Search for ‘Midroll’
Directory
Stories
April 11, 2024:
-
Think one mention of murder in your true crime podcast means no monetisation? Not necessarily. Barometer and Sonnant have worked on a project to offer advertisers suitably separated ad placements, allowing them to reach your audience while avoiding unwanted alignment with the gory bits. The tool uses a contextual engine to set midrolls and other ad placements at a safe distance.
October 13, 2023:
-
Jon Cohen is celebrating ten years in podcasting with a special feature from Indiana University. After working for companies like PodcastOne, Wondery and Midroll, he's a Partnership Executive at Spotify.
July 25, 2023:
-
Grace Carrick has been made Head of U.S. Business Development for Signal Hill Insights. She has worked for Midroll Media and Westwood One.
April 14, 2023:
-
Buzzsprout has added automated midrolls to their dynamic audio insertion tool. The tool automatically works out "excellent placements" for midrolls in episodes, allowing you to add or remove sponsor credits as well as other time-sensitive messages.
January 12, 2023:
-
Exclusive: Paul Riismandel has joined Signal Hill Insights as the company's Chief Insights Officer. One of the first researchers in podcasting advertising, Riismandel had worked with Midroll Media (acquired by SiriusXM/Pandora) since 2014, working on hundreds of ad effectiveness studies. He's written a blog post for his new employer, highlighting the benefit of third-party research.
September 19, 2022:
-
Podcast hosting company Buzzsprout has added control of midroll settings for Buzzsprout Ads.
May 25, 2022:
-
Buzzsprout has launched Buzzsprout Ads in beta. The system automatically finds the right place for a midroll ad, and pays 1.4 cents (USD) per download. You can check eligibility in your dashboard. The official launch is next week.
February 23, 2022:
-
Libsyn has launched Libsyn Studio Beta, "an all-in-one free platform for new and casual creators to plan, launch, and distribute their podcasts". Here's a how-to video showing how it works. It publishes shows directly to Libsyn - here's a test show we made - and contains a midroll ad and postroll credit. Libsyn Studio builds on the company's acquisition of Auxbus a year ago.
November 1, 2021:
-
Podcast host Captivate has unveiled AMIE, its "audio monetization and integration engine". The dynamic content insertion system allows pre, post and midroll slots to be added, as well as an "ad-painter", to help paint out older, baked-in ads to replace with dynamic content. The tool is released to all Captivate podcasters on Nov 16. (Podnews's Editor is an advisor).
May 11, 2021:
-
Stitcher's Midroll adsales has merged with Pandora and SiriusXM's sales teams. The new group is called SXM Media, and claims it has a reach of 150m listeners, which it calls "the largest digital audio advertising platform in North America".
February 18, 2021:
-
EW Scripps previously sold Stitcher to SiriusXM for $325m in July 2020. Stitcher and Midroll cost Scripps $54.5m in 2016.
February 10, 2021:
-
Research company Kantar, which measures and analyses podcast ad effectiveness for Pandora and Spotify, has announced partnerships with Acast, Midroll and Megaphone.
December 24, 2020:
-
Podcasts from Midroll were downloaded 1.8bn times in 2020. The company also cites data from Magellan AI that they 'sold ads for more unique advertisers and brands than any other US podcast network'.
December 4, 2020:
-
MANSCAPED and podcasting are growing together, says Midroll, who have posted a case study into the men's grooming product. More than 40 shows on Midroll have run campaigns with MANSCAPED.
November 19, 2020:
-
ART19 has hired David Murray to be their CFO. Murray was the CFO of Midroll/Stitcher, which was purchased by SiriusXM in July.
November 11, 2020:
-
In a timely post, Laura Mayer writes about her experiences in podcast consolidation, including poor treatment from management. She doesn't mention companies by name in the post: however, her LinkedIn shows she worked for Panoply/Megaphone for two years, then switched to competitor Stitcher/Midroll. We hope Spotify will treat its new Megaphone staff a little better.
November 5, 2020:
-
Midroll and Stitcher have announced a slate of new shows.
October 19, 2020:
-
Podsights has released data about "sequential advertising" - when you put ads for the same client in more than one spot in your podcast. One of the data points: buying both pre-roll and mid-roll works 43% better in terms of return on ad spend than a midroll ad alone. The rest of the research is free on their website.
