Month: January 2024

Magellan AI & Adelaide Partner To Boost Advertising Effectiveness with Advanced Attention Measurement

~ jen

Magellan AI, the podcast analytics platform, has partnered with Adelaide, the leader in attention-based media quality measurement to surface attention metrics within its podcast measurement suite. Through this collaboration, Magellan AI is one of the first podcast intelligence platforms to offer show-level attention ratings by campaign, providing advertisers with critical insights into advertising effectiveness.

Recent coverage in Digiday highlights Adelaide’s advanced approach to measuring media quality in podcast environments using its omnichannel AU metric, which predicts any placement’s probability of attention and impact. AU is generated by a machine-learning model that considers exposure, eye-tracking, and full funnel outcome data. For podcasts, exposure data falls into categories like genre, ad position, ad load, and type.

The addition of AU to Magellan AI’s platform helps advertisers pinpoint the most effective sources of attention in podcasts, fueling smarter media investment decisions and better outcomes. AU ratings are normalized across channels, so advertisers can easily evaluate the effectiveness of podcast advertising relative to their other media investments.

“Adelaide’s researchers demonstrated the exceptional value of audio alongside other mediums – particularly podcasts, which maintain an average AU far above channels like display and Walled Gardens,” said Marc Guldimann, CEO & Co-Founder of Adelaide. “The untapped potential of high-quality podcast media is undeniable, and we look forward to working with Magellan AI to bring these insights to advertisers and help them achieve superior outcomes.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Adelaide,” said Cameron Hendrix, CEO & Co-founder of Magellan AI. “Podcasts are one of the few channels where listeners routinely report something that advertisers new to podcasting find surprising – that they like ads in podcasts. Incorporating Adelaide’s AU data in Magellian’s AI’s industry-leading media planning and measurement platform adds a key metric that supports investment in podcasts as a channel.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Adelaide,” said Cameron Hendrix, CEO & Co-founder of Magellan AI. “Podcasts are one of the few channels where listeners routinely report something that advertisers new to podcasting find surprising – that they like ads in podcasts. Incorporating Adelaide’s AU data in Magellian’s AI’s industry-leading media planning and measurement platform adds a key metric that supports investment in podcasts as a channel.”

Data from the Magellan AI platform, broken out across a large number of podcasts and individual episodes, will also feed into Adelaide’s AU model for podcasts, ensuring comprehensive and precise attention for media buyers. Starting early this year, customers can find this data in the Magellan AI platform.

Learn more about attention measurement for podcasts ad get a demo on the Magellan AI website.

Former Simplecast CTO Stephen Hallgren Joins Bumper As Fractional CTO

~ jen

We’re proud to announce that Stephen Hallgren has joined Bumper as fractional CTO to help us expand our suite of data-driven podcast growth tools.

Since launching Bumper in 2022, we’ve learned that our clients can benefit from a data-informed approach to podcast growth. We often start client engagements with a deep dive into historical performance. We analyze a show’s Listen Time, marketing effectiveness, and reach. This data – along with our proprietary in-house research tools – allows us to develop truly customizable podcast growth plans.

Unfortunately, the tools needed to obtain the most accurate data insights for our clients are often unavailable in the market. In order to provide the best service to our clients, we decided to develop our own solutions that can aggregate and analyze podcast data. By doing so, Bumper’s existing podcast growth consulting services are further enhanced through our unique software solutions.

Stephen is helping us to continue developing our existing software as well as building new tools that have been on our wish list for a long time. Bumper’s current products include automated podcast measurement aggregation services that provide our clients with all their relevant performance data in one place.

Stephen, also known as Teevio, is a Full-Stack Product Engineer who has been working with startups for over 20 years. Most recently he was the CTO at Simplecast (before and after the acquisition by SiriusXM) and is currently running his own software development agency, nonfractional.

We look forward to announcing some new products very soon and welcome Stephen to the team. Thanks for coming on board! 

Podchaser Leads The Pack in G2’s Winter 2024 Media and Influencer Targeting Index

~ jen

Podchaser, the podcast industry’s intelligence distinguished as the leader in the G2 Media and Influencer Targeting Relationship Index as part of their Winter 2024 Reports for Podchaser Pro Product. This placement underscores Podchaser Pro’s excellence in service and the high value data and insights it delivers to clients on various areas of the podcast industry that are critical to their business objectives.

G2 Reports draw on user reviews to gauge satisfaction and performance for products and services throughout the media landscape. Podchaser Pro’s top position, particularly in the media and influencer targeting category, reflects its exceptional ease of doing business, outstanding quality of support, and strong likelihood of recommendations by its users.

