Press
Press Releases & Coverage
CHICAGO – December 19, 2018: Chicago Innovation, an organization that educates, connects and celebrates innovators in the Chicago region, has partnered with Rivet, a smart audio creation and distribution company, to produce a new podcast series, Innovating…Chicago-Style, spotlighting winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards over the last 15 years.
CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2017 — The Dallas Morning News is the latest media company partnering with Rivet to reach listeners at home through Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers. Dallas News (TDMN) has launched a three-month pilot delivering audio newscasts featuring its stories via Alexa.
CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2017 — Television news stations are turning to Rivet Radio to reach listeners at home through Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers. Rivet Radio, a forerunner in the creation, management and distribution of smart audio, recently completed a successful one-market pilot with The E.W. Scripps Company, creating and delivering audio news stories to reach into listeners’ homes through smart speakers.
Marketplace of business applications focused 100% on customer experience; Rivet Radio leverages industry-leading Genesys Customer Experience Platform to deliver world-class solutions
Rivet Radio has launched News On Hold on the Genesys AppFoundry – a newly available online marketplace focused on customer experience solutions. The AppFoundry allows Genesys customers to discover, research and connect with a broad range of customer experience applications, integrations and services that address their unique customer needs.
According to Forrester Research, 73% of callers say that valuing their time is the most important thing a company can do to provide great customer service. Rivet’s News On Hold product demonstrates appreciation by providing callers with engaging and informative bite-sized news stories during their hold time. News categories include headlines, arts and entertainment, technology, government and politics and more, and can be tailored by what a business wants its callers to hear.
Mood Media Corporation, the world's leader of in-store Experience Design solutions, today announces a partnership with Rivet Radio. Mood has made Rivet Radio's award-winning audio programming available on Mood Mix, the company's streaming music platform for businesses.
Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, today announced its business partnership with enterprise communication solutions provider, MetTel. Rivet's bite-sized audio news is deployed in customer care centers, providing customers with a curated stream of top news headlines while they are on hold.
Rivet's smart audio content complements MetTel's existing suite of contact center solutions used by retail businesses across the nation. With the freedom to select from Rivet's extensive news categories and the frequency of updates during hold time, call centers can now provide a more valuable customer service experience for their customers.
Listening experience now includes news, podcasts and current traffic and weather updates
Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, brings greater personalization to audio listening with today's launch of a 'Follow' feature in its iOS mobile app. Users now have the ability to follow specific topics, shows, hosts or producers from Rivet's feed of robust audio content. Listeners can easily stay informed about what matters to them most by curating their own personal channel of 'followed' content.
The launch of the feature complements Rivet's expansion of its spoken word programming by giving listeners access to hundreds of the most popular podcasts, such as Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me, This American Life, 99% Invisible, TED Radio Hour, Freakonomics Radio, and Radio Lab.
September 24, 2015
CHICAGO, IL
Traffic updates based on listener location are radio industry-first
Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, today announces its partnership with independent broadcast solutions provider, Radiate Media, to deliver listeners on-demand audio traffic reports based on the driver’s location. Traffic reports will be integrated into the listener’s playlist interspersed with Rivet’s award-winning programming and podcasts.
“Drivers can now enjoy Rivet Radio’s bite-sized audio news and feature stories, while staying updated on the latest traffic conditions, without ever having to take their eyes off the road,” said John MacLeod, Rivet Radio CEO. “We’re thrilled to work with Radiate Media to empower today’s drivers and play a part in creating a safer, more informed and pleasant journey.”
The TruTraffic geo-targeted audio reports provide listeners with comprehensive and up to the minute traffic data including real-time speeds, travel time, road incidents and available public transport. As part of its initial Beta launch, the feature is currently available in select U.S. cities including Chicago, Seattle, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta and Philadelphia, with new cities being rolled out each quarter.
September 24, 2015
CHICAGO, IL
Android and iOS Users Experience New, Unlimited Swiping
Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, today announced a complete update to its signature mobile app on both iOS and Android. Considered the “Pandora for News Radio,” Rivet Radio reimagines the digital audio experience with personalized playlists full of top news, features and podcasts.
Redesigned from ground up, Rivet 3.0 has a simple and elegant interface that is remarkably clutter-free and easy to use. The new Rivet app enables listeners to discover, curate and binge-play relevant audio content.
“We’ve learned a lot from our users and their listening habits in version 2.0,” VP, Engineering & Operations, Vivek Sundararaman, said. “With a clean design and focused ease of use, the new Rivet app customizes playlist around user preferences and location to help users discover and listen to the latest news, information and hyper-local content.”
