Hi again,
Thanks to those of you have got in touch as Stop Rewind Play hits inboxes once again. I am glad to be back. It seems the round-up of links in the Rewind section is still key to what you’re all after and I love curating it. This week there’s news from Spotify, Adweek, The Drum and The Bookseller amongst others.
The first podcast episode went down well too. In it I spoke about the importance of getting the best audio quality you can when recording in less-than-studio-quality-spaces. Today I take that a step further, thinking specifically about audio reporting ‘at the scene’ and the background noise you sometimes have to ask the listener to forgive in order for you to get the story out.
I worked on an episode recently where a journalist sent recordings from the side of a busy dual carriageway. There was no removing the background noise and rumble behind the reporting, so instead of trying to scrub it out or ignore it, I actually drew attention to it, putting the listener right there with him at the side of the road.
I guess that’s the editorial side of using audio; knowing when the noise can be part of the listening experience. I guess that’s my job - to make the messy moments make sense!
In this week’s podcast episode:
➡️ How to guide guests in real time to get better audio fast
✍️ How to script for rough recordings and make it part of the story
🤖 When to use AI cleanup tools (and when not to)
🎧 Why clarity matters more than polish
Here’s a link to The News Podcast Consumer report from Sounds Profitable that I reference in the episode.
It’s The Podcast Show in London next week. If you’re there (and you spot the pink hair) do come and say hello!
Smart links for sound people - this week we Rewind on news from AI-powered headphones, emotional radio storytelling, and a jingle that made it all the way to a music video
🎧 #Podcasting
YouTube Charts adds top US podcasts to its rankings | YouTube Blog
***UPDATE 17/05*** Spotify responds to creator backlash over public podcast play counts | TechCrunchInflectiv Group partners with podcast agency Fresh Air | Podnews
ARIAS 2025 winners revealed - celebrating the best in UK audio | Radio Academy
What is a PodClub? The podcast world’s answer to the book club | The Guardian
YouTube named top podcast platform by US listeners | CNBC
Spotify’s new “Plays” feature has smaller podcasters concerned | NBC News
Check out the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards Forum agenda | Independent Podcast Awards
Award-winning producer launches Mental Health, Rewritten podcast | Podcasting Today
Golden Globes add podcast category - what it means for the industry | Variety
Acast announces new partnership with The Athletic | B&T
This American Life and the emotional architecture of public radio | Current
Spotify lets users create AI-generated podcasts for Wrapped | PYMNTS
Digital audio is the missing piece in your video campaigns | Adweek
Podcasting can give your marketing the earworm edge | Forbes
Want to hear more about why news pod listeners stop listening? (mentioned in today’s podcast) > Why listeners stop listening to podcasts and how to fix it | Big Tent Media
🎶 #SoundDesign
Uprising: Megan Robinson on jingles, neurology, and the power of sound | LBBOnline
Total Wine’s catchy radio jingle gets a full music video makeover | Adweek
The Clios unveil a new sonic identity celebrating creativity and culture | Muse by Clio
Sound design keeps the noise down at Kai Tak Sports Park | The Standard (Hong Kong)
Directional sound tech enhances museum experiences ahead of International Museum Day | QC News
Headspace partners with Ozlo to explore next-gen sleep sounds | Fast Company
Nubert unveils new nuVero series blending sound artistry with engineering | Basic Tutorials
Foley artist Jake Proctor transforms everyday sounds into art installations | YouTube - KSL News Utah
🔮 #AudioFutures
AI-powered headphones let users focus on a single voice in a group | Tech Xplore
How creators use generative AI in podcasts, videos, and newsletters—plus what advertisers think | Digiday
What is Eclipsa? Inside Google and Samsung’s new spatial audio format | How-To Geek
Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce 'sound therapy' initiative | Apple Newsroom
Infrasonic sound helps teach elephants safe migration routes | AV Interactive
How voicebots are transforming customer service in banking | Appinventiv
How AI voice tech turned words into branded moments for T-Mobile | The Drum
AI voice cloning and dubbing are breaking language barriers for global audiences | Raindance
Audible to use AI technology to produce audiobooks | The Bookseller
Spotify’s AI DJ now responds to voice commands for personalised listening | TechCrunch
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