# Sounds Profitable

> The business of podcasting

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- [Home](https://soundsprofitable.com/): The Trade Agency for the Podcast Industry
- [Articles](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/): Articles The latest from Sounds Profitable’s weekly Tuesday newsletter, covering all aspects of the business of podcasting See all Articles Guides
- [Articles Test](https://soundsprofitable.com/articles-test/): Articles The latest from Sounds Profitable’s weekly Tuesday newsletter, covering all aspects of the business of podcasting
- [The Download](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/): The Download Your daily source for the most important news in the business of podcasting Subscribe to receive the latest news in the business of podcasting delivered straight to your inbox. Your name Your email Select from the below to subscribe Sounds Profitable Newsletter and The Download's Weekly Recap Sounds Profitable's Wednesday newsletter and The
- [Events](https://soundsprofitable.com/events/): Events Find the Sounds Profitable Team at the following events. We’d love to connect! On Air Fest: February 23 – 26, 2026 Podcast Movement at SXSW – March 12-18, 2026 Advertising Week Europe – 24th – 26th MARCH, 2026 | 180 STUDIOS LA Times Book Fair (Podcast Stage) – April 18 -19, 2026 POSSIBLE –
- [Research](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/): Research & Studies The Sounds Profitable Research Series tackles the most important questions in Podcasting, from the industry’s foremost research authority The Podcast Landscape 2026 — Part One: Core Podcast Metrics By Tom Webster October 1, 2026 The Podcast Atlas: A Map of the Creator Ecosystem The Podcast Atlas maps the five interconnected territories, audio,
- [About Us](https://soundsprofitable.com/about-us/): About Us Sounds Profitable is a collection of media properties — a newsletter, a podcast, and much more — that covers both strategic and tactical changes to the business of podcasting. We are committed to setting the course for the future of the audio business Our Goal Our primary goal with all the media we
- [Media Assets](https://soundsprofitable.com/media-assets/): Media Assets Use our collection of official assets to feature Sounds Profitable on your article, website or press release Logos & Covers Download all logo versions Download all podcast covers Team Headshots Bryan Barletta Tom Webster Lauren Demers Gavin Gaddis Event Photos Official Bio Sounds Profitable is a collection of media properties — a newsletter,
- [TEST PAGE - FORM WORK](https://soundsprofitable.com/form-work/): Set a course for the future of the audio business It all starts by signing up for a free subscription to Sounds Profitable newsletters, Podcasting’s leading voice for Education, Research, and Insights. Our latest research The Podcast Landscape 2026 — Part One: Core Podcast Metrics Read more Articles The latest from Sounds Profitable’s weekly Tuesday
- [Partners](https://soundsprofitable.com/partners/): Meet Our Partners We partner with over 170+ companies that collectively represent the leading voices in the podcasting industry. Partner Facts Our partners include agencies, advertisers, media planners, publishers, network providers, hosting and adtech platforms, content creator tools, podcast players, data analytics tools, and measurement solutions. Download the Podscape, a comprehensive look at the podcast
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- [Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/podcast/): Podcast A look at the most important news in podcasting. Follow the Sounds Profitable feed for all of our audio content We currently produce three major podcast shows: Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles The best thinking from Sounds Profitable’s Tuesday newsletter each week, narrated by the author The Download Catch up daily or weekly on the
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- [Jobs](https://soundsprofitable.com/jobs/): Job Board Explore exciting career opportunities in the podcast industry on our job board. Browse by category and job type Ready to expand your team? Post a job for free and connect with ideal candidates. Post a Job Filter by Category Filter by Category Administration & People Creative Direction and Production Marketing & Community Media
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- [Insights](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/): Insights and Thought Leadership from Sounds Profitable Partners Subscribe to receive the latest news in the business of podcasting delivered straight to your inbox. Your name Your email Select from the below to subscribe Sounds Profitable Newsletter and The Download's Weekly Recap Sounds Profitable's Wednesday newsletter and The Download's Friday weekly recap covering the business
- [Partnerships](https://soundsprofitable.com/partnerships/): Partnerships At Sounds Profitable we’re committed to setting the course towards a thriving future for the audio business. Join us in our mission by exploring potential partnership opportunities and discovering how we can work together to accomplish our common goal. Insightful Content Over 8,000 individuals read our twice-a-week newsletter, while hundreds of listeners tune in
- [Get in Touch](https://soundsprofitable.com/get-in-touch/): Get in Touch We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re a journalist interested in covering the latest trends in podcasting or a business looking to partner with Sounds Profitable, contact us to explore exciting opportunities for collaboration. Your name Your email Company Select inquiry typePressPartnershipGeneral Message
- [Deep Dives](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/): Deep Dives In-depth walkthroughs of the latest in podcasting technology and tools, hosted by Bryan Barletta Spanish Broadcasting System x Mediastream | Partnership Deepdive Spanish Broadcasting Systems Head of Technology Dennis Vaque joins Bryan Barletta for a special Partnership Deepdive, sharing how SBS has been able to expand their content offerings thanks to their partnership with Mediastream.
- [Business Advisory Services](https://soundsprofitable.com/business-advisory-services/): Business Advisory Services Sounds Profitable works with select publishers, platforms, and tech companies serving the podcasting industry as strategic advisors. Years of experience Bryan Barletta and Tom Webster have decades of experience at every level of the audio business, and have consulted some of the biggest brands in the world of podcasting. Sounds Profitable advisory

## Articles

- [Politics and Podcasting: A Special Report from The Podcast Landscape](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/politics-and-podcasting-a-special-report-from-the-podcast-landscape/): A look at how podcast consumers feel about politics in podcasting as the midterm approaches.
- [Reset Your Thermostat](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/reset-your-thermostat/): AI is the average machine, so hand it the average work.
- [The Podcast Landscape 2026 - The Core Numbers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-landscape-2026-the-core-numbers/): Podcasting's audience is large and stable, but it is increasingly consuming in places not built for podcasts.
- [Tu-Dum](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/tu-dum/): Podcasting was built without gatekeepers, so what does it mean when the third biggest place people find podcasts is gated?
- [Smart TV Killed the Smart Speaker Star](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/smart-tv-killed-the-smart-speaker-star/): In preparation for Podcast Movement NYC next week, Tom Webster shares a small bit of data from The Podcast Landscape 2026 and what it means for how podcasts are consumed.
- [The Stars of Podcast Movement](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-stars-of-podcast-movement/): Four keynotes, a Landscape surprise, and one very good deadline.
- [The Countdown to NYC is On…](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-countdown-to-nyc-is-on/): A quick rundown of what to expect in NYC next month.
- [That Stupid Radio](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/that-stupid-radio/): A nine-button Italian radio with a dead app can teach us some lessons about podcast discovery.
- [Five Days at Terminal 5](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/five-days-at-terminal-5/): Everything happening across our five-day Terminal 5 takeover in September.
- [The Podcast Atlas, Part 5: The Best Real Estate to Own in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-atlas-part-5/): Most of your audience hasn't subscribed yet, and the ones who have are quietly telling you what to make next.
- [The Podcast Atlas, Part 4: The Denominator](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-denominator/): Winning on quality is only half the story when the audience you want is already spending its day somewhere else.
- [The Format That Travels](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/format-that-travels/): Audio podcasting reaches listeners in hands-busy, on-the-go moments no other format can, and new Podcast Atlas data shows it earns their full attention.
- [The Podcast Atlas, Part 3: The Front Door](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-front-door/): Audio builds trust, video leverages that trust. Today, a look at what role clips play in the podcast ecosystem.
- [The Podcast Atlas, Part Two: What The Screen Adds](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/atlas-part-two/): Cracking open the atlas reveals data on how video podcasting works as an ad environment.
- [A New Map For Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-new-map-for-podcasting/): Tom previews of The Podcast Atlas, a new study mapping how audiences now move across audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters.
- [Nobody's Coming for the Medium](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/nobodys-coming-for-the-medium/): Tom Webster reflects on the first podcast he subscribed to, and how audiences are finding podcasts today.
- [Strum and Drang](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/strum-and-drang/): Tom Webster reflects on AI's rapid rise, arguing that the real question for creators isn't whether they use it, but whether they're proud of what they make.
- [Radio, Podcasting, And The Portuguese Man o’ War](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/man-o-war/): The audio industry, much like the Portuguese Man ‘o War, isn’t the one thing it initially appears to be.
- [The Advertising Landscape UK](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-advertising-landscape-uk/): Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights have a new report on the U.K.’s advertising landscape.
- [In a Nation of Ad-Avoiders, One Medium Breaks Through](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/in-a-nation-of-ad-avoiders/): The upcoming 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study finds podcasting breaks through baked-in ad avoidance in U.K. audiences.
- [Podcasting Has Already Overtaken TV. Here’s the Proof](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-has-overtaken-tv/): Guest writer Ben Robins analyzes new data from The 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study.
- [860 Thoughts About The Rumored SiriusXM/iHeart Deal](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/860-thoughts/): A zoomed-in look at how the proposed merger might change local radio.
- [Eyes Are Optional](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/eyes-are-optional/): What platforms record and what podcast consumers are actually doing can be two different things.
- [The AI Enthusiasm Gap: Listeners Vs. Watchers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-ai-enthusiasm-gap/): A look at how audiences that consume media differently feel about AI generated voices.
- [Podcasting Has Earned Its Seat. Who’s Ready to be at the Table?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-has-earned-its-seat/): With podcasting having arrived at the mainstream, it’s time for the industry to be in the rooms where decisions are made.
- [The Center Cannot Hold](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-center-cannot-hold/): Podcast holdouts aren’t missing content. They’re missing a signal strong enough to cut through the platforms they already use—and moderate voices can’t generate that signal.
- [The Last Quarter: Understanding Podcasting’s Last Holdouts](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-last-quarter/): A look at who makes up the 25% of U.S. adults who have never consumed a podcast.
- [Building Podcasting a Bigger Stage](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/building-podcasting-a-bigger-stage/): Bryan Barletta reflects on Podcast Movement Evolutions’ first year at SXSW and what it means for the industry going forward.
- [The Bigger Picture Behind Apple HLS](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/bigger-picture-apple-hls/): Let’s look at what upgrading video on Apple Podcasts means for podcasting as an industry.
- [Forget Podfade - Let’s Talk About Creator Fade](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/forget-podfade/): Churn is part of podcasting, but The Creators 2025 finds some creators are quitting more than just individual podcasts.
- [The Real Shift In Spoken Word](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-real-shift-in-spoken-word/): One caveat to charting spoken word podcasting against radio: spoken word isn’t confined to audio.
- [Two People On A Couch](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/two-people-on-a-couch/): The language used to describe podcast behavior matters, and some of it needs updating.
- [Apple Podcasts, Video, And Why Stools Beat Couches](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/stools-beat-couches/): How Apple Podcasts embracing video widens one of the three biggest on-ramps to podcast consumption.
- [What Podcasts and Milkshakes Have in Common](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-podcasts-and-milkshakes-have-in-common/): by Dan Kendall, Founder of Mission Based Media. Ever wonder what podcasts and milkshakes have in common? No, it's not just that they're both cool. Or that they're easy to consume. (Though both are true.) Harvard professor Clay Christensen tells a story in his 2003 book "The Innovator's Solution" about a fast-food chain trying to
- [The Politics of What We Listen To](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-politics-of-what-we-listen-to/): This week, Tom Webster looks at the political composition of podcast genre audiences and finds that the data may not match the narratives we’ve been telling ourselves.
- [A Few Notes About Fixing Conference Panels](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-few-notes-about-fixing-conference-panels/): Tom has hosted a lot of panels, here’s his strategy to make them valuable and engaging for all involved.
- [The Microphone Is Democratized. The Platforms Are Not](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-microphone-is-democratized/): Dr. Byron Green-Calisch gives and overview of changes being made behind the scenes at Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable to build equity in the industry event space.
- [What Would You Do If You Actually Loved Podcasting?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-would-you-do-if-you/): The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.
- [How Audio Can Leverage PR in AI Discovery Era](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-audio-can-leverage-pr/): Chatbots are changing PR’s place in the media ecosystem, let’s talk why.
- [The Talking Dead Was Right: Why TV and Film Podcasts Are Podcasting's Secret Weapon](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-talking-dead-was-right-why-tv-and-film-podcasts-are-podcastings-secret-weapon/): TV & Film has been a mainstay of podcasting since the beginning, and for good reason.
- [Remember Who You Are](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/remember-who-you-are/): Experimentation is healthy, but expansion at all costs includes the cost of ignoring the audience that built everything in the first place.
- [The Inventory And The Scale](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-inventory-and-the-scale/): Podcasting has a creator churn problem that needs fixing.
- [The Gap In Podcasting That Should Concern Us](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-gap-in-podcasting-that-should-concern-us/): What dangers lie in a medium that rebuffs potential creators before they start?
- [The Creators 2025, Plus a Call for SXSW Submissions](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-creators-2025-plus-a/): A look at Sounds Profitable's next study, and a call for SXSW 2026 submissions.
- [Clawing Their Way to Ownership: Why Some Podcasters Are Building Products Instead of Reading Ads](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/clawing-their-way/): A look at what happens when the creators themselves are the brand.
- [Why We're Bringing Podcast Movement to SXSW (And Making It Free)](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-movement-to-sxsw/): Podcast Movement Evolutions is going to Austin next year. Let's talk about how, why, and how much extra cost it'll be (spoiler: none).
- [A Blindingly Obvious Opportunity for Podcast Revenue Growth](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-blindingly-obvious/): Podcasting's reach has grown quite a bit over the years, but several fruitful demographics still remain untapped.
- [What Makes Armchair Expert a Great Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-makes-armchair/): A breakdown of the simple psychology behind Dax Shepard’s interview style.
- [The Parasocial Paradox: Why AI Podcast Hosts Might Actually Work (But Not How You Think)](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-parasocial-paradox/): Generative AI clones of host voices aren't coming, they're here. And there's data to support effective, thoughtful use-cases.
- [How To Block Bad Ads](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-to-block-bad-ads/): Podcasters should know what is running on their shows and how to prevent inappropriate ads running in the first place.
- [How Do Humans Feel About AI Voices In Podcasting?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-do-humans-feel-about-ai-voices-in-podcasting/): The recent article in Hollywood Reporter about Inception Point AI’s venture to create thousands of AI-generated podcasts a week has certainly created an imbroglio in the podcast community. I chose “imbroglio,” because I think it’s more than a kerfuffle, and I’m a Webster so I get to use all the words. Podcast agency Adopter Media
- [The Podcast Landscape 2025: Maturity, Growth, and What Comes Next](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/maturity-growth-next/): Let’s talk about what comes next for podcasting.
- [Remembering Todd Cochrane](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/remembering-todd-cochrane/): Let's take a moment to reflect.
- [America’s Favorite Podcasts in 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/americas-favorite-podcasts-in-2025/): Rogan’s still at the top of American minds, but his lead’s eroding as others gain momentum.
- [Two Surprising Facts About Platform Consumption In 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/two-surprising-facts-platform/): Audiences are consuming podcasts differently on YouTube and Spotify than you might think.
- [What's Next for Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/whats-next-for-sounds-profitable/): Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement have merged, let's talk about that.
- [What Is A Podcast Supposed To Be?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-is-a-podcast-supposed-to-be/): Despite what scary headlines may say, video and audio podcasting have a more symbiotic relationship than one might think.
- [From Social Proof to Parasocial Proof: How Podcasts Provide the Scaffolding for Social Campaigns](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/from-social-proof/): New data from Sounds Profitable about how podcasts influence action could also suggest a symbiotic relationship with social media.
- [What I Learned From The Longest-running One-Person Show in Vegas](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-i-learned/): Audience engagement is the true magic that makes shows stick, who better to learn from than actual magicians?
- [Selling The Podcast Mindset](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/selling-the-podcast-mindset/): Not only do fitness and self-improvement podcasts have eager, growing audiences, those audiences also are looking to invest in themselves.
- [The Podcast Preservation Paradox](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-preservation-paradox/): Preservationists fear video stealing podcasting’s soul, growth advocates celebrate YouTube driving more to the medium. Thing is, they’re both right.
- [How Podcasting Can Cover Demographic Blind Spots](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/demographic-blind-spots/): Buying on podcasts isn’t just buying into effective ads, it’s buying a direct line to consumers’ attention.
- [The Live Connection: Why Podcasts Need to Get Off the Internet and Into the Room](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-live-connection/): As podcasts sell out Madison Square Garden and book the Hollywood Bowl, live events are becoming less of a special treat and more of a core facet of strengthening audience bond.
- [Mattresses and Metrics](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/mattresses-and-metrics/): Tracking pixels are awesome at what they do, but like any tool there's also a way to misuse them and podcasting should remain conscious of that.
- [Why Podcasting's Advertising Advantage Is Bigger Than We Thought](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/why-podcastings-advertising/): The latest edition of The Advertising Landscape shows podcasting's biggest fans are also paying a lot of attention.
- [The Podcasting Advertising Anomaly: New Research on Attention and Gender](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-advertising-anomaly/): For all that has happened in the industry, data like The Advertising Landscape shows podcast advertising… just works. Always has.
- [Monetizing Your Podcast Globally](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/monetizing-your-podcast-globally/): From an undisclosed hotel room in Islington, Bryan Barletta debuts the Ad-Sales Partner Ecosystem and shares how you can get your company involved.
- [Eventful Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/eventful-podcasting/): A look at the power of doing live events for podcasting as an industry, as well as individual podcasts.
- [The Great Podcast Divide: Understanding Fans vs. Anti-Fans](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-divide/): A look at the demographics of podcast audiences who are the medium’s fans… as well as the opposite.
- [The Smart TV Factor: What Growing Connected TV Listening Means for Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-smart-tv-factor/): Smart TVs are increasingly popular tools for accessing podcasts, but what does that actually mean for the medium?
- [The Theater of the Mind: Building Stickier Podcasts](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-theater-of-the-mind/): Podcasting performs at below the average conversion rate for turning monthly audiences into daily consumers, it's time to work on that.
- [Podcasting: The Most Versatile Medium](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-the-most-versatile/): The Advertising Landscape shows that not only is podcasting an option for advertisers, it's a rare multitool in a world of single-use options.
- [The Impact Spotify's Video Has on Publishers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-impact-spotifys-video/): It's time to talk about Spotify Video and Streaming Audio and how podcasting should carry itself going forward.
- [The Finite Dial](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-finite-dial/): Tom Webster dispenses with some common mis-interpretations of a popular finding in the 2025 Infinite Dial, and looks to podcasting's need to increase how often we convert occasional listeners to regular consumers.
- [Understanding Spotify Video - The User Perspective](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/understanding-spotify-video/): A good foundation of knowledge is the best way to take the next step forward. This week, we dive in to the first of two parts in understanding Spotify Video.
- [A Real Saab Story About Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-real-saab-story-about/): As podcasting veers towards becoming a subgenre of video rather than a thriving audio industry, Tom Webster looks back at an example of what happens when you strip everything unique off a beloved icon.
- [Podcasting 3.0](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-3-0/): The industry has come a long way, but the podcast consumption experience hasn’t and is starting to show why we need a more ‘one button experience’ if we want to grow the audience pool.
- [The Three Most Important Statistics about News Podcast Listeners](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-three-most-important-stat/): Tom Webster highlights actionable takeaways from Sounds Profitable’s latest research.
- [Recapping On Air Fest 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/recapping-on-air-fest/): Gavin Gaddis recaps their On Air Fest experience and reflects on the importance of carrying the flame for podcasting.
- [Where You Live, And What You Listen To](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/where-you-live-and-what/): A look at what podcast genre popularity filtered by region can teach us about audiences.
- [SXSW x Podcasting 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/why-podcasting-needs-to-be/): Bryan reflects on growing podcasting’s presence at SXSW the past three years, and gears up for its biggest year yet at one of the biggest events in the country.
- [Regarding Reach, and the Business-Minded Audience](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/regarding-reach-and-the/): In a two-part one-part article, Tom breaks down the business podcast consumer and looks at podcasting’s cost-effective reach.
- [And Now, Your Moment of (Audio) Zen](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/and-now-your-moment-of-audio-zen/): Is audio consumption on the decline? Certainly not for podcasts.
- [Buyers Are Listeners, Too](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/buyers-are-listeners-too/): If you bring buyers into your medium’s audience and tell them how good your medium is, they’ll buy it.
- [The Truth About True Crime Listeners](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-truth-about-true-crime/): Tom shares insights from Sounds Profitable's 2024 study, "The True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape", and what we can learn from true crime listeners.
- [The Business of Business Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-business-of-business/): Tom discusses the debut of the Sounds Profitable Educational Series, and what to expect in next week’s premier broadcast.
- [The Most Important Thing Podcasting Needs To Talk About In 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/important-thing-2025/): A look at audience perceptions of their media habits, and what podcasting can do to bolster spoken-word audio next year.
- [Reflections on a Podcasting Career](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/reflections-on-a-podcasting/): Tom Webster shares some pearls of wisdom from twenty years in the oyster of podcasting.
- [Walled Gardens and Rented Land](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/walled-gardens-and-rented-land/): Video’s rise is causing an upswell of prescriptivism re: what “counts” as a podcast, which Tom Webster proposes is a sign podcast apps need to innovate to become more attractive ‘rented land.’
- [The Implications of Spotify for Creators](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-implications-of-spotify-for-creators/): Bryan Barletta talks about the short and long-term effects of Spotify’s big push for video.
- [The Offline World](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-offline-world/): This week, Tom offers a section of his new book, The Audience Is Listening, on marketing in the “real world”
- [What Audio and Video Prime Consumers Can Tell Us About Podcast Apps and Discovery](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-audio-and-video-prime-consumers-can-tell-us-about-podcast-apps-and-discovery/): Tom Webster ends out his trilogy of articles comparing and contrasting podcast audiences who primarily consume audio versus those who primarily consume video.
- [Podcast Industry Glossary](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-industry-glossary/): Introducing the Podcast Industry Glossary, a collaborative effort between Sounds Profitable partners.
- [Better Podcast Marketing and The Curiosity Gap](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-curiosity-gap/): It’s one thing to use generic descriptions to explain a song or podcast, but there’s power in creating curiosity with a recommendation.
- [Does Video Drive Discovery? Audio and Video Podcast Consumers in 2024, Part Two](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/audio-video-prime-part-2/): Even when looking at audiences who are ride-or-die for audio podcasts, video plays a key role in the modern podcast discovery process.
- [Audio and Video Podcast Consumers in 2024, Part One](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/audio-and-video-podcast/): The first of a two-part exploration of how audio-first and video-first podcast audiences consume their favorite content.
- [Inertia Is The Enemy of Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/inertia-is-the-enemy/): A significant amount of people simply stop listening to podcasts once they finish the show they’re listening to. Tom Webster talks about what can be done to rectify this.
- [19.2 Ounces of Podcasting Wisdom](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/19-2-ounces-of-podcasting-wisdom/): What Liquid Death capitulating to produce a 12oz version after building their brand on 19.2oz can teach podcasting.
- [The Persuadables - Podcasting's Next 20 Million Consumers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-persuadables-next-20/): There are many reasons people who would love podcasts don’t engage with the medium. The Persuadables looks at how we can change that.
- [Reversing the Algorithm for Women in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/reversing-the-algorithm/): Most top podcast charts skew heavily male, and the average podcast audience is backsliding in comparison to the population. How do we fix this?
- [Four Years Strong](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/four-years-strong/): Bryan Barletta celebrates Sounds Profitable’s fourth anniversary with a look at how far we’ve come, and where we’re going.
- [Five Podcast Consumption Stats You Need To Know For 2024](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/five-podcast-consumption-stats-you-need-to-know-for-2024/): Sounds Profitable's biggest study yet is here, and Tom Webster's looking at a handful of vital numbers.
- [Pro-Grade Podcast Survey… For Free?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/pro-grade-podcast-survey-for-free/): This week, I’m putting my money where my mouth is. Or rather, I’m putting up some swag and free consulting hours to test-run a cool new service from Edison Research. And as a listener of my podcast, you can absolutely get your share!
- [Onward and Upward](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/onward-and-upward/): A lot has happened at Podcast Movement, let’s break down three highlights from Sounds Profitable.
- [Where Will We Get Our News?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/where-will-we-get-our-news/): Podcasting is brimming with opportunities, and we’re aiming to help others know how to find them. From free webinars, to good old print media.
- [The True Crime Opportunity](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-true-crime-opportunity/): Podcasting is brimming with opportunities, and we’re aiming to help others know how to find them. From free webinars, to good old print media.
- [The Hidden Cost of Ad-Skipping](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-hidden-cost-of-ad-skipping/): Podcasting is brimming with opportunities, and we’re aiming to help others know how to find them. From free webinars, to good old print media.
- [Educational Opportunities for the Podcast Industry](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/educational-opportunities/): Podcasting is brimming with opportunities, and we’re aiming to help others know how to find them. From free webinars, to good old print media.
- [What Has Your Podcast Got To Lose?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-has-your-podcast-got-to-lose/): Podcast hosts, much like Border Collies, are at their best when they have a clearly-defined purpose for what they are doing.
- [What Border Collies Can Teach Us About Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-collies-teach-us/): Podcast hosts, much like Border Collies, are at their best when they have a clearly-defined purpose for what they are doing.
- [My Favorite Insight From Ad Nauseam](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/insight-from-ad-nauseam/): Just how many ads do podcast audiences expect in a given episode? The new study Ad Nauseam gives insight (spoiler: it’s not zero).
- [Is Ad Skipping Avoidable?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/is-ad-skipping-avoidable/): Tom addresses four self-fulfilling negative beliefs about podcast advertising in the final hours leading up to Sounds Profitable's latest study Ad Nauseam, which addresses all four.
- [Of Mice and Megaphone](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/of-mice-and-megaphone/): This week Bryan Barletta takes a step back and looks at Spotify's place in podcasting not as a peer to the industry, but as the global multi-platform corporation it is.
- [“My Audience Won’t Tolerate Advertising”](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/my-audience-wont-tolerate-advertising/): Tom Webster breaks down the upcoming Sounds Profitable study Ad Nauseam and what questions it aims to answer about podcast advertising.
- [Podcasts and Political Ads: An Acceptable Risk?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasts-and-political-ads/): As the political advertising season heats up, Tom takes a look at how podcast audiences react to political podcast advertising.
- [The Wilford Brimley Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-wilford-brimley-podcast/): While podcasting is popular with younger demographics, the biggest growth potential lies in audiences aged 55 and up.
- [Podcast Advertising - The Safest Bet in a Risky Landscape](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-safest-bet-risky-landscape/): For brands looking to earn attention, podcasts are proving they can deliver in a media landscape littered with noise.
- [That Was Us: Dialing in the Rewatch](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/that-was-us-dialing-in-the-rewatch/): What does capturing the existing fanbase of a recently-ended program look like in podcasting? We speak with actors Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, who are launching as an episode-by-episode rewatch podcast of This Is Us, rapidly upping the normal rewatch podcast cadence of nearly a decade.
- [The Real Work of Murder: Lessons from the Stars of True Crime](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-real-work-of-murder-lessons-from-the-stars-of-true-crime/): Lessons learned from true crime vets like John Allen and Kylie Low during the Sound Summit at SXSW 2024.
- [How to Embigify Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/embiggen-podcasting/): Being overly restrictive of what ‘counts’ as a podcast could lead to the medium going the way of the blog. Tom Webster’s keynote presentation from Evolutions by Podcast Movement breaks down how we can embigify the industry.
- [Five Things to Know About The Ad Bargain](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/five-things-to-know/): Sounds Profitable has published another study, and Tom Webster delivers the top findings to be found in the data.
- [Podcast Advertising: The Safest Bet](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-safest-bet/): Thank you for attending the 2024 Podfronts at Podcast Movement Evolutions! If you’d like a copy of Tom Webster’s presentation, Podcast Advertising: The Safest Bet, you can download it by clicking the button below. Sounds Profitable is dedicated to setting the course for the future of audio through education, insights, research, and connections with
- [Is Podcasting the Biggest "Ad Bargain"?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/is-podcasting-the-ad-bargain/): This week Tom debuts data from Sounds Profitable’s upcoming study during his keynote at Evolutions by Podcast Movement. Until then, he proposes questions podcasting should be asking itself.
- [Owning Podcasting’s Responsibility](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/owning-podcastings-responsibility/): Podcasting has long dealt with double standards when it comes to adtech problems that are part of larger systemic problems. The industry is in a position to establish a higher quality baseline than others who get away with murder.
- [Sound Summit - The Business of Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sxsw/): All four panels from the day-long podcasting event at SXSW 2024.
- [Sound Summit Success - Building a Better Umbrella](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sound-summit-success/): Bryan Barletta reflects on podcasting’s big day at SXSW 2024 and what events like Sound Summit mean for the industry’s future.
- [Podcasting Licensed Music - It’s Time](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-licensed-music-its-time/): Tom Webster reflects on a talk he gave this past week in Nashville, and music’s place (or lack thereof) in the podcasting industry. There’s room for great innovation and growth with properly licensed music and podcasts, and it’s time to make it happen.
- [Meet Your New Co-Host](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/meet-your-new-co-host/): A lot has been said about AI replacing human-made content. This week Tom Webster proposes a person-first future deploying AI-powered tools where they work best: as a support structure.
