Mobile

The Importance of Content: Exaget Week in Review

January 29, 2015

Exaget Week in review

In last week’s Week in Review we looked at the growth and acquisition of some well-known and emerging music streaming services as this market becomes increasingly competitive.

This week we’re looking at the various ways in which brands and companies use their content across a variety of platforms to reach new audiences while keeping their current ones happy.

BBC to test ‘experimental’ digital technology and content

The BBC has launched an online platform, BBC Taster, which will allow them to develop and test ideas for digital content and technology, which audiences will be able to watch and rate; such as interactive, short-form or social content, online features, as well as digital technology from BBC Future Media. The BBC hopes that this platform will enable them to respond to changing media habits as well as better serve its audience from gained feedback.

 

Umano offers streaming narrations of the web’s written work

Quite simply, Umano reads the internet for you, so that you don’t have to. The company supplies audio narrations of written web content, and currently has access to articles from several outlets, such as Forbes, Digital Trends, and VentureBeat. Umano’s PR have stated all narrations have links back to the original written posts, which will drive new traffic to the original publishers. Available as a free app for iOS and Android, the programme has already seen millions of downloads and streams, according to their PR. It’s good to see illiteracy levels being kept down….

 

Rdio launches in new countries & partners with Digicel

Rdio continues its empirical expansion into 24 new countries and territories across the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific, as well as partnering with mobile phone network Digicel. 30 minutes of free Rdio internet radio listening will be offered to Digicel prepaid customers per day. A pay structure is, however, to be developed and launched in due time. These moves come following Rdio’s recent launch in India, where last year they acquired music streaming service Dhingana. Rdio CEO Anthony Bay had previously hinted at expansion plans: ‘Our ultimate goal is to be everywhere.’

 

Twitter tries to up its game with native video

Twitter is set to take on the likes of Facebook and YouTube in the world of native video content. Video is both a crucial and an important form of content for Twitter, as it drives engagement and generates more revenue than other forms of media. By launching its own video platform, users will be encouraged to upload their videos directly to Twitter rather than post links to clips on Facebook or YouTube, or any other video platform.

 

If you are interested in becoming a broadcasting partner, or would like to know what our integrating technology can do for you, contact our Partnership Account Manager Matthew Layton – matthew.layton@exaget.com or +447533517396

If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please contact the CEO of Exaget, Shankar Meembat –shankar.meembat@exaget.com or +447411130680

NPR One - The blueprint for mobile radio apps?

January 21, 2015

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Statistically, online radio listening is increasing year-on-year, with the biggest percentage of listeners falling in the 12-24 years of age bracket; and it’s the same story for music streaming services. As both audio platforms try to boost their listener percentage, they must look at what makes them different from their competitors. But online radio looks like it might have an advantage…

 

BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

There is no denying that the online music streaming industry is over-saturated. Just off the top of your head you would probably be able to name Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, SoundCloud and Grooveshark. And that’s just the big international players – imagine how many more, local, music streaming services there are the world over. Just last week it was announced that Tesco’s ex-music streaming service, Blinkbox Music, is to be sold to Guvera, yet another such service, hailing from Australia. French service Deezer acquired US based Muve Music to expand their music streaming footprint in America. And yet again this week we have been informed of two – yes, two – more music streaming services that we should keep our ears peeled for – Boomio and Nusiki, who both lay claims to providing users with services that are different, and better, than their competitors.

 

‘IF INSTAGRAM AND SPOTIFY HAD A KID’

Brian Hewitt, co-founder of Chicago-based Nusiki, has described this new app as ‘if Instagram and Spotify had a kid’. The secret, it seems, in launching these new apps, is in implementing small features which other apps have overlooked and making a big fuss over that. Spotify shares music too publicly? Ok, we’ll make our sharing system more controlled, as in the case of Nusiki. After all, it’s the little things that make the difference, a phrase that seems to carry a lot of weight in the world of music streaming.