September 28, 2020:
-
Midroll's Q3 2020 slate has been published.
July 7, 2020:
-
Sirius XM is in advanced talks to buy Stitcher. SiriusXM owns Pandora, a US-only music service and podcast app), AdsWizz, a programmatic audio ads technology company, and Simplecast, a podcast host and analytics service, along with the US satellite radio service. Stitcher encompasses Midroll, a podcast advertising company selling ads for 350 shows, podcast production networks Stitcher Podcasts and Earwolf which make 50 shows, and a podcast app.
June 18, 2020:
-
Analysis: The podcast market appears to be horizontally consolidating. SiriusXM already owns Pandora and ad-tech company AdsWizz: their acquisition of Simplecast adds a capable podcast host and analytics company, and means they have capabilities in all sectors of the business. They join EW Scripps, who own Omny Studio, Triton Digital, Midroll and Stitcher; Spotify, who own Anchor, Gimlet et al; and Acast, who acquired Pippa and set up their own content studio last year. It's not enough, it seems, to be a great hosting company or a content-creator: the podcast companies of the future appears to need a foot in all parts of the business.
May 11, 2020:
-
Scripps also released quarterly earnings figures. Of their podcast companies, Triton Digital, which also owns Omny Studio, showed a small decrease in revenue (down 1.1% to $10.3m); Stitcher/Midroll saw an increase of 13.4% to $17.1m.
April 8, 2020:
-
Midroll report on the measurement session at RAIN Podcast Business Summit in New York NY, USA last month.
December 10, 2019:
-
Reacting to David Pakman's claims yesterday, Stitcher/Midroll tells us:
December 9, 2019:
-
Podcast advertising company Midroll is "bullying" podcaster David Pakman to switch his podcast host from Libsyn to Omny Studio, he says in a YouTube video. Pakman is unhappy at leaving Libsyn, and claims Omny Studio "tracks listeners using a tracking pixel". He is, he says, ending his relationship with Midroll as a result. We've approached Midroll for comment, and will carry that tomorrow; however, Sharon Taylor, CEO of Omny Studio, has clarified to Podnews (our bold):
December 5, 2019:
-
Paolo McCarty highlights something we missed at the time: when Stitcher and Earwolf moved from ART19 to Omny Studio, that meant that every part of their business - production, hosting, distribution and monetisation - is now owned by their owner, Scripps.
October 28, 2019:
-
Event: the RAIN Summit Europe is on November 13th in central London. Speakers include Ruth Fitzsimons from Podfront UK, Sarah van Mosel from Midroll, Declan Moore from Wondery, Steve Goldstein from Amplifi Media, and radio consultant David Lloyd. Priced at over £200, this special link for Podnews readers will get you free tickets, if you're quick.
October 8, 2019:
-
Stitcher podcasts are now represented in Australia by Whooshkaa, opening up Midroll podcasts to Australian advertisers. The company got IAB Certification in May, has its own Alexa integration, and we've covered similar Whooshkaa deals with WYNC, Wondery and Australian radio network ARN.
September 19, 2019:
-
Maggie McGuire, the CEO of Pinna, an ad-free children's audio network, talks to Podcast Movement. They advertise themselves, though: "We’re running advertising across audio networks including Spotify, Pandora, and NPR, and across podcast networks like Megaphone and Midroll."
September 17, 2019:
-
In a Facebook post, Dave Jackson notes that Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend contains over ten minutes of ads. In August, Conan O'Brien signed "a mid-seven-figure deal" with podcasting network Midroll.
August 23, 2019:
-
The New York Times, in an analyst's call earlier this month, revealed that digital advertising (including within its podcasts) grew by 14% year-on-year, and that they added a second ad into The Daily at the end of June. (We think this refers to an additional midroll position; there have been occasional post-roll ads for a while). Mark Thompson, the CEO, added that the company is "looking for ways ... of building out our podcasting capability".
August 21, 2019:
-
Conan O'Brien's Team Coco has signed a seven figure deal with Midroll for more seasons of Conan O'Brien needs a friend. Team Coco has also has launched two new podcasts on Luminary. Frontier Tween is a scripted podcast featuring the life of Tilly Mulch on the untamed prairie; Smartr is a look at the tech world with VC Noa Lukas, as he helps companies grow.
