen across every hour in the listening day.

Spoken Word listening in-car has shifted post-pandemic, but AM/FM radio remains on top: Of all the daily time spent listening to spoken word audio, time spent listening in the car has declined from 36% in 2014 to 24% in 2023. In the car, 62% of spoken word audio consumed by those in the U.S. age 13+ is to AM/FM radio content, including over the air and streams.

For the first time ever, the mobile device is the primary way people listen to Spoken Word: 39% of spoken word audio consumed daily by this age 13+ in the U.S. is on a mobile device, followed by 35% on an AM/FM radio receiver. At home, 41% of spoken word audio is consumed on a mobil device, and at work, 47% of spoken word is consumed on a mobile device. AM/FM radio receivers still dominate in-car, garnering 60% of the token word audio listening there.

Podcasts represent a large and growing share of spoken word listening: Podcasts now represent over one-third (36%) of time spent with spoken word audio. Twenty-eight percent of time spent listening to podcasts goes to NPR/public radio. At home, 40% of spoken-word audio listening goes to podcasts.

“Each year we keep a close eye on the number of people who are listening and the amount of time spent with Spoken Word Audio. We’re happy to see that for 2023, more people than ever are listening and they are spending even more time with Spoken Word, providing a powerful opportunity for brands looking to expand and engage their audience.” said NPM VP of Sponsorship Marketing Lamar Johnson.

“Podcasting now accounts for over one-third of the time spent with spoken word audio. The cultural shift to digital benefits this space, or perhaps, it’s vice versa – the growing enthusiasm for podcasting is shifting the culture digital. Either way – podcast listening continues to grow,” said Megan Lazovick, VP at Edison Research,

How the study was conducted

Edison Research’s Share of Ear is a quarterly survey of Americans who are asked to keep a detailed one-day diary of their audio usage. Share of Ear utilizes a nationally representative sample of those age 13+. The sample for this study was 4,193.

Acast Brings Real-Time Planning To Podcast Advertising

~ jen

Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, announced the continued expansion of its self-serve podcast advertising platform with real-time campaign planning tools for both advertisers and podcasters.

This latest innovation from Acast focuses on improving efficiencies in the media planning process by allowing advertisers to see up-to-date inventory availability for host-read sponsorship campaigns. Through a new feature called Availability Calendar, advertisers can now see all of the host-read sponsorship inventory available across Acast’s entire marketplace at that exact moment as well as the price of each podcast to ensure that it fits their campaign budget. 

This increased transparency significantly reduces the time that it currently takes advertisers to plan and book host-read sponsorship campaigns as well as makes it easier to distribute ad spend across multiple podcasts at the same time.

These new tools also give podcasters more control over their monetization potential through the recently launched AdCollab feature. Within AdCollab creator portal, podcasters can now instantly see a list of all the brands interested in working with them. The portal also now enables podcasters to instantly accept or reject brand proposals and allows them to connect directly with advertisers to immediately begin planning the production. With this improved visibility, podcasters can easily identify and act on more opportunities to earn money and grow from their craft.

These real-time media planning and collaboration tools follow a series of innovations to Acast’s self-serve platform since launching last year. In June, Acast made host-read sponsorships available on the platform, which provided advertisers access to the largest marketplace of podcast influencers. Soon after, Acast announced AdCollab, which enabled advertiser and podcaster collaboration for the first time. AdCollab also introduced automation into the host-read sponsorship buying process and has effectively reduced the time to book host-read campaigns by 85%.

“In launching our self-serve advertising platform and bringing AdCollab to market, Acast has made it easier than ever to book and produce podcast advertising campaigns. Now, we are helping advertisers to improve the efficiency of their campaign planning,” said Senior Director of Product at Acast Milly Botes. “Globally, podcast ad spend is inadequately distributed to the largest shows, but by improving planning and discoverability tools for advertisers, Acast is increasing the scalability of their brand message while also making it possible for each of the more than 100,000 podcasters on Acast to earn money from their craft.”

This news comes on the heels of Acast’s third quarter earning results. Globally, Acast saw a 32% increase in net sales growth and celebrated the milestone of having paid more than $300 million directly to podcasters since 2014.

Since launching in November of last year, Acast’s self-serve podcast advertising platform has grown to service organizations of various sizes and industries, from small to medium sized businesses, to household brand names, and even to podcasters themselves. In that time, nearly 40% of advertisers booked repeat campaigns.