August 11, 2015
BELLEVUE, Wash., and CHICAGO
VoiceBox Technologies, the award-winning innovator of Contextual Natural Language Understanding (CNLU) and pioneer of voice in the connected car is collaborating with smart audio platform Rivet Radio to demonstrate voice virtual assistant capabilities with Rivet Radio’s personalized news for mobile, wearables and the connected car.
This collaboration signals the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership between Rivet Radio and VoiceBox and anticipates a creative, commercial alliance combining VoiceBox’s expertise in advanced voice virtual assistant capabilities with Rivet Radio’s leadership in on-demand personalized news content.
By: Jesse Freeman
We are excited to announce the new Amazon Fling service. This new service is a cross-platform toolkit that enables mobile developers to build rich multi-screen experiences for Amazon Fire TV. At its core, the Amazon Fling SDK allows sending video, audio and images from iOS and Android mobile apps to Amazon Fire TV. In addition to flinging media content to Amazon Fire TV, developers can also leverage two-way communication between Amazon Fire TV and mobile apps to create engaging second screen experiences.
Press Release
June 24, 2015
Rivet Radio honored with third Edward R. Murrow award
Chicago, IL - June 24, 2015 - Rivet RadioT, the smart audio platform, is pleased to announce reporter and producer George Drake Jr. has won a national Edward R. Murrow Award. The Radio Television Digital News Association is honoring Drake's feature “The Story of Marvin the 'Street Greeter'” with its “Best Use of Sound by a Small Online News Organization” category.
“I'm truly grateful to have received this award, but I'm even more grateful to have been the one to share Marvin's story,” Drake said.
Drake's award-winning piece profiles a Chicago resident dedicated to spreading joy in Chicago's bustling business district outside a neighborhood drugstore.
PRESS RELEASE
June 4, 2015
Global listeners benefit from around the clock coverage
Chicago, IL – June 4, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, today announced it will be adding content from both Public Radio International (PRI) and Radio New Zealand. The two networks join Rivet’s global initiative to deliver news and feature stories that follow the sun, providing listeners with uptotheminute content relevant to where and who they are through Rivet’s personalized, ondemand feeds.
“I’s The World” will be added for all iOS, Android and invehicle listeners on Rivet Radio. The awardwinning program hosted by Marco Werman brings the world’s most interesting stories that reflect just how small our planet really is.
“‘PRI’s The World’ connects people curious about the world to other cultures and ideas, helping them to better understand our global community,” Melinda Ward, PRI’s Chief Content Officer id. “With Rivet Radio we’ll extend our reach among a global audience of listeners and reflect the mission of the program, bringing us all a little bit closer!”
By: Joseph Lichterman
Though it seems like there are now a million ways to listen to audio in your car while you’re driving - from satellite radio to streaming through a smartphone - traditional terrestrial radio still dominates in-car listening. But as more new cars are now connected to the Internet, some see an opportunity to reshape how news and information are conveyed.
“Once the Internet got in the car - and the car is half of where all listening is - it was going to dramatically change not only the way people listened to audio, but the way it was created, organized and delivered,” said John MacLeod, the founder and CEO of Rivet Radio, a news radio startup.
Launched in 2013, Rivet creates and curates news both by creating its own segments and by using material from partners, including the Associated Press and American Public Media. Rivet’s business model is twofold: It reaches users directly through platforms such as its iOS and Android apps, which allow listeners to set their preferences and creates news playlists based on their interests and locations. It also uses its APIs for others to license its products, such as a partnership with the conference call company InterCall to play Rivet News Radio while users are on hold.
By: John Pletz
Crain's Chicago Business
Rivet Radio, a digital news-broadcasting startup that counts Jaguar, Land Rover and Bosch among its customers, has raised another $1.9 million.
So far, the Chicago-based tech company has raised $3.6 million in convertible debt from strategic investors, such as the Associated Press and A.H. Belo Corp., which owns the Dallas Morning News and other newspapers; as well as backers that include Chicago venture capitalist Steve Miller, founder of Origin Ventures; Elmhurst-based Ringleader Ventures; and Irish Angels, an investor network made up of University of Notre Dame alumni.
By: Tessa McLean
Smart audio platform Rivet Radio announced today its total funding has reached $3.6 million.
Investors include The Associated Press, A. H. Belo Management Services, The IrishAngels, Ringleader Ventures, and individual backers.
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Innovative Smart Audio Platform Delivers Personalized Listening to Consumer and Business Audiences
Chicago, IL – June 3, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, announced today that its total funding now stands at $3.6 million. Rivet is supported by investors including The Associated Press, A. H. Belo Management Services, The IrishAngels, Ringleader Ventures, individual backers including Chicago venture capitalist Steve Miller, employees, family and friends.