April 29, 2019:
-
Luminary have responded to our many stories about them on Friday, clearly stating they will continue to remove links from shownotes "due to important security concerns". As we replied on Twitter, show notes are left intact in the majority of podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts. Meanwhile, more podcast publishers have requested their shows be removed from Luminary: Stitcher podcasts have been removed, and Stitcher are asking those podcasts represented by Midroll to consider doing the same, PRX, including Radiotopia, are off, and we have a statement from Lantigua Williams & Co saying similar. We have no plans to remove our podcast.
April 12, 2019:
-
Edison Research revealed their Podcast Consumer 2019 study yesterday in a webinar. They have posted the full slide deck and video on their website. On the Twitter hashtag, Midroll highlight that 70% of podcast consumers are doing "nothing else" when listening to podcasts; Mark Asquith highlights that 75% of non-listeners believe that podcasts are "just not for them", and sees this as a marketing opportunity; and Evo Terra highlights that podcast listeners overwhelmingly use their phones for just that.
March 5, 2019:
-
Scripps, who own Triton Digital and Stitcher, have seen revenue grow by 41% in Q4 2018, according to new results from the company. Revenue for Stitcher, which includes Midroll, was up 64% to $16.7 million.
February 15, 2019:
-
Event: Winter Podcast Upfront 2019 will give advertisers, agencies and media a first look at the newest partnerships, talent and shows slated for 2019. It's the first to be held on the West Coast of the USA, in Beverly Hills CA, on Feb 20.
January 10, 2019:
-
Job: Earwolf/Stitcher/Midroll is looking for a Senior Production Manager, in Los Angeles CA, USA.
January 3, 2019:
-
Bad With Money is back for a fourth season, with a trailer featuring host Gaby Dunn and Suze Orman. And the book of the podcast is now available, too. (Stitcher/Midroll/Megaphone)
December 4, 2018:
-
Scripps has formally concluded the purchase of Triton Digital. Scripps also own Stitcher and Midroll; the purchase of Triton Digital was US$150m, and Triton Digital's current management team will continue to head up the company.
October 31, 2018:
-
Midroll offer advice on how best to make podcast advertising work for your brand.
October 9, 2018:
-
Midroll has released the newest version of the company's listener survey. 81% of their listeners pay attention to podcast ads; 72% of people who've listened to podcasts for more than four years have bought from advertisers. There's lots more data.
September 28, 2018:
-
Midroll notes that Effective Podcast Ads Help Drive More Brand Business. "50% of listeners exposed to an ad within a podcast clip could recall the brand advertised, unaided."
September 12, 2018:
-
Stitcher has a new logo. "A bit more modern, a bit bolder. Representative of the continuing evolution of podcasting, yet still harkening back to our roots." Podcasters are asked to update their listen badges: visit the partner portal and then hit "promote this show". Stitcher is also now the parent brand of Midroll and Earwolf.
September 7, 2018:
-
Midroll announced a number of partnerships including a widened deal with Oprah Winfrey, and the general release of Wolverine: The Long Night.
August 31, 2018:
-
RAIN is to produce a free webinar, The Power of Podcasts for National Brands: Case Studies in Ad Effectiveness. It's presented by Midroll Media, and will be held in mid September.
August 21, 2018:
Thank you, to Midroll, FullCast, Ad Results Media and our first Singaporean supporter Splice Cast for recently becoming supporters of Podnews; and to Be My Guest for your personal support.
August 16, 2018:
-
The creators of “My Favorite Murder” have launched a podcast network. Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark are working with Midroll Media to launch Exactly Right.
July 20, 2018:
Welcome to our new readers this week, including fine folk from Auscast Network, the New York Times, Midroll, Loftus Media, the Wall Street Journal, Cliff Central, the Financial Times, the BBC, Monash University, Radio France and Future.
June 27, 2018:
-
Alan Alda launches a podcast in early July, called Clear+Vivid. Represented by Midroll, it's hosted on ART19.
June 7, 2018:
-
LeVar Burton Reads, the "hit Stitcher podcast", returns for a new season on July 24. For ads, it's represented by Midroll.