- [The Subtle Key to Podcasting's Persuasiveness](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-subtle-key/): Miles of article inches have been written about podcasting’s persuasiveness, but NPR’s Body Electric takes audience engagement to a new, physical level.
- [Reintroducing Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/reintroducing-podcasting/): If someone peeked into podcasting in the late 2010s, they would’ve seen an industry in ad tech infancy in comparison to podcasting’s capabilities now. The official Podcasting Sound Summit at SXSW will help re-introduce the industry and show off its new capabilities.
- [Knowing Half The Battle in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/knowing-half-the/): With apologies to G.I. Joe, half the battle of podcasting is not the changes in technology, but keeping up with changes to the audience. Tom Webster digs into the “neglected half” of the work of podcasting.
- [The “Why” of Your Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-why-of-your-podcast/): Since the beginning of podcasting, people have yearned to know exactly why someone does or does not listen to their podcast. Tom Webster reflects on what answering a “why” can uncover.
- [The 25 Hour Day](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-25-hour-day/): Tom Webster explains what rocks, sand, and Duolingo can teach podcasting in how we frame listening statistics and audience behavior.
- [SXSW x Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sxsw-x-podcasting/): Pack your bags, because the Business of Podcasting takes center stage this year at SXSW.
- [Podcast Acquisitions & Investments - 2023 Industry Recap](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/industry-recap-2023/): Let’s kick off 2024 with a look back at notable acquisitions, investments, and podcasting’s evolution over the past year.
- [10 Critical Facts about Video and Podcasting for Success in 2024](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/10-critical-facts-about-video/): Sound You Can See, our latest research on the role of video in podcasting, presents a compelling picture of a single audience, choosing audio or video depending on their mood and environment. Tom Webster breaks down the ten things you need to know from this important study.
- [The Partial Attention Economy of Video Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/12-07-article/): When asked if they listen to full podcast episodes, watch full episodes, or watch clips, audiences surveyed gave a resounding “yes.” Tom Webster breaks down what that means for podcasting and how we should act on it.
- [Putting Success In Your Way With Video](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/putting-success-in-your-way/): With the growth of video podcasting, it’s time to re-examine how podcasting thinks about audiences watching podcasts instead of listening. Tom Webster breaks down the differences, and how the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
- [Confused About Video? The Listeners Aren’t!](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/confused-about-video/): While the podcast industry frequently debates what qualifies ‘a podcast’, data from The Podcast Landscape shows podcast listeners have a pretty consistent idea. Tom Webster breaks down that data and what it can mean for YouTube as the biggest place for podcast discovery.
- [Podcasting Lessons From Dogs](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-lessons-from-dogs/): This week Tom reflects on why podcasts with multiple hosts need an Abbot to their Costello. A traffic cop to direct the flow of conversation when need be.
- [Making The Case for Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/making-the-case/): Tom Webster tackles the ever-present problem of making an appealing pitch for podcasts to non-listeners.
- [Brands in Audio - A New Platform for Branded Podcasts](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/brands-in-audio/): How big is the branded audio space? What’s the best way to find the top production companies, the brands they represent, and what categories are gaining the most traction in the branded podcast space? Brands in Audio.
- [How Branded Podcasts Might Be One Key To New Listeners](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-branded-podcasts-might/): This week, Tom Webster takes a look at Brand Fans, and how branded podcasts could actually grow the overall audience for podcasting
- [Why Branded Content Could Be Bigger Than You Think](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/bigger-than-you-think/): Tom Webster takes a look at the potential for brands and podcasts, and how data shows they have even more room to grow.
- [Joint Statement on the Continued Integrity of the Download Metric](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/download-integrity-release/): Bryan Barletta explains recent collaborative progress made by the podcasting industry to enhance the credibility of the download metric, and what it means for the future.
- [Ad Impression Discrepancy Is Solvable In Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/ad-impression-discrepancy-is-solvable-in-podcasting/): Third party impression tracking is almost mandatory now in digital advertising while almost wholly ignored in podcasting. When implemented in podcasting, we can often see significant impression discrepancies between ad server and tag vendor, without a clear understanding of why. This post outlines this issue and presents a solution for solving this problem for good.
- [Geolocation Misses The Mark In Podcast Targeting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/geolocation-misses-the-mark-in-podcast-targeting/): Have you ever wondered how accurate location targeting can really get in podcast advertising? The dream of targeting a specific individual or even a household is such a strong narrative across all forms of digital advertising, but what can you really do with just an IP address?
- [Apple Podcasts watchOS Downloads Under Fire](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/apple-podcasts-watchos-downloads-under-fire/): In a statement titled “Apple watchOS Duplicates Podcast Downloads Resulting in Inflated Reporting: Filtering Guidance” released on August 26th, 2020, the IAB Tech Lab stated a clear recommendation: […] that Apple Podcasts app watchOS user agent requests should be filtered out altogether up front and not be counted as unique downloads/listeners. What does that mean
- [Does The Loss of Digital ID Impact Podcast Advertising?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/does-the-loss-of-digital-id-impact-podcast-advertising/): The digital ad space is watching as the bottom falls out of their data collection methods. But how exactly does Apple’s Age of Privacy impact podcasting? What’s Happening in Digital Casey Newton wrote a fantastic article last week on Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes. Any app that wants your Identifier for Advertising (IDFA) will have to ask
- [Bringing podcasting together, one user agent at a time](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/bringing-podcasting-together-one-user-agent-at-a-time/): Building a better community through user agents Podcasting is brilliantly different. Unlike its digital predecessor, there’s unparalleled collaboration. The Open Podcast Analytics Workgroup (OPAWG) shows that our space can come together to better document and improve an area that takes considerable effort to manage: user agents. So what is a device user agent? We talk a lot
- [You’re incorrectly identifying up to 50% of your user agents](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/youre-incorrectly-identifying-up-to-50-of-your-user-agents/): Chances are you’ve seen a podcast download report showing podcast players like Chrome and Safari. But those aren’t the players, just the way some episodes are being streamed. Device user agent gets you 50% of the way toward correctly identifying your audience. That other 50%? It requires a little more effort for a lot more
- [How many listeners is your IABv2 certification worth?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-many-listeners-is-your-iabv2-certification-worth/): The Indian market is booming for cellphones and podcasts. But without a clear stance on how to handle IPv6, podcast ad tech companies will need to decide how many listeners they’re willing to ignore before they risk their IABv2 certification.
- [Programmatic Advertising: the Hero Podcast Publishers Need](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/programmatic-advertising-the-hero-podcast-publishers-need/): The most vocal opponents of programmatic advertising in podcasting are the ones that have the most to lose. But for publishers looking for more control and freedom, it’s a breath of fresh air.
- [The Solution for Privacy in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-solution-for-privacy-in-podcasting/): While very little has changed in the podcasting privacy space over the last two years, the conversation has taken center stage. But there’s a straightforward fix that isn’t being implemented because of a lack of collaboration.
- [Spotify is in podcasting to win](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/spotify-is-in-podcasting-to-win/): Spotify is constantly working on features and creating or buying exclusive content to draw podcast listeners to their platform. For listeners, the features are amazing, but they all have one thing in common: content created is limited to Spotify’s walled garden. Sure, it’s a walled garden with some 300 million active users, but… some would say that’s bad news for the rest of the podcasting industry.
- [Can You Target Podcast Listeners By Demographic?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/can-you-target-podcast-listeners-by-demographic/): Demographic targeting rightfully receives attention from advertisers and agencies, but what are its limits within podcasting? Should we be aiming for the hyper-targeted individual or instead focus on the digital household?
- [Brand Safety is Here: Let’s Use It](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/brand-safety-is-here-lets-use-it/): Every tool that podcast adtech can provide to make our space feel like display or video should be treated as a high priority. Brand safety is an easy checkmark on an otherwise long list of requests, so why aren’t more hosting platforms offering it?
- [Post-roll Is Bullshit](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/post-roll-is-bullshit/): Preroll. Midroll. Post-roll. We’re told that all three are part of a successful ad strategy for podcasts. But what if I told you that many of the most successful publishers in the space don’t find a lot of value in postroll, and their advertisers seem even less interested?
- [No, The Spotify and Megaphone Deal Won't Put an End to Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/no-the-spotify-and-megaphone-deal-wont-put-an-end-to-podcasting/): Spotify’s purchase of Megaphone consumed the podcast newscape last week. While definitely attention grabbing, the move marks a departure from Spotify’s previous strategy. And this new approach will be a massive boon, not bust, for the entire podcast advertising industry.
- [The French Exception: Podcast Measurement](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-french-exception-podcast-measurement/): Sarah Toporoff reached out to me on the first day that Sounds Profitable went live. Sarah has such a unique perspective in podcasting and radio, coming from the US but having spent the last 10 years in France. It was a no brainer to pass Sarah the mic and let her tell you all about
- [The Podscape: A Map of the Podcast Advertising Landscape](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podscape-a-map-of-the-podcast-advertising-landscape/): Navigating the podcast advertising space can be a bit overwhelming, especially without any sort of map. So, in collaboration with Magellan AI, we took our best shot at outlining the industry to give those old and new in the space a better starting point for viewing the podcast advertising ecosystem. The Podscape In September, Cameron Hendrix
- [IAB Podcast Measurement v2.1 - What You Need to Know](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/iab-podcast-measurement-v2-1-what-you-need-to-know/): Reading the press release for the v2.1 update to the IAB Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines, you’d think that something revolutionary was coming from the organization. Unfortunately, the press release was more fanfare than progress and provides very little time for public comment. Admitting Bias I think it’s only fair for me to come clean: I dislike the Interactive
- [Understanding Lift Reports - Pt. 1](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/understanding-lift-reports-pt-1/): Determining the success of a campaign is not an easy task. In podcasting, one style of reporting has received the lion’s share of attention: the campaign lift report. As you prep your final campaigns of the year, let’s skip ahead to what will be waiting for many of you in January: understanding and explaining the results of a lift report.
- [Understanding Lift Reports - Pt. 2](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/understanding-lift-reports-pt-2/): In part 1 last week, I set the foundation to help us better understand campaign lift reports and spent some time reviewing the hold out group methodology. This week we’re making things a bit more relevant by explaining how Chartable, Claritas, and Podsights run their lift reports. It’s all About Style Data, by its very definition, is objective. Data
- [Happy New Year From Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/happy-new-year-from-sounds-profitable/): It’s the Monday before the end of 2020. You’ve had your fill of 2020 reflections and 2021 predictions. So I’m flipping the script and talking about something far more interesting: you.
- [It's Time For Every Podcaster To Take DAI Seriously](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/its-time-for-every-podcaster-to-take-dai-seriously/): Whether you’re the type of podcaster who makes big resolutions for their show each year or not, I have one for you: Get comfy with DAI - dynamic ad insertion. Because even if you don’t think you need it… you need it. Or better said, you’ll be able to do so much more once you embrace the flexibility DAI provides.
- [Let’s Make Podcasting Metrics More Meaningful](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/lets-make-podcasting-metrics-more-meaningful/): The quest for client-side data has cost us easily a year of progress. Instead of wasting any more time on what other advertising channels have that podcasting lacks, let’s do more with the data we have, as we’ve barely scratched the surface so far.
- [Don't Forget The Intangibles of Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/dont-forget-the-intangibles-of-podcast-advertising/): Advertising campaigns are an investment. With any investment, there needs to be a measurable payoff. Understanding the success of a podcast advertising campaign isn’t straightforward. While the basic calculation of money spent minus profits earned is correct, it’s the “profits earned” bit that’s often difficult to get a full picture of, both during and after the campaign. That’s why many podcast advertisers turn to survey-based brand lift studies.
- [How To Buy Host-Read Ads At-Scale](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-to-buy-host-read-ads-at-scale/): Using podcasts to promote your brand with a host-read is a smart play. But doing it cost-effectively at-scale is a huge challenge for brands. Finding the right shows, negotiating the right rates, and verifying the host correctly represented your brand all take time. So here’s a map charted by a brand with nearly $500k yearly ad spend budget, and you can figure out exactly how far down the path you want to go yourself.
- [Finally, Sounds Profitable Has a Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/finally-sounds-profitable-has-a-podcast/): Talking about podcast adtech is easy for me to do. Breaking the tech down and making it accessible to all of you is a skill I’ve worked hard to refine. But the one major gap in Sounds Profitable was that it lacked a podcast. I wasn’t actively putting any of my own advice to use for you to experience first hand. So this week I fixed that, and I’m here to walk you through my entire process.
- [Upgrading Broadcast Syndication For Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/upgrading-broadcast-syndication-for-podcasting/): Podcast adtech—dynamic insertion, specifically— is often shunned by well-meaning podcasters who want ultimate control over their episodes, ensuring the best possible listener experience. But this baby-with-the-bath-water stance means they are missing out on deliberate and controllable ways to collaborate with other podcasters to make better content, expand their reach, and give their listeners more than they can do on their own.
- [How Dynamic Ad Insertion Actually Works](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-dynamic-ad-insertion-actually-works/): Dynamic ad insertion is the most fundamental part of podcast advertising technology. It’s a building block that enables attribution, lift reports, surveys, and of course clever creative opportunities. So this week, instead of just talking about how dynamic ad insertion works, let’s explore it with a live demo. Don’t miss the details of our new referral program, at the bottom of the article!
- [Podcast Attribution in a Privacy-Focused World](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-attribution-in-a-privacy-focused-world/): The privacy-first movement is continuing to ramp up, with no signs of slowing down. That means that it’s time that those involved in the podcast adtech industry start defining their position. Choosing to completely opt out of attribution in this privacy-focused world is an option, but it’s not the only option.
- [There Are No Shortcuts in Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/there-are-no-shortcuts-in-podcast-advertising/): Dropping one tiny URL into your hosting platform and immediately being able to fill your episode with programmatic ads sounds great, but there’s a trade-off. Sure, it’s a great option to experiment with podcast adtech without overcommitting. But at the end of the day, if you need more out of your hosting provider, it’s time to fully commit to another one, not sit uncomfortable between two.
- [We Need More Women Working In Adtech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/we-need-more-women-working-in-adtech/): Allowing podcast adtech to remain unbalanced along gender lines will only hurt podcasting’s growth as a medium that can hold its own alongside all major forms of media.
- [Podcast Streaming is a Myth](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-streaming-is-a-myth/): Finding the holy grail of actually understanding real listener metrics is a worthy quest. But we’re a long ways from it, no matter what you may have heard. Do concepts like streaming and progressive downloads get us closer? They should, but both terms have lost their technical meanings and have become marketing-speak.
- [Podcast Prefix Analytics Explained](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-prefix-analytics-explained/): Getting accurate statistics in podcasting is much harder than it should be. Because of that unfortunate reality and the fact that advertisers demand more accountability, prefix analytics companies exist. But a lot of confusion surrounds these providers, which is also unfortunate. So today, I’m going to get back to the basics, by explaining how they work, what they do, and why you probably should be using them on your podcast.
- [Sounds Profitable’s Premium Blend](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sounds-profitables-premium-blend/): Some podcasters turn to premium feeds as a direct revenue source, charging their listeners a fee to access “premium” or “ad-free” content. Good work if you can get it, for sure! But there’s another benefit premium feeds can offer podcasters that can be much more valuable than subscription fees: Data.
- [The Influencer Marketing Advantage](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-influencer-marketing-advantage/): I’ve been a big fan of Shreya’s writing with Inside Podcasting and her desire to apply everything she learns in the podcasting space. Her strong marketing background in other digital channels has made for some great conversations, including one that we both thought would make a great article. So let’s dive into the differences, or lack thereof, between social media influencer marketing and podcasting. - Bryan
- [Up Next - A Podcast UpFront](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/up-next-a-podcast-upfront/): As someone interested in podcasting adtech, you’re probably familiar with the concept of “upfronts”. More than a year into a pandemic, you’ve probably also witnessed a lot of podcasting’s upfronts become virtual events. But I think we can do better. I think we can actually leverage the power of podcasting to… well, power podcasting upfronts and podcasting events in general. So let’s launch one together.
- [How To Explain Podcast Impression Tracking To Digital Ad Buyers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-to-explain-podcast-impression-tracking-to-digital-ad-buyers/): Generally speaking, ad buyers are smart cookies. But for many, podcast advertising is just weird enough to keep them from playing in our growing pond. That’s why it’s incumbent on all of us to meet them halfway, taking the time to show them that just because podcast advertising is different, it doesn’t mean it’s not right for them and their clients. We too have rich and robust data to share with them when we collaborate together.
- [Where Vanity URLs and Promo Codes Fall Short](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/where-vanity-urls-and-promo-codes-fall-short/): If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make an attributed impression? Tortured metaphor aside, tracking the success of a podcast ad campaign is a tricky proposition for many reasons. And while plenty of direct response advertisers hang their hats on conversion-based tracking methods, not all options are created equally.
- [Let’s Make Podcasts More Accessible](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/lets-make-podcasts-more-accessible/): I’m very excited to share this week’s guest article with you by Caroline Mincks. It’s so easy to dismiss adding transcripts to a podcast, especially with a massive lack of uniformity between podcast players. And while I hope the podcasting space normalizes having transcripts out of the goodness of its heart, every podcast that isn’t currently using them is absolutely missing out on an audience hungry for content.
- [Up Next: A Better Way To Buy Podcast Ads, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/up-next-a-better-way-to-buy-podcast-ads-and-more/): One of podcasting’s superpowers is the on-demand nature of our content. So why aren’t more publishers embracing the process of podcasting when it comes to selling podcast ad inventory or their services at up front events?
- [The hidden costs of in-app paid podcast subscriptions](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-hidden-costs-of-in-app-paid-podcast-subscriptions/): Listener-direct podcast monetization is getting a huge shot in the arm, with both the two biggest listening apps soon to add a click-once-to-pay feature to enable paid subscriptions directly in-app. Well, mostly directly. Should you rush to try out this new monetization tool? Probably, but you need to know fully what you’re leaving behind.
- [The Future of Podcast Ads Is VAST](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-future-of-podcast-ads-is-vast/): It’s hard to scale podcast advertising. To hit the projected billions of dollars in podcast ad spend in the coming months, it’s going to take a shift in mindset. Luckily, the technology to make podcast ad placement much more efficient already exists and is straightforward to integrate across all of podcasting. Here’s a primer for you.
- [How To Write Podcast Ads That Sell](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-to-write-podcast-ads-that-sell/): Providing real, tangible examples of how to put podcast adtech and advertising to good use is a major focus for Sounds Profitable. So this week, I’m excited to share with you a custom-made host read ad for Sounds Profitable’s Premium Feed and the process Stew Redwine of OXFORd Road used to build it, to encourage everyone out there looking to promote their premium feeds that we need to treat that promotion just like the ads we make to sell underwear.
- [Ad Delivery vs Downloads In Podcast Adtech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/ad-delivery-vs-downloads-in-podcast-adtech/): Want to rile up a room full of podcasters without asking them what microphone is the best? Ask them if they think there’s a difference between ad delivery and downloads. And then stand back. Lucky for you, there’s no need to weigh in on the controversy. This quick primer will better equip you to understand what to count, and why it’s important for your podcast ad campaigns.
- [I Want YOU To Join Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/i-want-you-to-join-podcast-advertising/): Right now is the golden moment for anyone who wants to break into podcast advertising. But it won’t always be that way. That’s the message I took to Podcast Day 24, and it’s worth sharing with you as well.
- [Buying vs Building Unique Podcast Adtech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/buying-vs-building-unique-podcast-adtech/): Podcast adtech is still quite new, with plenty of forward-thinking agencies building tech to set themselves apart from the competition. But that’s not the only way to make a truly unique product offering that lets you carve out a nice niche for yourself while leaving the tech debt on someone else’s shoulders.
- [Added Time Isn’t Added Value](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/added-time-isnt-added-value/): There’s a misconception in podcast advertising that paying for a shorter ad spot and getting a longer read is added value. Not only is that predatory behavior that publishers should be pushing back against, but longer doesn’t always mean better. Danny Sellers, Podcast Partnership Manager at Gumball joins us this week as a guest author, working with Headgum founders Jake and Amir and the Helix brand to make this point crystal clear.
- [Never Let An Ad Slot Go Empty](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/never-let-an-ad-slot-go-empty/): Bold statement, but I think your audience should always hear ads in your ad-supported podcast’s episodes. Not all ads are created equal, and a careful strategy of running the right ads at the right time needs to be in place so they benefit you, the advertisers, and your audience.
- [Tracking Podcast Ad Performance That’s Hard To Track](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/tracking-podcast-ad-performance-thats-hard-to-track/): Ford Motor Company doesn’t have coupon codes. They don’t use vanity URLs. But they know exactly how their ads perform. Podcast advertisers can use similar tools to get a much better picture of how their ads perform as well. Here’s how.
- [We had a baby](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/we-had-a-baby/): Big news! The Barletta household welcomed Bridger Barletta into the world on July 24th. Sierra is doing amazing. Theo is thrilled Bridger doesn’t have brown eyes like me. I’m over the moon with happiness and love. Sounds Profitable is just under a year old, so the idea of taking time off of any kind was
- [The Podcast Industry In Podcast Form](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-industry-in-podcast-form/): You know how everyone says how “intimate” the podcasting medium is? It may be cliche, but it’s also kinda true. So I thought, “why not let podcast companies demonstrate that intimacy to the world and their new hires using a podcast?” And with that, a new project was born.
- [How Audio Quality Impacts Your Brand](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-audio-quality-impacts-your-brand/): Marcus dePaula doesn’t care if you are a podcaster, video streamer, or a Zoom user: the type of mic we use and how we use it is the most critical part of our online communication that too many people don’t think about.
- [Who Wins When IP Addresses Disappear?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/who-wins-when-ip-addresses-disappear/): Apple giveth and Apple taketh away. At least, that’s what seems to be happening with one of the internet’s foundational pieces: IP addresses. Leaving motivations aside for a moment, this move could have a chilling effect on podcasting and force more of what we don’t want: consolidation.
- [Apple Almost Made Podcast Stats Better](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/apple-almost-made-podcast-stats-better/): It’s a myth that podcasting doesn’t have the analytics advertisers want. But that doesn’t mean the analytics we have can’t be improved upon. A recent “bug” from Apple Podcasts showed us how it can be made better. But is our industry ready for the fix?
- [A Deepdive Into Podcast AdTech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-deepdive-into-podcast-adtech/): I remember a time when it was fairly simple to be well versed in all aspects of podcast adtech. But that was when there were half a dozen tools and service providers. Today, there are several dozen, and it’s hard for anyone to keep up. That’s why I created the Product Deepdive series—the no marketing BS, on-demand solution that allow you to learn how all of this actually works. I’m excited to share this recap of the products and services we’ve covered so far, and what’s to come.
- [You work in audio ad-tech. So listen to it.](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/you-work-in-audio-ad-tech-so-listen-to-it/): To celebrate one year of Sounds Profitable, James Cridland, Editor of Podnews and the man who took a chance on this crazy idea of a podcast adtech newsletter, reminds all of exactly why we need to consume our own content and use our own tools.
- [Unlocking More Inventory With Audience Insights](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/unlocking-more-inventory-with-audience-insights/): When we talk about adtech, we’re talking about it from the point of view of executing a campaign, most of the time. There’s such emphasis on the individual campaign that it can be real easy to lose track of the big picture.
- [Getting UpFront About Programmatic Podcast Ads](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/getting-upfront-about-programmatic-podcast-ads/): Way too much vitriol is indiscriminately flung around about programmatic advertising in podcasting, often by outsiders from the digital ad world or journalists who just don’t get what makes podcast advertising different. Though truth be told, many podcast adtech players aren’t helping either, by thumbing their nose at the realities that face savvy buyers. But by examining those realities and meeting in the middle, everyone wins.
- [A Real-Time Look at Apple’s Private Relay](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-real-time-look-at-apples-private-relay/): With Apple’s iOS 15 now live, their iCloud Private Relay service is now a reality. We’ve talked about where this road can likely lead, but what’s the impact today?
- [Why to invest and advertise in the Latino Podcast Segment](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/why-to-invest-and-advertise-in-the-latino-podcast-segment/): In the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity not only to learn from Gabriel Soto of Edison Research but also the privilege to share a virtual stage with him. As one of the authors of the Latino Podcast Listener Report, Gabe is the perfect person to write to all of you, while you’re planning out 2022, on why you should be prioritizing the Latino audience and content creation in Spanish.
- [Sounds Profitable en Español!](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sounds-profitable-en-espanol/): Spend any time with any podcast directory, and you’ll see a wild amount of English-language shows. But English is the primary language for less than 5% of the global population. Thanks to some clever new tech, podcasts could be made available in multiple languages. Without sounding like an 80s robot.
- [Spotify Is Making Anchor A Serious Advertising Channel](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/spotify-is-making-anchor-a-serious-advertising-channel/): Anchor gets a lot of flack from podcast pundits who’ve labeled Anchor a playground for less-than-serious people who are… well, playing around with podcasting. But Spotify didn’t buy Anchor because it’s a fun place to play at podcasting. They saw a business case. A business case that goes much further than simply Anchor and Spotify.
- [Come For Spotify. Stay For Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/come-for-spotify-stay-for-podcast-advertising/): Spotify’s new offerings for buyers of podcast advertising are, if I’m being honest, quite extraordinary. But far from benefiting only Spotify (though Spotify will see plenty of benefits), I think these moves will benefit all of podcast advertising. And that’s a good thing!
- [Debunking Podcast Myths, X Fronts Style](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/debunking-podcast-myths-x-fronts-style/): Our industry is one of the most fun I’ve ever had the pleasure of being part of. So when the team at Advertisecast and Work x Work asked me to participate in The X Fronts, an indie podcast up front, I jumped at the chance to help educate the audience while also making them laugh. Or at least sigh really loudly.
- [Ad Wars - comparative advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/ad-wars-comparative-advertising/): Whenever I have a question of the history of advertising, I always reach out to Stew Redwine, Creative Director at OXFORd Road. Over the past few months, I’ve read press releases and marketing material from podcast companies going out of their way to swipe at their competitors. Nothing could be more offputting to me, but I wanted to learn from an expert.
- [Stop Making Creative An Afterthought](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/stop-making-creative-an-afterthought/): With the exception of the Super Bowl, no one remembers what show or network aired a memorable commercial. It’s the creative that sticks in our brains and gets us to take action, not the placement. Is there a way to get memorable, engaging and creative ads in podcasting without ruining what makes podcast advertising so effective?
- [Give Yourself The Gift Of Apple Podcast Subscriptions](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/give-yourself-the-gift-of-apple-podcast-subscriptions/): Apple Podcasts Subscriptions are here to stay. And it’s pretty clear they’re just getting started. But for the first movers leaning into the offering, reaping the benefits of a tighter integration with the service that still commands the lion’s share of podcasting attention, the results might just seem like a holiday miracle.
- [A Brand Perspective - Füm](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-brand-perspective-fum/): We talk a lot about brands easing into podcast advertising, but what about if a brand had no choice but to go all in? Adam McNeil and the team at Füm lived that experience this year, and were very open with sharing their full experience.
- [I'm Launching The Podscape Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/im-launching-the-podscape-podcast/): The Podscape provides an amazing view of the hundreds of companies in the podcast industry, all on one page. But sometimes, we need a bit more information that we can get from a category and a logo. While company websites get us halfway there, The Podscape Podcast passes each company the mic, asking them to answer clearly and concisely “what do you do?”
- [Podcast Advertising Predictions: Then And Now](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-advertising-predictions-then-and-now/): While many people roll their eyes at end-of-year predictions, I find them incredibly interesting. You can tell who truly believes in what they’re saying and who is reiterating a company point of view. It also absolutely should influence who you interact with in the coming year. So, in an effort to convince all of you to interact with me more next year, let’s take a look at what I thought would happen in 2021 and what I think is going to happen in 2022.
- [2021 Podcast Acquisitions and Funding - A Recap](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/2021-podcast-acquisitions-and-funding-a-recap/): Last year was a busy year for acquisitions and funding in the podcasting space, and there’s a good chance some of it passed you by. So today, I’m running down the acqusitions that mattered, with some color commentary on what these moves might mean for the future of podcasting. And as a special bonus, I teamed up with Evo Terra to bring you an audio version of this as well. We’re using it as a pilot for something new which we’re calling The Download. If you’re reading this, there’s a very good chance you work in the business of podcasting, and that’s the audience for this new show. The pilot episode of the Sounds Profitable podcast feed today, and I’ll have more information for you as we solidify a few things in the coming days. For now, let’s get into it.
- [Happy Holidays from Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/happy-holidays-from-sounds-profitable/): This is the second holiday season that I get to celebrate running Sounds Profitable, and I truly mean it that without your support, as readers and sponsors, none of this would be possible. Next week, I’ll be writing all about my 2022 plans, but for today, I’d like to leave you with two presents…
- [Sounds Profitable's 2022 Outlook](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sounds-profitables-2022-outlook/): My absolute favorite part about building Sounds Profitable has been the ability to do it publicly. Getting buy-in from readers and sponsors as ideas become projects and iterating with them between announcement and release has led to some really cool ideas. So today, I want to run through what’s sticking around from 2021 and what new things are coming that I’d like your help on in 2022.
