 RAIN 4/29: Pandora dips in February's Webcast Metrics release ·Apr 29, 11:12 AM PANDORA’S AUDIENCE DECLINES AFTER MOBILE TRACKING ERRORThe new Webcast Metrics report for February 2011 from Triton Digital’s Streaming Division showed modest gains for most of its top 20 webcasters, but a dip for industry leader Pandora based on missing data for some of its mobile apps. Triton Digital says this error will affect March and April’s Webcast Metrics reports as well.
Considering that Pandora’s mobile apps account for around 50% of their listening, it’s no surprise that the webcaster’s AAS (Average Active Sessions, which is essentially equivalent to AQH — i.e., average simultaneous listeners) shows its measured audience falling 5% from January to February 2011 in the domestic Mon-Sun 6a-12m ranking. Nonetheless, Pandora’s measured AAS of 495,055 is up 71% from February 2010 and greater than all of the other 19 webcasters combined. The strongest month-to-month growth came from Radio One / Interactive One, with an AAS increase of 17%. Pureplays Slacker, AccuRadio and Digitally Imported all saw month-to-month increases as well (9%, 8% and 7% respectively). Meanwhile, most broadcasters’ streaming audiences were stable to slightly up, although ESPN Radio dipped 14% (after a stellar January) and CBS, Cumulus, and Emmis all showed slight month-over-month declines. You can find our coverage of January’s Webcast Metrics here. Find the Domestic and All Streams Mon-Sun 6a-12m rankings below. Triton Digital’s full February 2011 Webcast Metrics can be found here (PDF).
BMW ADDS PANDORA SUPPORT TO ALL 2011, 2012 MODELSBMW has announced that, starting today, all of its 2011 and 2012 models will support Pandora streaming. To listen and control Pandora via your BMW dashboard, you’ll need the BMW Apps option and an iPhone to connect to the web.
As Ubergizmo points out (here), “though the integration with the vehicle’s controls is a nice feature to have, it isn’t really essential…if your phone can already stream Pandora, and you have an AUX-input in your car’s stereo system, you should have no problem letting your music play through the car as well.” Yesterday The New York Times hinted that BMW was aiming to add Pandora to its models’ dashboards (RAIN coverage here). The Times also observed that nearly every automaker at the recent NY Auto Show included Pandora support or said such a feature was coming soon. MORE DETAILS ON IN-CAR STREAMING STUDY FROM KNOWDIGITAL PRESIDENTknowDigital president Sam Milkman presented the highlights of a new study on in-car Internet radio streaming at RAIN Summit West 2011 (RAIN coverage here). In an interview with Media Life Magazine, Milkman (pictured left) offers more details about the study.For instance, knowDigital Milkman also offers his own predictions on in-car Internet radio’s biggest challenges and how long it will be until streaming web radio while driving goes mainstream (hint: it all has to do with car turnover rate). You can find the full interview here. PIONEER IN-DASH RECEIVER LINKS WITH iPHONE APPS, INCLUDES PANDORA & iHEARTRADIOA new Pioneer in-dash car stereo includes a 6-inch touchscreen and will hook up with your iPhone to access the web and play your content. That includes Internet radio apps, but the receiver reportedly will come with built-in apps for Pandora and iHeartRadio. Engadget has more coverage here.share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
found that consumers perceive that streaming radio audio quality is better than that of broadcast radio. “They perceive the quality to be better, and they forgive the technical limitations. So if it cuts out or buffers, they understand how often that happens and they’re not bothered by it,” said Milkman.