Boomio’s mantra seems to be ‘sharing is caring’ as users pick a song to listen to and share, and at the end are prompted to either re-share in order to hear the next song or buy the track on iTunes. Sharing can be done to an individual, a group, or a social network.

But at the end of the day, music streaming services are limited in what they can offer to the listener when compared to the content of radio. Radio stations are of course already available on mobile phones, but they often lack that element of personalisation that such services as Spotify and Pandora offer. But what if there was an app that brought to you relevant news and stories, in bite sized chunks, from your local radio station as well as internationally, with the curation aspect of music streaming services?

Larry Rosin, president of Edison Research, has recently talked about one such app – NPR One. Dubbed ‘Public radio made personal’, it is available only in the US, although users worldwide can still download it and listen in. The app itself has many great qualities, but it’s not just good; it could well be a blue-print for future radio apps with which to take the online audio platform by storm.

 

‘PANDORA-ITISATION OF CONTENT’

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The advantages of radio are numerous and well-known. One of the oldest social mediums, it still continues to have a large relevance in people’s day-to-day lives. What NPR One does so well is offer their listeners efficiency. Up-to-date relevant news and stories, in under 5 or 10 minutes. Like the music streaming services, you can skip stories, flag your favourite, and share. But it also reminds the listener that there is a local public radio station as part of its programme, and one that needs financial support. Through this scheme the app inspires a wholesome community feel; radio really does bring people together.

Of course, NPR One only deals with news and stories; there is no music, no presenter tete-a-tete, no real-time traffic and weather updates. But all of these typical radio features could be merged with NPR One’s principal concept to create great personalised radio apps, which would have a better value to listeners than all the current numerous music streaming services which fundamentally all do the same thing, albeit in differently packaged ways.

And it’s not just broadcasters and listeners who would benefit from such apps; advertisers too could cash in by the implementation of personalised user-targeted ads.

The moral of the story? NPR One have a great mission and concept. Taken on a global scale and implemented by other radio apps, mobile radio would certainly offer much more than music streaming services – the varied content of radio, with the curated personalisation of music streaming, and adverts tailored to both listener and broadcaster. We all know that radio as a medium is still going strong, with audience figures constantly on the up, and it’s refreshing to see that younger listeners haven’t been completely sucked in by the world of streaming - at least, not in the UK.

 

If you are interested in becoming a broadcasting partner, or would like to know what our integrating technology can do for you, contact our Partnership Account Manager Matthew Layton – matthew.layton@exaget.com or +447533517396

If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please contact the CEO of Exaget, Shankar Meembat –shankar.meembat@exaget.com or +447411130680

 

The Tide Turns for Music Streaming: Exaget Week in Review

January 15, 2015

Exaget Week in review

In our last Week in Review, we took a look into our crystal ball to see what new ventures may be coming out of the woodwork this year – including the futuristic concept of smart glasses.

This week, however, we turn our attention back to something that is already a big, popular, and sought-after phenomena – music streaming services. With Tesco last week announcing its sale of Blinkbox, the streaming services scene is about to become even more competitive as two new rivals are set to emerge this year:

Tesco close to selling Blinkbox Music

Last week, one of Britain’s largest retailers sold their video streaming service, Blinkbox Movies, to telecoms business TalkTalk in a bid to reel in cash spend – and profit loss. This week they are set to sell Blinkbox Music, their music streaming service, to Australian company Guvera, who are already big in Asia and partnered with Lenovo. Guvera will use this acquisition as a means to get their foot into the UK and European market. Under their management, Blinkbox Music will undergo a face transplant in the form of new branding.

 

Deezer acquires Muve Music

We bring our attention back to European players – more specifically, to French music streaming service Deezer. They already launched in the US in September 2014 following a partnership with Sonos, but now, with the acquisition of Muve Music, they are set to expand their presence in the US – which is also home to perhaps their biggest rival, Pandora. What will make Deezer different? Access to an impressive 35 million tracks, and a tantalising price of $6 per month, compared to the $10 that most other services charge. Will this launch them into a big player on the scale of Pandora? Watch this space…

 

Why mobile is key to Spotify’s future growth

Swedish music streaming behemoth Spotify is this week celebrating 15m paid subscribers and 60m active users; and more than half of these users are streaming via their mobile devices. Statistics show that 42% stream on smartphones, and 10% on tablets. Their free streaming on mobile through their shuffle feature increased their amount of mobile listeners dramatically; but now their goal is to transfer these listeners into paid subscribers. But with Apple to automatically install Beats Music on their iPhones, it will be interesting to monitor how this will affect Spotify’s iOS users.

