Brad Hill

United States

Author, audio producer, composer, pianist, voice actor, executive, not always in this order, also dog lover and usually wired on coffee.

Articles

YouTube stretches podcast delivery lead over Spotify & Apple

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

YouTube has widened its lead in delivering podcasts to consumers, continuing a leadership posture it has maintained and grown for three years. We learn his by way of a graphic release produced by Signal Hill Insights and Cumulus Media. (See it HERE.) The key chart, shown below, illustrates YouTubes persistent — though not continuous year-over-year — growth from 15% of consumer reach to 39%.
"Podcast Lookalikes" at center of Katz Media / Number 8 partnership

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

Podcast audience intelligence company Number 8 has struck an alliance with media sales organization Katz Media. At the center of this business collaboration is Number Eight’s technology called Podcast Lookalikes. This technology groups podcasts with similar audience profiles. Buyers can reportedly “dynamically surface shows that mirror their target audiences.” This is accomplished without relying on personal identifiers of listeners.
Audiobook sales: $2.2 billion in double-digit growth; 51% of Americans listened

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

In two surveys organized by non-profit trade group Audio Publishers Association, conducted by two research companies, we learn:Audiobook sales revenue grew by double digits in 2024. Increase in audiobook sales revenue to $2.22 billion in 2024, 13% over the previous year. Sales increases continue to be driven by digital audiobooks, which accounted for 99% of revenue in 2024 and grew year over year by 14%.
In-car on-screen advertising: A story of cross-category lift

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

Quu, provider of visual programming for radio, has released a 2025 case study. TitledĀ Visual Radio Drives Sales, it is a research report documenting how visual ads in car radios uniquely benefit advertisers. The general conclusion is that they boost brand awareness, consideration, and conversion. The study was deployed to consumers with the capability to receive text on their car screens.
RAIN Notes: June 10

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

Jottings of note:A Shift“In the space of a year, the major record labels have shifted from legal crusaders to would-be business partners.” That notable observation is from Virginie Berger, Founder of Don’t Believe the Hype LLC and expert/consultant in the field of global music rights ownership and management. “The pivot is striking,” she observes in her recently posted Forbes column.
RAIN Notes: June 9

2 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

Jottings of note:A Bright OutlookSpotify CFO Emily Villatte has posted the text of her talk at the recent Podcast Movement London. Titled Podcasting: A Bright Future for Creators, the piece addresses an evolving landscape in which video and niche content are increasingly important attributes of podcasting and key drivers of future growth. Demographics are important too: the 16-24 cohort represents the next generation of listeners and ad spend.
The Davey Awards & The Podglomerate encourage video podcasting with data/tutorial

3 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

The Davey Awards, in partnership with The Podglomerate, has produced and releasedÃ‚Â Video Podcasting Decoded: A Guide for Small Shows. A 17-page report deck argues that video has become ubiquitous in the podcast space, ans seeks to answer key questions:Is video podcasting a passing trend, or is it here to stay? For smaller shows and indie creators, is it worth the time and effort? Does video help tell a stronger story?
Gumball intros Adaptive Ads, blending AI with host reads

3 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

Gumball, the marketplace for advertisers to buy host-read ads directly from podcasters, is splashing a new audio ad format called Adaptive Ads, touted by the company “to make podcast ads smarter, more relevant, and easier to scale.” Content + Scale is the guiding strategic formula. The premise is that host-read podcast ads are the gold standard for podcasting, but as custom-made spots they are difficult to scale. That problem particularly affects back catalogs and large neworks, the company says.
Kast Media announces post-bankruptcy "fresh sart"; Matty Staudt is CEO

3 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

“Kast made mistakes; we own them. But the scars are the blueprint” — Kast MediaWith that earnest declamation, podcast network Kast Media announces its return from bankruptcy, with veteran podcast executive and producer Matty Staudt taking the CEO position. Staudt itemizes his ey responsibilities:Overseeing monetization strategies across all Kast-owned and third-party shows. Spearheading the relaunch of Kast within the creator ecosystem, with a focus on innovation and sustainable growth.
iHeartMedia posts Music Festival lineup; Hulu picked to stream

3 weeks ago | rainnews.com | Brad Hill

iHeartMedia is building anticipation for its 2025 Music Festival, scheduled 15 weeks from now (September 19-20). The location is T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Capital One is the title sponsor. We learn today that streaming platform Hulu is the “Official Streaming Destination” of the event. That is an exclusive deal.