- [Podcast Merchandise and Partnerships that Make Sense](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-merchandise-and-partnerships-that-make-sense/): Many podcasts sell branded merchandise. But one show, Were You Raised By Wolves?, has leveraged their online store, combining unique products and partnerships to get measurable results. Today, an exchange between the show’s creator, Nick Leighton, where I seek to learn more about their approach to branding, eCommerce, and creating merchandise that just makes sense. If you offer merch or are thinking about adding merch, you’ll get a lot from this conversation.
- [What is Good Data?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-is-good-data/): Welcome to Good Data. In this monthly series from Sounds Profitable, we mine the latest audio industry studies and spotlight valuable insights. From audience behavior, revenue trends, programming opportunities, and promising platforms… #GoodData͏📊 is your quick and dirty rundown of the numbers that matter most in the pod biz.
- [Solving Podcasting's Programmatic Issues With Trust](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/solving-podcastings-programmatic-issues-with-trust/): Programmatic ads in podcasting have a perception problem. And, if I’m honest, a reality problem. But the solution to these problems isn’t “let’s do away with programmatic” and a reliance on nothing but high-touch host-read ads for podcasting. Instead, we need to refocus our attention on what’s really behind the problem, and work together to solve it at all levels. Here’s how we start.
- [Measuring the ROI of Your Branded Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/measuring-the-roi-of-your-branded-podcast/): Podcast advertising is such a good first step for brands entering our ecosystem, but they don’t have to stop there. Branded podcasts, when done correctly and for the right reasons can provide a similar, if not larger bang for the buck. Fatima Zaidi, CEO and Founder of Quill Inc. shares the math that will help every agency and advertiser evaluate branded podcasts as a viable solution.
- [The Many Flavors of Dynamic Ad Insertion](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-many-flavors-of-dynamic-ad-insertion/): Dynamic Ad Insertion has always been the core of podcast adtech, and in 2021 we saw an increase in adoption of it from hosting platforms, publishers, and advertisers. But DAI for podcasting was built without any form of centralized framework, meaning that each platform’s interpretation can be and often is different. Breaking down those differences is our first step towards building a universal framework.
- [The Most Sellable Podcast Programming Right Now](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-most-sellable-podcast-programming-right-now/): Welcome back to #GoodData͏📊, where we decipher podcast industry data stories into actionable insights. This month, we’re diving into what type of podcasts have the most success selling ads.
- [In Defense of Third-Party Podcast Solutions](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/in-defense-of-third-party-podcast-solutions/): As podcasting has grown, so too have grown the demands of those paying the bills with their precious advertising dollars. In recent years, a crop of tools sprung up to address those demands, and now two of the leading companies in that space have been scooped up by Spotify. A solid business move on their part, but one that demands action from the podcast industry at large.
- [Podcasting Needs Third-Party Verification](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-needs-third-party-verification/): I’m as excited as anyone that podcast advertising is finally a billion-dollar business in the US. But I’m also a realist, and I know that as we grow, it’s important we embrace the standards that ad buyers have come to expect with other forms of advertising. Making an industry-wide commitment to third-party verification is a good start. Here’s why.
- [The End Of Gatekeeping In Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-end-of-gatekeeping-in-podcasting/): Sounds Profitable is pleased to continue its tradition of celebrating women in podcasting as part of Women’s History Month. Building on Twila Dang’s writing from last year, We Need More Women Working in Ad Tech, the 2022 edition offers unfettered access to what the women building this industry think about our collective responsibility to elevate underrepresented voices.
- [Women Podcast Listeners: What We Know](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/women-podcast-listeners-what-we-know/): Welcome back to #GoodData͏📊, where we decipher podcast industry data stories into actionable insights. This month is part deux of our women in podcasting double feature. If you missed part one, you should fix that. Though feel free to read it after this piece.
- [The Many Flavors of Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-many-flavors-of-sounds-profitable/): I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you and others like you love what we’ve made here at Sounds Profitable. In fact, we’ve made so much that we’ve spun up a host of new podcasts and other media properties. So many that it makes sense for me to give you a rundown of what you might have missed!
- [Making Competitive Separation A Priority](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/making-competitive-separation-a-priority/): Everyone loves choices, but no one wants to hear three different ads from three different competing services in a podcast episode. That’s a bad listener experience and just bad business. Luckily, it’s something we can improve so that more businesses feel comfortable shifting more of their ad dollars to podcasting.
- [What Podcast Ad Buyers Want (What We Really Really Want)](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-podcast-ad-buyers-want-what-we-really-really-want/): Podcast advertising isn’t unique. The challenges and opportunities we face mimic what was faced in display, audio, and video over the last two decades. Where we differ is our unique opportunity to learn from that history and build a better path forward. Strong opinions backed up by action can create change. And those effecting change in any other industry would be reluctant to share their thoughts with anyone but their clients. But not in podcasting. Today, I’m incredibly excited to share with you this guest piece from Krystina Rubino of Right Side Up, who has spent the last six of her 15-years in digital advertising focusing on offline and podcasting. Which is more than long enough to see the patterns start to repeat. - Bryan
- [Transcripts As A Requirement For Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/transcripts-as-a-requirement-for-podcast-advertising/): Most countries have accessibility requirements codified into law, so it’s surprising that after two decades transcripts are still barely used in podcasting. It’s a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma. But the podcast advertising industry could use its power for good and push more publishers and hosting platforms to ramp up development efforts and standards adoption. And we’ll reap the benefits!
- [Podcasts vs Other Media: What’s The Appeal?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasts-vs-other-media-whats-the-appeal/): Welcome back to #GoodData͏, where we read up on the latest podcast data so you don’t have to. This month, we’re going back to basics. Why are podcasts the “it” girl right now, for listeners and advertisers? Let’s find out what the latest numbers have to say.
- [Making Space For New Podcast AdTech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/making-space-for-new-podcast-adtech/): There’s little doubt that third-party services are good for podcasting. But the track record for said third-party services and how our industry has adopted them isn’t all that rosy. We can— and must — do better, by embracing better education, having some skin in the game when it comes to certification, and understanding the issues surrounding ownership.
- [Why the Podcast Business Won’t Turn Into The Film/TV Business](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/why-the-podcast-business-wont-turn-into-the-film-tv-business/): As podcasting grows, more and more “Hollywood-like” deals are being minted, which look quite similar to legal arrangements for films or television shows. And that’s not a great thing. Podcasting has its own unique qualities. Qualities that justify a unique type of deals that work just for podcasting.
- [I Hear Things About The Future Of Audio](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/i-hear-things-about-the-future-of-audio/): Making podcasting better. That’s a pretty common refrain here in the virtual halls of Sounds Profitable. And today, we’re excited to announce our next commitment to that goal via an exciting addition to our team and offerings.
- [Beyond Podcasting’s Prefix Analytics](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/beyond-podcastings-prefix-analytics/): One of the biggest shake-ups in podcasting this year was the loss of our primary neutral third-party prefix trackers. The companies are still here and provide great data, but ownership matters. Replacement services are spinning up, but there’s another solution that’s potentially better: first-party data. And here’s how we get there.
- [Do You Know Where Your Data Has Been?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/do-you-know-where-your-data-has-been/): Senior VP at Edison Research, Tom Webster (who joins Sounds Profitable next month) makes an impassioned plea to everyone releasing research in and around the podcasting space: do better with transparency about the methodologies used.
- [Announcing Podcasting’s Business Leaders Summit](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/announcing-podcastings-business-leaders-summit/): Podcasting already has its share of great podcast events. But here at Sounds Profitable, we think there’s room for more. So this summer, we’re putting our money where our mouths are and are happy to make this exciting announcement for an event that we know you’re going to love to attend.
- [A Tale Of Three Rankers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-tale-of-three-rankers/): There are multiple ways to estimate the audience of a podcast. But which is the right way? Is there a right way? Tom Webster looks at three recent podcast rankers and what we can learn from comparing them.
- [Enabling Buyers Through Adtech](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/enabling-buyers-through-adtech/): As monetization opportunities begin to expand all across the podcast industry for publishers, we need to start focusing on creating tools that allow ad buyers a more seamless buying experience while providing them the ability to execute from their own central tools.
- [The Latest Data On Podcast Discoverability](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-latest-data-on-podcast-discoverability/): Podcast discoverability is one of those problems that seems to plague podcasting but actually only plagues individual podcasters. A subtle difference, but an important one. In this episode of #GoodData, we’ll dig into the data of what tactics are showing results.
- [Start to Finish — Cross Promotional Launch Plan](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/start-to-finish-cross-promotional-launch-plan/): How Kast Media used two top-10 launches to provide a guidebook to podcast marketing via cross-promotions—from the beginning of the planning phase to launch week.
- [Who Doesn’t Like Pizza?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/who-doesnt-like-pizza/): What a Baja Chicken Salad can teach us about the dangers of super-serving your current podcast audience.
- [Summer of Programmatic](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/summer-of-programmatic/): Programmatic advertising is here to stay, regardless of the resistance of some publishers and buyers. Over the course of a few articles in the coming months, I’ll try to convince even the staunchest skeptics why programmatic is a huge boon for all of podcasting.
- [Pods Heard Round The World](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/pods-heard-round-the-world/): Today’s #GoodData͏ looks at how non-US markets are driving spoken word audio consumption and why, for publishers playing the long game, having a plan to draw in global audiences will be necessary for sustaining growth. Pack your SPF because, just like summer, podcast listening is heating up everywhere.
- [Black Podcasts: An Untapped Ownership Opportunity](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/black-podcasts-an-untapped-ownership-opportunity/): The podcast industry is ready for more Black creators, startup founders, and executives. This will take a village, it requires allyship, intentionality, and strategic partnership.
- [Are Programmatic Ads Bad For Podcasting?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/are-programmatic-ads-bad-for-podcasting/): Are programmatic ads bad for podcasting? Or are they a lifeline for creators? We ask the number one solo artist in U.S. history.
- [Programmatic Advertising for Podcasters: How to Get Started](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/programmatic-advertising-for-podcasters-how-to-get-started/): The Summer of Programmatic continues! You may have already decided that programmatic advertising is important, but is it difficult to get started? The answer is…no! And this week, we lay out a simple plan to get you up and running.
- [The Podcasting Problem Hiding in Plain Sight](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcasting-problem-hiding-in-plain-sight/): Survey after survey tell us that people continue to discover podcasting every year. But is podcasting growth really a case of three steps forward, two steps back?
- [Podcast Ad Delivery: Make Better Sandwiches](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-ad-delivery-make-better-sandwiches/): Earlier this month, Tom Webster talked about programmatic and dynamically inserted advertising as a potential lifeline for the long tail of podcasting. Still, even with the best intentions, bad ad delivery can happen. But why does it happen?
- [The Reality of Podcast Economics: I Built an Independent Women’s Podcast Network](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-reality-of-podcast-economics-i-built-an-independent-womens-podcast-network/): In three years, Allyson Marino built and sold her own podcast company, Lipstick & Vinyl, a network built around strong female voices. Here is Allyson’s story.
- [Host Reads Or Announcer Reads In Podcast Advertising: Do We Have To Choose?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/host-reads-or-announcer-reads-in-podcast-advertising-do-we-have-to-choose/): There is a lot of received wisdom that says a host-read ad beats an announcer-read ad in podcasting. But is this always true? And could it even be a false choice?
- [Programmatic Advertising for Buyers](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/programmatic-advertising-for-buyers/): September 22nd is officially the last day of Summer, making our third and final article in our Programmatic Summer series absolutely not late to the party.
- [One Key To Growing Podcasting We Take For Granted](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/one-key-to-growing-podcasting-we-take-for-granted/): We talk a lot about the unique content advantages in podcasting, but one key to growing the medium with an older audience might be even simpler.
- [Sounds Profitable - Two years later](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/sounds-profitable-two-years-later/): Sounds Profitable is two years old this month! Founder Bryan Barletta talks about just how far we’ve come in 24 short months, and where we are headed next as we continue to serve our mission to push podcasting forward and set the course for the future of the audio business.
- [Is It Time To Rethink Promo Codes?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/is-it-time-to-rethink-promo-codes/): With the release of We’ll Be Right Back, part two of After These Messages, Tom Webster has a few questions about promo codes. Is it time to change how we use them?
- [Does Podcasting have an Ad Frequency Problem?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/does-podcasting-have-an-ad-frequency-problem/): As interest in podcasting continues to surge, so does the expectation that podcasting adheres to norms established in other advertising channels. Today, frequency capping takes center stage.
- [What Does the Competitive Landscape for Podcasting Really Look Like?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-does-the-competitive-landscape-for-podcasting-really-look-like/): There are around four million podcasts in the world today - but how many are you actually competing with? The answer is much smaller than you might think.
- [Where Your Podcast Plays Matters More Than You Think](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/where-your-podcast-plays-matters-more-than-you-think/): What does it mean that several podcasts paid to have their podcasts downloaded in a mobile app? Let’s break down the issue at hand, where things went wrong, and what we as an industry can do to solve it.
- [Radio’s Seven Warnings for the Podcast Industry (Part One)](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/radios-seven-warnings-for-the-podcast-industry-part-one/): Podcasting has had its share of bad press over the last two months, but Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster has seen this movie before - in the Radio industry. This week, Tom kicks off a two-part series on the lessons podcasting can take from Radio’s struggles.
- [Radio's Seven Warnings for the Podcast Industry (Part Two)](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/radios-seven-warnings-for-the-podcast-industry-part-two/): Podcasting has had its share of bad press over the last two months, but Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster has seen this movie before - in the Radio industry. This week, Tom continues his thoughts from last week about what Podcasting can learn from Radio’s worst mistakes.
- [Podcasting, Audiobooks, and the Third Thing](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcasting-audiobooks-and-the-third-thing/): Portions of this were originally published in Tom’s prior newsletter. It has been updated with new stats and recent activity to reflect the current state of audio.
- [The Current State of Subscription Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-current-state-of-subscription-podcasting/): Podcast subscriptions are just moments away from being a normal part of our ecosystem. What’s holding that future back today?
- [Creating Podcast Subscription Awareness](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/creating-podcast-subscription-awareness/): The most important part about crafting a valuable podcast subscription offering is the connection between creator and listener. What can podcasters do to improve that relationship and find what works best for both parties?
- [A DeepDive Retrospective](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-deepdive-retrospective/): Just what is a Sounds Profitable DeepDive, and what have they covered this year? What drove Bryan Barletta to create them in the first place? Read on to find out.
- [Brand Safety, Suitability, and Podcasting’s Superpower](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/brand-safety-suitability-and-podcastings-superpower/): Brand Safety and Suitability are among the hottest topics in podcasting. But how do the listeners feel? That’s Tom’s topic in this week’s Sounds Profitable.
- [Three Reasons Podcast Creatives Should Embrace, Not Fear, AI](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/three-reasons-podcast-creatives-should-embrace-not-fear-ai/): ChatGPT and other new forms of chatbot are already able to credibly write like humans, and it’s getting harder to tell who - or what - writes any given blog post. This week, Tom explains why this is a good thing for podcast creatives, and not the apocalypse.
- [Acquisitions and Funding - 2022 Podcast Industry Recap](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/acquisitions-and-funding-2022-podcast-industry-recap/): Let’s kick things off this year with a review of the notable acquisitions and fundraising that happened in 2022.
- [The New Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-new-sounds-profitable/): We’re off to the races in 2023, and we’re taking you with us.
- [My Three Favorite Data Points of 2022](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/my-three-favorite-data-points-of-2022/): Join Tom Webster as he reflects on notable data points collected in 2022 and what they mean for the coming year.
- [It’s Right There In Front Of You](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/its-right-there-in-front-of-you/): This week Tom Webster demonstrates how even seemingly small pieces of data can have big implications if given the right context and a story.
- [Can Spotify Make Streaming Ad Insertion Stick?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/can-spotify-make-streaming-ad-insertion-stick/): Despite recent doom-and-gloom coverage, all signs point to one big conclusion: Spotify isn't leaving podcasting. Now let's talk about streaming ad insertion.
- [Podcasting’s Curse Of Knowledge](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcastings-curse-of-knowledge/): This week, on a very special Law and Order-flavored article, Tom Webster recounts his experience serving on a jury and what the defense’s tactics taught him about podcasting. Don’t look at the chicken.
- [How Google Can Earn Our Trust](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-google-can-earn-our-trust/): There has been a cooling of Google and YouTube's enthusiasm for podcasting as of late. Bryan Barletta details what they can do to to heat things back up.
- [What We Talk About When We Talk About Podcasts](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-podcasts/): Every podcaster thinks they know what their audience likes. This week Tom Webster shares strategies to actually get that audience talking and directly telling you what they like.
- [Data Decoded](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/data-decoded/): In preparation for Podcast Movement Evolutions and South by Southwest, Bryan Barletta sits down with Tom Webster to discuss research, presentations, and his new weekly video series Data Decoded.
- [Does the Medium Move the Message?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/does-the-medium-move-the-message/): Does the medium move the message? Spoiler alert - yes. This week Tom Webster previews the next research project from Sounds Profitable.
- [The Measurement Excuse](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-measurement-excuse/): This week Bryan addresses the myth that podcasting has a unique measurement problem, and how the industry as a whole can move forward to address it.
- [The Audio Customer Journey: Don’t Stop Believin’](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-audio-customer-journey-dont-stop-believin/): From an undisclosed location in Prague, Tom Webster reflects on highlights from recent Sounds Profitable research and why it means radio should embrace podcasting.
- [RIP Baked-In Ads](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/rip-baked-in-ads/): Podcast advertising is in a weird phase. We’re caught between our ideals and our reality; the technical capabilities of the space and the business decisions of the company. That confusion is starting to cost us trust.
- [How to Murder a Podcast](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/how-to-murder-a-podcast/): This week, Tom Webster spots a misapplication of podcast research that he felt strongly enough about to hopefully nip in the bud, wherever the bud may be found
- [Raising the Stakes in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/raising-the-stakes-in-podcasting/): Podcasting has come a long way, but if the industry is going to keep growing at this pace, it has to keep swinging for the fences.
- [Bringing More to the Table](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/bringing-more-to-the-table/): Continuing Sounds Profitable’s mission to provide more for the business of audio, Bryan Barletta announces the Partner Perks Series.
- [A Key to Global Podcast Growth](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/key-to-global-podcast-growth/): A recent research report from Japan highlights how podcasting can grow when it germinates from a very different seed. Tom Webster breaks down the data and how it applies to podcasting everywhere
- [Podcasting's Golden Ratio](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcastings-golden-ratio/): The Edison Research Share of Ear shows podcasting’s share of daily audio listening for Americans 13+ has quadrupled over the last nine years. This week, Tom highlights a related statistic that shows a promising ratio for podcasting’s core.
- [Growing Up in Podcasting, Literally](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/growing-up-in-podcasting-literally/): This week guest author Newton Schottelkotte shares their perspective on how podcasting has changed over seven years, and how it can continue to grow as a viable career.
- [A VAST Feature Request](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/a-vast-feature-request/): Like a kid taking a bite of his dessert before his meal is finished, I think it’s time we enter the next phase of podcast adtech even before we finish the last
- [The Complicated Role of AI in Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-complicated-role-of-ai-in-podcasting/): There has been much concern over how podcasting will implement AI. Tom breaks down the current landscape, as well as future symbiotic relationships.
- [Podcasting’s Biggest Opportunity](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcastings-biggest-opportunity/): Podcasting is becoming more competitive and less collegial every year. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or just inevitable? Tom Webster suggests there is still an important job we all need to collaborate on first.
- [Unifying Programmatic Buying](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/unifying-programmatic-buying/): Programmatic ad placement has been stuck on the waterfall for long enough. It’s time to lay the foundation for Header Bidding in podcasting.
- [Celebrity Podcasts: Successes or Sussexes?](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/celebrity-podcasts-successes-or-sussexes/): This week, Tom looks at some recent data on popular podcast genres from Pew in light of Spotify parting ways with Meghan and Harry and their podcast Archetypes. What can we learn from the past about the future of celebrity podcasting?
- [Neither Fish Nor Fowl](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/neither-fish-nor-fowl/): With the upcoming release of Sounds Profitable’s study The Podcast Opportunity, Tom reflects on the idea of podcasting being considered ‘neither fish nor fowl’ in the advertising world.
- [Will Podcast Ad Revenues Double By 2025? Not Without These Five Things](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/will-podcast-ad-revenues-double-by-2025-not-without-these-five-things/): Tom Webster looks at our most recent study, The Podcast Opportunity, and provides five key findings that point the way towards making podcasts a more vital part of ad spending
- [Introducing the Podcast Industry Glossary](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/introducing-the-podcast-industry-glossary/): A collaborative effort to reduce confusion, and promote transparency, efficiency, and growth within the podcasting industry.
- [Only Be Kind](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/just-be-kind/): Tom Webster reflects on the life of someone important to both him and audio in general, as well as a valuable lesson we can learn from how he thought about life.
- [Introducing The Download](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/introducing-the-download/): Bryan announces the newest evolution of The Download: a daily newsletter covering the essential news for the business of podcasting
- [The Song of the Summer, and the Joe Rogan Problem](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/songofthesummer/): While podcasting has had several 'song of the summer' moments since Serial's smash success in 2014, in recent years those mainstream attention-getting moments are dominated by one polarizing figure.
- [Making a Podcast People Hate](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/making-a-podcast-people-hate/): Tom Webster shows off data from the upcoming study The Podcast Landscape in America and discusses the power of focusing a podcast to a specific audience over generic broad-reaching topics.
- [The Podcast You Want To Make](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-podcast-you-want-to-make/): After talking to so many Podcast Movement attendees last week about how to grow their audience, Tom Webster asks a hard question - should you make the podcast you want to make?
- [Actually, We Love Ads](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/actually-we-love-ads/): Tom Webster presents data from The Podcast Landscape that reinforces the value of (good) branded podcasts and what they could accomplish.
- [Ad-technical Difficulties](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/ad-technical-difficulties/): This year we’re celebrating Sounds Profitable’s third anniversary with a nice slice of humble pie as we reflect on the current state of podcast adtech
- [I’m Not Exactly Sure What You Do](https://soundsprofitable.com/article/im-not-exactly-sure-what-you-do/): Tom reflects on the many people who would gladly listen to podcasts, if we could tell them exactly what podcasts actually are. A podcasting Got Milk moment.

## The Download

- [Spotify Announces Memberships, The 2026 Signal Award Winners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-announces-memberships-the-2026-signal-award-winners-more/): Introducing Memberships on Spotify Spotify has unveiled Memberships, a way for creators to offer exclusive content and community perks to their most dedicated fans for a fee. Fans subscribe, check out and access that content on Spotify. Creators keep 90% of earnings and choose how to package and price a membership, with multiple billing options
- [Golden Globes Podcasts Revealed, Spotify Expands Audiobook Availability, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/golden-globes-podcasts-revealed-spotify-expands-audiobook-availability-more/): Free webinar: Is your brand in the chatbot's answer? Right Side Up and Sounds Profitable are hosting a free webinar on October 28 at 1 p.m. ET: The Chatbot Sent Them: What AI Use & Discovery Mean for Your Podcast Ad Dollars. Right Side Up Director Grant Durando will join Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster
- [Podcast Audiences on Political Content, How Gen Z Engages w. Clips, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-audiences-on-political-content-how-gen-z-engages-w-clips-more/): Politics and Podcasting: A Special Report from The Podcast Landscape by Tom Webster With the midterms just weeks away, Tom Webster breaks out the political findings from The Podcast Landscape 2026, which surveyed 5,473 U.S. adults weighted to the U.S. Census. This is the second year the study asked about politics, so for the first
- [Report on Politics and Podcasting, Fans Trust Creators, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/report-on-politics-and-podcasting-fans-trust-creators-more/): Politics and Podcasting: A Special Report from The Podcast Landscape by Tom Webster Tom Webster breaks out the political findings from The Podcast Landscape 2026. The survey covers 5,473 U.S. adults weighted to Census figures. This is the second year it asked about politics. 48% of adults say politicians are appropriate podcast guests. 39% say
- [Looking Beyond the Pre-Roll Ad, Gen Z on Podcast Clips, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-beyond-the-pre-roll-ad-gen-z-on-podcast-clips-more/): The Podcast Study 2026 Reveals New Revenue Opportunities Beyond the Traditional Podcast Ad Strategic Solutions Research and Point-To-Point Marketing present new findings from The Podcast Study 2026 on revenue beyond ads. As a reminder, The Podcast Study is built from a national survey covering 1,205 U.S. podcast consumers, supported by Crooked Media, NPR and PRX.
- [What Moves Podcast Performance, Keeping Brand Deals Personal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-moves-podcast-performance-keeping-brand-deals-personal-more/): Podscribe Finds What Moves Podcast Performance Podscribe releases its Q3 Performance Benchmark Report on the targeting signals that move podcast ad results. The company analyzed millions of impressions across hundreds of advertisers. Geography is the strongest signal. A recent visit to the advertiser's website ranks next, followed by Podscribe's Buyer Power Score, which estimates ability
- [Apple Talks HLS, Audible Debuts NielsenIQ Spoken Word Data, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-talks-hls-audible-debuts-nielseniq-spoken-word-data-more/): Ted Hosmann from Apple Podcasts talked HLS Apple Podcasts product manager Ted Hosmann walks through how the platform uses HLS to deliver video podcasts at the IETF's HLS Interest Day. He says top shows have seen their audience grow by more than 20% on average since adding video. Net new followers are up more than
- [Resetting Podcasting's Thermostat, Ad Spend Increase, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/resetting-podcastings-thermostat-ad-spend-increase-more/): Reset Your Thermostat by Tom Webster Tom Webster writes from Content Marketing World in Denver, which is taking place alongside LIONS and The Market Research Event with a shared expo hall. He notes that nearly every booth in the shared hall was selling an AI-augmented product. LLMs are built to produce the most probable, and
- [The New Rules of Podcast Advertising, Automating the Average, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-new-rules-of-podcast-advertising-automating-the-average-more/): Reset Your Thermostat by Tom Webster Tom Webster writes from Content Marketing World in Denver, where the event shared an expo hall and keynote stage with LIONS and The Market Research Event. Putting marketers, creatives and researchers under one roof should have produced three conversations, but nearly every booth was selling an AI-augmented product, so
- [Canadian Listeners on AI Audio, Apple's Ad Tech Blocklist, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/canadian-listeners-on-ai-audio-apples-ad-tech-blocklist-more/): Signal Hill Insights Audio on the Move: AM/FM Radio Maintains Largest Share of Canadian In-Car Listening, Supermajority of Canadians Dislike AI-Generated Audio The second report from Signal Hill Insights' Audio on the Move study draws on a nationally representative survey of 6,161 Canadians aged 12 and older. AM/FM radio accounts for 46% of in-car listening
- [Lessons on Podcast Impressions, Barometer Brand Suitability on Amazon Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/lessons-on-podcast-impressions-barometer-brand-suitability-on-amazon-ads-more/): The Super Spenders: Who Really Buys From Podcast Ads Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster and ADOPTER Media founder and CEO Glenn Rubenstein will co-host a webinar next Tuesday, October 13, at 2:00 p.m. ET. The two will present new analysis of The Podcast Atlas focused on podcasting's heaviest buyers, the Super Spenders. The session looks
- [Anticipating AWNY 2026, Creator Marketing @ IRL Events, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/anticipating-awny-2026-creator-marketing-irl-events-more/): Digiday's guide to what's in and out for Advertising Week NY 2026 by Seb Joseph Digiday's Seb Joseph is back with another annual preview of Advertising Week New York. In addition to his roundup, I’ll quickly note Pod-Tales & Cocktails is returning tomorrow night in NYC alongside AWNY. A few tickets are still available. Also,
- [Industry Leaders on Scale, Podcast Landscape 2026 Debuts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-landscape-2026-debuts-more/): The Podcast Landscape 2026: The Core Numbers by Tom Webster In this week’s Sounds Profitable newsletter, Tom Webster takes a brief look at the first installment of The Podcast Landscape 2026. According to the report’s census-weighted survey of 5,473 U.S. adults conducted in August, 74% of American adults have consumed a podcast, 55% in the
- [The Podcast Landscape 2026 Pt. 1, Podcasting's Place in the Mix, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-podcast-landscape-2026-pt-1-podcastings-place-in-the-mix-more/): The Podcast Landscape 2026: The Core Numbers by Tom Webster In this week’s Sounds Profitable newsletter, Tom Webster takes a brief look at the first installment of The Podcast Landscape 2026. According to the report’s census-weighted survey of 5,473 U.S. adults conducted in August, 74% of American adults have consumed a podcast, 55% in the
- [International Podcast Day Announcements, Podcast Leaders on Scale, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/international-podcast-day-announcements-podcast-leaders-on-scale-more/): Three Podcast Leaders on How They Got to Scale, and Why It's Still Early by Fatima Zaidi In a guest piece for Sounds Profitable, Quill & CoHost Founder Fatima Zaidi interviews Acast CEO Greg Glenday, Oxford Road CEO Dan Granger, and Triton Digital CRO Sharon Taylor at Podcast Movement NYC about how their companies reached
- [BetterHelp Goes Global with Media Bodies, IAB Tech Lab Seeks Programmatic Feedback, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/betterhelp-goes-global-with-media-bodies-iab-tech-lab-seeks-programmatic-feedback-more/): BetterHelp Taps Media Bodies to Lead International Podcast Advertising Expansion Creator-led media agency Media Bodies has been appointed to lead BetterHelp's international podcast advertising strategy across 10 markets. The scope covers strategic planning, market analysis, creator and show selection, partnership management, campaign execution, optimization, and performance analysis. The approach is built around localized strategies rather
- [Monitoring Programmatic Podcast Ad Load, Patreon Pulls Per-Creation, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/monitoring-programmatic-podcast-ad-load-patreon-pulls-per-creation-more/): Meanwhile, Elsewhere in Audio: What Asia should take from the global podcast playbook by Guang Jin Yeo 1UpMedia founder Guang Jin Yeo discusses best practices for growing podcasting globally from the perspective of Asia’s content. For example, video’s growth is undeniable, but it doesn’t necessarily mean every show must be filmed. For instance, Darknet Diaries
- [Netflix's Place in Podcasting, Upcoming YouTube Features, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflixs-place-in-podcasting-upcoming-youtube-features-more/): Why Is It So Hard to Give You Money? by Annalise Nielsen In a guest piece for Sounds Profitable, Lower Street Head of Podcast Strategy & Development Annalise Nielsen recounts five roadblocks she hit while trying to spend a $72,000 budget promoting a global consultancy's podcast to Fortune 500 executives. She describes shows with no
- [Lessons from Podcast Movement NYC, Buyers Choose Engaged Views, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/lessons-from-podcast-movement-nyc-buyers-choose-engaged-views-more/): Tu-Dum by Tom Webster Expanding on his Podcast Movement NYC keynote, Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster highlights a key finding from The Podcast Landscape 2026. Respondents were asked about every place they've consumed a podcast in the past year. YouTube came first, followed by Spotify in a distant second. This year, Netflix jumped ahead of
- [Podcast Locations in Apple Maps, Mid-Sized Podcast Appeal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-locations-in-apple-maps-mid-sized-podcast-appeal-more/): Apple Podcasts Rolls Out a Couple of New Updates Apple Podcasts and Apple Maps are teaming up with a new feature called Hidden Histories that plots podcast episodes onto real-world locations in specific U.S. cities in Apple Maps. The feature employs the podcast:location RSS tag, letting both curated and independently tagged shows surface right where
- [Rethinking Audio vs. Video Podcasting, Creators Selling TV-Style, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/rethinking-audio-vs-video-podcasting-creators-selling-tv-style-more/): Most Podcast Listeners Aren't Choosing Between Audio & Video. Why Is the Industry? by Sharon Taylor Triton Digital Chief Revenue Officer Sharon Taylor argues the data does not support the recurring news cycle about podcasting leaving audio behind. According to the 2025 U.S. Podcast Report, only 7% of monthly U.S. podcast consumers watch podcasts exclusively.
