Spotify acquires audio platform to help turn radio shows into podcasts

Photo by Haithem Ferdi on Unsplash

Spotify's latest acquisition will help the company lure radio broadcasters to turn their shows into podcasts. The company bought Whooshkaa, an Australia-based firm that provides radio broadcasters tools to convert their shows into podcasts. Spotify plans to integrate its technology into its Megaphone suite for podcasters. The goal is to offer stations a way to profit from shows by offering ad-supported podcast episodes.

Whooshkaa can also help with Spotify's other audio efforts. Founder Rob Loewenthal mentioned that his company offered speech-to-text and text-to-speech tech, smart home integration, and "enterprise grade" podcasting tools. But those have not been clearly noted as part of their goals. We wouldn't be surprised if these help Spotify develop its podcasting features in the future.

Source: Engadget

Spotify will rollout video podcasts to all creators on a 'rolling basis'

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In case you missed the news, Spotify announced last week that it would encourage all podcasters on its platform to add videos to their shows. Any creator can already apply for access to video uploading features in Anchor. The company's free self-publishing podcast division will distribute the episodes directly on Spotify. 

But the rollout of "vodcasts" will be on a "rolling basis." They want to attract existing podcasters to expand to videos and welcome video creators looking to bring their content to Spotify. The service has over 2.9 million podcasts on it. Interested creators can apply at this link.

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Audible launches Plus Catalogue and continues to invest in Canadian Original Content

Audible, a leading producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, announced the launch of an unlimited listening catalogue for Audible.ca members at no extra cost.  

The Plus Catalogue features over 12,000 titles including classic and contemporary audiobooks in a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres, as well as a variety of exclusive podcasts. It will also feature over 500 French titles from Quebec, titles from celebrities Idris and Sabrina Elba and Tan France, as well as four new Canadian Audible Originals.

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Cixin Liu's 'The Three-Body Problem' is now a serialized podcast

Stephan Martiniere's cover for 'The Three-Body Problem' (Image: Tor Books)

Maybe you've heard about the Cixin Liu and his acclaimed Remembrance of Earth's Past sci-fi series, but you haven't dipped your toes in it yet. Well, the first book, The Three-Body Problem, is now a serialized podcast. Tor Books and Macmillan Audio partnered to release this ongoing podcast through Macmillan's Stories From Among the Stars show, which is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Over the next few weeks until August 6, you'll get new chapters of the book every Tuesday and Thursday. You can listen to the entire book until September 10. Gizmodo noted that this book-as-a-podcast approach feels like it's influenced by Netflix's upcoming adaptation of The Three-Body Problem, and we honestly don't mind it.