Author: jen

SoundStack Appoints Rockie Thomas Chief Strategy Officer

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Soundstack, the audio-as-a-service (AaaS) company, today announced the appointment of Rockie Thomas as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).  In the newly-formed role, Thomas will be fundamental in directing the company’s strategic vision and cementing its leadership position in podcasting/streaming radio, programatic advertising, hosting/delivery, measurement, and more. She was previously the company’s Chief Revenue Officer.

“The ability for every kind of audio publisher — podcast network, streaming radio station, enterprise multi-channel media giant — to have agency over their business is the cornerstone of their future success,” said SoundStack CEO Jon Stephenson. “From her years in broadcast, to being a trailblazer in programmatic advertising, to helping create measurement standards in audio, and more, Rockie is better suited than anyone to lead publishers on a path of control, choice, and the growth that comes from it.”

For over 25 years, Thomas has worked with broadcast companies and leading audio ad tech to help make digital audio a viable medium. She was one of the first employees at AdsWizz, where she evangelized audio advertising to buyers and helped publishers monetize their digital assets through a global ad exchange and programmatic platforms. Rockie co-founded IAB Podcast groups and co-authored the industry’s first podcast measurement technical guidelines.

In her new role, Thomas will be a primary conduit to, and from, the audio media market. Her focus will include: creating new market opportunities and partnerships, including internationally; collaboration and experimentation both internally and externally; and continuing to drive the mission of SoundStack and digital audio overall.

Thomas is a regular on the stages of industry events, including recent appearances at the ASI International Radio and Audio conference in Venice with James Cridland, Advertising Week NY with Ira Glass and Scott Davis (NPR), and Podcast Movement with IAB’s Matt Shapo and Katie Stroud.

“It is more important than ever for our industry to focus on product innovations that will help digital audio to serve publishers, buyers and listeners,” said Thomas. “Part of the power of being independent is that we can put partner feedback to good use and evolve products quickly based on what’s most important to them, as opposed to a larger corporate interest. While most of my career has been keenly focused on driving revenue for startups and publishers, I’m thrilled to expand my experience into product and strategy lanes.”

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, monetization, and measurement simple and effective for everyone.

Fully independent, the company’s team of 75+ audio tech expert is guided only by what delivers the best results for its 14K+ customers. SoundStack is headquartered in Pittsburg with offices around the country, and is the parent company of Live365. Visit www.soundstack.com for more info.

Acast Acquires Wonder Media Studio

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Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, announced the acquisition of Wonder Media Network (WMN), the full-service, award winning creative studio.

WMN will combine with Acast’s existing creative team to form a new devision, Acast Creative Studios. The group will provide advertisers with integrated campaigns and branded content solutions from ideation through to production and campaign delivery, to reach engaged audiences across audio, video, social, live events, and more. It will also include WMN’s existing original content arm which will continue to produce premium original podcasts.

WMN is a female-founded, audio-first creative studio based studio in New York City that works with leading global brands on storytelling in audio and beyond. Founded in 2018 by former award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan and Shira Atkins, WMN produces audio, digital, experimental and social campaigns for clients including Nike, Pfizer, GE and Mercedes Benz. The new devision will be led by Kaplan and Atkins and include existing talent and resources already providing Acast’s partners with creative services across multiple channels.

“This acquisition significantly expands our US operations with the introduction of a highly experienced content studio — in both original and branded, empowering advertisers to create even more impactful campaigns across audio and beyond,” said Acast CEO Ross Adams. 

“Acast Creative Studios provides a complete solution, tapping into the growing demand for innovative, omnichannel campaigns. This not only opens new revenue streams for creators but also enables deeper relationships to bring bigger, bolder ideas to life. Together, Acast and WMN have established an industry-leading group with unrivaled creative service and production capabilities. This, coupled with Acast’s scale and established network, creates a dynamic ecosystem where brands, creators and audiences can all benefit.”

“WMN’s mission is so tightly aligned with that of Acast — bringing important and change making stories to the world,” said WMN CEO Jenny Kaplan. “Together, we will allow both creators and advertisers to reach new audiences, build successful businesses, and shape the future of audio.”

About Acast

Since 2014, Acast has been creating the world’s most valuable podcast marketplace, building the technology which connects podcast creators, advertisers and listeners. Its marketplace spans more than 135,000 podcasts, 2,700 advertisers and c.1 billion quarterly listens.

Crucially, those listens are monetized wherever they happen — across any podcasting app or other listening platform. The company operates worldwide and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Acast is listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (ACAST.ST).