- [Ad Buyers Align on Engaged Views, Bumper x Oxford Road, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-buyers-align-on-engaged-views-bumper-x-oxford-road-more/): Ad buyers draw a line on YouTube's "Engaged Views" At last week's Sounds Profitable Business Summit, ADOPTER Media, Right Side Up and Oxford Road announced they will only count YouTube's "Engaged Views" when buying advertising on the platform, with YMH Studios making a similar commitment. As Podnews reported, the move answers YouTube's August decision to
- [Podcast Week in NYC, iOS 27 Podcast Updates, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-week-in-nyc-ios-27-podcast-updates-more/): The Sounds Profitable Business Summit Kicked Off Podcast Week Podcast Week in New York opened with the Sounds Profitable Business Summit, and This American Life's Ira Glass set the tone in the first session. His argument was that podcasts go far deeper than most influencer content, and that the closeness listeners feel to a host
- [Spotify Expands Partner Program, IAB Announces Podcast Video Measurement Guidelines, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-expands-partner-program-iab-announces-podcast-video-measurement-guidelines-more/): IAB: A New Framework Is "Not Needed" for Measurement At the IAB Podcast Upfront during Podcast Week, the IAB's Jason Adamski introduced a new downloadable guide covering the measurement of video podcasting. Rather than back a single medium-agnostic standard like the recently released AMP Accords, the IAB argues the solution is not to build a
- [New Apple Podcasts Features, Amazon Music Expands Video Podcast Presence, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-apple-podcasts-features-amazon-music-expands-video-podcast-presence-more/): New Apple Podcasts features in iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27 Apple rolled out its fall operating systems this week, and Apple Podcasts came with a wide batch of new features. Video is the throughline. Apple TV gets a completely redesigned app with sidebar navigation, video podcast playback, and channel browsing that surfaces ad-free
- [Ira Glass on Podcast Advertising, PRX Names New CEO, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ira-glass-on-podcast-advertising-prx-names-new-ceo-more/): The Sounds Profitable Business Summit Kicks Off Podcast Week Podcast Week in New York opened with the Sounds Profitable Business Summit, and This American Life's Ira Glass set the tone in the opening session, arguing that podcasts go far deeper than most influencer content and that the resulting audience connection makes for more effective advertising.
- [Podcasting 🔜 NYC, Magellan AI's Q2 Podcast Measurement Benchmarks, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-nyc-magellan-ai-q2-podcast-measurement-benchmarks-more/): Podcasts Take Over New York Podcasting has arrived in New York City. Podnews has laid out the highlights of the week, with three events stacked back to back: the networking-first Sounds Profitable Business Summit today and tomorrow, the 2026 IAB Podcast Upfront on Wednesday (including the official afterparty at Terminal 5), and Podcast Movement closing
- [Audiences Chose TVs Over Smart Speakers, IAB 2026 Ad Outlook, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiences-chose-tvs-over-smart-speakers-iab-2026-ad-outlook-more/): Smart TV Killed the Smart Speaker Star The smart speaker was supposed to be the device that carried audio into every home, but new Sounds Profitable data shows the connected TV has quietly taken its place. Smart TV usage as the single most-used device for podcast listening climbed from 8 percent in 2024 to 12
- [How Smart TVs Overtook Speakers, IAB Bullish on 2026 Ad Revenue, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-smart-tvs-overtook-speakers-iab-bullish-on-2026-ad-revenue-more/): Smart TV Killed the Smart Speaker Star by Tom Webster In preparation for debuting The Podcast Landscape 2026 at Podcast Movement next week, Tom Webster shares a smidgen of data on what devices audiences prefer to consume podcasts with. Smart speakers are the closest thing podcasting has gotten to a "default" device in recent years,
- [Speakeasy Now Uses Barometer, True Native Media on Podcast Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/speakeasy-now-uses-barometer-true-native-media-on-podcast-growth-more/): Red Seat Ventures Integrates Barometer into Speakeasy to Maximize Podcast Revenue Across Audio Portfolio Red Seat Ventures has integrated Barometer's AI-powered brand suitability and contextual targeting engine into its Speakeasy platform, bringing episode-level ad targeting to a portfolio of more than 40 creators. The integration leans on natural language processing to cut down on over-blocking
- [Podcasting's Biggest Spender, NPR Launches Senior Podcast Challenge, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-biggest-spender-npr-launches-senior-podcast-challenge-more/): The Most Powerful Person in Podcasting Has Spent Millions in the Space by Ashley Carman According to Magellan AI data, podcasting's biggest advertiser is BetterHelp with a lifetime estimated spend of $242 million in the industry since 2023. Bloomberg's Ashley Carman profiles Brittany Clevenger, the online therapy company's senior director of growth marketing. In 2025,
- [Podcast Movement 2026 Keynotes, Australia’s Advertising Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-2026-keynotes-australias-advertising-growth-more/): The Stars of Podcast Movement by Tom Webster Podcast Movement returns to New York September 17-18 at Terminal 5, and Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster runs through the keynote lineup worth planning around. Webster opens Thursday with The Podcast Landscape 2026, the fourth annual edition of the study, this year drawing on more than 5,400 consumers.
- [Podcast Movement 🔜 Times Square, Google AdTech Ruling, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-times-square-google-adtech-ruling-more/): The Stars of Podcast Movement by Tom Webster Podcast Movement 2026 heads to New York City on September 17 and 18 at Terminal 5, and anyone who registers by September 4 will have their podcast logo or company artwork featured in lights on a Times Square display. Webster also walks readers through the keynote lineup,
- [IAB Australia on Data Standards, YouTube's TIFF Creator Festival, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-australia-on-data-standards-youtubes-tiff-creator-festival-more/): IAB Australia review finds industry needs shared data standards as advertising measurement grows more complex IAB Australia's Future of Measurement review finds a constraint holding back advertising is data itself, not a shortage of measurement methods. Buyers report reasonable confidence grading individual channels but also uncertainty about how their advertising collectively drives business outcomes. IAB
- [Bumper on New YouTube View, Reframing Podcast Advertising, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bumper-on-new-youtube-view-reframing-podcast-advertising-more/): “YouTube just did us a huge favor” YouTube's recent change to how it counts views has thrown fresh confusion into podcast measurement, and Oxford Road CEO and Founder Dan Granger argues that might be exactly what the industry needed. By stirring the pot, YouTube is inadvertently proving why podcasting needs cross-platform measurement it can actually
- [Building Podcasting's Next Legacy Brands, Audio Advertising Posts Fresh Gains & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/building-podcastings-next-legacy-brands-audio-advertising-posts-fresh-gains-more/): Podcast Trailer Study Gets a Second Act With New Three-Part Series Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast, hosted by Arielle Nissenblatt, is launching a three-part miniseries built on Coleman Insights research into what actually makes a podcast trailer work. The research was developed alongside NOVA Entertainment and Pantheon Podcasts. 500 U.S. listeners were given four
- [U.S. Radio Sees Political Surge, Apple Music's AI Label, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/u-s-radio-sees-political-surge-apple-musics-ai-label-more/): Apple Music Mandates AI Labeling by Brad Hill Apple Music will now require “Made With AI” labels on tracks created using artificial intelligence, joining a wider industry move toward AI content transparency. The policy centers on music distribution, but it is a clear signal of how fast platforms are moving to flag AI-generated audio. In
- [Podscribe Launches YouTube-Only Attribution, Creators Going Programmatic, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podscribe-launches-youtube-only-attribution-creators-going-programmatic-more/): YouTube-Only Modeled Attribution Is Here Podscribe has launched YouTube-only modeled attribution, closing a measurement gap for influencer campaigns that run exclusively on YouTube, where shows lack the RSS and audio components attribution has traditionally relied on. The tool uses probabilistic modeling anchored to an advertiser’s audio performance data to estimate YouTube conversions, validated against promo
- [Why Research Drives Podcast Returns, Video Podcasting Goes Mainstream, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/why-research-drives-podcast-returns-video-podcasting-goes-mainstream-more/): Research Is More than Just Data: 4 Ways Research Drives Return in Podcasting by Paul Riismandel Signal Hill Insights lays out how audience research, not just genre-level analysis, reduces the risk in launching and growing podcasts. The piece walks through four returns: uncovering whitespace, testing concepts before launch, building audience insights that shape content, and
- [Political Radio Spend Jumps Before Midterms, How TikTok Boxing Impacts Categories & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/political-radio-spend-jumps-before-midterms-how-tiktok-boxing-impacts-categories-more/): Radio Political Dollars Surge, With Post-Labor Day Rush Coming Political ad spending on radio has climbed 22% in the past month to $124 million, and the biggest wave may still be coming. AdImpact now pegs total 2026 political advertising at $6.1 billion across all platforms, with radio pacing against a $273 million forecast for the
- [IAB Announces Podcast Upfront Agenda, Apple Music On AI Labeling, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-announces-podcast-upfront-agenda-apple-music-on-ai-labeling-more/): IAB Podcast Upfront Has Announced Its Full Agenda The IAB has revealed the complete agenda for its 2026 Podcast Upfront, giving advertisers an early look at the pitches and programming set to headline the fall. The invitation-only event lands on September 16, wedged between the Sounds Profitable Business Summit and Podcast Movement for a jam-packed
- [Podcasting's Place @ SXSW 2027, Magellan AI's H1 Ireland Benchmarks, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-place-sxsw-2027-magellan-ais-h1-ireland-benchmarks-more/): Podcasting is a Core Pillar of SXSW 2027 For the past five years, our team has been proud to build a home for podcasting at SXSW. In 2027, that commitment will finally reach an exciting new milestone as SXSW has announced it's ready to embrace the medium with the launch of its first-ever Podcast Festival
- [YouTube Defines the "Engaged View", Podcasting's Place @ SXSW 2027, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-defines-the-engaged-view-podcastings-place-sxsw-2027-more/): Podcasting is a Core Pillar of SXSW 2027 For the past five years, our team has been proud to build a home for podcasting at SXSW. In 2027, that commitment will finally reach an exciting new milestone as SXSW has announced it's ready to embrace the medium with the launch of its first-ever Podcast Festival
- [The 2027 Ambies Open for Submissions, IAB Labels AI-Made Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-2027-ambies/): Sounds Profitable Business Summit The inaugural Sounds Profitable Business Summit takes over Terminal 5 in New York City on September 14-15. This exclusive, partner-only event brings together the industry's top brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms for two days of research-backed insights, strategic conversations, and meaningful networking. Already a Sounds Profitable Partner? Claim your ticket today.
- [The YouTube Definition of a View, Podcast Study 2026 Announced, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-youtube-definition/): Spotify Says a Bug, Not a Policy, Made a Podcast Ad Look Unskippable Spotify has corrected the record after a widely shared video appeared to show an unskippable podcast ad on its platform. In a statement to Podnews, which had published the video and which The Download relayed yesterday, the company said "Spotify does not
- [Spotify's "Unskippable" Ads, Video in Podcasting's Top 50, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-unskippable-ads/): Ask a Marketer: How Advertisers Read the Research This week’s webinar puts fresh research in front of the people who buy the media. On Tuesday, August 18 at 1:00 pm ET, Right Side Up's Krystina Rubino and Quo's Tori Murray will join Tom Webster to work through The Podcast Atlas. Built from a survey of
- [First Podcast Movement NYC Speakers, Nielsen to Acquire DoubleVerify, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/first-podcast-movement-nyc/): Ask a Marketer: How Advertisers Read the Research Sounds Profitable's next Ask a Marketer webinar puts fresh research in front of the people who buy the media. On Tuesday, August 18 at 1:00 pm ET, Right Side Up's Krystina Rubino and Quo's Tori Murray will join Tom Webster to work through The Podcast Atlas. Built
- [Podcast Movement unveils its NYC lineup, Alex Cooper's Unwell raises at $500M, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-unveils/): Five Days at Terminal 5 by Tom Webster Sounds Profitable is taking over New York City's Terminal 5 for five straight days this September, and Tom Webster lays out the full plan. It opens with the inaugural, partner-only Sounds Profitable Business Summit on September 14 and 15, where the first speakers announced include Ira Glass,
- [Spotify's AI Disclosure, Acast Acquires Backyard Ventures, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-ai-disclosure/): Sounds Profitable Business Summit The inaugural Sounds Profitable Business Summit takes over Terminal 5 in New York City on September 14-15. This exclusive, partner-only event brings together the industry's top brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms for two days of research-backed insights, strategic conversations, and meaningful networking. Already a Sounds Profitable Partner? Claim your ticket today.
- [Magellan AI Quarterly Podcast Ad Benchmarks, YouTube To Increase Partner Program Requirements, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/magellan-ai-quarterly/): Podcast Movement Podcast Movement comes to New York City on September 17–18, bringing 80 expert-led sessions across five stages at Terminal 5. Join hundreds of creators, executives, and industry professionals for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. Buy your ticket today and experience the world's largest podcast conference. Official Podcasts: The Natural Home of
- [A Marketer's Take on Reading Research, Nielsen Acquires DoubleVerify for $2.15B & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-marketers-take-on/): Sounds Profitable Business Summit The inaugural Sounds Profitable Business Summit takes over Terminal 5 in New York City on September 14-15. This exclusive, partner-only event brings together the industry's top brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms for two days of research-backed insights, strategic conversations, and meaningful networking. Already a Sounds Profitable Partner? Claim your ticket today.
- [Acast Launches Apple Video for All, Spotify Tests Ad Skip Button, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acast-launches-apple/): Podcast Movement Podcast Movement comes to New York City on September 17–18, bringing 80 expert-led sessions across five stages at Terminal 5. Join hundreds of creators, executives, and industry professionals for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. Buy your ticket today and experience the world's largest podcast conference. Spotify Tests One-Tap "Skip Ahead" as
- [Industry Discusses Spotify "Skip Ahead," U.K. Podcasting on BBC Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/industry-discusses-spotify/): Sounds Profitable Business Summit The inaugural Sounds Profitable Business Summit takes over Terminal 5 in New York City on September 14–15. This exclusive, partner-only event brings together the industry's top brands, agencies, publishers, and platforms for two days of research-backed insights, strategic conversations, and meaningful networking. Already a Sounds Profitable Partner? Claim your ticket today.
- [Acast Opens Apple Podcasts Video to All Creators, Media Measurement in the Boardroom, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acast-opens-apple/): Video on Apple Podcasts: Now Open to All Acast has opened video publishing on Apple Podcasts to every creator on its platform, removing the invitation and waitlist requirements that had gated the feature during its beta. Shows that added video over the four-month beta saw an estimated 25% increase in weekly sessions on Apple Podcasts,
- [Spotify's Ad-Skipping Tool, IAB Search Measurement Guidance, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-ad-skipping/): Spotify Is Testing a One-Tap Ad-Skipping Feature for Premium Users Podnews editor James Cridland has broken news that Spotify is testing "Skip Ahead," a feature that lets Premium subscribers skip an entire podcast ad break, sponsorship message, or intro segment with a single tap. The feature has yet to be formally announced. The tool reduces
- [Apple Services Revenue Up 12%, How Creators Use FAST Channels, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-services-revenue/): Apple and SiriusXM Media Post Fiscal Q3 Reports Apple has published its fiscal Q3 2026 financial results. Services revenue, the segment that houses Apple Podcasts, rose 12% year over year to $30.7 billion. The company does not break out podcast-specific numbers, folding them into a Services line that also spans the App Store, iCloud, and
- [Discussing The AMP Accords, The Power of Podcast Newsletters, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/industry-amp-accords/): The Podcast Atlas, Part 5: The Best Real Estate to Own in Podcasting by Tom Webster This week's Sounds Profitable article makes the case that the newsletter is the one piece of real estate a creator actually owns. Unlike a platform feed or a social account, a permission-based email list gives a show a direct,
- [The Best Real Estate in Podcasting, Ofcom Publishes U.K. Listening Data, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-best-real-estate/): The Podcast Atlas, Part 5: The Best Real Estate to Own in Podcasting by Tom Webster Concluding the five-part article series covering The Podcast Atlas, Tom Webster looks at the humble podcast newsletter. The data shows newsletters act as the one piece of real estate a creator actually owns. Unlike a platform feed or a
- [Podcasts Hold 9% of Canada's Ad Audio, Mission-Driven Shows Punch Above Their Weight, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-on-the-move/): Podcasts Account for 9% of All Time With Ad-Supported Audio in Canada. Music on YouTube Is More Than 2.5x Larger Signal Hill Insights released "Audio on the Move," a nationally representative survey of 6,161 Canadians aged 12 and older fielded in May and June 2026. Podcasts account for 9% of ad-supported listening time. AM/FM radio
- [Five Industry Leaders on AI & Measurement, RedCircle Brings Mic Check to Programmatic, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/five-industry-leaders-on-ai/): What's next for podcasting? Five industry leaders weigh in on AI and measurement The Media Leader has brought together five executives from around podcasting to discuss the future. Contributors include Audioboom CEO Stuart Last, Sounds Profitable Partner Bryan Barletta, Octave Director of Digital Operations Rachel Holsgrove, The Times and The Sunday Times Head of Podcasts
- [A New Definition for Podcasting, Patreon Downsizes Workforce 20%, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-new-definition/): The AMP Accords Go Live, Giving Podcasting Shared Definitions at Last The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting formally released its accords last week, and coverage has been rolling out across the industry ever since. The framework answers three foundational questions: what a podcast is (on-demand spoken-word content available via RSS), what a play is (30
- [The Argument For Buying U.K. Podcast Ads, Acast Posts Q2 Surge, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/buying-uk-ads/): The AMP Accords Have Been Published The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) has ratified The AMP Accords, a cross-platform measurement standard for the podcast industry. Back in July, Oxford Road convened a group of industry experts to work on solving the problem of fractured measurement standards across podcast platforms. This formed the AMP, including
- [Audio's U.K. Advertising Bargain, Social is the Denominator, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audios-u-k-advertising/): The AMP Accords Have Been Published The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) has ratified The AMP Accords, a cross-platform measurement standard for the podcast industry. Back in July, Oxford Road convened a group of industry experts to work on solving the problem of fractured measurement standards across podcast platforms. This formed the AMP, including
- [Creators Constrained @ World Cup, Audio's Back-to-School Edge, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-constrained-world/): Scalable: Creator Content Was the Most Boring Part of the World Cup A look at content creator-produced content during the World Cup shows, paradoxically, the creators posted some of the blandest content. Scalable points the finger to FIFA’s historically restrictive policies on what official partners are allowed to post. Meanwhile, athletes and fans drove the
- [IAB Tech Lab Opens Measurement v2.3 for Comment, World Cup Lessons About Creators, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tech-lab-v23/): IAB Tech Lab Releases Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines v2.3 for Public Comment The IAB Tech Lab has opened a 30-day public comment period, running through August 19, on version 2.3 of its Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines. The update clarifies how downloads, audience, and ad delivery are counted across audio and video podcasts served by RSS
- [Audio Anchors Podcasting, WARC's YouTube Numbers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-anchors-podcasting/): Nielsen Finds Audio Still Anchors Podcasting According to Nielsen’s Podcast Listen & Watch report, audio remains the foundation of podcast consumption, with 90% of monthly podcast consumers listening while 62% also watch video. The report finds listeners treat audio as a secondary soundtrack for commuting, work, and exercise, while video viewers treat podcasts as destination
- [The Attention Span Myth, Clips Open Podcasting's Front Door, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-attention-span-myth/): The Podcast Atlas, Part 3: The Front Door by Tom Webster Tom Webster continues his article series on The Podcast Atlas with a look at clips, podcasting's discovery engine. 89% of podcast listeners watch clips on social platforms at least sometimes, and 74% of clip viewers say they give clips full or near-full attention, comparable
- [Podcasting's Front Door is Clips, Amazon DSP x Triton Digital, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-front-door/): The Podcast Atlas, Part 3: The Front Door by Tom Webster Tom Webster continues his article series on The Podcast Atlas with a look at clips, podcasting's discovery engine. 89% of podcast listeners watch clips on social platforms at least sometimes, and 74% of clip viewers say they give clips full or near-full attention, comparable
- [Audioboom's Strong First Half, Maturing Creator Brand Safety, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiobooms-strong-first/): Audioboom Half-Year Report: Record H1 Audioboom has published their financial report for the first half of 2026. H1 26 revenue is reported at $45.7 million, up 30% year-on-year. Its gross profit is $9.9 million, up 33%, and adjusted EBITDA of $3.2 million, up 80%. Podnews notes Q2 average monthly distribution reached 183 million downloads and
- [Apple Podcasts Video Expands to Mac & TV, ANA Inclusive Case Studies, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-video/): Correction: In yesterday’s issue I reported Megaphone’s ad server transition is slated for Friday, July 17. This was an error. The correct date for the switch is this Wednesday, July 15. First Look: iOS 27 Public Beta by Dan Moren Six Colors has published a first look at the beta for iOS 27, tvOS 27,
- [Buzzcast is Back on Spotify, Debunking The Attention-Span Myth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/buzzcast-is-back-on-spotify/): Buzzcast Returns to Spotify Podnews reports Buzzcast, the official podcast of hosting platform Buzzsprout, is back on Spotify. Earlier this year they pulled the show, and in the new episode company co-founder Kevin Finn explains why Buzzsprout made the choice to leave and why it’s back. Reasons include Spotify appearing to be fixing the video
- [Podcast Movement Opens Public Voting, What The Screen Adds, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-opens-2/): Podcast Movement Opens Public Voting for 2026 Sessions Podcast Movement 2026, taking place September 17–18 at Terminal 5 in New York City, has opened public voting on speaker session submissions through July 21. With nearly 800 submissions from more than 500 speakers, the initiative marks the first time the conference has made its agenda-building process
- [What Video Adds to Podcast Ads, Economics of Streaming Sponsorship, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-video-adds/): The Podcast Atlas, Part Two: What The Screen Adds by Tom Webster Webster’s second article cracking open The Podcast Atlas compares how video and audio podcasts perform for advertisers among each format's most engaged users (known as Primes). Video shortens the path to purchase: 15% of video users report buying immediately after seeing an ad
- [Signal Hill's 2026 Podcast Ad Benchmarks, AI-Legible Audio's Competitive Edge, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/shi-2026-benchmarks/): New Benchmarks Compare Brand Lift Between Audio and Video Podcast Ads, and More by Paul Riismandel Signal Hill Insights has published their 2026 Benchmark report, titled How Podcasts Impact Brand Perceptions. According to aggregated brand lift metrics from 38,704 podcast listeners and viewers surveyed in 2024 and 2025, video podcasts now make up 54% of
- [Podcast Movement Opens Public Voting, AdsWizz Extends SoundCloud Deal in Europe & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-opens/): Podcast Movement Opens First-Ever Public Voting and Reveals Inaugural Selection Committee for 2026 Conference Sessions Podcast Movement 2026, taking place September 17–18 in New York City, has opened public voting on speaker session submissions through July 21. With nearly 800 submissions from more than 500 speakers, the initiative marks the first time the conference has
- [Audio's Reach Beyond the Screen, Spotify's Ad Stack Rebuild, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audios-reach-beyond/): Audio Extends Advertisers Beyond The Screen Inside Audio Marketing covers The Podcast Atlas, a new report from Sounds Profitable that maps five interconnected territories that make up podcasting: audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters. The report finds audio podcasting reaches audiences in contexts screen-based media cannot: 78% of listeners engage with content during hands-busy activities,
- [Navigating The Podcast Atlas, Miroma Acquires Ad Results Media, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/navigating-podcast-atlas/): Sounds Profitable Maps the Creator Economy With The Podcast Atlas This Wednesday, Sounds Profitable released The Podcast Atlas, a new study built on a survey of more than 5,000 U.S. consumers that maps today's creator ecosystem into five distinct territories: audio, video, short-form clips, newsletters, and social platforms. This Thursday, writing for Sounds Profitable, Tom
- [A New Atlas for Podcasting, Debunking Listener Assumptions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-new-atlas-for-podcasting/): Audio Podcasts Build The Most Trust In The Creator Economy, But Video And Clips Drive The Action, Study Finds NetInfluencer covers the new Sounds Profitable report The Podcast Atlas, built from a Signal Hill Insights survey of 5,061 U.S. adults. Key findings include audio podcasts leading every creator-economy format on trust: 58% of listeners rate
- [Keeping Cannes Affordable, The Case for Niche, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/keeping-cannes-affordable/): Thank you, podcasting! As the Podcast Movement NYC sessions open call came to an end last night, we count nearly 800 submissions. The first ever New York-based Podcast Movement is on track to be a blast. Don’t forget to grab your tickets now! Remember, this year has no tiers, just one general admission ticket for
- [Miroma Acquires Ad Results Media, YouTube Takes the Measurement Layer, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/miroma-acquires-arm/): Reminder: Sounds Profitable's latest research, The Podcast Atlas, will debut tomorrow, July 1, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern in a live webinar hosted by Tom Webster. Registration is free and open now, grab your virtual seat! Miroma Group Acquires Ad Results Media Miroma Group has acquired Ad Results Media (ARM), the performance audio advertising agency. ARM
- [Listeners Follow Creators Across Formats, Ad Revenue Stays Concentrated, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/listeners-follow-creators/): 73% of Podcast Listeners Would Follow Creators Across Formats, According to New Sounds Profitable Research Last week Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster debuted data from The Podcast Atlas at Vidcon. The new report, built from a survey of over 5,000 U.S. consumers, identifies five distinct territories that make up today’s creator ecosystem. A key finding
- [Surveying The Podcast Atlas, Industry Ad Effectiveness, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/surveying-the-podcast-atlas/): Discovery Gets a New Map This week two pieces of Sounds Profitable research are in the conversation! Data for everyone! The Podcast Discovery Playbook 2026, co-published with JAR Podcast Solutions, found that 61% of podcast listeners discover their favorite shows through YouTube and social media combined, with YouTube alone accounting for 40% of discoveries, more
- [A New Map For Podcasting, Audio Delivers 75% Higher Profits in Cannes Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-new-map-for-podcasting/): A New Map For Podcasting by Tom Webster Tom Webster will debut a new piece of Sounds Profitable research this week at Vidcon. Dubbed The Podcast Atlas, the new report aims “to map the whole podcast universe at once: not just audio, but the video, the clips, the social posts, and the newsletters that now
- [New Veritonic Video Ad Audio Checker, Prediction Market Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/veritonic-video-ad-audio-checker/): Sounds Profitable and Veritonic Launch a Free Tool to Test Ad Creative Before It Goes Live Veritonic and Sounds Profitable have partnered to offer a free preview of Veritonic Instant Insights, a tool that evaluates audio and video ad creative before launch and returns awareness and intent signals across podcast, YouTube, CTV, social, and streaming,
- [Triton Digital on Audio Revenue Strategy, YouGov's Podcast Ad Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/triton-digital-on-audio/): Building a Revenue-Driven Audio Marketplace for Publishers by Mattia Verzella Mattia Verzella, VP of Programmatic Partnerships at Triton Digital, argues that evaluating ad revenue through CPM comparison across channels misleads publishers because each demand type serves a structurally different role. Programmatic demand provides volume and liquidity during unsold periods. Direct sales reflect advertiser commitment to
- [YouTube Tops Discovery, Oxford Road Ranks Shows by ROI, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-tops-discovery/): The Podcast Discovery Playbook 2026 Sounds Profitable and JAR Podcast Solutions have published research showing 61% of podcast listeners discover their favorite shows through YouTube and social media combined, with YouTube alone accounting for 40% of discoveries (more than double any other single source). YouTube has also overtaken Spotify (18%) and Apple Podcasts (11%) as
- [Creators 🔜 Cannes Lions, Substack to Distribute Video, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-🔜-cannes-lions/): Podcast Movement Announces Tickets on Sale and Open Call for Speakers for September 2026 New York Conference General Admission tickets for Podcast Movement 2026 in New York City are now on sale for $199 and include access to all programming tracks, networking events, and live podcast recordings. There are no ticket tiers or premium upgrades.