“This recognition is a testament to the hard work of the Podchaser team and the incredible group of clients we work with who made these recommendations,” said Bradley Davis, CEO of Podchaser.” Importantly, this award is also indicative of the value that Podchaser Pro brings to the table amid the rapidly growing influencer economy. As the global creator economy is tracking to reach a $480 billion value in the next three years, agencies and media buyers are waking up to the critical role that podcasters play in that arena.

Podchaser’s leading-data driven products and services will continue to help them engage with the medium and the creators that drive it forward.”

In addition to its leadership in the Relationship Index, Podchaser Pro has also earned high marks across various other segments in G2’s comprehensive Winter 2024 reports:

  • Media and Influencer Targeting Grid Report
  • Implementation Index for Media and Influencer Targeting
  • Momentum Grid for Media and Influencer Targeting
  • Americas Regonal Grid Report for Media and Influencer Targeting – Results Index for Media and Influencer Targeting
  • Usability Index for Media and Influencer Targeting.

Podchaser’s robust toolset enables PR firms, Ad agencies, brands, and small businesses to target and engage with media and influencers effectively. For detailed information on Podchaser Pro’s capabilities, please reach out to sales@podchaser.com.

Sounder Analysis: NPR’s News Podcast Significantly Safer For Brands Than General News Podcasts

~ jen

A new analysis from Sounder reveals that NPR’s news shows are significantly safer for brands than the general population of podcasting within the news genre. The analysis underscores NPR’s high-quality content and its commitment to providing a safe space for brands seeking trustworthy sponsorship opportunities in the news.

An impressive 81% of NPR’s news content was classified as unrelated or low-risk for sensitive topics according to the GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability Framework, compared to the general population average of 54%. Furthermore, NPR demonstrates a clear commitment to avoiding graphic discussions, with 13% fewer discussions of medium-risk sensitive topics and a mere 2.3% of content categorized as graphic discussions of high-risk sensitive topics. As anticipated, NPR does not feature any content categorized as “floor”, which is deemed unsuitable for advertising.

“We are thrilled to work with Sounder on this analysis,” said Gina Garrubbo, President and CEO at National Public Media, NPR’s sponsorship subsidiary. “NPR’s award-winning journalism and storytelling are a reflection of its commitment to providing the public with fact-based, non-sensational reporting and content. NPR’s 50-year heritage and leadership in audio journalism, as well as the hallmark style and tone of reporting, offers the audience a balanced and comprehensive take on world events.

Kal Amin, Co-Founder and CEO of Sounder, also remarked, “This collaboration showcases the power of data analytics in evaluating content quality. NPR’s inventory stands out as a reliable and credible news source, offering safer and more suitable news inventory for brands. We’re pleased to work with NPR on this analysis to help clarify the misconception that news content is not a brand-safe category.”

AdLarge and Fable & Folly Announce Partnership

~ jen

AdLarge announced their partnership with Fable & Folly Podcast Network for exclusive ad sales. This partnership underscores AdLarge’s dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices within the podcast community. With over 100 audio fiction podcasts, featuring compelling stories ranging from small town conspiracies, to sci-fie comedies, to Dungeons & Dragons improv, the Fable & Follow Network pushes the boundaries of representation in media.

The Fable & Folly Network prioritizes authenticity, championing a movement that empowers queer, disabled, intersectional, and gender-fluid visionaries. These creators are reshaping the landscape of media representation and pioneering the future of creative expression. At the heard of their mission is a young, diverse and extremely passionate fan base whose identities are shaped by the brands they cherish and compelling content they actively contribute to and share. Renowned as trendsetters across the realms of arts, music, fashion, politics, science, and technology, they embody a transformative force in the audio storytelling landscape.

Pioneering the frontier of brand extension, Fable & Folly’s team seamlessly integrates in-world ads, setting the standard for natural advertising experiences. Fiction is inherently brand-safe and through this partnership with the AdLarge Podcast Network, together they provide an unparalleled level of brand safety, surpassing any other available options.

“We are excited to be working with Adlarge,” says Russ More, COO of Fable and Folly. “Their team is driven to connect brands with diverse storytellers and change makers. This enables to support more independent producers to tell the stories that no one else will tell.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Fable & Folly,” shared Cathy Csukas, CEO of AdLarge. “Their compelling array of shows, coupled with a steadfast dedication to inclusivity and representation, harmonizes perfectly with the fundamental values and mission of AdLarge. We are eager to introduce these actively engaged audiences to our clients.”

The Fable & Folly Network of Podcasts including shows such as; Midnight Burger, The Amelia Project, The Strata, Dumb-Dumbs & Dragons, Wolf 359 and Unwell can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

For more information about advertising in any of the Fable & Folly podcasts, reach out to sales@adlarge,com.