“It’s a real privilege to be working with top investors who believe in our mission to deliver smart audio ubiquitously,” CEO John MacLeod said. “We’re using our resources to continually perfect our industry-leading smart audio solution - making it faster than ever to produce, package and play stories through our listening platforms and give all listeners a unique, tailored experience through the process.”
By: Amina Elahi
Blue Sky
Contact the reporter
Rivet Radio, the company that wants to make it efficient to produce and distribute audio news stories through connected devices, has raised $1.9 million since last summer and has been using that funding to expand to new distribution channels and devices, the company announced Wednesday.
That brings the company’s total funding to $3.6 million in convertible debt, and it says it next will seek $10 million in Series A funding. MacLeod said Rivet has raised funds from strategic investors A.H. Belo, which owns the Dallas Morning News, and The Associated Press; Chicago venture capital group IrishAngels; Chicago venture capitalist Steve Miller; Elmhurst-based Ringleader Ventures; and other friends and family.
June 3, 2015
By: Sindy Nanclares
Online news startup Rivet Radio announced today that it’s raised a total of $3.6 million in funding to date from multiple investors including The Associated Press, Ringleader Ventures, and Chicago venture capitalist Steve Miller.
Founded in 2013, the Chicago-based startup serves up a personalized list of local, national, and world news segments and podcasts via their app. The service allows listeners to skip, bookmark, and share stories in their playlist, Pandora-style.
PRESS RELEASE
May 11, 2015
Chicago, IL – May 11, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, is pleased to be honored at the 38th Annual Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism. The team received two awards at the ceremonies held in Chicago May 8, 2015. The awards follow the Chicago Headline Club recognition of Rivet Radio last year as the “Best Start-Up” of 2014.
Rivet Radio, Inc. Launches New, Free Enterprise API
Businesses Now Play Free News and Entertainment Stories for Customers
Chicago, IL – April 28, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, announced the launch of a new, free tool for businesses by extending of Rivet’s Enterprise Solution which currently allows businesses like InterCall to create news playlists for customers.
“We’re on a mission to help businesses eliminate ‘dwell time’ by giving them informative stories to fill their dead air space, whether that be in their physical waiting rooms and elevators or in a virtual setting like call waiting,” CEO John MacLeod said. “Partners already using the Enterprise Solution are seeing a great rise in overall customer satisfaction.”
Rivet Radio Delivering CustomWeather Updates to Listeners Globally
Smart Audio gets Local with First International Partnership
Chicago, IL – April 27, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the smart audio platform, today announced it will be adding local weather reports for 30 major cities worldwide. In partnership with CustomWeather, this new, geo-targeted content will allow global users to receive accurate local forecasts in their city every morning through Rivet Radio’s advanced audio channeling.
“We’ve focused on supercharging our international experience for Rivet Radio audiences in this first quarter,” Rivet CEO John MacLeod said. “Expanding our international and local offerings is imperative for both our existing listener base and our growing audience. With enabled geo-location and Rivet Radio’s leading audio meta-tagging and delivery solutions, we’re able to channel audio to the right local audiences.”
HearHere Radio, Inc. Becomes Rivet Radio, Inc. as Company Expands, Moves to Historic Chicago Daily News Building Marks Growth of the Rivet Radio Brand – Media, Mobile, Connected Car, Enterprise
CHICAGO – March 4, 2015 – HearHere Radio, Inc. announced today that it has become Rivet Radio, Inc. Reflecting the company’s success in building a one-of-a-kind multi-platform media company with continued growth opportunities in media, mobile, automotive and beyond, the company prepares to grow their team and recently moved into a larger space in the historic Chicago Daily News Building.
Rivet Radio’s growth is propelled by a range of consumer and business-focused solutions for delivering engaging audio. The company will continue to expand towards development in automotive and consumer markets in 2015.
CHICAGO – February 6, 2015 – Rivet Radio, the Smart Audio Network, is now available in the Amazon Appstore. Rivet’s personalized audio newstreams can now be heard by installing the Rivet Radio app on Fire tablets, Fire Phone, Blackberry devices and other Android devices* via the Amazon Appstore.
“The Amazon Appstore more than doubled in growth in 2014,” John MacLeod, CEO of Rivet Radio said. “Having Rivet available to even more customers in the Amazon Appstore is a great step for Rivet’s mission to be available wherever audio can be heard. We’re quickly becoming ‘The Audio of Things’ as we’d set out to do.”
Rivet News Radio adds Marketplace®, The Splendid Table® and The Dinner Party Download® to playlists; Smart News Network partners with American Public Media
CHICAGO – January 6, 2015 – HearHere Radio, Inc. the company behind Rivet News Radio, announces a new relationship with American Public Media, the second largest producer of public radio in the United States. The deal brings award-winning programs Marketplace®, The Splendid Table® and The Dinner Party Download® to Rivet’s customized news playlists.
