Netflix’s earnings are worrisome, but for predictable reasons; ultimately, the company remains in a strong position. Then, Apple’s rumored move into exclusive podcasts doesn’t make sense and is in fact good for Spotify.
Uber Questions Follow-up, Luminary Launches, Luminary’s Broken Rung
More on why giving information to investors often helps companies, then why Luminary, a new service for podcasters, is probably not going to succeed. Building bundles is hard!
Apple News Follow-up, What Direct-to-Consumer Publishers are Selling, More on Podcasts: Supporting Cast and Kimberlite
More on why Apple News is both different than Facebook, and yet similar from a publisher perspective. Then, how publishers should think about their business — and Apple News — plus two new entrants in the podcast space.
Spotify and Podcasts Follow-up, Apple and Podcasts, Luminary and Himalaya
More on podcasts, including why I’m cautiously optimistic, plus Apple’s missed opportunity, and why I’m skeptical of startups in the space.
Spotify’s Podcast Aggregation Play
Spotify is making a major move into podcasts, where it appears to have clear designs to be the sort of Aggregator it cannot be when it comes to music.
Adobe Buys Magento, Podcast News, ZTE Deal Reportedly Reached
Adobe reached the logical endpoint of its digital ad build-out, but was the journey worth it? Then, news from the podcast world, and the potential resolution of the ZTE ban.
Stratechery 4.0 Follow-up, Apple’s Educational Event, The Meaning of Better
A quick aside as to why Stratechery doesn’t have an app, then a review of Apple’s educational event, and why the company’s business model limits it in education relative to Google.
Podcasts, Analytics, and Centralization
The answer to podcast monetization is not analytics: it it true centralization, and it seems unlikely that Apple has it in them.
Nest and Podcasting Follow-up, Box Earnings, Microsoft’s Cloud Challenge
Follow-up on Nest and Podcasting, then why Box’s numbers are a bit more worrisome than the company is letting on. Plus, a must-read article on Microsoft.
The Future of Podcasting
Podcasting is stuck between the open model of the past and the push for monetization in the future. Might there be a third way that actually benefits publishers?