- [Video Podcasting on TV Streamers, YouTube Webinar for Podcasters, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-podcasting-on-tv/): Netflix, Tubi Begin To Make Inroads As Podcast Platforms Inside Audio Marketing takes a look at new Edison Research Podcast Metrics data, which has added Netflix and Tubi to its podcast listening and viewing tracking data. Both platforms have made significant inroads as video podcast destinations this year: Netflix launched video podcasts in January, and
- [Bumper Release Free Dashboard Tier, YouTube Overtakes Netflix Daily Attention in AU, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bumper-release-free/): Bumper Opens Dashboard to All Podcasters With Free Tier Along with the new free tier and restructured pricing, audience verification tool The Bumper Score is now available for all Bumper plans. The free tier includes the most recent three months of data and is designed for independent podcasters. The Pro tier costs $50 per month
- [PME Heading to SXSW 2027, AMP's New Framework, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pme-heading-to-sxsw-2027/): SXSW 2027 PanelPicker launches from June 23 to July 26, 2026 Lucas Velez, SXSW Manager of Account Management, shared the upcoming launch date for SXSW 2027’s PanelPicker application process. On Tuesday, June 23 at 2:00 p.m. CT, there will be a live AMA (ask me anything) session for PanelPicker, as well as a SXSW EDU
- [SXSW PanelPicker 🔜, AMP Taskforce Reveals Impression Framework, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/panelpicker-🔜-amp/): Strum and Drang by Tom Webster In this week’s Sounds Profitable article, Webster reflects on his relationship with AI. In a year, that relationship has evolved from experimental ChatGPT use to running multiple open-source LLMs on a home server. With genAI continuing to develop, he recalls the menial jobs he has seen made redundant by
- [Upgrading the World Cup With Podcasts, Nielsen Q1 Audio Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/upgrading-the-world-cup/): Voices of the World Cup In a new Sounds Profitable thought leadership piece, Sport Social Podcast Network argues that the sound of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is just as likely to come from a podcast as from a sports broadcaster.In the four years since the previous World Cup, sports podcasting has grown into more
- [SiriusXM Podcasts 🔜 Tubi, BBC Studios World Cup Case Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/siriusxm-podcasts-🔜-tubi/): SiriusXM to Bring Conan O’Brien, Trevor Noah Podcasts and More to Tubi (Exclusive) by Caitlin Huston SiriusXM’s non-exclusive deal with Tubi will bring several popular video podcasts to the platform, including The School of Greatness, Rotten Mango, and Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, with more coming later. Episodes will remain available on YouTube and other
- [Questions B2B Ask of Podcasting, Magellan AI's 📻 Attribution, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/questions-b2b-ask/): The question B2B brands keep asking that downloads can't answer by Alison Osborne CoHost & Quill VP of Marketing Alison Osborne has a new article for the Sounds Profitable thought leadership series. The world of business-to-business (B2B) marketing is growing. Podcasting needs to mature with it. Osborne argues that podcast measurement still answers outdated questions
- [Podcasts Hit U.K. Prime-Time 📺, News From Podcast Show London, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-in-uk-primetime/): This year Sounds Profitable is sponsoring the Little Black Book Beach at Cannes Lions. For all those attending, we have a free custom graphic generator live to help folks announce where they'll be hanging out June 22-26. Just upload a headshot, plug in your details, and you'll get a socials-ready graphic in seconds. Also: Sounds
- [Taskforce to Define "Podcast", YouTube is Enhancing AI Labels, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taskforce-to-define-podcast/): What Is a Podcast? Podcast Industry Taskforce Forms to Determine Definition and More by Caitlin Huston The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) is a task force of industry leaders from podcast platforms, advertisers, publishers and creators built to future-proof podcasting and address the industry’s measurement challenges. Formed in July of 2025, the task force
- [New Gated Video on Spotify, UK Smart TV Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-gated-video-on-spotify/): Getting ready for a trip to France in a few weeks? This year Sounds Profitable is sponsoring the Little Black Book Beach at Cannes Lions. For all those attending, we have a free custom graphic generator live to help folks announce where they'll be hanging out June 22-26. Just upload a headshot, plug in your
- [Podcast Show London Recap, Spotify Launches Narrated Articles, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-show-london-recap/): Recapping The Podcast Show London 2026 It was a busy week in London at The Podcast Show 2026. Here’s a quick rundown of stories from in and around the event. Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights debuted The Advertising Landscape U.K. Alexandra Forsyth has a new PodcastingToday opinion piece this week covering the event. The Podcast
- [The State of U.K. Podcast Advertising, Brazil's Audio Opportunity, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brazils-audio-opportunity/): The Advertising Landscape UK A new report from Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights surveyed 5,033 U.K. adults using the same methodology as the 2025 U.S. Advertising Landscape, creating a rare apples-to-apples comparison of the two markets. 43% of British adults listen to ad-supported podcasts monthly. Of those listeners, 56% listen daily or almost daily. A
- [U.K. Podcast Advertising Landscape, Global Podcast Economy Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/u-k-podcast-advertising-landscape/): The Advertising Landscape UK A new report from Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights surveyed 5,033 U.K. adults using the same methodology as the 2025 U.S. Advertising Landscape, creating a rare apples-to-apples comparison of the two industries. 43% of British adults listen to ad-supported podcasts monthly. Of those consumers, 56% consume podcasts daily or almost daily.
- [Spotify Podcast Verification, 2026 Podnews Report Card, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-podcast-verification/): Building a More Trusted Podcast Experience for Creators and Listeners Spotify has expanded on its recent Verified by Spotify badge introduced to verify artist profiles. Podcast shows will also display a green Verified by Spotify checkmark to indicate the official presence of a creator, publisher, or brand. The checkmark shows the podcast has been reviewed
- [Global To Direct-Sell YouTube Ads, Brazil's Audio Potential, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/global-to-direct-sell-youtube/): Triton Sees Podcast Listening Expand Into More ‘Everyday Moments.’ Inside Audio Marketing covers the new Triton Digital US Podcast Ranker for Q1, 2026. Comedy, News, and Society & Culture remain the top three genre categories, unchanged from Q4 2025. Kids & Family saw a 9% growth in reach quarter-over-quarter. Triton Digital says this shows podcasting
- [Flightcast Launches HLS Support, Content Creators @ Upfronts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/flightcast-launches-hls/): Content Creation @ Upfronts Podcasters were a recurring topic during various upfront presentations last week. On May 11, Amazon unveiled the first podcast of Oprah Winfrey’s multi-year deal, at an upfront that positioned video podcasting as competing for TV budgets instead of complementing them.. YouTube’s Brandcast event focused heavily on creators, with new content from
- [U.K. Ad Avoidance, Video Podcasts on Amazon Music, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/u-k-ad-avoidance/): The Podcast Show London is just around the corner. This year Sounds Profitable has partnered with NumberEight, Katz Digital, Claritas, Barometer, Locked On, and AdLarge for the Pod-Tales and Cocktails Happy Hour at Bubba Oasis. Due to capacity, this is a waitlist link, but Sounds Profitable partners and clients of the sponsoring companies are given
- [Spotify 🔜 Apple Podcasts HLS, Podcasts Grab Ad-Avoiders, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-🔜-apple-podcasts/): Expanding our video ecosystem with new partners and supported platforms Libsyn, Podigee, Audioboom, Audiomeans, and Podspace now support the Spotify Distribution API. Creators on those platforms can distribute video podcasts directly to Spotify and monetize eligible content via the Partner Program. Spotify will also roll out Apple Podcasts’ HLS video support this year, enabling its
- [Amazon Music Video Podcasts, Magellan AI x Signal Hill Insights, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-music-video-podcasts/): Exclusive: Amazon Music delivers video podcasts Podnews reports Amazon Music launches video podcasts today for U.S. iOS and Android users. The app will use HLS video, as Podnews reports, “including support for HLS multivariate playlists via an alternate enclosure in RSS.” Video podcasts launched on Amazon’s ART19 platform and will expand to more partners this
- [iHeartMedia's Q1, Ranking Podcasts Like Records, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iheartmedias-q1-ranking/): LAST CALL: This Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST, Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster and Bryan Goldmark of Locked On will be debuting Trust and Attention: Why Sports Media Wins (and How Brands Prove It) in a live webinar. The report provides an expanded dive into the unique value of the sports podcast audience. Grab your virtual seat
- [AI in Marketing Measurement, Golden Globes Podcast Eligibility, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ai-in-marketing-measurement/): “Sports podcasts perform” is one of those things the industry says without ever showing the work. On May 13 at 2 PM ET, Bryan Goldmark from Locked On and Tom Webster are going to show the work — the attention numbers, the trust numbers, and the actual brand campaigns those numbers translated into. Register here.
- [Apple Podcasts HLS Support Updates, UK TV vs. Podcast Reach, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-hls-support/): “Sports podcasts perform” is one of those things the industry says without ever showing the work. On May 13 at 2 PM ET, Bryan Goldmark from Locked On and Tom Webster are going to show the work — the attention numbers, the trust numbers, and the actual brand campaigns those numbers translated into. Register here.
- [UK Podcast Ads Overtake TV, Apple Podcasts Video Impact, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/uk-podcast-ads-overtake/): “Sports podcasts perform” is one of those things the industry says without ever showing the work. On May 13 at 2 PM ET, Bryan Goldmark from Locked On and Tom Webster are going to show the work — the attention numbers, the trust numbers, and the actual brand campaigns those numbers translated into. Register here.
- [The Clipping Ecosystem, Evolving Upfronts with Creators, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-clipping-ecosystem/): To Clip or Not to Clip Scalable takes a look at the world of paid clipping. Content creators like N3on and Clavicular have made headlines by hiring video editors to produce clips across multiple platforms. According to upcoming Sounds Profitable research, 86% of podcast listeners consume clips on at least one platform. Of those, 81%
- [Podigee Video Podcast Support, Acast's Profitable Q1, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podigee-video-podcast-support/): The Podcast Show London is just around the corner. This year Sounds Profitable has partnered with NumberEight, Katz Digital, Claritas, Barometer, Locked On, and AdLarge for the Pod-Tales and Cocktails Happy Hour at Bubba Oasis. Due to capacity, this is a waitlist link, but Sounds Profitable partners and clients of the sponsoring companies are given
- [New Apple Podcasts HLS Host, Digital Audio's 2025 Consumer Spend, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-apple-podcasts-hls-hosts/): Industry on Generative AI Podcast Content In last Thursday’s issue of Soundbite, Ashley Carman examines how generative AI podcasts — colloquially dubbed "podslop" — are distributed across the podcast ecosystem. One hosting platform with safeguards in place is RSS.com, which does not allow freely hosted podcasts to opt into programmatic ads. To qualify, a podcast
- [American Podcast Audience Growth, Nielsen x Triton Digital, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/american-podcast-audience/): 860 Thoughts About The Rumored SiriusXM/iHeart Deal by Tom Webster With several hot takes and narratives forming around the rumored SiriusXM deal to acquire iHeartMedia (as well as several alternate shapes such a merger could take), Webster drills down to the notion SiriusXM would strip iHeart’s radio stations of local content. He audited iHeart stations
- [New Megaphone Flighting Tools, Thoughts on iHeart x SiriusXM, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-megaphone-flighting/): 860 Thoughts About The Rumored SiriusXM/iHeart Deal by Tom Webster With several hot takes and narratives forming around the rumored SiriusXM deal to acquire iHeartMedia (as well as several alternate shapes such a merger could take), Webster drills down to the notion SiriusXM would strip iHeart’s radio stations of local content. After an analysis of
- [Libsyn Video on Spotify, New Patreon Feeds, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/libsyn-video-on-spotify/): Libsyn Announces Spotify Video Distribution As of this morning, all Libsyn hosting plans have video functionality. Users can manually submit Libsyn-hosted MP4 files to Spotify. Video distribution directly into Spotify, enabled by the Spotify Distribution API, starts at $25/month. For more on Libsyn’s future plans, President and CEO Brendan Monaghan is interviewed on the latest
- [Nielsen Integrates Triton Digital Data, Spotify's Q1 Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nielsen-integrates-triton-digital/): Nielsen Integrates Triton Data Into Media Planning Platform. The integration brings Triton Digital’s Podcast Metrics Demos+ data into Nielsen’s Media Impact (NMI) planning platform. In the official release, Nielsen Audio Managing Director Rich Tunkel says the collaboration makes it easier for advertisers to “evaluate and plan podcasts alongside, and with the same level of precision,
- [iHeartMedia and SiriusXM Merger Talks, S&P Global on Podcast Consumption, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iheartmedia-and-siriusxm/): iHeartMedia Holds Talks About a Possible Sale to Sirius XM by Ashley Carman, Lucas Shaw, and Michelle F Davis Bloomberg sources say the proposed deal would combine the country’s biggest radio station owner with its biggest satellite radio service, which would represent more than $12 billion of combined annual sales/revenue. As of Friday, representatives from
- [SiriusXM Reps YouTube Audio Ads, New Podcast Audience Metric, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/siriusxm-reps-youtube-audio/): SiriusXM Media Becomes Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative for YouTube in the United States The new exclusivity partnership between SiriusXM Media and Google will allow advertisers to buy guaranteed audio ad impressions against YouTube’s high-value audiences at scale for the first time. Here’s a quote from SiriusXM Media Chief Advertising Revenue Officer Scott Walker: “By partnering
- [New beehiiv Podcast AI Integration, Bumper Score's Measurement Impact, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-beehiiv-podcast-ai-integration/): Eyes Are Optional by Tom Webster According to the new Audio Primes report from Sounds Profitable, built from The Podcast Landscape 2025 data, about 22% of podcast consumers listen to 75% or more of their podcasts as audio. These “audio prime” consumers skew younger than the total podcast audience and over-index on free streaming TV,
- [SiriusXM to Rep YouTube Audio in US, New IAB Programmatic Council, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/siriusxm-to-rep-youtube/): SiriusXM Media Becomes Exclusive Audio Advertising Representative for YouTube in the United States The new exclusivity partnership between SiriusXM Media and Google will allow advertisers to buy guaranteed audio ad impressions against YouTube’s high-value audiences at scale for the first time. In recent months, the combination of SiriusXM, AdsWizz, and Simplecast has made major moves
- [Netflix on Podcast Growth, March Ad Spend Stats, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflix-on-podcast-growth/): Netflix 2026 Q1 Earnings Co-CEO, President and Director of Netflix Ted Sarandos specifically called out podcasting as a bright spot in the company’s Q1 performance. In the earnings call transcript, Sarandos said Netflix's internal data shows video podcasts gaining engagement. Netflix video podcasts over-index in daytime viewing and mobile devices. This matters for Netflix, where
- [$8.4 Audio Ad Spend in 2025, YouTube Announces Shorts Limiter, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/8-4-audio-ad-spend-in-2025/): Digital Audio Ad Spend Sets New Record At $8.4 Billion. Inside Audio Marketing covers the IAB's recently published 2025 Internet Advertising Revenue Report, compiled with PwC. Digital audio ad spend reached $8.4 billion in 2025, up 10.2% from 2024. Podcast revenue grew 17.6% year over year to $2.9 billion, outpacing overall digital audio. The
- [Netflix Podcasting Data, YouTube Updates Livestream Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflix-podcasting-data/): The AI Enthusiasm Gap: Listeners vs. Watchers by Tom Webster Tom Webster’s Sounds Profitable article preempted the new report Audio Primes: The Podcast Industry’s Most Valuable Audience. The report defines “Audio Primes” as Podcast Landscape respondents who consume at least 75% of their podcast content as audio. This group reflects a mindset, not a
- [Podcasting's Audio Primes, YouTube Limits Livestream Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-audio-primes/): The AI Enthusiasm Gap: Listeners Vs. Watchers by Tom Webster Tom Webster’s latest article pre-empted this afternoon’s new Sounds Profitable report Audio Primes: The Podcast Industry’s Most Valuable Audience. The report defines “Audio Primes” as Podcast Landscape respondents who consume at least 75% of their podcast content as audio. This group reflects a mindset, not
- [Creator Economy Center @ Syracuse U, Brand Rules for Podcasting's Netflix Era, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creator-economy-center/): American Public Media turns premium audio into measurable results A new Magellan AI case study details its work with American Public Media to bridge the gap between the value of APM’s content and what it could demonstrate to buyers. Magellan AI attribution reinforced podcasts and streaming content as “accountable components of a modern media mix,
- [Outsiders Buying Podcasts, Cloned Popular Show Art, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/outsiders-buying-podcasts/): Everyone Wants to Buy a Podcast. Again. by Steve Raizes In the pre-pandemic era of podcasting, companies already in podcasting or adjacent to the industry drove mergers and acquisitions. Spotify bought Gimlet; SiriusXM Media bought Stitcher. The buyers had existing vested interests in podcasting. Now OpenAI has acquired TBPN, The Chernin Group has invested in
- [New Netflix Podcast Data, Attention Metrics vs. Consumption, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-netflix-podcast-data/): Quick reminder: this Thursday, April 16, at 1:00 p.m. EST Tom Webster and RSS.com co-founder Alberto Betella will present Audio Primes: The People Who Listen to Podcasts. Built from The Podcast Landscape 2025 data, this new report looks at the audience behavior of Audio Primes, people who consume at least three-quarters of their content as
- [OpenAI Acquires TBPN, YouTube Debuts TV Tools, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/openai-acquires-tbpn/): Podcasting Has Earned Its Seat. Who’s Ready to Be at the Table? by Bryan Barletta During Advertising Week Europe, Sounds Profitable’s Business of Podcasting space hosted 16 panels over two days, attracting nearly 450 unique attendees. An important detail Barletta noticed, however, was the recurring trend of attendees showing up because the space was discussing
- [Patreon Podcast Revenue Up, New Spotify Video Controls, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/patreon-podcast-revenue/): Podcasting Has Earned Its Seat. Who’s Ready to Be at the Table? by Bryan Barletta During Advertising Week Europe, Sounds Profitable’s Business of Podcasting space hosted 16 panels over two days, attracting nearly 450 unique attendees. An important detail Barletta noticed, however, was the recurring trend of attendees showing up because the space was discussing
- [Optimizing Podcasts for AI Search, Soros Fund Invests in MeidasTouch, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/optimizing-podcasts-for-ai-search/): George Soros’ Firm Invests in Progressive MeidasTouch Network by Ashley Carman Soros Fund Management is leading an investment round in progressive media organization MeidasTouch Network, reports Carman. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Podnews notes this is the latest in a series of podcasting-related investments from Soros Fund Management, such as when
- [YouTube's New TV Tools, Prompted Playlist on Spotify, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtubes-new-tv-tools/): YouTube’s new TV features are the antithesis of Netflix’s second screen problem by James Hale One of YouTube’s newly announced features is named Stations, acting as the platform’s answer to 24/7 programming channels found on free ad-supported TV (FAST) platforms like Tubi and Pluto TV. Stations will debut with coverage of this year’s Coachella festival.
- [Red Seat Ventures Launches Speakeasy, Why Podcasts Work for Sports Fans, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/red-seat-ventures-launches/): Red Seat Ventures Launches Speakeasy, a New Hosting, Distribution and Monetization Platform Speakeasy, Red Seat Ventures' new owned-and-operated podcast hosting platform, serves as a hub for creators with monetization, hosting, and content distribution in one place. The platform supports “the full range of modern formats from RSS to HLS and video.” In Ashley Carman’s issue
- [Beehiiv Launches Podcasts, Spotify Ad Exchange Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/beehiiv-launches-podcasts/): Podcasts Launch on beehiiv Newsletter and blogging platform beehiiv has rolled out audio podcast hosting and monetization services. In an interview with Sounds Profitable Partner Bryan Barletta, beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk says podcasts are a natural fit, as podcasts and newsletters have a lot in common. He positions adding podcasts as a core pillar of
- [Podcast Consumption in Japan, Podcasts on beehiiv, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-consumption-in-japan/): Podcasts Launch on beehiiv Newsletter and blogging platform beehiiv has rolled out audio podcast hosting and monetization services. In an interview with Sounds Profitable Partner Bryan Barletta, beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk says podcasts are a natural fit, as podcasts and newsletters have a lot in common. A quote from the interview: “Our roadmap is always
- [Spotify Debuts Carousel Ads, Podcasting April Fools' Jokes, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-debuts-carousel-ads/): Audio Has the Winning Hand. The Industry Refuses to Play It by Ben Robins One of Ben Robins’ biggest takeaways from Advertising Week Europe is the notion that podcasting is data-rich but insight poor. Across 12 sessions, compelling data abounded, but emotional narratives explaining podcasting's success were scarce. He attributes this largely to companies closely
- [Beehiiv Eyes Podcasts, IAB CEO on Video Fragmentation, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/beehiiv-eyes-podcasts-iab/): Substack Rival Beehiiv Makes a Push Into Podcasting by Max Tani Anonymous sources tell Semafor Beehiiv has been privately reaching out to independent podcasters on platforms like Substack to try to convince them to become founding members of Beehiiv’s podcast program. Tani says the program is expected to launch in the coming days with more
- [Podcast Movement Evolutions 2026 Videos Live, Japan's Podcasting Audience, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pme-sxsw-videos-posted/): Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW 2026 Sessions Now Live Video recordings of presentations from this year’s Podcast Movement Evolutions are now available on the official Podcast Movement YouTube channel. The playlist features 25 videos spanning from 10-minute Discovery Track sessions to full-length 50-minute panels. Otonal and The Asahi Shimbun Company Jointly Release Results of
- [New Apple Podcasts HLS Hosts, Targeting Podcasting's Holdouts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-apple-hls-hosts/): Apple Podcasts launches new video experience On March 25, Apple launched iOS 26.4, which includes the new HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) upgrade to Apple Podcasts. iPhones will receive the update over the coming weeks, but Podnews offers a handy link to Apple’s guide for forcing an iOS update. Building on the first two batches of
- [Apple Podcasts HLS Video Arrives, WARC on World Cup Advertising, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-hls-video-arrives/): Apple Podcasts launches new video experience On March 25, Apple launched iOS 26.4, which includes the new HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) upgrade to Apple Podcasts. iPhones will receive the update over the coming weeks, but Podnews offers a handy link to Apple’s guide for forcing an iOS update. On Mastodon, John Spurlock reports that 48
- [Understanding Podcasting's Holdouts, New Marketing Podcast Awards, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/understanding-podcastings-holdouts/): The Last Quarter: Understanding Podcasting’s Last Holdouts by Tom Webster Tom Webster debuts new research in this morning’s Sounds Profitable article. Drawing from the Podcast Landscape survey of over 5,000 Americans weighted to the U.S. census, The Last Quarter examines the 25% of adults 18+ who have never listened to a podcast. Though 100% saturation
- [YouTube Announces Creator Partnerships, Barometer x AdsWizz, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-creator-partnerships/): Spotify Layoffs in Podcast Group Cut 3% of Headcount by Todd Spangler Spangler’s source says this Monday 15 employees were laid off in Spotify’s podcasting sector, mostly from The Ringer and Spotify Studios. The Ringer's New York-focused sports podcast New York, New York With John Jastremski is also being canceled. I’d like to remind readers
- [Goalhanger Launches The Accelerator Fund, New Fox Creator Studios Head, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/goalhanger-launches-fund/): by Gavin Gaddis and Emily Ely Podcasting outperforms other media to deliver campaign reach and attention boost, says Acast survey A new survey of 3,501 UK adults conducted by Acast and Nielsen found that adding audio podcasting to a media campaign is 33% more effective at increasing brand consideration than radio alone. The report, titled
- [IAB AU's Future of Measurement, Projected iOS 26.4 Release Window, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-aus-future-measurement/): The Future of Australian Measurement IAB Australia named the Future of Measurement one of its three strategic focus areas for 2026. The FoM initiative will review current practices, datasets, and measurement approaches in Australia’s advertising industry to identify gaps and define future requirements. Currently, the FoM project is accepting emails from interested decision-makers, influencers, practitioners
- [Building Podcasting's Bigger Stage, New Apple Podcasts Video Partners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-apple-podcasts-video-partners/): New Hosting Partners, Potential Release Date for Apple Podcasts Video Upgrade Monday’s issue of Podnews covered a new slate of hosting partners supporting the upcoming HLS video update for Apple Podcasts. Announced during Apple Podcasts’ keynote at Podcast Movement Evolutions, the new hosts include Transistor, Audiomeans, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com, and Podigee. They join the previously
- [Spotify on Amazon DSP in Australia, Utility in Rural Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-on-amazon-dsp-2/): Spotify Gives Aussie Advertisers Access to Audio, Video Inventory Through Amazon Ads Amazon Ads and Spotify have announced a strategic partnership to give Australian advertisers programmatic access to Spotify’s audio and video inventory through Amazon DSP. The deal combines Amazon’s vast shopping and streaming data with Spotify’s 751 million monthly listeners, leading to a more
- [Audio in CTV Strategy, Digital Audio's 2026 Forecast, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-in-ctv-strategy/): The Rehearsal Was Never the Point by Jack Levy Table reads have long been a part of the fabric of Hollywood. They have existed in back rooms and private settings and have served as a fundamental storytelling tool. But Jack Levy, co-founder of Manifest Media Productions is challenging all of that with the Table Read
- [New Apple Podcasts HLS Partners, PME to Return to SXSW in 2027, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-apple-podcasts-hls/): New Partners Announced for Apple Podcasts Video During Podcast Movement Evolution at SXSW, Apple Podcasts announced a number of new podcast hosting partners who will support the upcoming HLS video update. The new hosts include Transistor, Audiomeans, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com, and Podigee. They join the previously announced group of Acast, Omny Studio, ART19, and Simplecast.
