“Apple’s iTunes Radio has poached a top radio ad exec as it prepares to offer the service widely to advertisers in 2014,” Tim Peterson reports for Advertising Age. “Former Cumulus Media executive VP-sales Michael Pallad is now overseeing ad sales for iTunes Radio internationally, according to people familiar with the matter.”
“Mr. Pallad started with Apple on December 2 and spent last week at the company’s Cupertino, CA, headquarters getting oriented, the people said,” Peterson reports. “Mr. Pallad will report into the iAd organization led by VP and former Yahoo exec Todd Teresi.”
“Mr. Pallad’s appointment suggests that Apple plans to make a stronger play at the $1.56 billion U.S. digital radio advertising market, as estimated by eMarketer. One media buyer said the executive should gain traction quickly among agencies,” Peterson reports. “‘To have someone at the helm with that much experience and connections [Mr. Pallad] must have and the knowledge he would bring to the party, it will only help to continue to make the case for [iTunes Radio] as a viable alternative or a considered part of the mix given the volume of streaming audio consumed,’ said DigitasLBi senior VP-media Adam Shlachter.”
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