May 17, 2018:
Welcome to our new subscribers this week, including lovely people from ABC Australia, Spotify, Midroll, Harper Collins, Audiogram, KQED, Havas Edge, Penguin Random House, Whistledown Productions, Slate, Audioboom, the BBC, Turner, Univision, Spreaker, SRF Switzerland, Bauer Media, Global, Somethin'Else and Townsquare Media.
May 9, 2018:
-
Midroll brought in US$11m in revenue during Q1 2018, says RAIN. The company didn't disclose profitability.
April 26, 2018:
-
Comedians Paul Scheer and Michael Ian Black are launching new podcasts with Midroll Media; the company has also announced new titles this Spring for Stitcher Premium subscribers.
April 12, 2018:
-
In Las Vegas NV, USA, the NAB Show continues. Speaking yesterday, Triton Digital, Spreaker, Midroll, Jacobs Media and more. Here's a report of the day from AllAccess.
April 5, 2018:
-
Listicle corner: Corn Nation's top 5 (sports related) podcasts; and Time magazine's The 50 Best Podcasts To Listen To Right Now - of which, Midroll claims one-fifth of the list.
March 15, 2018:
-
Midroll shares ad effectiveness research in podcasts: Talenti, a brand of "gelatos and sorbettos", bought a 30-second pre-roll. 74% of episode listeners were able to recall a feature of the frozen treat.
March 9, 2018:
-
Pod Save America is coming to Clearwater FL, USA next month. Also live: Midroll's Katie Couric Podcast, this time one of the many podcasts going live in SXSW.
February 7, 2018:
-
Macmillan launch two new podcasts this month: One True Pairing and But that's another story. They're both represented by Midroll. The company claims over one million downloads for their Steal the Stars podcast.
January 26, 2018:
-
Radio is out, podcasting is in: US media company Scripps is restructuring. They're selling their 34 US radio stations. In future they want to focus on TV and podcasting, through their companies Midroll, Stitcher and Earwolf.
January 25, 2018:
-
Midroll announce four new big-name podcasts - Rise and Grind with Daymond John, interviews with people who share their secrets of success; Big Questions with Cal Fussman, Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin, and Breached, the story about the Yahoo hack.
January 24, 2018:
-
Midroll published "our take on where marketing and content are headed this year." CEO Erik Diehn: “I feel like we have reached a critical mass of cultural penetration in the U.S. and podcasting has become a mainstream media form.”
December 20, 2017:
-
NYC-based podcast producer Midroll announces a Make-A-Wish podcast mini-series. Audible is donating US$1 per listener, up to US$25,000, to the charity, which helps children with critical illnesses.
November 29, 2017:
-
Oprah Winfrey's podcast (which is really a compilation of other bits of audio) sold all its 2017 advertising slots in 24 hours, shouts AdWeek - after signing up with Midroll Media in late October.
November 7, 2017:
-
Earwolf's Raised By TV launches Friday. Midroll calls it "highly anticipated".
November 6, 2017:
-
Jon Ronson's Audible-exclusive documentary, The Butterfly Effect, is now available more generally, ad-supported, with Midroll (there are seven episodes in the feed).
October 16, 2017:
-
Midroll report from a session at Advertising Week called The Power of Audio.
September 8, 2017:
-
New content announced from Midroll, including NFL, true crime, and comedy.
September 7, 2017:
-
Midroll reports on lessons learned producing Missing Richard Simmons, with Dan Taberski who spoke at Podcast Movement. On monetisation: "I’m ready to read ads, because they’re supporting the story I’m telling."
July 26, 2017:
-
HotPod 129 is out. (Reading time: 19m51s). "Gimlet's Homecoming returns for its second season, gets an e-book companions, and hammers down its TV adaptation; More paywalled podcasts trickle out into the open ecosystem; Midroll expands its Earwolf lineup; Wondery's new show breaks 1M in slightly over a week... and more."
June 27, 2017:
-
New hires for Midroll: an exec producer, a head of marketing, and a VP of finance and strategy.
June 22, 2017:
-
Midroll announce that the anonymous TED podcast "Sincerely, x" - previously an Audible exclusive - will be generally available on July 20 (ad-supported).