- [Podcast Movement 🔜 SXSW, The Big Picture of Apple Podcasts HLS, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-🔜-sxsw-2/): Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW Kicks off Today! Podcasting has descended on SXSW 2026. Today, Saturday, and Sunday Podcast Movement Evolutions has taken over SKYBOX on 6th! No SXSW badge required, no extra ticket. The only limitation is space with a 400 person capacity plus an overflow space with room for 350+ more. SXSW badge
- [Thinking Big with Apple Podcasts HLS, Podcasting in Singapore, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/thinking-big-with-apple/): LAST CALL: Podcast Movement Evolutions kicks off tomorrow at SKYBOX on 6th in Austin, TX. The event will feature three days of curated panels, networking events, and live performances with celebrity guests. Admission is free, no SXSW badge or separate ticket required. SXSW badge-holders do receive priority access. The venue has a capacity of 400,
- [Libsyn Hits Record Payouts, New LA Creator Summit, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/libsyn-hits-record-payouts/): IRL Events Are the New Influencer Trips by Kaya Yurieff & Jasmine Enberg Scalable’s Yurieff and Enberg give a breakdown of what to expect at SXSW this year. With the Austin Convention Center under construction, SXSW will take over to the venues of Austin over a seven-day program. Which includes a live recording of the
- [Bumper on Podcast Retention, Podbean Discontinues Europe DAI, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bumper-on-podcast-retention/): Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW kicks off Friday, March 13. Admission is free, with no SXSW badge or extra ticket required (SXSW badge-holders will receive priority access. Join in at SKYBOX on 6th for three days of curated panels, social events, and live performances in a 400 person venue (with 350+ overflow in a neighboring
- [Podcast AI Disclosure, True Crime Audience Connections, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ai-disclosure/): Long-form creators eye taking over TVs – and chasing bigger brand budgets by Alyssa Mercante Digiday looks at the landscape of platforms looking to bring content creators' long-form videos (videos longer than 20 minutes) from YouTube into the world of TV. Last week, growth platform Spotter held a pseudo-upfront in New York with talent like
- [SXSW 2026 Announcements, SAG-AFTRA on Video Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxsw-2026-announcements-sag/): SXSW 2026 Announcements First up in SXSW 2026 news: Podcast Movement Evolutions expands its star-studded lineup. On Saturday the 14th, Companion Presents: In Good Company will feature a live conversation with Penn Badgley (You, Gossip Girl). Sunday’s keynote will be delivered by SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things). Also confirmed:
- [Frequency x Flightpath, Radiodays NA Speakers Announced, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/frequency-x-flightpath-radiodays/): The Real Shift In Spoken Word by Tom Webster A chart from the latest Edison Research Share of Ear study shows podcasting's share of daily spoken word audio consumption passed AM/FM radio for the first time in 2025 (40% vs. 39%). Webster notes wide press coverage labeling this statistic as evidence that spoken word podcasting
- [Podcast Movement's SXSW Celeb Lineup, New Audible Plan, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movements-sxsw/): Audible Launches New Standard Membership Plan The new Standard tier of Audible subscription is priced at $8.99 USD (or comparable price in other markets) and brings a streaming focus to Audible. Instead of the service’s usual focus on subscriptions giving out single-use tokens that permanently add audiobooks to the user’s library, Standard allows users to
- [Podcast Show London Speakers, Magellan AI 🤝 Nielsen DMA, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-show-london-speakers/): Magellan AI Integrates Nielsen DMA® Data to Bring Local Market Measurement to Podcast Attribution Nielsen and Magellan AI announced a new integration bringing proprietary Nielsen DMA data into Magellan AI’s platform. The DMA regions cover 210 standardized media markets in the U.S., used frequently throughout the wider media industry. With this new DMA enrichment, buyers
- [SAG-AFTRA on Video Podcasts, Industry Summit Takeaways, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sag-aftra-on-video-podcasts/): The Revolution in the Podcast Business, According to the People Leading It by Ashley Carman Soundbite’s latest issue covers Bloomberg’s Podcast Business Summit at last week’s On Air Fest. Industry executives greatly value video podcasting in their media strategies going forward. Kara Swisher, if she had to start over today, would start on YouTube. Goalhanger
- [Podcast Movement 🔜 Terminal 5, The 2026 Podscape, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-🔜-terminal/): Addressing Email Addresses Next week Sounds Profitable is switching newsletter providers. No changes are necessary on your end, just know that for a short period you’ll receive The Download from a Beehiiv email address (the-download@mail.beehiiv.com). This is part of Beehiiv’s smart warming process for transitioning a custom domain. You’ll start receiving emails from newsletters@soundsprofitable.com at
- [Identifying Podcast Ad Skips, PM Heads to NYC, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/identifying-podcast-ad/): Addressing Email Addresses A quick peek behind the curtain: next week Sounds Profitable is switching newsletter providers. No changes are necessary on your end, just know that for a short period Sounds Profitable newsletters you are subscribed to will be sent from a Beehiiv email address (specifically the domain @mail.beehiiv.com). This is part of Beehiiv’s
- [2026 Ambies Winners, Podcasts Top Spoken Word Share of Ear, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2026-ambies-winners/): In Graphic Detail: Publishers chase video podcast growth, but audio still leads by Sara Guaglione Digiday looks at recent research to get a bird's-eye view of how much of podcasting's audience consumes video. Last week’s Triton Digital U.S. Podcast Report finds 80% of 12,000 surveyed monthly listeners consume both audio and video. Audio-only consumption beats
- [Ambies Livestreaming Tonight, Australia's Podcast Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ambies-livestreaming-tonight/): The Ambies 2026 on YouTube Thanks to a historic blizzard interrupting flights and trains into New York City, the 2026 Ambies have been rescheduled to tonight, Tuesday the 24th. In addition to rescheduling the event, The Podcast Academy has pivoted to also livestream the event on their YouTube channel. The waiting room is now up
- [🔎Podcast Ad Skipping, Cannes Lions Upgrades Creator Program, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-skipping-cannes/): Before I get into the top story, we have a quick bit of housekeeping: today’s issue is co-written by the newest member of the Download crew Emily Ely! She provided our second and third top story, as well as four of today’s Quick Hits. With that, on to the news. Podcast ad skipping isn't
- [Video Upgrade 🔜 Apple Podcasts, 2025 U.S. Podcast Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/hls-apple-podcasts/): A New Video Podcast Experience is Coming to Apple Podcasts On Monday Apple announced a “transformative update” is coming to Apple Podcasts this spring. Currently in developer beta, iOS 26.4 includes a new implementation of Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) tech. As James Cridland explains in his comprehensive breakdown, the previous existing method for video
- [Triton's US Podcast Report, Stools > Couches, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tritons-us-podcast-report/): Apple Podcasts, Video, And Why Stools Beat Couches by Tom Webster Any time one of the big three distributors in podcasting makes a big move, such as Apple’s recent beta rollout of video distribution into Apple Podcasts, there’s a temptation to frame it as a zero-sum game. Platforms will chase each other. Webster proposes
- [Audion Launches Cross-Platform AI, Podcasting’s Top Sports Networks, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audion-launches-cross/): From Insights to Action: Turning Podcast Trends Into Campaign Strategy Reminder: Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. EST experts from Signal Hill Insights, Barometer, and Sounds Profitable join SiriusXM Media Associate Director, Podcast Sales Marketing Sophie Anderson for an hour-long free webinar. The conversation includes, but is not limited to, how video, scale, and AI are shaping
- [Apple Amps Up Video Podcasts, News Brand Safety Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/hls-in-beta-on-apple-podcasts/): Correction: an earlier version of The Download today incorrectly stated that HLS adoption means video podcast episodes will be distributed to Apple Podcasts via the RSS feed. In practice, podcast hosting services will be able to distribute video podcasts to Apple Podcasts using a special API. The article also indicated that Spotify and YouTube were
- [Industry Q4 Earnings, The Politics of Listeners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/industry-q4-2025/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up for an event next week: SiriusXM Media, Barometer, Signal Hill Insights, and Sounds Profitable are banding together for the live one-hour webinar From Insights to Action: Turning Podcast Trends Into Campaign Strategy at 2:00 p.m. EST, Thursday, February 19th. Registration is free and live now. The
- [The Politics of Listening, Channel 4's Spotify Plans, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-politics-of-listening/): The Politics of What We Listen To by Tom Webster Semi-regularly, Tom Webster is quizzed about the political makeup of podcast listenership. These are usually motivated by popular theories/impulses (e.g. podcasts are largely for liberals, or conservative podcasts rule the roost now). Looking at Podcast Landscape 2025 data, the reality is when one looks at
- [Video Podcasts @ NY Emmys, Industry Earnings Reports, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-podcasts-ny-emmies/): The 69th Annual New York Emmy Awards are open for entries As the headline says, the New York Emmy Awards are open for this year’s entries, but there’s something worth noting for podcasting. As Podnews reporting highlights, video podcasts are mentioned as being eligible for the Talk Program category. Looking at the NYEmmys glossary, the
- [Red Seat Ventures Acquires Supercast, Upcoming EU Regulations, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/red-seat-ventures-acquires/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up for an event next week: SiriusXM Media, Barometer, Signal Hill Insights, and Sounds Profitable are banding together for the live one-hour webinar From Insights to Action: Turning Podcast Trends Into Campaign Strategy at 2:00 p.m. EST, Thursday, February 19th. Registration is free and live now.
- [Bloomberg's Audio Success, New UK Audio Survey, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bloombergs-audio-success-new/): As the nation’s eyes turn to Minneapolis, they’re also turning to Minnesota Public Radio by Joshua Benton Nieman Lab takes a look at Q4 2025 performance metrics for public radio stations based on web traffic. Minnesota Public Radio topped off the list as the #1 for November and December, with Oregon Public Broadcasting taking the
- [IAB to Address AI Scraping, Podcasting's January Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-to-address-ai-scraping-podcastings-january-growth-more/): IAB Releases Draft Legislation Addressing AI Scraping The new proposed draft, titled AI Accountability for Publishers Act, aims to address the large-scale scraping of publisher content for training data. IAB President David Cohen’s official statement explains the proposed language will protect publishers from AI companies becoming “unjustly enriched”, benefitting at the expense of publishers (scraping
- [Timbre Awards Announced, Measuring YouTube, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/timbre-awards-announced/): Audio Is the Only Medium We Can Consume in Parallel by Nick Cicero Cicero starts off strong with a simple notion: audio podcasts exploded into popularity thanks to them filling time that already existed, not demanding net-new time to enjoy. Audio can scale on time substitution (chores, commutes, exercise) while video podcasts are scaling on
- [IAB AI Scraping Legislation, Audio is Found Time, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-ai-scraping-legislation/): A Few Notes About Fixing Conference Panels by Tom Webster Tom Webster has moderated his fair share of conference panels, and often agrees to do so when invited. With such experience, he shares the concepts he believes make the difference between an unsuccessful panel (a montage of random ‘clips’ of information) and an engaging one
- [Triton Digital Upgrades Metrics, BBC Funding Digital-First Content, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/triton-digital-upgrades-metrics/): What Do You Mean I’m Not TV? AdExchanger’s Optimizing the News covers Wall Street Journal reporting showing TV commercials cost four to five times more than YouTube ad campaigns, likely due to the gulf of difference between how much it costs to produce a TV show versus user-generated content. While YouTube is functioning as “television”
- [Super Bowl 2026 Budgeting, Hulu's First Podcast License, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/super-bowl-2026-budgeting-hulus-first-podcast-license-more/): Here’s what else a $8M, 30-second Super Bowl budget can purchase in 2026 by Kimeko McCoyIt’s that time of year where outlets take a look at the sheer amount of advertising dollars budgeted for The Big Game. For some podcasting context, we reached out to VSiN rep and Mission Media AI founder David Krulewich. VSiN
- [The State of Podcast Agencies, Evolutions Guests Announced, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-state-of-podcast-agencies/): CoHost Releases Annual Report on the State of Podcast Agencies in 2026 The third edition of the State of Podcast Agencies is built from a survey of 50 podcast agencies around the world. Agencies remain “small but strategic” with 76% of respondents operating with fewer than 10 employees, but serving clients ranging from startups to
- [Podcast Movement SXSW Speakers Announced, Mid-Tier Influencer Potential, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-sxsw-2/): Why Mid-Tier Creators Are the Industry’s Next Big Growth Opportunity by Brian Conlan AdvertisingWeek brings on DAX US president Brian Conlan as a guest writer to discuss the spending gap between how much audience influencers reach versus how much is actually invested in them. He outlines five actionable steps that any brand, regardless of size
- [Goalhanger's Video Journey, Podcasting's Demographic Powerhouse, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/goalhangers-video-journey/): The Surprising Group of Podcast Consumers Comprising the New “Age of Acquisition” for Advertisers by Paul Riismandel Common practice in advertising is for brands to focus on the “age of acquisition,” targeting consumers from the age of 12 to 24 in hopes of instilling brand awareness that will translate into consistent purchase in adulthood. Over
- [Gen Alpha Buying Power, State of Podcast Agencies, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-alpha-buying-power/): The Podcast Show London 2026 announces Advisory Board and details on submissions for speakers and sessions The Podcast Show London has announced this year’s international advisory board of ten industry experts assembled to ensure the show’s content is relevant to its global audience of attendees. Starting this coming Monday, February 2nd, applications will be live
- [Programmatic Audio's Importance, Ambies Voting Now Live, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/programmatic-audios-importanc/): Report: Programmatic Audio Is a Core Buy for Marketers in 2026 by Cameron Coats A new Proximic by Comscore survey of over 200 advertising decision-makers in November finds 58% of marketers plan to increase programmatic investments this year, down from 72% at the same time in 2024. Proximic attributes this to buyers transitioning away from
- [Ambies Nominees Announced, Refuting 'Podcasting is Dead', & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ambies-nominees-announced/): Upcoming Conference News There’s a few big things happening in Q1 this year, so I’ve collected all the coverage together here for a quick(ish) rundown. First up: SXSW 2026 has unveiled new speakers. Among others, Spotify co-president and CTO Gustav Söderström is slated to appear at a SXSW keynote this year. As has been covered
- [The WHY and WHO of Podcasting, Ambies 2026 Noms, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-why-and-who-of/): What Would You Do If You Actually Loved Podcasting? by Tom Webster After years of researching what drives podcaster burnout, Webster argues there’s a common methodology that needs to be reversed. Most podcast development cycles can be charted out with the core words behind those steps: WHAT, HOW, WHY, WHO. A system that should be
- [SXSW 2026 Podcasting Lineup, Video Isn't Killing the Podcast Star, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxsw-2026-podcasting-lineup/): SXSW 2026 Unveils AI, Podcast, Spotify Speakers for Innovation Conference Lineup by Etan Vlessing The Hollywood Reporter covers the lineup of keynote speakers for SXSW 2026, including Spotify co-president and CTO Gustav Söderström. As has been covered previously, this year also marks the incorporation of Evolutions by Podcast Movement into SXSW’s business of podcasting programming.
- [Podcasting's 'Liquid Content Era', A Creator Bill of Rights, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-liquid-content/): A Congressman just proposed a “Creator Bill of Rights” Californian representative Ro Khanna has published a resolution dubbed the “Creator Bill of Rights.” Written in collaboration with Creators 4 Mental Health, the resolution urges the House of Representatives to acknowledge content creators, provide “robust small business resources” to said creators, provide health care options, and
- [New Canadian Podcast Audience Data, Podcast Movement 🔜 SXSW, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-canadian-podcast-audience/): Podcast Movement Evolutions to become part of SXSW programming Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable have officially announced that Podcast Movement Evolutions is formally embedded in SXSW 2026 programming. The three-day event kicks off March 13th with a takeover of the Sky Box venue in downtown Austin. A quote from Podcast Movement president Bryan Barletta: “The
- [Podcast Movement @ SXSW, Spotify Increases Premium in U.S., & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-sxsw/): Podcast Movement Evolutions to become part of SXSW programming Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable have officially announced that Podcast Movement Evolutions is formally embedded in SXSW 2026 programming. The three-day event kicks off March 13th with a takeover of the Sky Box venue in downtown Austin. The move puts the business side of podcasting front
- [The Canadian Podcast Listener, Audiences Desire Authenticity, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-canadian-podcast-listener/): Guidance for 2026 on Video Podcasts, Promotion and Advertising from the Canadian Podcast Listener by Matt Hird The Canadian Podcast Listener 2025, Signal Hill Insights’ comprehensive study of podcast consumption in Canada (now in its eighth year), has been posted. While the full report is only available to SHI subscribers, Matt Hird shares three key
- [The First Golden Globe-Winning Podcast, Spotify's 2026 Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-first-golden-globe/): The Golden Globes’ First ‘Best Podcast’ Award Yesterday, Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser introduced the first ever podcasting category nominations with a pithy parody of the infamous Nicole Kidman AMC promo. Though I’d argue our industry being big enough to get poked fun at by both SNL and the Globes is a sign of
- [SuperAwesome Acquires Starglow, Deloitte's Podcasting Predictions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/superawesome-acquires-starglow/): Deloitte: 2026 Will Reward Podcasts Built Like Fan Franchises. Inside Audio Marketing covers new predictions published by Deloitte for 2026, largely built from their 2025 Digital Media Trends survey of 3,595 U.S. adults. 27% of respondents watch video podcasts on a weekly basis, largely led by Gen Z and Millennials. Video pod consumers also have
- [Remembering Podcasting's Strengths, Spotify Upgrades Partner Program, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/remembering-podcastings-strength/): Remember Who You Are by Tom Webster Instead of chasing growth at all costs, Webster suggests a goal for 2026: less chasing someone else’s idea of what podcasting should become. The Creators 2025 found those who started creating podcasts and then left the industry look demographically like video creators, matching them in 9 of 12
- [How GenAI Finds Podcasts, The Age of Vodcasts, & More ](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-genai-finds-podcasts/): Remember Who You Are by Tom Webster Instead of chasing growth at all costs, Webster suggests a goal for 2026: less chasing someone else’s idea of what podcasting should become. The Creators 2025 found those who started creating podcasts and then left the industry look demographically like video creators, matching them in 9 of 12
- [Spotify Updates Partner Program, New iHeartMedia Video Podcast Platform, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-updates-partner/): Making It Easier for Video Podcasters to Earn on Spotify With the first Golden Globes acknowledging podcasting set for this Sunday, Spotify has rolled out a few updates. Chief among them is new eligibility to join the Spotify Partner Program and monetize video podcasts similarly to monetizing YouTube videos. The threshold is now 1,000
- [Podcasting's Trust in Sports, Live Tours Continue Growing, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-trust-in-sports/): Why Podcasting Is a Must-Have For Rights Holders and Brands by Jim Salveson A new thought leadership piece on Sounds Profitable from Sports Social Podcast Network Director of Sport Jim Salveson. Sports media has evolved significantly in recent years, with a noticeable shift from rights holders working with broadcasters to more direct fan relationships. Something
- [700mil Hours of YouTube Podcasts, GenAI's Indie Pod Issue, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/700m-hours-of-youtube/): The tool copying podcasts, stripping the ads, and selling them by James Cridland An investigation into a website called PodcastAdBlock. Cridland finds the site is using AI to copy podcasts, strip the ads, and sell the new ad-free feed back to users. For $9.99/month USD users can have unlimited ad-free versions of podcast feeds. A
- [Podcasting's Creator Churn Problem, Netflix is Making Deals, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-creator-churn/): The Inventory And The Scale by Tom Webster If one does not proactively shape the creator landscape, its audience will never follow. Tom Webster’s final newsletter of 2025 hits on some concerning data from The Creators 2025 report: of current podcast consumers, 15% of men are creating podcasts. That number is just 8% for women.
- [Audio's UK ROI Moment, Netflix Licenses Barstool Sports Pods, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audios-uk-roi-moment/): We made it, folks. This is the final daily issue of The Download for 2025. I’ll be back tomorrow morning with the weekly recap, and then it’ll be radio silence from Sounds Profitable newsletter and podcast feeds until Monday, January 5th. Whether today’s your first issue or you’ve been checking in every weekday since 2023: thank
- [The Year's Top Podcasting Data Trends, Audio Joins UK Creative Council, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-years-top-podcasting/): Three Podcasting Trends We See from Surveying 66,000 Podcast Consumers in 2025 by Paul Riismandel Over 2025, Signal Hill Insights has surveyed 29% more media consumers than last year, reaching 86,000 total. Looking back over the years’ research, Riismandel collects three big ones worth remembering. I’ll only spoil the last one, as it’s a big
- [Indie Agencies on Audio, Podcasting's Liquid Content Era, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/indie-agencies-on-audio/): How the experts predict digital ad spend will pan out in 2026 by Ronan Shields ‘Tis the season for year-end forecasts and Digiday has collected several together. Madison & Wall anticipate U.S. ad spend to grow 6.6% next year, not counting political ad spend. They also say programmatic spend followed stronger-than-expected performance this year, reflecting
- ["OG" Podcasts Dominate Ad Performance, iHeart 🔜 Netflix, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/og-podcasts-dominate/): Oxford Road Reveals That “OGs” Dominate New Podcasts In Ad Performance The new ORBIT report focuses on the top 15 performing “OG” podcasts. A podcast defined by it being a show launched before March 2020 when Covid 19 lockdowns led to the podcasting equivalent of a baby boom. Top findings include execution outlasting hype, as
- [Podcasting's Creator Gap, Spotify Wrapped for Advertisers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-creator-gap/): The Gap In Podcasting That Should Concern Us by Tom Webster This week Sounds Profitable published The Creators 2025, a follow-up to a 2022 study looking at the people behind the microphones (and now cameras) of podcasting. Conducted by Signal Hill Insights, the study is built from an online study of 5,034 Americans aged
- [TikTok Launches Video Podcast, Digital Audio's Brand Lift in Ireland, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tiktok-launches-video/): Discussing The Creators 2025 Yesterday Sounds Profitable published our final study of the year in the form of The Creators 2025. Since then, several outlets have cracked open the report and taken a look. Over in Mark Stenberg’s ADWEEK newsletter On Background he has an interview with Tom Webster, discussing key findings from the report.
- [New Podcast Creator Research, YouTube Enhances A/B Testing, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-podcast-creator-research/): LAST CALL TO REGISTER: The Podglomerate and Sounds Profitable are hosting a webinar on strategic podcast awards budgeting. How (and Why) to Budget for Podcast Awards in 2026 kicks off TOMORROW, Thursday, December 11th at 1:00 p.m. EST The Creators 2025 A follow-up to the original 2022 study of creators in the industry, The Creators
- [Chartable Officially Closes, WPP Ad Growth Forecast, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/chartable-officially-closes/): LAST CALL for Tom Webster’s live presentation of The Creators 2025. It’s been three years since the first edition of The Creators, and Sounds Profitables’ bringing an updated look at the people actually making podcasts. Built from a survey of over 5,000 respondents, The Creators 2025 is looking at the diverse backgrounds of podcasting, who’s
- [Apple Podcasts' Show of the Year, Talkhouse Appoints Laura Mayer, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-show-of/): REMINDER: Sounds Profitable’s newest study is coming out in TWO DAYS! The Creators 2025 launches this Wednesday, December 10th, at 2:00 p.m. EST with a live presentation by Tom Webster. Register now and be one of the first to receive the full report, including looks into who’s making podcasts, why they do it, and what
- [Keeping Podcasts Mobile, Patreon's Public RSS Feeds, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/keeping-podcasts-mobile/): Upcoming Webinars The Creators 2025 is coming up on Wednesday, December 10th at 2:00 p.m. EST. Tom Webster debuts an updated version of Sounds Profitables’ first study under his time as partner, surveying over 5,000 respondents to get a snapshot of what podcast creators are like. Who’s making shows? What’s driving them to leave podcast
- [Global Podcast Advertising Report, Creators Leaving Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/global-podcast-advertising/): Forget Podfade – Let’s Talk About Creator Fade by Tom Webster Next week Sounds Profitable publishes The Creators 2025, an update to the 2023 study looking at the people behind the mics of podcasting, with over 5,000 respondents. Webster teases the report with an early slide showing a breakdown of how many respondents just consume
- [Gen Z's News Problem, Advantages of Audio Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-zs-news-problem/): Podcast Movement Evolutions, co-located at SXSW 2026, is dedicating two days to the conversations that matter most to podcasting, and we’re looking for voices to help shape those conversations. Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement are planning on hosting 10 minute talks to kick off panel discussions across all podcast programming. The event is free with
- [Acast UK Launches YouTube Program, Audio's Long Tail, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acast-uk-launches-youtube/): Before I get into the top story, a quick reminder that a new Sounds Profitable study is coming out next week! The Creators 2025 launches next Wednesday, December 10th, at 1:00 p.m. EST with a live presentation by Tom Webster. Register now and be one of the first to receive the full report, including looks
- [Public RSS on Patreon, LATAM Podcasting Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/public-rss-on-patreon/): Before I get into the news, a reminder that The Podglomerate and Sounds Profitable are hosting a webinar on strategic podcast awards budgeting. How (and Why) to Budget for Podcast Awards in 2026 kicks off next week on Wednesday, December 11th at 1:00 p.m. EST Triton Digital Announces 2025 LATAM Audio Insights Report The new
- [Podcasting's No Longer a Side Gig, Premium Merch Possibilities, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-no-longer-a/): Upcoming Webinars The temperature might be cooling down outside but things are heating up with Sounds Profitable presentations. First up: after three years Sounds Profitable’s first report under Tom Webster, The Creators, is back! Join Tom on Wednesday, December 10th, at 2:00 p.m. EST for the debut of The Creators 2025. Built from over
- [Creator Ad Spend ⬆️ 26%, Amazon on Audio's Omnichannel Power, & More ](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creator-ad-spend/): The creator economy is becoming a “must buy” — and a $37 billion industry in the U.S by Sam Gutelle The IAB has published their 2025 Creator Economy Ad Spend & Strategy Report. As the headline spoils, one of the key takeaways is the projection that by the end of the year the U.S. creator
- [Building Brands With Podcasts, Industry 2025 Reflections, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/building-brands-with-podcasts/): The Podscape Winter Deadline is TONIGHT That’s right folks, it’s almost time! Twice a year Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable team up to continue the living document that is the Podscape. A birds-eye view of the industry, the Podscape infographic sorts companies in the business of podcasting into various districts representing what products and services
- [Two Different Kinds of Podcasting, Industry 2026 Predictions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/two-different-kinds-of/): The Podscape Winter Deadline is TOMORROW! Clock’s ticking! Twice a year Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable team up to continue the living document that is the Podscape. A birds-eye view of the industry, the Podscape infographic sorts companies in the business of podcasting into various districts representing what products and services they provide. These biannual
- [Bridging Live Events with Podcast Data, iHeartRadio Adds Shortform, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bridging-live-events/): Eventbrite Announces Listener.com Partnership and Highlights a Year of Innovations Designed to Help Organizers Reach New Audiences Event organizing platform Eventbrite has partnered with analytics platform Listener.com to bring event data into the same dashboard as podcasting stats. With the integration, podcasters can see event, ticketing, and revenue data from their Eventbrite events in Listener’s
- [IAB AU Audio Advertising Survey, Influencer ROI Transparency, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-au-audio-advertising/): The Podscape Winter Deadline is This Week That’s right folks, it’s almost time! Twice a year Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable team up to continue the living document that is the Podscape. A birds-eye view of the industry, the Podscape infographic sorts companies in the business of podcasting into various districts representing what products and
- [Podcast Audiences Still Listen, Evolving Live Events, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-audiences-still/): Audio Remains The Primary Mode Of Podcast Consumption, Despite Growing Video Use by Elizabeth Mayer For the fifteenth edition of Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights’ Podcast Download series, Quantilope conducted an in-depth study of 603 weekly podcast consumers in October. This Fall 2025 report’s key takeaways include the vast majority of consumers choosing to
- [Indie Podcaster Report, Podcast Movement Evolutions @ SXSW, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/indie-podcaster-report/): Why We’re Bringing Podcast Movement to SXSW (And Making It Free) by Bryan Barletta Starting next March, the previously stand-alone event Podcast Movement Evolutions is merging with the now three years of podcasting presence Sounds Profitable has fostered at SXSW. Instead of choosing between the two Spring industry events, now podcasting is firmly headed for
- [Podcast Movement 🔜 SXSW, In-Store Audio Ad Conversions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-🔜-sxsw/): Welcome to a special edition of The Download! Long-time readers might recognize the format, but for the newer folk in the crowd, here’s what’s happening: The core goal of The Download is to condense the day’s news into something compact that tells you what’s happening and why you should click through to read the full
- [Audio vs. Video Podcast ROI, Threads Improves Podcast Links, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-vs-video-podcast/): Podcasting’s Diversity Problem: 64% of Hosts Are Male, 77% Are White, USC Study Finds by Adam Chitwood A new report from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative finds that of the top 100 podcasts in 2024, hosts were overwhelmingly white and male (64% and 77% respectively). Stats that don’t change much
- [Indie Podcasting's Challenges, Netflix to Produce Video Pods, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/indie-podcastings-challenge/): Netflix Is Getting Serious About Video Podcasts by Lucas Shaw Last week we covered several instances of companies being approached by Netflix for video podcast licensing deals that would make full episodes of signed shows exclusive to the platform. Ashley Carman in her Soundbite newsletter added some further context from sources familiar with the matter.