 

Radio still beats digital for music discovery

Despite the influx of music streaming services vying for your attention, ears, and wallets, the days of the radio are still going strong. The latest statistics from Nielsen have shown that 51% of music consumers in the US find new songs through the radio – that’s an impressive 243 million. The figures include all platforms of radio; car radios, AM/FM sets, and online radio. They also show that listening in the car is the most common way of enjoying music; and that Disney’s Frozen soundtrack is the number one listened to. It looks like there’s no letting go of it…..see what we did there?

 

If you are interested in becoming a broadcasting partner, or would like to know what our integrating technology can do for you, contact our Partnership Account Manager Matthew Layton – matthew.layton@exaget.com or +447533517396

If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please contact the CEO of Exaget, Shankar Meembat –shankar.meembat@exaget.com or +447411130680

‘Cars will have radios in 2015’

January 14, 2015

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Roger Lanctot, thought-leader in the connected-car space, has recently made this prediction: that cars in 2015 will have radios. Now, that might seem a little bit obvious at first glance, but with the increasing rise of online audio streaming services and podcasts, it may look as though radio is in danger. But we disagree. Radio, across its various platforms, is here to stay – it’s just evolving.

There is something about silence in a car that is discomforting and awkward. A silent car with passengers puts strains on social etiquette as you grapple for something inane to say. We need audio in our cars. But AM/FM radio is struggling to maintain its presence as the UK may or not be poised on the brink of a national DAB switchover. The glitch with AM/FM? The hissing and crackling of radio white noise, which is an infuriating and teeth-grinding experience. It was all very well listening to your favourite Capital FM while you whizzed around London, but dare to venture into a neighbouring home county and you’d be met with white noise and no choice but to browse for a local radio’s reception, or switch to a CD.

And it’s not just DAB that’s threatening AM/FM – younger generations are becoming increasingly dependent on and attached to their mobile devices, increasing radio listening among mobile users. And at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, a new potential craze really came to the fore – the connected car.

Both the CES, held in Las Vegas this year, and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit – dubbed the ‘Motor City’ – aimed their focus on the future of the connected-car and the probability of bringing this concept one step closer to consumer production. And whilst Mercedes-Benz’s self-driving model is a stretch beyond our imagination and not due to hit any car dealerships any time soon, the first connected-cars may well be on roads this year. And as the name suggests, they are connected to the internet.

Connected cars, with their fancy apps, could make the radio obsolete as they sidle over to the dark side of music streaming services. Rdio, one such service, is to pair up with Bosch, an interface manufacturer for connected cars. In Jaguars and Land Rovers, which use Bosch’s system, Rdio will be the only subscription music app. Except that the automakers are also planning on partnering with Apple and their own connected-car system, Carplay. Add into this mix Spotify, Pandora, and Google’s Android Auto and it’s all a bit of a kerfuffle from the business perspective.

But whilst streaming services are cool and popular, there are two fundamental downsides to having them in your car as a radio replacement. Firstly, streaming services could potentially be a hazard to drivers. Think about how frequently you flick through a playlist to get to the song you want, and then compare that to how frequently you’d flick through radio stations. That’s extra seconds of attention taken off the road. Secondly, there can be no denying that radio is the original social medium. Real-time traffic updates, weather reports, the latest news – just the sound of two presenters nattering away at each other makes us feel more connected and part of the world, unlike streaming, which is automated, impersonal, and cold.

