Radio & Podcast News – TPX strikes sales partnership with Midroll Media

TPX (The Podcast Exchange), has struck a new sales partnership with Stitcher’s advertising arm, Midroll Media. The Toronto-based podcasting, marketing and monetization company, adds Midroll to a growing roster of partners that include Corus Entertainment, Stockholm-based Acast, audioBoom, Wondery, and iHeartMedia. Since it was founded in 2007, Stitcher has become one of the more popular podcast platforms featuring more than 100,000 podcasts. It’s also the parent company of the Midroll ad network representing over 200 of the biggest podcasts and Stitcher comedy podcast network Earwolf. Earwolf is perhaps best known as the home of Conan O’Brien’s hit podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend. Jean-Marie Heimrath, president & CEO of TPX, says the company will essentially act as Midroll’s “feet on the ground” in Canada with many of the titles in its catalogue drawing huge audiences on this side of the border. Read more of our interview with Heimrath on TPX’s recent growth spurt here.

Amanda Kingsland, program director at Country 101.1 (CKBY-FM) Ottawa is now a four-time consecutive winner of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Radio Awards’ Music Director of the Year (Large Market) honour. Paul Ferguson of CHCQ-FM Belleville, ON won the Small Market category at this year’s awards. Country 101.1 also won Radio Station of the Year (Large Market) and picked up Country Music Program or Special of the Year for its “Girl Power Hour.” CKGY-FM Red Deer won Radio Station of the Year (Medium or Small Market) with its morning show The Real Wake Up with Vinnie & Randi taking home the On-Air Personalities of the Year (Medium or Small Market) trophy. CISN in the Mornings with Chris, Jack & Matt from CISN-FM Edmonton won the Large Market honour.

Jack Miller, sports director for Quinte Broadcasting stations Mix 97 (CIGL-FM), Rock 107 (CJTN-FM), and 800 CJBQ in Belleville, ON, has been inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame. Miller recently celebrated his 45th year with Quinte Broadcasting, starting with CJBQ in 1974 as the station’s afternoon drive announcer, alongside Jack Devine. Miller was the long time play-by-play voice of the OHL Belleville Bulls and currently does play-by-play for local AHL team, the Belleville Senators. He’s also called games for the Ottawa Senators, Canadian Hockey League broadcasts for Rogers Sportsnet, and been a colour commentator for the World Juniors.

Ken Singer, retired VP of Broadcast Operations for Fabmar Communications, and Neil Headrick, who retired from CKBI Prince Albert in 2016, are this year’s inductees into the Saskatchewan Association of Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame. Headrick first joined CKBI in 1984 after being recruited by a friend to spin ‘oldies’ vinyl on Sunday mornings. He took over weekday mornings just two years later in 1986. Singer wrapped up a five-decade radio career last December after overseeing the transition of Fabmar’s four radio stations to the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

SiriusXM Canada has a new subscription package targeted at post-secondary students. The “Student Premier” package basically gives students SiriusXM’s “Premier Streaming” package for $4/month, at a 69% discount off the regular price of $12.99 per month. The Student Premier package gives subscribers streaming access to content outside their car, on a phone or tablet, at home on connected devices, and online.

NAB Show is launching a podcast series leading up to NAB Show New York, Oct. 16-17 at the Javits Convention Center. E. B. Moss, the head of Content Strategy for MediaVillage, will host the series. Episodes are being released periodically, starting this week, on the NAB Show Podcast. Moss is the host of Media Village’s B2B podcast Insider InSites and its forthcoming Advancing Diversity podcast.

LISTEN: QUB Radio, the digital radio and podcast platform launched by Quebecor Media last October, recently introduced the concept of a customizable morning show. It allows listeners to build their own programming based on personal preference. On the latest episode of Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast, Mathieu Turbide, Quebecor’s Vice-President of Digital Content, on the company’s move into online radio, the challenges of monetization and Quebecor’s ultimate goal of convergence.

Andreas Sannemann, CEO of Benztown, is our newest Broadcast Dialogue contributor. In his first submission, he does a Q&A with Calgary-based imaging producer Justin Dove of Core Image Studio. Dove talks sound design, the benefits and challenges of working from home, and how his career path has taken him from his roots in rural Newfoundland to imaging for the NFL, MLB, and NHL. Read more here.

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