- [Netflix Goes Shopping, Local Radio's Podcasting Power, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/local-radios-podcasting/): Podscape Submissions are Now Open The Podscape, a joint project between Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable, is a biannual infographic designed to give a bird’s-eye view of the business side of podcasting. A city map, in essence, charting out various neighborhoods in which podcasting companies live based on what services they provide. Every six months
- [Netflix is Podcast Shopping, Amazon DSP x iHeartMedia, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflix-is-podcast-shopping/): Netflix Approaches SiriusXM For Video Podcast Licensing by Caitlin Huson It’s just a Netflix kind of week for news, it seems. According to an insider source speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, in addition to the already-signed Spotify deal and possible iHeartMedia video podcast licensing deal, Netflix is also looking into licensing SiriusXM video podcasts. No
- [Apple Podcasts Adds Chapters & Links, Fox Buys Audio Fiction, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-adds/): Apple Podcasts is generating automatic links and chapters by Stevie Bonifield iOS 26.2’s developer beta debuts two new features for shows on Apple Podcasts: automated chapters, and timed links. When released out of beta, every episode of every podcast will receive chapters, even if not added by the creator. Along with the automatically-generated versions, 26.2
- [Netflix Eyes iHeart Podcasts, New Industry Research Published, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflix-eyes-iheart-podcasts/): Podscape Submissions are Now Open The Podscape, a joint project between Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable, is a biannual infographic designed to give a bird’s-eye view of the business side of podcasting. A city map, in essence, charting out various neighborhoods in which podcasting companies live based on what services they provide. Every six months
- [Advertisers Jumpstart Holiday Spend, TYT x Noble Mobile, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/advertisers-jumpstart-holiday/): Top Podcast Hosting Companies by Episode Share (October 2025) Livewire Labs is back with another report on the health of the industry. Their chart of top podcast hosting companies by episode share independently verified each podcast episode published on tracked platforms using media file urls instead of feed url domains, a method they say leads
- [Measurement Holds Back $1b, Amazon Corporate Downsizing, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/measurement-holds-back/): Brands Are Paying More For Ads That Do Less by Tilde Herrera Shutterstock’s 2025 Creative Impact Report finds marketing spend jumped 33% from 2023 to 2024, but the effect on purchase intent only increased 17%. Which leaves a 12% “impact gap” that seems to be growing over time, as the report finds a further 8%
- [Triton Digital's AdBuilder, Vertical YouTube Outearns Horizontal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/triton-digitals-adbuilder/): Triton Digital Launches AdBuilder AI to Power Self-Serve Audio Buying The new self-serve platform allows partners to access high-volume, low-touch buyers without increasing staff or allocating time away from big existing accounts. Each partner is given a fully branded white-labeled marketplace where advertisers are able to create, book, and pay for campaigns independently. Behind the
- [Defining "AI" for Advertising, Acast CEO on Video Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/defining-ai-for/): Here's what Amazon told Audible staff as layoffs hit the audiobook division by Jyoti Mann Amazon is planning to cut 14,000 corporate jobs across the board. According to SVP of People Experience and Technology Beth Galetti, many of those affected will be offered 90 days to look for a new role elsewhere within Amazon. Audible
- [C-Suite Podcast Hosts, Ads That Cost More for Less Traffic, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/c-suite-podcast-hosts/): Brands Are Paying More For Ads That Do Less by Tilde Herrera Shutterstock’s 2025 Creative Impact Report finds marketing spend jumped 33% from 2023 to 2024, but the effect on purchase intent only increased 17%. Which leaves a 12% “impact gap” that seems to be growing over time, as the report finds a further 8%
- [NRF Projects High Holiday Spend, Pantheon Media x Spooler, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nrf-projects-high/): Calling Creators “Kids” Is How Legacy Media Lost the Plot by Sean Howard and James Cridland Flightpath founder Sean Howard starts off with a graph from an early September New York Times article representing a failure for Hollywood box office revenue to return to pre-covid levels. A chart that, since 2010, has trended downwards even
- [BBC Sounds' Q3, YouTube Sponsorships are Up, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bbc-sounds-q3/): YouTube sponsorships are up 54% year-over-year. We know because we launched a tool to track them. Intelligence platform Gospel Stats, founded by the Tubefilter team and the Streamy Awards, has published an inaugural report called the YouTube Sponsorship Landscape. The report tracks sponsorships across tens of millions of YouTube channels, tracking revenue that isn’t counted
- [How YouTube DAI Changes Upfronts, Lessons from SXSW Sydney, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-youtube-dai-changes/): Spotify, The Ringer, Netflix and YouTube by Adam Bowie With the recent announcement that select Spotify Studios and The Ringer podcasts are set to be distributed on Netflix in early 2026, analyst Adam Bowie looks at the specifics of the deal. One detail not as widely discussed is the fact full episodes of the
- [IAB Moves NewFronts, Spooler x Pantheon Media, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-moves-newfronts/): Building Interactive Audio Experiences in Hit Replay - Spooler x Pantheon Media. Once again, collaboration is the word of the day. In a new deep-dive conversation, Bryan Barletta is joined by Spooler co-founders James Boggs and Andy Bowers, as well as Pantheon Media co-founders Christian Swain and Peter Ferioli. The group spends a half-hour breaking
- [Spotify's Video Distribution Deals, Students Critique AI Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-video-distribution/): Spotify Forges Video Podcast Distribution Deals Things kicked off Tuesday with the news that Netflix and Spotify had entered into a distribution partnership. With the new deal, select Spotify Studios and The Ringer video podcast episodes will be made available on Netflix in early 2026. The initial batch includes sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime
- [NRF Projects Healthy Holidays, Research Fueling Creativity, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nrf-projects-healthy/): The collaboration behind The Hidden Third Sounds Profitable has a new interview with The Roost Podcast Network Consultant, Project Lead Alison Mobley and journalist Mariana van Zeller discussing her new podcast The Hidden Third, produced in partnership with Muck Media. With The Roost now part of digital talent management company Night Media, the network is
- [Advertising to Advertisers, The Ringer 🔜 Samsung TVs, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/advertising-to-advertisers/): Samsung TV Plus and Spotify Launch Exclusive ‘The Ringer’ Channel as Spotify’s First FAST Offering The Spot(ify) plot thickens. Days after the announcement that select Spotify Studios and The Ringer video podcasts are heading to Netflix in early 2026, Samsung is getting in on the action. Spotify’s first ever free ad-supporting streaming TV channel
- [Measurement's Upfront Moment, $1,600 Netflix Subscribers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/measurements-upfront/): Measurement is Having a Moment at Upfronts At this year’s IAB UK Upfronts, Global announced their Dax ID will have cross-device measurement capabilities starting Q1 2026. The new AI-led device graph will aim to track patterns and connect “listening moments” to give more insight into individual listeners. The day before, Bauer Media announced AudioXi Moments,
- [Spotify’s Netflix Podcast Partnership, New EU Podcast Law, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-netflix-podcast-partnership-new-eu-podcast-law-more/): Spotify and Netflix Form Video Podcast Partnership Through email correspondence with The Download, Spotify has announced this afternoon that select Spotify Studios and The Ringer video podcast episodes will be made available on Netflix in early 2026. The initial batch includes sports, culture, lifestyle, and true crime podcasts from the two studios, with the plan
- [Recapping Advertising Week NYC, Spotify's in ChatGPT, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/recapping-advertising-week/): Advertising Week New York A lot happened in New York this week, let’s run down some highlights. Over 20,000 attendees descended on a small slice of Manhattan to discuss the future of advertising. One running thread is that of generative AI and what it means for marketing. Both for the mechanics of how advertisers build
- [Amazon DSP x Microsoft, Podcasting Without Borders, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-dsp-x-microsoft/): Advertising Week Briefing: Amazon is primed to take over the ad industry by Ronan Shields I see your pun work, Shields, and I’m jealous. Advertising Week New York is the focal point of one of the biggest (if not the biggest) reveals in advertising this week: Microsoft’s demand-side platform (Microsoft Invest, formerly AppNexus/Xandr DSP) is
- [Creators as Power Brokers, Companies Eye Audioboom, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-as-power-brokers/): Advertising Week Briefing: Creators emerge as the industry’s new power brokers by Alexander Lee The role of the content creator has shifted in recent years at events like Advertising Week New York. This year’s edition featured a live taping of Hot Ones, a $25,000 creator pitch contest sponsored by Adobe, and a session with Dhar
- [ChatGPT Integrates Spotify, Alex Cooper Launches Ad Agency, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/chatgpt-integrates-spotify/): ChatGPT Adds Spotify Integration A new update to OpenAI’s generative chatbot adds formal integrations with several apps. Once set up, users can ask the bot about real estate listings and be served official links from Zillow. Most notable for podcasting is Spotify’s integration, as users can ask ChatGPT for music and podcast recommendations. As I
- [Flightcast Launches, 8/10 Spaniards Listen to Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/flightcast-launches/): Flightcast Platform Launches Founder Steven Bartlett has announced the launch of a new podcasting platform dubbed Flightcast, designed to help video podcasters grow their audiences. Co-founded with former MrBeast engineer Roxcodes, Flightcast is designed to distribute video podcasts across major platforms. For example, the Podcast Movement 2025 videos posted to the official archive channel on
- [Spotify on Amazon DSP, Podcast Movement Panels on YouTube, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-on-amazon-dsp/): The Podcast Movement Archive is Live In the interest of empowering the podcast industry and sharing insights beyond the walls of a convention center, Podcast Movement has uploaded all of the Dallas 2025 stage events to a new YouTube channel. Running alongside the official Podcast Movement YouTube presence, The Podcast Movement Archive will serve as
- [Golden Globes Podcast Eligibility, Podcast Campaigns Bring Reach, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/golden-globes-podcast/): The Podcast Movement Archive is Live In the interest of empowering the podcast industry and sharing insights beyond the walls of a convention center, Podcast Movement has launched an official archive channel on YouTube. In addition to the existing Podcast Movement YouTube presence, a second channel has been launched to act as a repository for
- [PRX Acquires Soundrise, Spotify's on Amazon DSP, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/prx-acquires-soundrise/): PRX Expands Podcast Sponsorship Capabilities with Strategic Acquisition of Soundrise Soundrise has worked as the exclusive sales team for PRX’s catalog since 2017. Starting in January of 2026, the Soundrise team will be absorbed as an in-house PRX sales arm. Current CEO Harry Clark will continue working in an advisory capacity at Soundrise through the
- [Creator Executive Collaboration, Ek Steps Down, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creator-executive-collaboration-ek-steps-down-more/): Spotify Names Co-CEOs as Daniel Ek Transitions to Chairman by Molly Scheutz Daniel Ek has transitioned from CEO to executive chairman of Spotify. Former chief business officer Gustav Söderström and former chief product and technology officer Alex Norström have been announced as co-CEOs who will step into their roles effective January 1st. The two have
- [IAB Upgrades Podcast Outlook, Pods Promoting Movies, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-upgrades-podcast/): ‘It’s too risky’: Tariffs are causing brands to back away from the U.S. and expand abroad instead by Julia Waldow Companies like Loftie and Footwear Unlimited (which oversees production for Frye, Spyder, and Baretraps) receive the bulk of their business from the United States, but with production facilities in China they’re staring down the barrel
- [The Robot In The Room, The Sleeping Giant, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-robot-in-the-room-the-sleeping-giant-more/): Hey folks, Tom Webster here with your weekly wrap-up of The Download. Gavin's been off this week (richly deserved, I might add), so you've been subjected to my attempts at keeping this entire enterprise afloat as best I can. I hope that you agree with me: it’s time for Gavin to stop vacationing. So while
- [AI Voices, High Attention Media, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ai-voices-high-attention-media-more/): This is my last daily issue of The Download for the week (I’ll be back with our weekly recap tomorrow) before Gavin returns from vacation. I have tried not to break anything, though I may have left our Google Drive looking like 40 miles of bad road. Hope to see some of you at the
- [Creators Find Daylight, Audio’s ROI, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-find-daylight-audios-roi-more/): Hey, it’s Tom again, filling in for Gavin. I’ve been seeing a lot of stories about opportunity this week - which, when it knocks, generally wears overalls, according to Thomas Edison (which I have been mistakenly listed as in more than one conference program). I don’t know about you, but the fall feels like it
- [The Google Spear, Top Spenders, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-google-spear-top-spenders-more/): The YouTube Tip of the Google Spear I found this article, from Stratechery’s Ben Thompson, to be absolutely fascinating. Thompson argues that we’ve been spending so much time thinking and talking about text-based AI, that we have overlooked the great sleeping giant of YouTube. Yes, it’s hard to believe YouTube can be overlooked about anything,
- [A Podcast Milestone, AI Disclosure, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-podcast-milestone-ai-disclosure-more/): A Podcast Milestone, AI Disclosure, & More Before we get started, you should know that we here at Sounds Profitable have given Gavin a richly deserved week off, so you are stuck with the potentially cringeworthy work of me (Tom Webster) as I attempt to keep this ship on the rails. See? Mixed metaphor. Screwing
- [Canada's Growing Podcast Scene, Reframing Short-Form Clips, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/canadas-growing-podcast/): The Podcast Landscape 2025: Maturity, Growth, and What Comes Next by Tom Webster Responses from over 5,000 Americans fielded for The Podcast Landscape 2025 find organic growth for podcasting has slowed noticeably as the industry matures. When thinking about a medium maturing, there are two distinct examples to consider: radio’s consolidation of content and retraction
- [Podcasting is Maturing, Canada's Audience Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-is-maturing-canadas/): The Podcast Landscape 2025: Maturity, Growth, and What Comes Next by Tom Webster Responses from over 5,000 Americans fielded for The Podcast Landscape 2025 find organic growth for podcasting has slowed noticeably as the industry matures. The rising tide that lifts all boats is transitioning into the next phase for podcasting, and those who will
- [YouTube Introduces DAI (Kinda), Ten Years of UK Podcast Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-introduces-dai-kinda/): New ways for creators to earn more with brand partnerships by Todd Sherman and Michael Beckmann While a good chunk of the post is re-announcing previously announced tools for YouTube creators, the big one that might lead to a tidal shift in how YouTube and video podcasting is managed is YouTube’s version of dynamic
- [SiriusXM on Amazon's DSP, Ad Fraud with SlopAds, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/siriusxm-on-amazons-dsp/): Amazon is dialing up its DSP in pact with SiriusXM by Ronan Shields This morning SiriusXM and Amazon DSP (demand-side platform) announced a new deal that brings over 160 million listeners from SXM’s Pandora and SoundCloud to the platform, making them the largest audio partner in Amazon DSP. SiriusXM podcast inventory is also slated to
- [Short-Form Podcast Cannibalization, Kenya's Podcasting Scene, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/short-form-podcast-cannibalization/): Short-Form Video Clips Could Cannibalize Podcasters’ Real Audiences by Ashley Carman A new issue of Soundbite looks at the common video podcast promotion strategy of clipping juicy moments of conversation and uploading them to social media. On paper, shotgun-blasting clips to YouTube Shorts and TikTok is a promotional strategy intended to draw new audiences
- [Podcasting Mourns Todd Cochrane, Creators Leverage CTV, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-mourns-todd/): Blubrry CEO Todd Cochrane has died On Monday morning RawVoice and Blubrry founder Todd Cochrane passed away suddenly while travelling back from visiting his family. James Cridland and Cochrane’s long-time co-host Rob Greenlee collaborated to publish an obituary on Podnews. On Wednesday The New Media Show uploaded a final episode in which Greenlee, Adam Curry,
- [Remembering Todd Cochrane, Bridging Creatives and Execs, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/remembering-todd-cochrane-bridging-creatives-and-execs-more/): Remembering Todd Cochrane by Tom Webster Earlier this week RawVoice and Blubrry founder Todd Cochrane passed away suddenly while travelling back from visiting his family. A full obituary co-written by James Cridland and Cochrane’s long-time cohost Rob Greenlee can be found here. Tom Webster shares his own experiences as the podcast industry remembers Cochrane. The
- [YouTube's Culture & Trends Report, Sports Media for Gen Z, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtubes-culture-trends/): How Gen Z Is Rewriting the Rules of Sports Media by Antony Bennice A LinkedIn piece from Locked On Sports looking at how young adults are shifting the focus on sports media fandom. Talking head shows on cable TV have faded in popularity as Gen Z consumers are seeking their sports content in TikToks, YouTube
- [Podcast Industry Mourns Passing of Todd Cochrane](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-industry-mourns/): Blubrry CEO Todd Cochrane has died Yesterday morning Blubrry Podcasting founder Todd Cochrane passed away. In a statement from Blubrry, CFO Barry Kantz eulogizes Cochrane, reflecting on his career since founding RawVoice and Blubrry in 2005, as well as launching Geek News Central in the earliest days of podcasting. Details regarding services and ways to
- [Creators Leverage CTV, NYT Sunsets Audio App, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-leverage-ctv/): Creators are leveraging CTV channels as added value for sponsorship deals by Alexander Lee While CTV platforms have had some content creator presence for years (I recall discovering YouTubers were re-uploading their content to Prime Video in the mid-2010s), a focus on creator-led content has increased noticeably in recent years. Tubi, SamsungTV Plus, Roku, everybody’s
- [Podcasting's Growth Drivers, YouTube Tops Streaming, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-growth-drivers/): This week we put several hummingbird feeders out on our porch. Through a combination of good placement and (we suspect) higher quality nectar than our neighbors, we're the hottest spot in town. You've never felt like a Disney character until you've had ten hummingbirds hanging out around you. While my partner and I corner the
- [The Podcast Landscape 2025 Report, Hidden Creator Costs, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-podcast-landscape-2025/): Advertising Week New York With September in full swing, I’m gonna take a quick second to list out what Sounds Profitable’s gonna be hosting this year at Advertising Week NYC. On October 6th and 7th The Podcast Zone returns for networking opportunities and panels (including Tom Webster debuting new data). Sounds Profitable partners can still
- [Media Companies Court Podcast Stars, Creator Cashflow, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/media-companies-cour/): LAST CALL: The Podcast Landscape 2025 debuts tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. in a live webinar hosted by Tom Webster. You might have seen some teaser data in Dallas, now catch the full presentation. A quick reminder that, as is the case with every Sounds Profitable research presentation, registering ahead of time means you’ll be emailed
- [Podcasting's Live Event Profits, Edison Publishes Top 25 UK Pods, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-live-event/): Reminder: The Podcast Landscape 2025 debuts this Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in a live webinar hosted by Tom Webster. You might have seen some teaser data in Dallas, now catch the full presentation. A quick reminder that, as is the case with every Sounds Profitable research presentation, registering ahead of time means you’ll be emailed
- [Audiences Listen on YouTube, Chartable's End-Date, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiences-listen-on/): YouTube Podcasts Eligibility Might Be the Way to Save the Emmys’ Ever-Shrinking Talk Category by Michael Schneider Awards columnist Schneider highlights how the chat podcast has effectively usurped traditional broadcast talk shows in ubiquity. Clips of Conan O’Brien interviewing guests in a podcast studio perform as well (if not better) than the legacy TV talk
- [Chartable's Official Sundown, YouTube Hype Goes Global, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/chartables-official-sundown/): Exclusive: Chartable is going away. While it’s been public knowledge for some time that Megaphone customers will lose access to Chartable eventually, now there is a concrete date. According to Podnews reporting, an email is set to go out today to Megaphone customers detailing Chartable will fully sunset on December 8th of this year and
- [Swift Podcast Sets Record, Trade Desk Redefines SSP, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/swift-podcast-sets-record/): The Trade Desk’s redefinition of supply paths ripples across ad tech by Seb Joseph TTD has reclassified supply-side platforms - SSPs - as resellers. As Joseph’s writing frames it, the reclassification shifts SSPs from being the critical pipes carrying publisher inventory to demand platforms to being middlemen interrupting the flow. And the ‘reseller’ mark is
- [Spotify Adds Chat, YouTube's New LLM Filter, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-adds-chat-youtubes/): YouTube secretly used AI to edit people's videos. The results could bend reality by Thomas Germain BBC coverage of a long-developing story involving unexpected changes to YouTube Shorts. Since June, various content creators have started noticing some of their Shorts look different than the raw file, or the same file uploaded to Instagram Reels or
- [Increasing Subscription Prices, YouTube Potential @ the Emmys, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/increasing-subscription-prices/): Before we get into the news proper, a quick reminder that SiriusXM is running a quick survey to take the pulse of some simple-but-big questions shaping podcasting. If you didn’t get a chance to take the survey at Podcast Movement last week, now’s the time. It’s short, quick, anonymous feedback focused on gut reactions instead
- [News Podcast Audience Grows, Sounds Profitable's Future, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sounds-profitables-future/): What’s Next for Sounds Profitable, by Bryan Barletta As announced in an Axios article by Kerry Flynn this Monday, Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement are merging. Both brands will continue to exist with their original staff intact, with Bryan Barletta becoming president of Podcast Movement. In this week’s Sounds Profitable newsletter, Barletta details improvements this
- [Video in Open Podcasting, Audiences Love Choice, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-in-open-podcasting/): Bringing video to the open podcast ecosystem The Podcast Standards Project kicked off Podcast Movement Dallas with a packed presentation of how video podcasting with HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) works, what that would functionally look like for creators, and what the industry needs to do for such a distribution system to become widespread. The PSP
- [YouTube Shorts Collabs Upgraded, Spotify’s Q2 Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-shorts-collabs/): YouTube Growth Continues, Launches Collaborator-Focused Shorts Ads A new YouGov survey of U.K. social media users finds 28% of respondents use YouTube more than they did a year ago. Instagram scored 25%, TikTok 21%, and X pulled in 15%. Two age brackets stand out for using YouTube more this year: Gen Z (38%) and Baby
- [Sounds Profitable x Podcast Movement, Dentsu's Indian Podcast Investment, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sounds-profitable-x-podmov/): Exclusive: Podcast merger signals convergence era by Kerry Flynn Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable are merging. Both brands will continue to exist with their original staff intact, with Bryan Barletta becoming president of Podcast Movement. With the merger comes a renewed focus on getting podcasting in front of the business world, such as bringing the
- [Taylor Swift's Podcast Strategy, Audio's Continued Importance, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taylor-swifts-podcast-strat/): No, I’m not going to make cute references to Texas in this week’s intro, even if I am actively packing for Podcast Movement in Dallas. I’m not, because I have to use this precious space to remind you that if you don’t have a room booked yet, TODAY is the last day you can book
- [Audio Podcasting's Next Evolution, New Podscape Update, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-podcastings-next/): Before I get into the news: one more reminder that Podcast Movement hotel rooms are still available at PodcastMovement.com/PMhotel, but organizers tell us the rates will increase by over $100 more per-night starting Friday. So get to bookin’, I’ll see y’all there. The Podscape Midyear Update For several years now Magellan AI and Sounds
- [Video Drives Lift, Remembering Young Marketers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-drives-lift/): Before I get into the news: a quick reminder for Podcast Movement Dallas attendees that there are still hotel rooms available at PodcastMovement.com/PMhotel, but the rates will go up over $100 more per-night starting Friday, so get to bookin’. See y’all there. Inside the Walled Garden: Breaking New Ground on YouTube Podcast Measurement Oxford
- [Taylor Swift's Podcast Announcement, Downy-branded Audio Drama, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taylor-swifts-podcast-2/): As TV Embraces Digital, Podcasts Have Become TV Shows by Michael McCarthy With the growth of sports podcasting comes the evolution of the podcasts themselves. For instance, former ESPN commentator/analyst Stephen A. Smith rebranded his podcast Know Mercy to The Stephen A. Smith Show, upgrading to a multi-million dollar podcasting studio in New Jersey. Cam
- [How B2B Uses Podcast Ads, Seattle's Audio Fiction Scene, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-b2b-uses-podcast-ads/): Special Screening @ the Sounds Profitable Podcast Movement Lounge We’ve got something fun to add to your calendar for Podcast Movement in Dallas: director Shaun Michael Colón’s documentary Age of Audio will be screened in the Sounds Profitable Lounge. Sponsored by Transistor.fm, Metacast, Blubrry Podcasting by RawVoice, RSS.com, and Sounds Profitable, the screening will kick
- [Amazon Restructures Wondery, Spotify Launches Audiobooks Plus, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-restructures-wondery/): Amazon Restructures Wondery, Industry Reacts [Multiple Sources] Late last week Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman and Lucas Shaw published an article in which a source alleged Amazon was shutting down Wondery. The source claimed 110 jobs would be eliminated as the company streamlined to specifically focus on personality-focused creator-driven content. All narrative-focused podcasts are reportedly being moved
- [Apple's Best Podcasts of '25 (So Far), Audioboom's Video Boom, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apples-best-podcasts/): From Social Proof to Parasocial Proof: How Podcasts Provide the Scaffolding for Social Campaigns by Tom Webster When looking at data from the recent Driving to Action report, which demonstrates how Podcast Primes (respondents to The Advertising Landscape who consume podcasts daily/near-daily), Webster cautions against treating people as monoliths. Podcast Primes love podcasts, to
- [Audiobooks Plus Arrives in US, Von Interviews Cartoon, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiobooks-plus-arrives/): Promoting Podcasting’s Workers and Open Positions Sounds Profitable’s mission has always been to uplift the business of podcasting. Part of that is ensuring those looking for jobs can find them, and those looking to hire can find them. With that in mind, I’d like to take a quick moment to introduce newer readers (and remind
- [Ofcom Podcast Listenership, Spotify's Price Increase, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ofcom-podcast-listenership/): Only one-third of Brits consume information via news brands by Jack Benjamin The new Media Nations report from Ofcom finds only 34% of the UK public consume news either via print or online news brands. Podcasting performs well as a method for distributing news, allowing legacy news companies to generate ad revenue and reach newer
- [Wondery to Fold into Audible, SiriusXM Podcasting Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/wondery-to-fold-into-audible/): Amazon to Shut Down Wondery Podcast Studio, Reorganize Audio Business by Ashley Carman and Lucas Shaw According to Bloomberg’s sources, Amazon is closing Wondery, breaking up the company’s operations as part of a reorganization of audio business, with 110 employees being let go as a result. An internal memo shared with Bloomberg also notes Wondery
- [Spotify Hypes Audiobooks, Podcast Ads Drive Action, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-hypes-audiobooks-podcast/): The Advertising Landscape Part 3: Driving to Action Sounds Profitable’s latest segment of data from The Advertising Landscape, built from the largest public study of podcast and advertising in the country with 5,005 American respondents aged 18+, is now live. As the title suggests, Driving to Action focuses on how different ad-supported mediums drive actions
- [Toyota's Podcast $pend, Audio Fiction Incubating New IP, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/toyotas-podcast-pend/): Top Podcast Advertisers - June 2025 Magellan AI’s monthly chart of top movers & shakers and top overall spend by brands has been updated with June data. Sports remains a favorite investment for podcast advertisers, taking 11 of the top 15 advertisers’ top genre for spend. Disney, Linkedin, and T-Mobile are among the top 15
- [Podcast Ads Drive Action, Local Radio Reporting Returning, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ads-drive-action/): The Advertising Landscape Part 3: Driving to Action Sounds Profitable’s latest segment of data from The Advertising Landscape, built from the largest public study of podcast and advertising in the country with 5,005 American respondents aged 18+, is now live. As the title suggests, Driving to Action focuses on how different ad-supported mediums drive actions
- [Modern Podcast Monetization, AI @ Ad Awards, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/modern-podcast-monetization/): The Death of The Late Show Is the Canary in the Linear Coal Mine by Dave Dembowski Setting aside the political implications and timing of CBS choosing not to renew Stephen Colbert’s contract for The Late Show, there’s something to consider about the sheer weight of the linear TV late-night talk show. Dembowski points to
- [Spotify Hypes Audiobooks, Overwhelming Ad Load, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-hypes-audiobooks/): REMINDER FOR TOMORROW: Sounds Profitable has a webinar this Wednesday! Join us on Wednesday, July 30th at 2:00 p.m. EST for Tom Webster’s presentation of Driving to Action. This third section of The Advertising Landscape data examines how podcast audiences respond to ads compared to other digital and traditional channels. The findings challenge convention assumptions
- [Comedy as a PR Tool, U.S. Tops Acast Q2 Markets, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/comedy-as-a-pr-tool/): Before I get into the news, don’t forget Sounds Profitable has a webinar this Wednesday! Join us on Wednesday, July 30th at 2:00 p.m. EST for Tom Webster’s presentation of Driving to Action. This third section of The Advertising Landscape data examines how podcast audiences respond to ads compared to other digital and traditional channels.