And let’s not forget mobile radio. Hundreds – thousands – of radio stations worldwide can be accessed anywhere by anybody on their mobile while they’re mobile. Pair this with the connected car, and all of the relevance that radio in a connected car can deliver can be offered today. For example, imagine having the most relevant and up-to-date traffic information to where you are travelling, or an offer from the service station at the exit you are approaching – something that music streaming services cannot provide. The relevance that being connected can add to the radio experience has the potential for stations to build even more loyal listeners. After all, radio have been voted as the most important feature for new car buyers, alongside connectivity. A mobile radio may be the best solution for broadcasters, advertisers, listeners, and automakers.

Another reason for radio to stay: radio listeners are less likely to switch channels during adverts than television audiences. Which, combined with the potential to deliver highly relevant ads to the listener, is golden news for advertisers.

This is the concept that drives Exaget’s forward-thinking technology. Using a refined blend of database-analysing technology and a dash of common sense, we are able to create an overall profile of a radio listener, and target relatable adverts their way. Adverts that are not only compatible with the radio station, but with the radio listener themselves. The interaction does not just consist of ‘sports radio = listener more likely to be a man = insert ad for booking a test drive’, but also works on a ‘listener-radio station-advertiser’ relationship platform, adding value to all three parties involved.

But with cars looking to become connected to the internet of things in the foreseeable future, who’s to say that mobile radio, with its interactive and relevant ads, won’t make a progression onto dashboards? But if that’s a bit too futuristic for you to digest right now, you can at least take away this with you – radio is here to stay. It’s just in the process of getting a face lift. It may or may be DAB; it will more likely be mobile; but it will still be ‘the radio’.

 

If you are interested in becoming a broadcasting partner, or would like to know what our integrating technology can do for you, contact our Partnership Account Manager Matthew Layton –matthew.layton@exaget.com or +447533517396

If you are interested in advertising opportunities, please contact the CEO of Exaget, Shankar Meembat –shankar.meembat@exaget.com or +447411130680

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December 8, 2014

It’s been a hell of a day at work. Best not to mention the tube. And it looks like someone gave the kids too much sugar. Slouched on the sofa, G&T in hand, there’s just one thing you want to do. Chillax with your favourite artist, Nicki Minaj. You love the song, but you haven’t yet seen her ‘Anaconda’. You wonder what it looks like. YouTube is about to show you.

But oh….the bitter disappointment. It’s the dreaded YouTube pre-roll.

Frankly, you couldn’t care less about some new dragon warfare game. You start to search frantically for those two holy words – ‘Skip Ad’. Panic sets in. You can’t find them. You may not be particularly religious, but you’re praying now. You must endure 30 excruciating, agonising seconds of what feels like medieval torture. Never has time gone by so slowly.

The YouTube pre-roll is a negative experience for the viewer. If the viewer – essentially, to an advertiser, a potential customer – feels like they are being harassed or forced to endure a piece of advertising content, then someone in the advertising and marketing world is not doing their job properly. The net result is that the potential customer is left with a negative association with the advertising brand.

Our association with the YouTube pre-roll is a negative one. However, the opposite is true with a well-produced, well-deployed audio pre-roll. Here at Exaget, we entwine broadcaster and advertiser brands into a product that really works. We leverage the emotional connection the listener has with the radio station. By downloading the radio station’s app on to their mobile, they have invited the radio station onto a device as personal as a toothbrush.

We’re currently running a brilliant example of the sensitively branded pre-roll with one of our premium broadcasters, French Radio London. When a listener opens the French Radio London app on their mobile phone or device they are greeted by the following pre-roll, which interweaves the radio station’s brand with that of their luxury advertising partner, Relais & Châteaux.

For a sneak peak of how our pre-roll works, download the French Radio London App here
For a sneak peak of how our pre-roll works, download the French Radio London App here

This turns the audio pre-roll into an incredibly valuable piece of advertising real estate. At this point the listener is most probably still looking at their mobile device. Not only will they engage with the accompanying visuals – in this case the understated sophistication of Relais & Châteaux’s gourmet gift boxes – they are also presented with an opportunity to interact with the brand with just a simple tap of the map icon.