AMA Launches Enhanced Data Management Tool For Brands

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AMA, the leader in dynamic creative for audio, today announced a significant update to its API integration tool to streamline the management of first-party data for brands. This update allows brands to easily upload and manage both static and live data through a seamless Google Sheets integration, offering a more efficient and user-friendly solution for handling large data sets.

The enhanced tool helps brands maintain highly personalized, data-drive campaigns using any custom data source and up-to-the-minute information. With AMA’s new “data library” feature, brands can store first-party data centrally, allowing them to access it across multiple campaigns without having to re-add.

“As data becomes increasingly critical to effective advertising, brands need tools that make it easier to manage and leverage that information,” said Paul Kelley, CRO at AMA. “On top of our existing contextual data points, our new update gives brands the ability to seamlessly control their first-party data so campaigns are always relevant, personalized, and driven by real-time insights.”

The new update also lets brands refresh live data at intervals of their choosing to maintain real-time relevance — a key advantage for industries like retail and betting where personalization and timeliness are crucial.

Powerball successfully used AMA’s API integration to dynamically mention the prize pot for each lottery event they promoted, with the pot size changing weekly. This allowed the brand to provide fresh, relevant information to listeners, making their advertising more engaging and timely. Another noteworthy campaign was for Chevron, who used the tool to dynamically share the distance to the nearest gas station, providing customers with valuable real-time information.

“With brands owning vast amounts of first-part data, they are constantly seeking ways to leverage it across their marketing efforts — delivering real-time, relevant messages that resonate with their audiences,” added Kelly. “Our enhanced tool now allows audio to be an integral part of these hyper-personalized campaigns and make a greater impact.”

To learn more about this tool, as well as AMA’s cutting-edge technology and how it enables data-driven, dynamic ad experiences, visit amillionads.com.

About AMA

AMA is the leader in Dynamic Creative for audio. We deliver customized, data driven, dynamic ads on the world’s largest audio platforms.

By using any combination of contextual and audience-level data, we can dynamically serve the most relevant and actionable ad to each listener. With over 10 billion ad impressions served to date, our platform automates the delivery of ‘platform-intelligent’ ads across all audio formats, including streaming, podcast, and broadcast radio.

Founded in 2015 with offices in New York and London, we have delivered personalized ads across the globe for leading brands such as Google, Walmart, Target, Uber, Amazon, McDonald’s, American Express, and Meta.

Ausha Intelligence, The AI For Search-Optimized Show Notes

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Ausha, the leading podcast marketing platform, announces the expansion of Ausha Intelligence, its powerful AI tool for search-optimized show notes, transcription, and promotional content. Now available to all podcasts, regardless of their hosting platform, this tool is designed to simplify workflows and boost podcast discoverability.

Previously available exclusively to Ausha’s user base of over 11,000 podcasts, Ausha Intelligence has already proven its value. Users report saving up to 15 times the time spent on episode publishing. They also achieve greater visibility through metadata optimized for platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, making Ausha Intelligence especially valuable for agency and networks.

Key Benefits of Streamlining Your Podcast Workflow With Ausha Intelligence

Effortless Publishing: Automate time-consuming tasks like transcriptions (95% accuracy, editable, supporting 99 languages) and metadata optimization for platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Time Saving: Users report saving up to 15x the time in episode publishing, a game-changer for busy creators and agencies managing multiple shows.

Customizable AI: Generate show notes and promo content tailored to your brand’s tone and style, with editable and regenerable suggestions until they meet your needs.

Improved Discoverability: Ausha’s experience in Podcast Search Optimization (PSO) and metadata optimization helps episodes rank higher on podcast platforms.

Designed for Pros: Simplify workflows for single podcasts or client portfolios, ideal for agencies and networks.

Ausha Intelligence turns tedious, time-consuming tasks into a seamless process. Available in Ausha Pro plans at $39/month for up to 360 minutes of a transcription, this tool helps creators spend less time on admin work and more on crafting compelling content. For more information, explore how Ausha Intelligence can transform your podcasting experience.

About Ausha

Ausha stands as a leading force in the realm of Innovative Podcast Marketing. Founded in France in 2018 and making its mark in the U.S. since 2022, Ausha provides an all-in-one platform that simplifies every facet of podcast marketing. From seamless hosting and distribution across major global directories to advanced promotional tools backed by AI, Ausha is the go-to platform for over 11,000 podcasters worldwide.

Always at the cutting edge of technology, Ausha is committed to empowering podcasters to grow their audience. Beyond our tech expertise, Ausha is proud to be a “Great Place to Work” and is dedicated to various social and environmental causes

American Public Media Partners With Magellan AI

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American Public Media (APM), one of the nation’s largest public radio and podcast networks, announces an exclusive partnership with Magellan AI, the leader in audio intelligence, analytics, and measurement, to provide real-time attribution and audience analytics to advertisers. 