To begin booking your host-read sponsorship campaigns through Acast’s self-serve advertising platform, please visit: https://apply.selfserve.acast.com/apply.

Veritonic’s Unprecedented Flexibility & Granularity Enhancements Transform Audio

~ jen

Veritonic, the industry’s comprehensive audio analytics and research platform, has unveiled a series of groundbreaking innovations for their audio attribution solution, including unparalleled flexibility and granularity for advertisers and brands. With an intensified focus on investing in cutting-edge big data technology, combined with its conversion event logs and robust user interface, Veritonic is addressing the escalating demands of the industry and reshaping the audio attribution landscape.

By increasing its investment in robust data tech stacks, Veritonic facilitates campaigns of all scales, effortlessly expanding measurement capabilities while upholding optimal performance, support, and adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Furthermore Veritonic’s conversion event logs provide clients with unparalleled flexibility and granularity, enabling them to comprehend conversion events and associated impressions throughout. 

Veritonic’s comprehensive conversion event logs enable their clients to model and analyze impressions, uncover geotargeting opportunities, evaluate IP distribution, analyze listener overlap among different campaigns, and more.

“As data providers, we take great pride and responsibility in ensuring that our audio measurement methodology is sound, understood, and designed in a way that enables us to continuously adapt to the needs of our clients and the demands of the advertising industry at large.,” said Scott Simonelli, CEO of Veritonic. “We remain committed to innovating our audio-first solutions to make measuring and optimizing audio campaigns as streamlined, efficient, and flexible as possible.”

For more information about Veritonic’s Audio Attribution capabilities or to get started, visit the website or contact sales@veritonic.com.

About Veritonic

World-renowned brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms rely on Veritonic’s comprehensive audio research and analytics platforms to research, test, and measure ROI of their audio assets and campaigns pre-market, in-market, and post-campaign. The resulting insight enables clients to gain confidence in their audio investment, mitigate risk through optimization, and increase their return as they engage consumers with compelling audio experiences.

Audiochuck To Launch Exclusive SiriusXM Channel

~ jen

SiriusXM announced a new agreement with independent media and podcast company audiochuck and its founder Ashley Flowers to launch a new channel exclusively for SiriusXM subscribers. 

Expected early next year, the channel will be curated by Ashley and the team at audiochuck to present episodes from the deep archive of its flagship show Crime Junkie – one ofthe country’s top-ranked podcasts – along with selections from its other top rated shows, such as Anatomy of a Murder, The Deck, CounterClock, and Park Predators.

In addition, Ashley Flowers will host a new series for the channel featuring in-depth conversations with celebrities and special guests about how they became Crime Junkies.

“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity of reaching entirely new audiences with our content through SiriusXM’s wide reach. There has never been a true crime channel in audio, and I’m thrilled SiriusXM chose us to create the first ever channel by and for Crime Junkies,” said Ashley Flowers, audiochuck’s Founder and Chief Creative Officer. “We have such a deep catalog of content to share, but I am most excited about the new original programming we will do specifically for SiriusXM subscribers. SiriusXM has been an incredible partner to us over the last two years and I’m looking forward to working with them in even more ways in the years to come.”

The new channel and show is an expansion of SiriusXM’s relationship with audiochuck, which started in 2021 with an agreement that gives SiriusXM exclusivity to ad sales rights for the network’s acclaimed and award-winning podcasts via SXM Media, the combined advertising sales group from Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

“Ashley and her team at audiochuck have become the leaders in the incredibly popular true crime podcast space through their passion for high-quality audio and a storytelling style that’s both compelling to the listener and respectful of the subject matter,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “With this new channel, and the combined marketing power of SiriusXM, audiochuck will be able to super serve their loyal listeners through an entirely new way to experience and interact with their shows, while further growing their fanbase by reaching audiences who may not yet be podcast consumers.”

This new audiochuck channel is SiriusXM’s latest endeavor to give popular podcasts a new platform, and SiriusXM subscribers exclusive access, having previously launched the Freakonomics Radio channel, which features programming from across the popular Freakonomics Radio Network catalog; as well as the Crooked Radio takeover last year, which brought Crooked Media’s Pod Save America and many of their other hit podcasts to Progress (channel 127) in the lead up to the midterm elections.

More details will be announced soon.