Triton Digital Announces Integration Publisher Services For Interactive Ads

~ jen

Triton Digital, a global technology and services leader to the digital audio, podcast and broadcast radio industries, announced its integration with Amazon Publisher Services (APS), expanding access to premium audio inventory at scale for Amazon DSP advertisers. This integration enables Amazon Ads’ unique interactive audio ads on Alexa-enabled devices to appear across shared APS and Trition Digital publishers, delivering an engaging experience to listeners and enhanced inventory monetization to publishers.

Interactive audio ads are a creative ad format developed by Amazon Ads that invites customers to request more information via email or push notification (“Alexa, send more info”), set reminders (“Alexa, remind me”), or even add items to their Amazon shopping cart (“Alexa, add to cart”), without ever leaving the streaming audio content they were enjoying.

The Triton Audio Marketplace offers access to one of the largest single pool of audio audiences with more than 100 billion audio impressions per month, allowing marketers and agencies to transact on all forms of audio inventory. This breadth of supply paired with Amazon Ads proprietary audience signals offered by Amazon DSP, helps advertisers build more meaningful connections and publishers drive monetization for their inventory with a cutting-edge solution.

“Amazon has had a long-lasting impact in the advertising space, introducing new ad formats and delivery vehicles that have transformed the audio industry,” said John Rosso, President and CEO, Triton Digital. “We’re delighted that APS has invited Triton Digital technology to provide interactive audio ads to shared publishers and are confident in its enhancement of the listener experience.”

According to a recent study conducted by Amazon Ads and Kantar, audio streamers are 75% more likely to respond to an and when the ad has a voice-command. Kantar also found that interactive audio ads achieved higher consideration (1.3x) and purchase intent (2.3x) compared to standard audio creatives.

“We’re excited for publisher that use Triton Digital and APS to make their quality content more easily available to advertisers using Amazon DSP,” said Steve Rabuchin, VP of Third-Party Supply at Amazon Ads. “We look forward to learning more about how audiences engage with interactive audio ads, which enable listeners to respond to advertisements without being distracted from the stream.”

Audacy Partners With Women’s Meditation Network For Sales & Distribution

~ jen

Audacy has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with the Women’s Medication Network beginning on January 1, 2024, further solidifying its position as a leader in women’s lifestyle content.

Founded by Katie Krimitsos, the Women’s Meditation Network offers a wide range of guided meditation podcasts created to be easily accessible, approachable, and deeply fulfilling for people of all ages and experience levels, as well as children. The shows offer a variety of prescriptive help, including relieving stress or anxiety, starting the day with mindful intentions, falling asleep easier, and more.

All of the shows in the Women’s Meditation Network are available on the Audacy app and everywhere podcasts are available.

Audacy’s Women’s Mediation Network slate includes seventeen shoes; including: Meditation for Women; Sleep Meditation for Women; Morning Meditation for Women; Sleep Sounds Meditation for Women; Daily Affirmations Meditation for Women; Water & Nature Sounds Meditation for Women; Ambient Sounds Meditation for Women; Healing Meditation for Women; Meditation for Anxiety; Mindful Mediation for Women; Panic Attack Meditation; Meditation for Moms; Sleep Stories; Sleep Meditation for Kids; and Meditation for Kids.

Katie Krimitsos is a mom, wife, adventurer, podcaster, seeker, and change maker. She’s committed to brightening the light of women around the world through her work under the Women’s Meditation Network, 17 podcasts that provide meditations for women across a variety of styles and topics. Since launching her first podcast in 2018, Krimitsos’ network of shows has published more than 2500 episodes and accumulated over 100 million total downloads.

The Arias 2024 Entry Nominations Are Open Now

~ jen

The highly anticipated annual event from The Radio Academy celebrates the very best of UK audio and radio. This will take place on Tuesday 7th May at London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the heart of the West End.

This will be the first ARIAS launched by the new Managing Director of The Radio Academy, Aradhana Tayal Leach. The awards recognize, honour, and reward outstanding shows and the teams behind them. Judged by over 200 senior audio and radio practitioners, drawn from all sectors of the industry, it’s a huge accolade to be nominated.

Aradhna Tayal Leach, Managing Director of The Radio Academy says: “I feel honored to be launching the ARIAS 2024, the first awards of my tenure as Managing Director. We look forward to having all of our audio and radio peers from across our broad and growing community, come together for a night of celebration. We’re proud to be global leaders in audio talent and storytelling and can’t wait to showcase those stories the really shine, not only nationally but deep into our own local communities too.”

Since 2023, The Radio Academy have worked with an independent editorial advisor at The ARIAS, to offer guidance and recommendations to judges. They do not have executive decision making, which remains uniquely with the judges, but may offer recommendations and context as appropriate.

The Radio Academy will also be working with an independent EDI consultant to offer support and guidance to ensure that equity is embedded at the heart of the ARIAS. This includes offering insights into best practice and highlights the impact of, for example, unconscious bias when judging entries.