APM’s adoption of Magellan AI’s robust measurement tools brings in a new era of transparency and actionable data to the public media sector, giving advertisers clarity into campaign effectiveness previously found only within major commercial platforms.

This partnership underscore APM’s dedication to advancing how public media connects advertisers to audiences. APM’s integration of Magellan AI signals a major shift, giving advertisers precise, real-time insights without additional costs. Campaigns can now be measured with a degree of accuracy that enables clients to understand the impact of their investments and target their messaging as effectively as in commercial media spaces.

“With Magellan AI’s attribution capabilities, APM is redefining there of public media in the digital age,” said Thomas De Napoli, vice president of revenue strategy at American Public Media Group. 

“This partnership unlocks a level of audience insights that are competitive with other tech and media giants, equipping our advertisers to make better data-informed decisions. By bringing this technology to our clients, we’re not only enhancing the transparency of campaign impact but also affirming the distinct value of placing messages in a trusted, brand-safe environment — a cornerstone of APM’s commitment to quality and innovation.”

“Our collaboration with APM makes a significant step forward for advanced measurement of public media,” said Cameron Hendrix, CEO and Co-Founder at Magellan AI. “APM’s commitment to investing in industry-leading technology alongside its award-winning public radio programing and podcast content aligns perfectly with our mission to provide the most accurate, reliable, and actionable insights in audio advertising.”

“APM’s multi-year digital transformation strategy is reshaping what public media can offer today’s media buyers,” said De Napoli. “From implementing our Smart CPM strategy, a proactive approach to modernizing digital sales capabilities that provides actionable insights and streamline campaign management — to engaging cutting-edge attribution technology, APM is meeting the evolving needs of advertisers with solutions that prioritize insight, accountability, and measurement impact. 

“In today’s crowded media landscape, the partnership exemplifies how public media can evolve alongside media landscape, this partnership exemplifies how public media can evolve alongside commercial platforms, while remaining committed to its core values of quality, integrity and trust.”

For more information about American Public Media and Magellan AI, visit americanpublicmediagroup.org and magellan.ai.

Acast Opens Its Doors To The Future Of Podcasting With New London Hub

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Acast, the world’s leading independent podcast company, announces the grand opening of its new UK headquarters in the hart of London’s Old Street. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to be the ultimate home for podcasters and advertisers, as well as Acast’s 100-strong UK-based team.

The new London HQ boasts a ground floor designed exclusively for creators, featuring four cutting-edge multimedia studios equipped for both audio and video production, including state-of-the-art cameras for large-scale video podcasts as well as a photographic studio with infinity wall. 

The studios will serve Acast’s rick network of UK podcasters which includes The Fellas, Off Menu, Katherine Ryan, and Help! I Sexted My Boss as well as every major UK news publisher. Acast’s in-house brand team has infused the space with a warm, inviting atmosphere, complete with stunning murals and a living wall, creating a welcoming, home-like environment.

“This is real moment for the UK podcasting community,” said Josh Woodhouse, Managing Director for Acast UK & Ireland. “We’ve designed a space with the aim of fostering real creativity between creators, advertisers and our own team. By brining everyone together under one roof — our home — we aim to accelerate even more innovative and impactful podcasts and advertising campaigns that fully embrace audio, video and beyond.”

A highlight of the headquarters is its commitment to nurturing new talent. In collaboration with Amazon Music, one of the studios will be named Amazon Music Studio, and will be available for free and brand new creators — providing them with access to professional-grade cameras, microphones and resources to launch and support their podcasting journey.

“The team at Amazon Music and I are delighted to close this year by further collaborating with Acast,” said Megan Bradshaw, Amazon Music’s Head of Podcasts EU, ANZ, IN. “In addition to Amazon Music’s ad-free offering with Acast, our new studio aims to invest in our companies’ shared vision around elevating podcast creators, and making he medium more accessible to all.”

“This is our biggest ever investment in creators, with a real focus on the omnichannel future of podcasting. Creators will work alongside us in a shared space, designed to foster true collaboration and creativity,” said Sam Shetabi, Acast’s Executive Content Director, UK. “Our new London headquarters is a testament to our commitment to empowering podcasters and advertisers, and driving the industry forward.”