The benefits are obvious to the advertiser, the broadcaster and the listener. The advertiser gets to leverage the emotional connection that the listener has with the broadcaster’s brand and output – resulting in a deeper engagement with their own brand and product. This in turn helps to establish a relationship with the consumer, increasing the likelihood of consumer-to-brand interaction, and ultimately improving the advertiser’s chances of increased sales. In this case the exclusive and opulent nature of the advertiser’s brand adds value to the broadcaster’s already premium brand. The listener is presented with a seamless, consistent, and relevant listening experience.

Your relationship with your phone is personal. Emotional. As is your relationship with the radio station you chose to listen to. Mobile in hand, radio on, headphones plugged in, you cocoon yourself in your own little world. It’s personal. Intimate even.

The new possibilities offered by interactive radio advertising allow advertisers to turn these personal, intimate moments into opportunities for engagement.

But woe betide the advertiser who abuses them.

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Exaget Week In Review: Radio & Mobile Ad Revenue, GeoTargeted Ads, Mobile & Internet Trends

June 5, 2014

Radio,Mobile Ad Revenue,GeoTargeted Ads,Mobile,Internet Trends

Mary Meeker, the former Morgan Stanley analyst and current Kleiner Perkins investor, has built a personal franchise around her annual Internet trends report. She delivered her latest at the Code Conference this week.

Spotify announced at a press event, that the music service is now available to Brazilian users. The expansion marks the 57th country of Spotify’s global reach.

Several European countries are still struggling economically, but the region’s digital ad market is booming. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and IHS, digital advertising spending in Europe rose 11.9% last year to total €27.3 billion ($36.4 billion).

The latest Q1 2014 listening data of Britain, from RAJAR confirms that the long term drive to digital listening continues, particularly in London, with over 6.4 million listeners, or 55% of Londoners, listening to radio on digital radio platforms each week.

Radio ad revenue increased by 3.5 per cent year on year in the UK in the first three months of 2014, according to figures from the Radio Advertising Bureau.

Mobile and Location Based Ad Targeting Trends by BIA/Kelsey

Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) released its Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2014-2018

Here’s this week’s round up:

Here’s the Full Deck of Mary Meeker’s Latest Internet Trends Report

Meeker and her team have a knack for pulling together data that speaks to both the specificity of what’s happening right now and how it fits into the larger context of the past and present.

Spotify opens to the important Brazilian market

Spotify’s entrance follows the lead of several competitors. Rdio has a partnership with Grupo Bandeirantes, a large Brazilian media company. Rhapsody obtained its own telecom-partner deal with Telefonica. Paris-based Deezer is also available in Brazil.

Online Ad Spending in Europe Topped €27 Billion in 2013

Mobile posted the largest gains, with expenditure up more than 128% over 2012

London reaches tipping point on digital radio

55% of Londoners now listen to radio on digital.

Radio Q1 ad figures show strongest increase in six years

The increase is the highest year-on-year climb for the January to March period since 2008.
Analysis of the WARC and Advertising Association figures for 2013 shows commercial radio grew its share of all display adspend in the final quarter of 2013 to 5.3 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent in Q4 2012.

Leading in Local Video: Mobile and Location Based Ad Targeting Trends

One of the themes that emerged from BIA/Kelsey’s Leading in Local conference in Atlanta earlier this month was the importance of location targeted ad strategies for national brands. That theme culminated in a mega session on Day 2 of the conference on location targeting strategies.

Global Outlook: Streaming and concerts will fuel music business for five years

“Music streaming explodes” is PWC’s characterization of streaming’s role in industry growth, echoing a 2013 report from the RIAA. Price Waterhouse Cooper forecasts compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of music-streaming revenues at 14.5%, growing the earnings pie from $848-million to $1.7-billion.

If you found this week’s update interesting feel free to join our mailing list or donate a share, like or tweet. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our update into your mailbox. If you are a broadcaster, or advertiser and are interested in learning how targeted audio advertising can work for you get in touch.

Exaget Team
Twitter - @Exaget
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