27 Categories will return next year, including Best New Presenter, Best Music Breakfast Show and Best New Podcast. There will also be a change to a category; Best Sports Coverage which was previously named Best Sports Show. This change is to reward the live nature of sports coverage within radio broadcasting. Sports documentaries should now be entered in either the two Best Factual Programmes. For full details of categories, visit the ARIAS website.

Stay tuned on further details on nominees and hosts in the New Year…

The Podglomerate Taps Former Gimlet Media Showrunner As New Lead Producer

~ jen

The award-winning podcast services firm The Podglomerate has hired Katelyn Bogucki – who was previously executive producer of Gimlet Media’s Archetypes, the podcast hosted by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex – as their new Lead producer.

In this newly created role reporting to Chris Boniello, The Podglomerate’s Vice President of Production Services, Bogucki will be integral to the near- and long-term success of The Podglomerate’s production department, which services both internal and external stakeholders. She will help expand the firm’s slate of original podcasts, including their recently-released original show Podcast Perspectives and the company’s Signal Award-winning podcast Missing Pages, as well as the Podglomerate’s slate of client podcasts.

“I admire what The Podglomerate has built,” says Bogucki. “I’m looking forward to collaborating with an entrepreneurial team who strives for innovative audio, and helping to expand the company’s production slate.”

Bogucki joins The Podglomerate after spending the past decade as a prolific podcast producer, during which she oversaw the production of Vox Media’s podcast The Grey Area; produced episodes for Vox Media’s podcast The Weeds; served as the show runner of Gimlet Media’s acclaimed podcast How to Save a Planet, and was a founding producer of Gimlet’s Creative, Gimlet’s award-winning in-house creative studio. Bogucki also launched HuffPost’s inaugural slate of podcasts in 2014.

“We’re excited to see how Katelyn’s multifaceted skill set and audio experience will enhance our work with critically-acclaimed and award-winning podcasts,” says Chris Boniello, The Podglomerate’s VP of Production Services.

“Not only are we very thrilled to have Katelyn join our production arm, but her appointment comes at an opportune time as we move further into original production and meet growing demands for our production services,” says The Podglomerate Founder and CEO Jeff Umbro. “Her wealth of knowledge in the space will be an asset to the company, as well as to our partners and clients.”

Since its start in 2017, The Podglomerate has grown to represent more than 70 podcasts accounting for more than 30 million monthly downloads, with shows topping the podcast charts and receiving features on every major podcast distribution app with national coverage across print, digital, radio, and television.

The Podglomerate’s high-profile list of podcast clients includes the perennially chart-topping and award-winning podcast Freakonomics Radio, NHPR’s “Bear Brook” (named the best true crime podcast by Stephen King) and “The 13th Step” (named a finalist for the 2024 DuPont-Columbia University Awards and featured as a best podcast of 2023 by The New Yorker, NPR, Vogue, Vulture, and Paste), and Magnificent Noise’s “This is Dating” (named “one of the best podcasts of 2022” by Vulture), as well as PBS, NPR, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, A+E Networks, The History Channel, Lifetime, Lit Hub, and The Progress Network, among many others.

Libsyn Unveils December 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates

~ jen

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

“Podcast advertising undeniably works, reaching an estimated 120 million listeners in the U.S. each month. Since 2016, we’ve led the way in connecting brands with highly engaged audiences via seamless, in-content podcast and simulcast integrations. The pathway to success hinges on authenticity and trust for driving audience action and maximizing campaign results,” commented Dave Hanley, Chief Revenue Officer of Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast. “In 2024, we look forward to leveraging our expanding array of compelling content, influential hosts, and strong podcasting communities to boost discoverability, foster fandom, and drive performance outcomes for both new and existing advertisers.”

December 2023 Podcast Advertising Rates

The following rates, which are denoted as cost per thousand CPM, are published monthly by Libsyn’s AdvertisCast, the industry’s premier podcast advertising marketplace that comments advertisers with podcasters. The Company releases the figures to empower the podcaster and advertiser communities to readily monitor market pricing and provide greater insight into podcasting advertising as a monetization vehicle. The data is derived from actual sales data across AdvertiseCast’s network of thousands of shows.

The 60-second ad spot in 2023 had an average CPM rate of $22.58, reflecting a decrease of 6% versus 2022, where the average CPM rate was $23.87. Considering the challenging overall advertising market, this relatively small decrease demonstrates the resiliency of the podcast advertising ecosystem.

For December 2023, the average CPM rate was $22.91 for a 60-second ad spot. That figure is up slightly compared to last month (November 2023 avg. CPM rate: $22.85) and has decreased year-over-year (December 2022 avg. CPM rate: $25.53).

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

Arts: $26

Technology: $25

Health & Fitness: $24

Moreover, three categories where advertisers can effectively tap into highly engaged audiences at more accessible CPM Raes include Games, History, and True Crime, which averaged around the low 20s in December.

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