At a point where, according to a Quantilope study, weekly use of AI among Americans is at 50% – matching the level of internet use in 2001 – AI brands would be smart to market their applications for the workplace, as the study finds 70% of Americans use it primarily for personal use. That study also finds that audio listeners are the most interested in using AI. “Americans are vaguely aware and modestly interested in AI services,” Cumulus Media/Westwood One Audio Active Group

The amount of money spent on radio during the midterm election cycle has jumped 22% in the past month, with the vast majority of ad dollars expected to come following Labor Day. The ad-tracking firm AdImpact reports $124 million has been spent on political ads on the radio so far. That is up from $101 million a month ago. The acceleration is only beginning. AdImpact data both the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, spending rose sharply from August through September and then rough

If Netflix wants to be more like YouTube and offer podcasts, then YouTube can be more like Netflix and offer creators payouts for exclusive access to their shows. That is the dynamic that is apparently playing out as the two video streamers continue to embrace podcasters. Bloomberg reports that YouTube has begun approaching podcasters looking to cut deals that would pay them millions of dollars in exchange for having exclusive access to their video episodes. No deals have bee

The surge in digital video advertising is doing more than shifting dollars from traditional television to streaming. It is expanding the pool of money available to local media — and one industry executive thinks a potentially huge chunk of national advertising could eventually be up for grabs. Locality CEO Michael Collins predicts that as national advertisers get more sophisticated about using streaming video to target consumers market by market, more of their budgets will ef

MS Now is looking to turn its growing podcast and digital audiences into paying subscribers as it prepares to launch its first direct-to-consumer membership product next month. The news network will debut MS Now Membership on Sept. 9, offering subscribers a mix of exclusive content, direct interaction with its journalists, community features and 24/7 access to live streams and television programming. The move comes as audio has become a significant piece of MS Now’s audience

The procedural logjam holding up Cumulus Media’s effort to enforce its ratings injunction against Nielsen is set to break Monday, with a federal appeals court saying the mandate will be issued on Tuesday (Aug. 25), potentially sending the fight over the price of Nationwide ratings back to the district court. That follows a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit last week that denied Cumulus’ emergency motion seeking immediate clarification that an earlie

Saga Communications Senior Vice President of Content Pat Paxton will leave the company at the end of August, with two longtime local programming executives stepping into expanded corporate roles. Paxton will remain with Saga through Friday, Aug. 28, to assist with the transition. Ocala, FL, Operations Manager Scott Chase and Clarksville, TN, Operations Manager Ryan Ploeckelman will co-chair Saga’s programming department as Directors of Group Programming. Saga CEO Chris Forgy

For years, marketers have relied on reach, impressions and frequency to evaluate audio advertising. While those measures remain part of campaign reporting, the expanding digital audio landscape is prompting advertisers to look more closely at whether ads actually capture attention, improve brand perceptions and produce measurable business results. In a new Insights piece, Ad Results Media argues that the growth of podcasts, streaming music and connected audio platforms has ma

Everyone loves to laugh — and comedy podcasts have unsurprisingly been a consistent draw for marketers. New podcast advertisers put their ads into comedy shows more than any other genre during the second quarter other than sports, according to Magellan AI. And while comedy podcasts are getting better at delivering results for advertisers, a new analysis from Oxford Road says buyers can’t assume yesterday’s top performers will remain tomorrow’s best bets. The advertising agenc

Podcasting may be one of Gen Z’s native media formats, but new research from iHeartMedia suggests it isn’t the only ad-supported audio medium that younger are tuning into — including one option whose introduction predates them by generations. Citing Edison Research’s Share of Ear, iHeart says broadcast radio accounts for 47% of Gen Z’s ad-supported audio time vs. 31% for streaming music and 21% for podcasts. The findings offer another measure of where podcasting sits in the i