iHeartRadio adds 'Talk Back' voice comments

As we grow, it’s important we embrace the standards that ad buyers have come to expect with other forms of advertising. Making an industry-wide commitment to third-party verification is a good start. - Bryan Barletta, in this week’s Sounds Profitable

Sep 12 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• iHeartRadio has added a tool called “Talk Back” to its app. It lets listeners send short voice messages to radio and podcast hosts. It “will roll out to interested iHeartRadio podcasters who opt-in sometime in early April.”

• Audacy has launched the Audacy Digital Audience Network, which they call “the highest quality addressable audience in audio”. 60 million listeners across podcasts and radio are available to target.

• NBC’s “aggressive podcasting push” is the subject of a piece from the Associated Press.

• Looking at podcast hosts ordered by new episodes in February, there’s no change in the top five, but iHeart’s Spreaker has seen a significant increase in new episodes published: up by 16%.

• Are indie podcast apps gaining ground? Buzzsprout report Apple had 35.7% of all downloads in February (down from 37.2%); Spotify 27.9% (also down from 28%). Google Podcasts has grown to 2.5%; Amazon Music has grown to 0.8%; and Facebook is up slightly to 0.5%. In their official podcast, Buzzsprout also mentions “a big update soon”.

• Anchor has added a new privacy page for Californian residents.

Moves and hires

• Rishi Malhotra has been announced as the new CEO of Luminary. The former CEO and co-founder of JioSaavn, and VP at HBO, he replaces Simon Sutton who remains on the Board. Comedian Dave Chapelle has also invested in the company - Ben Jealous takes a seat on the board on his behalf - and two new board members have been announced, Heather Hiles and Mara Buxbaum.

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Sep 12 2023

• Gabriel Roth has joined Freakonomics Radio as Editorial Director. He was Editorial Director, Audio at Slate.

Tips and tricks

• 6 Tools to Grow & Earn From Your Show - Tar Haahr suggests websites and an email list.

• How to Speed Up Your Podcast Production - Audry suggests outlining your show before you record.

  
  Sep 12 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• 22 great tools for podcasters - Auphonic includes Squadcast, Audvice and Zvook.

Podcast News

Hope Solo Speaks launches today - hosted by the World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist goalkeeper. She starts by tackling the recently settled equal pay dispute between US Soccer and the US Women’s National Team. - read more

Unusually, That Peter Crouch Podcast, a show grown by the BBC, has signed with the Acast Creator Network. Producer George Cottam will leave the BBC to continue producing the show; Chris Stark will continue to host. Normally shows built with BBC money remain the property of the BBC. It’s the UK’s largest sports show, claiming 60 million listens since its 2018 launch.