Key Features of Acast’s New London HQ:

Creator-First Design: Dedicated ground floor exclusively for creators, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

State-of-the-Art Studios: Four multimedia studios equipped for audio and video production, including setups for large-scale video podcasts. Broadcast solutions provider CVP is Acast’s technology partner, with microphones from audio technology specialists Lewitt and iconic imaging giant Canon providing all visual tech.

Homely Atmosphere: Thoughtful interior design with living walls, comfortable furnishings, and inspiring murals.

Amazon Music Studio: One studio available for free to small and new creators.

Collaboration Hub: Designed to bring podcasters and advertisers together to create innovative campaigns.

The space was officially opened on Thursday last week with creators including Adam Buxton, Pete Wicks and Elizabeth Day attending the launch party.

Magellan AI Earns IAB Tech Lab Certification For Podast Measurement Compliance

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Magellan AI, the leader in audio intelligence, analytics, and measurement, is thrilled to announce that it has achieved certification for podcast measurement compliance from the IAB Tech Lab. This milestone reinforces Magellan AI’s dedication to providing precise, transparent, and reliable metrics to the podcast advertising industry.

The IAB Tech Lab’s  certification process evaluates adherence to the Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines 2.2., ensuring a standardized and trustworthy approach to metrics like downloads, unique listeners, and ad delivery. Following a swift two-month audit, this certification confirms that Magellan AI meets the highest standards of accuracy and consistency, enabling advertisers and publishers to make data-driven decisions with confidence.

“Securing IAB Tech Lab certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to trust, transparency, and consistency in podcast advertising measurement,” said Jim Ballas, GM Measurement at Magellan AI. “This certification validates our mission to deliver accurate podcasting data and measurement tools that optimize for ROI for advertisers and streamline operations for publishers.”

With this certification, Magellan AI strengthens its position as a trusted partner seeking best-in-class tools that now include IAB Tech Lab validated downloads. In addition to leveraging IAB Tech Lab certified metrics, Magellan AI’s measurement tools give advertisers and clients comprehensive insights into audience behavior, brand lift, and campaign outcomes, including:

Real-time delivery monitoring through airchecks

Programmatic campaign and creative distribution analysis

Detailed impression and listener metrics for advertiser attribution and podcast promotions

By aligning with IAB Tech Lab’s Technical Guidelines, Magellan AI provides the industry with a shared source of truth for podcast measurement, reducing discrepancies and fostering confidence in podcasting as a scalable medium.

“Standardized, reliable data is critical for driving growth in podcast advertising,” added Carmon Hendrix, CEO of Magellan AI. “We’re excited to continue pushing the entire audio industry forward alongside IAB Tech Lab and our clients: the largest publishers, advertisers, and agencies in the audio ecosystem.”

To explore Magellan AI’s IAB Tech Lab-certified capabilities and learn how they can benefit your campaigns, visit the website.

 

Announcing The European Podcast Academy

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WePod is proud to announce the launch of the European Podcast Academy, a unique five-day educational event dedicated to advancing the art of podcasting. Taking place in Milan from March 17 to 21, 2025, the Academy will welcome 50 participants from all over Europe for a deep dive into the world of journalistic podcasting.

This exclusive program is designed with journalists with experience in audio production and podcast professionals with a background in journalism. The Academy will offer a comprehensive curriculum covering key aspects of podcasting, including pre-production, writing, storytelling, sound design, and the ethical considerations of audio journalism.

“We are thrilled to bring together some of the most talented minds in podcasting of this one-of-a-kind educational experience,” said Andrea Knezevic, Communication Manager at WePod.

“The European Podcast Academy will provide participants with the tools and knowledge they need to create compelling, impactful stories.”

Highlights of the European Podcast Academy

Expert-Led Sessions: Learn from industry leaders, including renowned podcast producers, journalists, and sound designers.

Hands-On Workshops: Engage in practical sessions that take you from concept to development to the final production of your podcast.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and build partnerships that will elevate your podcasting career.

In-Depth Learning: Gain valuable insights into monetization, distribution, community building, and the latest trends in audio journalism.

Key Details:

Dates: March 17-21, 2015

Location: Milan, Italy

Cost: Workshop participation is free. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Application Deadline: Applications open on October 7, 2024

About WePod:

WePod is a collaborative initiate the connects and empowers podcast creators across Europe. Through innovative programs and events like the European Podcast Academy, WePod aims to support the growth of high-quality audio journalism and storytelling.

Magellan AI Promotes Jim Ballas To General Manager, Measurement

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Magellan AI, the leader in audio intelligence, analytics, and measurement, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jim Ballas to GM, Measurement. In this role, Ballas will oversee the company’s growing suite of measurement solutions, further solidifying Magellan AI’s position as the go-to resource for podcast ad verification, brand safety, and attribution.