LAS VEGAS – January 5, 2015 – Rivet News Radio, the smart audio news network, today announced the availability of the Rivet Auto API, providing app platforms and car manufacturers an easy and powerful solution for delivering customized, targeted radio news to drivers. Rivet News Radio will demonstrate Rivet’s Embedded Integration using the Rivet Auto API with OpenCar Inc. and Visteon throughout the International CES Conference January 6-9, in Las Vegas, NV. Earlier this year, Rivet announced its first Smartphone Integration, with Bosch Automotive Technologies and Abalta’s Weblink.
Rivet News Radio makes hold time smarter, with InterCall partnership
Conference call participants hear Rivet’s news while waiting on hold
CHICAGO – December 2, 2014 – HearHere Radio, the company behind Rivet News Radio, announces a partnership with InterCall, the world’s largest conference and collaboration services provider. The deal brings Rivet’s top news playlists to InterCall’s Reservationless service, providing callers with national and world news while waiting for calls to begin.
“Rivet’s smart audio content works seamlessly with InterCall’s technology to enhance the ‘on-hold’ experience with engaging stories that will improve participant satisfaction,” said John MacLeod, CEO of HearHere Radio. “News stories are short, complete, relevant and are refreshed throughout the business day. And this is just the beginning of our plans to make Rivet stories available across all devices and services with Rivet Select.”
Recently launched, Rivet Select is tailored to meet the needs of business partners and individual clients. Rivet’s content team and lab of technical engineers collaborate to develop specialized news streams for play in commercial spaces – providing everything a business needs to connect with customers and create a unique experience.
Luxury drivers get smart news through Jaguar Land Rover and HearHere Radio Inc. deal
CHICAGO – HearHere Radio Inc. and Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC (JLR) have partnered to bring Rivet News Radio to luxury car owners worldwide. Announced today at the Paris Motor Show, Rivet News Radio has been selected to be one of the first preferred services for JLR’s InControl Apps audio system. Rivet will deliver business, tech and current events news to all Jaguar F-type and XE sedans this October and to all JLR models in 2015.
“Rivet News Radio is intelligent content discovery. We bring smart, bite-sized information to listeners, and give listeners more access to headlines on-the-go,” John MacLeod, CEO of HearHere Radio, said. “From the start, we designed Rivet with drivers in mind, ensuring simple integration of our listeners’ personal newstreams with hands-free infotainment units.”
By preloading Rivet’s Android and iPhone apps on their mobile devices, Jaguar Land Rover drivers can now seamlessly hear audio stories created exclusively from Rivet newsroom, the Associated Press and other outlets.
Rivet News Radio adds Android Beta version
Innovative news app passes 100K user mark as personalized news sector heats up
CHICAGO – HearHere Radio Inc. is making its mobile news app available to Android version to users through the Google Play store today. The Android beta release is accompanied by news of more than 100,000 users of the app on iOS.
“We’ve hit encouraging benchmarks in the eight months since launching our iOS app, attracting more than 100,000 users around to world to hear news and information from our growing content team,” Rivet CEO John MacLeod said. “Releasing Android will further strengthen the Rivet brand.”
Rivet provides a personalized listening experience to smartphone users. With a foundation in traditional radio news storytelling, Rivet’s in-house, veteran news team creates original news content and other programming. In addition, Rivet curates stories from other trusted media, such as The Associated Press, Chicago Public Media, the Chicago Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business.
HearHere Radio Inc. raises $1.7 million in Convertible Notes
AP, A. H. Belo and venture capital back Rivet News Radio
CHICAGO – HearHere Radio Inc., the company behind Rivet News Radio, announced today that it has raised to-date $1.7 million in Convertible Promissory Notes. The investors include The Associated Press, A. H. Belo Corporation, Whittier Ventures, Ringleader Ventures, individual backers including Chicago venture capitalist Steve Miller, employees, family and friends.
The company’s core product Rivet Radio provides a personalized listening experience to smartphone users. With a foundation in traditional radio news storytelling, Rivet’s in-house, veteran news team develops news content and creates original programming. In addition, Rivet’s audio offerings include stories from trusted media outlets such as the Associated Press, Chicago Public Media, and Crain’s Chicago Business.
“Our team is proud to be funded by this trusted group of investors.” CEO John MacLeod said. “Not only are we using these funds to bring smart audio news to more people, we’re working diligently to optimize proprietary technology that better understands listeners’ interests and delivers them exactly the news they care about.”