Jim brings with him over a decade of leadership experience in podcast and broadcast advertising technology, and production. Since joining Magellan AI in 2022, he has been instrumental in launching and expanding the company’s measurement offerings, helping to develop transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of advertisers and publishers alike.

Jess Robine, SVP Media & Operations at Veritone One said, “Jim has been a meaningful contributor to the business of podcasting throughout his career, and it’s no surprise that he’s elevating podcast attribution with expansion to cross-channel measurement that properly values audio. I’m excited to continue to work together with Jim and the Magellan AI team to deliver high-quality measurement and insights that our teams and advertisers can rely on.”

Jim’s leadership has been key to scaling innovations like Reach Lift, which measures the incremental reach added by podcast campaigns. This tool allows advertisers to evaluate the true effectiveness of their audio campaigns, in order to connect with new audiences and optimize media spend.

Further, Jim has pioneered incremental lift analysis to help brands measure the true impact of their audio campaigns. Using Magellan AI’s pixel-based trackers, conventions from both exposed and unexposed audiences are captured and aggregated. The resulting performance reports give advertisers clear insights into how their campaigns drive response and conversation compared to control groups.

“Jim has played a pivotal role in the growing success of our attribution business,” said Cameron Hendrix, CEO of Magellan AI. “His deep understanding of the industry and strong leadership make him the perfect fit to lead our measurement initiatives as we continue to grow. We’re thrilled to promote Jim to General Manager for our Measurement business.”

About Magellan AI

Magellan AI is the all-in-one platform for podcast advertising intelligence, media planning, and measurement. Magellan AI has created the world’s largest database of podcast advertising data, covering over 50,000 podcasts. 

Advertiser and agency media buyers rely on Magellan AI’s podcast media planning and measurement platform to discover, connect with, and analyze the performance of podcasts, streaming audio, and YouTube. Publishers trust Magellan AI to grow ad sales with intelligence and performance measurement, drive content acquisition, and streamline ad ops. Learn more at https://www.magellian.ai

Triton Digital Releases The Australian Podcast Ranker For October 2024

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Triton Digital, the global technology and services leader to the digital audio, podcast, and broadcast radio industries, announced the release of the October 2024 Australian Podcast Ranker. 

The Ranker provides insights into the Top Publishers in Australia, and the Top Sales Representatives in Australia from October 1 through October 31, 2024, as measured by Triton’s Podcast Metrics measurement service.

The Top Podcast Ranker and Top 200 Australian-Made Ranker are ranked by monthly listeners, in accordance with the latest IAB Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines. 

For this reporting period, the top three publishers were ARN/iHeart again at #1, LiSTNR (SCA) again at #2, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation again at #3.

The top three podcasts for both the Top Podcast Ranker and Top 200 Australian-Made Ranker included Hamish & Andy (LiSTNR (SCA)) again at #1, Casefile True Crime (Audioboom) at #2, and ABC News Top Stories (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) at #3.

The Top Podcast Ranker saw many debuts in the month of October, which included Missing Niamh (Audioboom), Kill List (Wondery), Call Her Daddy (SiriusXM Podcast Network), Take Me To Your Leader! (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), The Kick It Forward Podcast (Clubby Sports), and more.

Menendez Vs Monsters (Podshape), Where’s Your Head At? (NOVA Entertainment), and SACKED: AFL (News Corp Australia) debuted in the Top 200 Australian-Made Ranker.

Inherited (Shameless Media), Rotten Apple (Nine Radio), and Racing Pulse with Michael Felgate (RSN Racing & Sport) debuted for both the Top 200 Australian-Made Ranker and Top Podcast Ranker.

Triton Digital is set to introduces a new ranker capability that will rank the podcast category by monthly listener and integrate Triton Demos+ data will include 10 audience characteristics, such as: Adults 18-24, Adults 24-39. Adults 25-54, Female 25-54, Male 25-54, Parent with child (<18), Podcast < weekly, Radio streamed – past month, YouTube – past week, and TV catch-up – past week; as well as the index versus the monthly podcasts 18+ population against each of the characteristics. The data will serve to further help inform buying decisions.

To view the full results of this Ranker, participate in the ranker or sign up to receive future rankers, please visit: http://australianpodcastranker.com/

Triton Digital’s Podcast Metrics measurement service is certified by the IAB Tech Lab as complying with Version 2.1 of the IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines. It provides accurate and insightful data around how, when, and where podcast content is being consumed across multiple hosting platforms with the ability to view metrics by date range, location, device, podcast name, episode, title, and more.