- [Remembering Audio in Video Boom, Podcasting's Late-Night Appeal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/remembering-audio/): REMINDER: this coming Wednesday (June 30th) at 2:00 p.m. EST Tom Webster will host a presentation of the latest section of The Advertising Landscape data. Part 3, Driving to Action, examines how podcast audiences actually respond to advertising in comparison to other digital and traditional channels. Findings that challenge conventional assumptions about podcast ad performance,
- [Looking @ Super Listeners, Recognizing Comedy Podcasts & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-super-listeners/): ‘Super listeners’ make up just 2% of an artist’s monthly streaming audience, yet buy 50% of concert tickets, Spotify says, by Daniel Tencer While “superfan” is an existing segment researcher Luminate uses to classify 18% of U.S. music audiences who heavily listen to audio, Spotify’s “super listener” classification is so strict it only includes 2%
- [How Podcasts Are Overtaking Late-Night, Apple on Listener Privacy, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-podcasts-are/): Protecting user privacy in the Listening Reports Apple has published a follow-up to their listener reports upgrade in Apple Podcasts. The new post clarifies two privacy measures used to protect identities. The first is noise, which adds or subtracts a small random number to metrics. Second: Apple employs thresholds that leave out values where the
- [Apple Podcasts Data Upgrade, Public Broadcast Funding, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcasts-data/): New Subscription Listening Reports Apple Podcasts Connect has launched an update to Listening Reports for podcasters. Now four reports are accessible: Episode, Show, Channel, and Provider Listening, which can be downloaded daily, weekly, or monthly. As Bumper co-founder Dan Misener notes, the Channel report is a useful tool for podcast networks that run paid subscription
- [Audioboom Acquires Adelicious, Podcasting's Growth Mindset, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audioboom-acquires-adelicious/): Audioboom Acquires UK Podcast Leader Adelicious British podcasting platform Audioboom has acquired Adelicious. The resulting combination is set to make one of the UK’s largest locally-produced podcast networks with an aggregate 125 million monthly downloads and video views. Adelicious CEO Andrew Goldsmith is set to become President of a consolidated UK division under the Adelicious
- [Emmy Creator Shutout, SiriusXM Play Reveal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/emmy-creator-shutout/): Sirius, long commercial-free in cars, is betting on advertising to capture new listeners by Lillian Rizzo CNBC covers the announcement of SiriusXM Play, the first ad-supported subscription plan for app streaming and in-car listening from SiriusXM. The $7/month Play tier is currently only available on a limited basis, and starts with around 130 music and
- [Gemini Now Sees Instagram, IAB Tech Lab AI Scraping Initiative, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gemini-now-sees-instagram/): Google Now Indexes Instagram EarMax Media co-founder Andy Maxwell highlights a new update to Google search and the Gemini AI overviews. In a recent update, Google has started indexing and sourcing Instagram content. A move that could be a boon for podcast discoverability and advertising. Maxwell uses the example of a listener who remembers a
- [Audioboom's Q2, Video Podcasts Drive Hollywood Jobs, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiobooms-q2-video/): Audioboom (BOOM) Q2 Trading Update Podcast publisher Audioboom has published their Q2 earnings figures. I’ve linked to the London Stock Exchange official document for those who like direct numbers, but highlights include: Q2’s EBITDA profit reached $1.2 million USD, Q2 revenue increasing 5% year-over-year, and the success of programmatic ad marketplace Showcase (revenue for which
- [YouTube Restricting Reuploads, Retaining Podcasting's Spark, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-restricting-reuploads/): The Podcast Preservation Paradox by Tom Webster As video podcasting grows in popularity and audience share, two schools of thought have formed: preservationists who are worried podcasting could lose the soul of what makes it unique to growth-at-all-costs video, and growth advocates who welcome the YouTube expansion into podcasting as it brings new audiences. A
- [Preserving Podcasting's Spark, Stopping Slop Content, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/preserving-podcastings-spark/): The Podcast Preservation Paradox by Tom Webster As video podcasting grows in popularity and audience share, two schools of thought have formed: preservationists who are worried podcasting could lose the soul of what makes it unique to growth-at-all-costs video, and growth advocates who welcome the YouTube expansion into podcasting as it brings new audiences. Webster
- [Managing Many Metrics, The Podcast Exchange Restructuring, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/managing-many-metrics/): Ask Skip: Does Anyone Know What ‘Hours Watched’ Actually Means? ‘Skip Buffering’ - a no-nonsense fictional pundit used by The Streaming Wars to cover touchy subjects - turns “his” sights on streaming metrics. An anonymous head of strategy for a mid-sized streamer gave Streaming Wars a quote questioning if the streaming trend of bragging about
- [India's Podcasting Boom, Spotify Returns Pod.Link, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/indias-podcasting-boom/): The Podcasting Boom in India: Shaping the Future of Digital Storytelling The India Brand Equity Foundation takes a look at the medium’s relatively recent evolution, now with an estimated audience of 200 million that puts India in third place behind China and the U.S. Grand View Research projects that with 2023’s podcast revenue almost reaching
- [Amazon x Roku, Spotify Upgrades Car Listening, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-x-roku-spotify/): The Winners and Losers From the Amazon-Roku Deal by Mark Stenberg Last month Amazon and Roku entered into a partnership that enables buying Roku inventory on Amazon’s demand-side platform. Stenberg’s piece goes over various sections of the advertising industry impacted by the deal, such as more direct-to-consumer brands being able to scale into doing connected
- [Lessons from Cannes, Covering Demos w. Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/lessons-from-cannes/): It’s hot out here, time for a swim and some lemonade at a pond-side cottage. Next week Sounds Profitable will be taking off for Summer break, but the Download daily will be back to normal publication on Monday the 7th and this here Recap’ll be back on the 11th. Before I go stock up on
- [Purpose-Driven Podcasting, Spotify Eyes YouTubers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/purpose-driven-podcasting/): Gone Fishin’: Sounds Profitable will be taking next week off for summer break. After tomorrow morning’s issue of the Download Recap, the next time you’ll hear from me will be Monday, July 7th. Try to stay cool out there, and don’t forget the sunscreen. Serious about Wellness: Unlock the power of purpose-driven podcasting Today Sounds
- [Germany's Podcast Demographics, How YouTube's Algorithm Works (Kinda), & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/germanys-podcast-demographics/): LAST CALL: THIS THURSDAY, June 26th, at 2:00 p.m. EST Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are teaming up for the free webinar Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting. A presentation of data from The Advertising Landscape focusing on two of the industry’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement consumers. Join
- [Podcasts on Smart TVs, Attention-Getting Audio, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-on-smart-tvs/): THIS THURSDAY, June 26th, at 2:00 p.m. EST Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are teaming up for the free webinar Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting. A presentation of data from The Advertising Landscape focusing on two of the industry’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement consumers. Join hosts Tom
- [How Podcasts Covered Hard News, Canadian Podcasters Lobby Gov't, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-podcasts-covered/): THIS THURSDAY, June 26th, at 2:00 p.m. EST Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are teaming up for the free webinar Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting. A presentation of data from The Podcast Landscape focusing on two of the industry’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement consumers. Join hosts Tom
- [Taking Podcasts on the Road, Lessons from Cannes, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taking-podcasts-on-the-road/): Before I get into the news, a quick scheduling heads-up: this coming Thursday (June 26th) Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are hosting a free webinar at 2:00 p.m. EST. Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting will focus on two of podcasting’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement. Hosts Tom Webster
- [Creators @ Cannes, Amazon's Prime Ad Load, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/creators-cannes-amazons/): Don’t forget! A week from tomorrow (June 26th at 2:00 p.m. EST, to be exact) Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are hosting Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting: A webinar focused on two of podcasting’s fastest-growing audiences: consumers of Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement. Based on new data from The
- [Recapping Cannes Day 1, 'Viewability' in Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/recapping-cannes-day-1-viewability-in-podcast-ads-more/): I wanna give you a heads-up about our next research presentation: on Thursday, June 26th at 2:00 p.m. EST Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are hosting Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting. The webinar will focus on two of podcasting’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement consumers. Based on new
- [Ads on WhatsApp, SiriusXM on MMM, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/headline-ads-on-whatsapp/): Quick reminder that on Thursday, June 26th at 2:00 p.m. EST Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network are hosting Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting. The webinar will focus on two of podcasting’s fastest-growing audiences: Health & Fitness, and Self-Improvement consumers. Based on new data from The Podcast Landscape, the presentation will
- [YouTube's Place in Podcasting, Telling Stories with Pixels, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtubes-place-in-podcasting/): Mattresses and Metrics by Tom Webster While looking at Podscribe’s Performance Benchmarks report for Q2, a particular section stuck in Webster’s head: pixel attribution captures 7x more conversions than post purchase surveys, and 4.6x more conversions than promo codes. “Two things immediately come to mind here, and they aren’t mutually exclusive: one, more campaigns should
- [Spotify’s Rolling Out Transcripts, Podscribe Industry Rankings, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-rolling-out-transcripts/): Welcome to a special edition of The Download! As long-time readers know, one of the main goals of this newsletter is to condense the day’s news down to something digestible to tell you what’s happening, and why you should click through to read the full story when time permits. Occasionally a day will come along
- [2025 Audio Ad Forecast, YouTube's Place in Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2025-audio-ad-forecast/): YouTube Isn’t Dominating Podcasting by Paul Riismandel Working in the world of podcast research, Riismandel reads a lot of news and is going to a lot of events, both of which are heavily pushing an exaggerated view of YouTube’s place in the world of podcasting. It is an important platform for discovery and passively a
- [New Podcast Features @ WWDC, How a Podcast Promoted EuroMillions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-podcast-features-wwdc/): Apple’s announcements include more for podcasting by James Cridland The annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) had a fair few new Apple announcements, and Podnews has rounded up all the ones impacting podcasting. Similar to existing speech volume-adjustment features in third-party apps like Overcast and Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts will have an “enhance dialog” option
- [Podcasting's Programmatic Future, How Podcasts Use Patreon, @ More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-programmatic/): With such a successful POSSIBLE event for podcast advertising, Sounds Profitable is continuing our international effort to get podcasting in front of global advertising leaders. To maximize our value to partners and the industry overall, we're focusing on bringing brands to Converge @ Cannes, an event that shares our goals of educating more people on
- [Audiences Trust Podcasts, HLS Could Upgrade RSS, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiences-trust-podcasts/): Why Podcasting’s Advertising Advantage Is Bigger Than We Thought by Tom Webster This week Sounds Profitable published the second part to The Advertising Landscape, the largest study of podcast advertising effectiveness in the U.S. Built from a survey of 5,005 American respondents aged 18+, the report has been divided up into sections to make core
- [The Advertising Landscape, Australian Audio Engagement, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-advertising-landscape-2/): Why Podcasting’s Advertising Advantage Is Bigger Than We Thought by Tom Webster Yesterday Sounds Profitable published The Advertising Landscape 2025: Attention and Trust, the second part of the ongoing release of a landmark study into podcast advertising effectiveness in the U.S. Webster’s article this morning goes over some key findings, and why they matter
- [Podcasting's High Trust and Recall, NPR's Open Letter to Congress, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-high-trust-and/): How podcasts are earning their spot in the premium ad tier by Alexander Lee Digiday covers The Advertising Landscape: Trust and Attention, built from a survey of 5,005 Americans aged 18+ conducted in January and February of this year. Key findings from the report Lee covers include frequent podcast listeners remembering ads more than
- [Upgrading RSS with HLS, Kast Media's New CEO, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/upgrading-rss-with/): LAST CALL: Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EST the second chapter of The Advertising Landscape, the largest study of podcast advertising effectiveness in the U.S., will debut in a live webinar hosted by Tom Webster. Register now to grab your virtual seat and get the report sent directly to your inbox after the presentation. HLS
- [Podcast Ads Fill Gender Gap, Australia's Internet Ad Spend, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ads-fill-gender/): Before I get into our top story, a quick reminder that tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST Quill is hosting a webinar with founder Fatima Zaidi and Sounds Profitable partner Tom Webster. Over the 45 minute presentation, they will cover how to understand who your listeners are, how to track listener journeys across platforms, how to
- [Podcasting's Ad Anomaly, UK Audio Listenership, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-ad-anomaly/): Reflections from Podcast Show London [Multiple Sources] It’s the week after a big industry event, let’s check out some industry reflections on conversations had at PSL! First up, Amplifi Media’s Steven Goldstein gives an overview of the conference with five key takeaways. Including YouTube’s evolution from “a polite observer” in 2024 to a major player
- [Podcast Ads Addressing Demographics, Spotify Ups Discovery, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ads-addressing/): Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcasting Advertising Anomaly: New Research on Attention and Gender by Tom Webster The next chapter of data from The Advertising Landscape will focus specifically on podcast advertising’s performance in regards to attention and trust. One bit of data that stands out to Webster is evidence there is (near-as-makes-no-difference)
- [Speaking Up for Spoken Word, Calm and Cautious Q2, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/speaking-up-for-spoken-word/): Webinar Roundup There's quite a few webinars coming up in the next week, so I've built a handy-dandy section to show off what you can attend and when! The Infinite Dial UK 2025 - May 29th at 9 a.m. EST Edison Research debuted The Infinite Dial UK 2025 at Podcast Show London, now tomorrow they’ll
- [Podcast Show London Debrief, Brief Spotify Outage, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-show-london-debrief/): Reflections from Podcast Show London [Multiple Sources] It’s the week after a big industry event, let’s check out some industry reflections on conversations had at PSL! First up, Amplifi Media’s Steven Goldstein gives an overview of the conference with five key takeaways. Including YouTube’s evolution from “a polite observer” in 2024 to a major player
- [International Audio Listening, Book-Buying on Spotify, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/international-audio-listening/): In just two weeks Part 2 of The Advertising Landscape, focusing on Attention and Trust, will debut in a free webinar with Tom Webster. Registration is open now for the presentation looking into why podcast listeners actually pay attention to ads and why they trust brands they hear about on their favorite podcasts. Attendees will
- [Australian Digital Audio 📈, UK Audio Listening Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australian-digital-audio-📈/): Digital audio revenue soars as broadcast radio remains flat by Nathan Jolly Commercial Radio & Audio has published a new report using data compiled by analytics firm Milton Data, which covers ad revenue for ARN, SCA, Nova Entertainment, Nine and several smaller Australian outfits. According to the report, Australian commercial radio networks hit $262.1
- [Channel 4 🔜 Podcasting, New IAB Digital Ad Agreements, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/channel-4-🔜-podcasting/): In just two weeks Part 2 of The Advertising Landscape, focusing on Attention and Trust, will debut in a free webinar with Tom Webster. Registration is open now for the presentation looking into why podcast listeners actually pay attention to ads and why they trust brands they hear about on their favorite podcasts. Attendees will also
- [Apple Podcast Design Docs, Buying 📚on Spotify iOS, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcast-design-docs-buying-📚on-spotify-ios-more/): Spotify iOS users can now buy audiobooks directly from the app by Anna Washenko Apple has approved a new app update for Spotify, allowing users in the U.S. to see the cash price of individual audiobooks and buy ‘top up’ hours for audiobook listening if they want more than the 15 listen-hours included with
- [Podcasts in Times Square, Spotify Plays Updated, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-in-times-square/): The Podcast Show Is Starting Soon [Multiple Sources] As I type this, Bryan and Tom are jetting off to London for The Podcast Show. For those also in attendance, I’ve grabbed a few sources about the conference to help plan out the 21st and 22nd.Before the conference kicks off, don’t forget the Sounds Profitable
- [Prepping for Podcast Show London, Reconsidering the Download, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/prepping-for-podcast-show/): Podcast Show London is Next Week! It’s almost time for The Podcast Show. Next week Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster and Bryan Barletta will be in attendance, so I’ve got a quick list of every panel they’re going to be hosting/attending in addition to the existing Sounds Profitable happy hour on Tuesday the 20th. Tom
- [Leveraging Podcast Events, Content Creators @ Upfronts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/leveraging-podcast-events/): Before I get into the news, just a quick heads-up on Sounds Profitable stuff coming next week at The Podcast Show London! Yesterday we talked about panels Tom Webster will be attending/hosting, today I’ve got the details for Bryan Barletta’s (many) appearances in London: Wednesday 21 1:10 -1:40 Mic Check: Are You Reaching the Right
- [YouTube @ Upfronts, Twitch-as-Radio, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-upfronts-twitch-as-radio-more/): STUDY: Australian consumers are mostly brand agnostic Marketing automation platform Dotdigital has released a study built from 3,000 global consumers, including 1,000 based in Australia. According to their findings, AU shoppers value time and privacy. They’re also the most brand-agnostic of the countries included, with 69% of Australians not having loyalty to any brands
- [New IAB Attention Metrics, Audible AI-Generated Audiobooks, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-iab-attention-metrics-audible-ai-generated-audiobooks-more/): iHeartMedia, Inc. Reports Results for 2025 First Quarter Overall, iHeartMedia’s Q1 revenue is up 1% year over year (1.8% if Q1 2024 is adjusted to not include political ad spend). Podcast revenue in particular is up to $116 million, a 28% year over year increase. Chairman Bob Pittman specifically notes “tremendous growth” and the
- [Audio Attribution Windows, What's in a Play?, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-attribution-windows-whats-in-a-play-more/): Reactions and Clarifications re: Spotify Plays [Multiple Sources] Last week Spotify announced a new ‘play’ metric that will soon appear on podcast episodes, providing the first ‘view count’ style metric visible to audiences outside of video podcasts on YouTube. NBC News ran an article in the evening of May 8th, aggregating concerns from podcasters.
- [Podcasting's $7b 2024, What Podcast Fans are Like, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-7b-2024/): The Great Podcast Divide: Understanding Fans vs. Anti-Fans by Tom Webster In the survey for The Advertising Landscape, Sounds Profitable asked monthly podcast consumer respondents to score how much of a ‘fan’ they are of podcasts on a scale from 1 to 10. In this article, Webster talks about the Fans (people who rated
- [Examining Podcasting's Fans, The Downsides of Podcasting for 📺, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-for-📺-more/): The Great Podcast Divide: Understanding Fans vs. Anti-Fans by Tom Webster In the survey for The Advertising Landscape, Sounds Profitable asked monthly podcast consumer respondents to score how much of a ‘fan’ they are of podcasts on a scale from 1 to 10. In this article, Webster talks about the Fans (people who rated
- [New Estimate for Global Podcast Economy, CTV Podcasting Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-estimate-for-global/): Podcast consumption shifts toward connected TVs by Alexander Lee A look into the growing connected TV presence in podcasting, following YouTube’s stats showing video podcasts are becoming more and more of a living room television mainstay. For instance, Flight Story’s CRO Christiana Brenton told Digiday 29% of their 2024 YouTube views came from TV
- [Spotify Podcast Viewcounts, Epic Games v. Apple Results, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-podcast-viewcounts/): Swedish Podcast Conglomerate PodX Acquires Lemonada Media for Around $30 Million by Ashley Carman PodX’s acquisition of Lemonada Media marks the conglomerate’s first move into the U.S. podcasting space. Since forming in 2022, PodX has largely focused on acquiring audio companies and podcasts in Europe and the U.K., including the recent ‘supergroup’ by merging Goldhawk
- [Podcasts 🔜 Spotify Ad Exchange, Defining the "Top" Podcaster, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-🔜-spotify-ad/): Spotify to add podcasts to Sax ‘later this quarter’ by Jack Benjamin While Spotify’s in-house ad exchange did promise podcast inventory would come eventually, now there’s a deadline. According to Spotify Associate Director of Product Marketing Savanna Ramsey, speaking at the Sparks event in London last week, podcast inventory is coming to Spotify Ad
- [Podcasting's Smart TV Factor, Getting Gaming into Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-smart-tv-factor/): The Smart TV Factor: What Growing Connected TV Listening Means for Podcasting by Tom Webster 8% of podcast consumers primarily use a smart TV for that. While it might not sound like much, it’s significant enough to draw attention to. When filtered to just Smart TV primary users, a different kind of user begins
- [March Ad Spend 📈, SAG-AFTRA to Add Influencers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/march-ad-spend/): The Smart TV Factor: What Growing Connected TV Listening Means for Podcasting by Tom Webster 8% of podcast consumers primarily use a smart TV for that. While it might not sound like much, it’s significant enough to draw attention to. When filtered to just Smart TV primary users, a different kind of user begins to
- [Conversations from Possible, Deloitte's Media Outlook, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/conversations-from-possible/): Economic uncertainty bubbles up in the conversations on the first day of Possible by Michael Bürgi The general vibe of executives visiting the Digiday Studio during day 1 of Possible in Miami is one of caution and concern. Zeta Global founder David Steinberg finds it encouraging that marketers haven’t yet slashed their budgets, opting to
- [Digital Video Attracting Spend, UK Podcast Ad Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/digital-video-attracting/): The UK Podcast Advertising Opportunity: Insights from AudioUK's Power of Podcasting Showcase by Ben Robins Sound Insights founder Ben Robins recaps the Power of Podcasting Showcase hosted by AudioUK last week. The core theme running through the event is the open opportunity in plain sight with podcast advertising in the UK. Despite continuing growth in
- [Selling Podcast Ads to Gaming, Spotify's Podcaster Pay, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/selling-podcast-ads-to/): Podcasts and Gaming: Elevating How We Cater to Industry Interests by Edward Fuller The second in a two-part article series about the potential podcasts hold for game marketing by Media Bodies CEO Edward Fuller. A big hurdle podcasting will need to overcome to be accepted in mainstream game marketing mix is refreshing outdated presumptions marketers
- [2024's Podcast Ad Revenue, Podcasting's Conversion Problem, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2024s-podcast-ad-revenue/): Building Stickier Podcasts This Wednesday from Tom Webster at Sounds Profitable: The latest data from The Advertising Landscape finds ad-supported podcasts have reached 31% monthly usage by Americans 18+, putting the medium ahead of Snapchat, X, and several other platforms a layperson would presume are “bigger” than podcasting. That said, only 61% convert to daily
- [Making Podcasts Stickier, Global Podcast Listenership, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/making-podcasts-stickier/): The Theater of the Mind: Building Stickier Podcasts by Tom Webster The latest data from The Advertising Landscape finds ad-supported podcasts have reached 31% monthly usage by Americans 18+, putting the medium ahead of Snapchat, X, and several other platforms a layperson would presume are “bigger” than podcasting. That said, only 61% convert to
- [Podcasting's🌏Income, Chrome Cancels Pop-Up, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings🌏income/): How Big is the Global Podcast Economy? Wondery founder Hernan Lopez has a new LinkedIn post interrogating the size of the global podcast economy. The IAB and PwC Internet Ad Revenue Report last week contained one page about podcasts. According to Lopez, who was part of a group of publishers that aided in the separate
- [Branded Content 📈 Revenue, Reconsidering Ad Creative, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/branded-content-📈/): Digiday+ Research: Branded content rebounds as a top source of publisher revenue by Julia Tabisz Every Q1 Digiday+ Research surveys publisher professionals to get the lay of the land. This year’s survey found publishers’ branded content revenue is increasing after a downward trend since 2021, 94% of respondents said in Q1 of this year
- [Netflix 👀 Podcasters, IAB Ad Revenue Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/netflix-👀/): “A return to strong growth” — IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report by Brad Hill Rain News covers the new IAB report covering ad revenue in 2024. According to the data from PwC and the IAB, last year the digital advertising industry overall reached $259 billion, a 15% year-over-year increase from 2023. Zooming in on
- [IAB Upfront ➡️ September, Podcast Advertising's Utility & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-upfront-➡️/): Surveying the Podcast Advertising Landscape This Wednesday Sounds Profitable published the first part of The Advertising Landscape, the largest study of podcast advertising effectiveness yet in the U.S., built from a Signal Hill Insights survey of 5,000 Americans aged 18+. Along with the report, on Thursday Sounds Profitable partner Tom Webster published a companion article
- [Podcast Ad Versatility, CTV Transparency Concerns, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-versatility-ctv/): Podcasting: The Most Versatile Medium by Tom Webster To mark the release of The Advertising Landscape, Sounds Profitable’s latest flagship study, Webster focuses on one particular slide demonstrating audience behavior: responses to the question “in the past month, how have you consumed New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce? Overall, the responses are fairly balanced:
- [Podcasting's Advertising Landscape, 🌎Spotify Outage, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/advertising-landscape-🌎/): The Advertising Landscape Part One: Reach by Tom Webster Sounds Profitable’s latest research is the largest study to date on podcast advertising effectiveness in the US, surveying 5,000 Americans 18+. The report will be published in several parts, breaking down different aspects of the data into manageable chunks. This first edition focuses on podcast advertising’s
- [Economic Expectations, an Autumnal Podcast Upfront, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/economic-expectations-an/): Before we get started, a quick update to Bryan Barletta’s article The Impact Spotify's Video Has on Publishers. Since original publication, further clarification has been added to the section discussing how adding a video episode through Megaphone of Spotify for Creators can cause an entire podcast to be cached. If a podcast is not hosted
- [Podcast Music Strikes, Young American Listening Habits, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-music-strikes-young-american-listening-habits-more/): Reminder: The next flagship study from Sounds Profitable debuts THIS Wednesday, April 16th, at 2 p.m. EST in a live webinar hosted by Tom Webster. The Advertising Landscape is the largest survey ever fielded on podcast advertising effectiveness in the U.S. Be among the first to see information from the first part, and receive the
- [The Impact of Spotify Video, Nickelodeon x Starglow, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-impact-of-spotify-video/): Join Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster for the first look at The Advertising Landscape 2025, our newest flagship study of the ad-supported media landscape. This is the largest cross-media study of advertising in podcasting in America, and provides the most comprehensive picture to date of podcasting’s strengths and weaknesses as an advertising vehicle. The webinar is
- [Spotify Video Converting RSS, Podcasting's Fandom Boost, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-video-converting-rss-podcastings-fandom-boost-more/): The Impact Spotify's Video Has on Publishers by Bryan Barletta Bryan kicks off a look at Spotify’s Video and Streaming Audio with a strong statement: “In its current state, I urge the podcast industry not to take part in Spotify Video and Streaming Audio as it stands to have a massive and long-term negative revenue
- [Branded Podcast Clips 📈, Updating the Podscape, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/branded-podcast-clips-📈-updating-the-podscape-more/): Podscape Biannual Update is Coming, Submissions are Open The Podscape is a joint project between Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable to provide a bird’s-eye view of the business side of podcasting in one giant infographic. Effectively a city map of as many podcasting companies as possible, with logos sorted by their respective neighborhood based on
- [Headline: YouTube Changes the Count, Hybrid Targeting Grows, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/headline-youtube-changes-the-count-hybrid-targeting-grows-and-more/): Hey! Tom here, filling in for Gavin as they enjoy a well-earned break. YouTube Shorts view count update wins over brands - but creators aren’t sold Leading off, YouTube changed how they measure their short-from videos to remove the minimum time requirement for a “view,” which aligns with how Instagram Reels and TikTok also count
- [Effective 🎮 Audio Ads, Thinking Like a Network, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/effective-🎮-audio-ads/): Coworking - Mitello Camay of Podcast Reach Network We kick off our new segment interviewing folks around the wide world of podcasting with the Director of Brand Partnerships at Podcast Reach Network. Camay speaks to the collaborative nature of podcasting, urging newcomers to focus on networking with both creators and advertisers. To that note, he
- [Defining "Podcast" for the Industry, Spotify's Ad Exchange, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/defining-podcast-for-the/): Dialing In the Data This Thursday from Tom Webster for Sounds Profitable: Edison Research recently published their annual Infinite Dial study, which has been covering podcasting since 2008. One slide in particular, charting monthly podcast consumption among the total US population aged 12+, has been getting a lot of buzz online. The slide charts
- [Podcasting's Report Card, Affiliate On the Rise, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-report-card/): The Podnews Report Card 2025 Results by James Cridland Every year Podnews asks the public for their thoughts on podcast platforms, both on what they’re doing well and what could be improved on. In-app promotion and lack of editorial curation was a common theme, with Apple Podcasts perceived as a place primarily putting big names
- [Defining the Podcast, Traffic vs. Audience, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/defining-the-podcast-traffic-vs-audience-more/): Registration for the Advertising Landscape debut webinar, scheduled for 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday April 16th, is live now. Hosted by Tom Webster, the presentation will debut the first of four parts delving into the findings of the Advertising Landscape, the biggest ever study into podcast ad effectiveness with 5,000 Americans surveyed. Grab your virtual seat now
- [Podcasting and Spoken Word Discovery, 2025 Ambies Winners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2025-ambies-winners/): Before we get into the news (free of April Fools pranks, that’s a Gavin Gaddis guarantee), a reminder that Sounds Profitable will be headed to the Headgum Studios in Los Angeles on Monday, May 5th, to host our first stand-alone topic-focused event. Around 60 attendees will participate in group conversations curated by key individuals in
- [Pro Athletes Score With Podcasting, BBC UK Backs Off Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pro-athletes-score-with-pod/): Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. CST Tom Webster will be giving a keynote presentation at Evolutions by Podcast Movement, debuting some findings from the upcoming flagship Sounds Profitable study The Advertising Landscape. Be among the first to see data from the largest study of podcast advertising effectiveness in America. Registration for the Advertising Landscape debut webinar,
- [The New User Experience, Tracking 🍏 Plays, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-new-user-experience/): Hello hello, podcasting! I hope you’re all ready to pack your bags and jet out to sunny Chicago for Evolutions by Podcast Movement! I’m not (because I’m driving) but will see some of you wonderful folks at the Sounds Profitable partner lounge. Until then, let’s look at the week’s news. Business of Video Podcasting L.A.
- [Marketing 🎮 w/ Podcasts, Spotify Expands Partner Program, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/marketing-video-games-with/): Podcasts for Game Marketing: An Untapped Opportunity by Edward Fuller An addition to the ongoing Sounds Profitable thought leadership article series in which Media Bodies CEO Edward Fuller discusses podcasting historically attracting performance-based marketing channels. With that in mind, there’s one industry that heavily relies on performance channels with deterministic attribution: video games. As research
- [Podcasting's Growth in Japan, Acast Grows in AU, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-growth-in-japan/): PODCAST REPORT IN JAPAN - Survey of Podcast Usage in Japan #5 Otonal Inc. and The Ashai Shimbun Company have released the latest version of their annual study looking at podcasting’s growth in Japan. The report is built from a survey of 10,000 respondents aged 15 to 69 in early December of last year. 17.2%
- [The Download Recap for August 4th, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-recap-for-08-04-2023/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What’d I tell you last week? We certainly had something new cooked up! For those who’re still excavating out their inboxes: The Download, in addition to this weekly wrap-up on Fridays, is now a daily podcast and newsletter Monday through Friday! A compact news recap straight to your
- [India Invests in Influencers, 4th Signal Awards Open, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/india-invests-in-influencers-2/): Before we get into the other top stories, we have a short one from Tubefilter: Kai Chuck, YouTube's first Head of Podcasts, has been confirmed to be stepping down. India’s government is making a $1 billion investment in its local creator economy Content creation has been booming in India. As YouTube CEO Neal Mohan noted
- [What Counts as an Apple ▶️, Gen Z Video Podcast Survey, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-counts-as-an-apple-play/): One big number? How to combine audio + video podcast data across Apple, Spotify, and YouTube by Dan Misener A piece aiming to help consolidate and compare audio and video podcast data from various platforms with different methodologies for representing how people engaged with a piece of media. Apple Podcasts, for instance, tracks a “play”
- [The Saab 900 & Podcasting, Podcasting Super Spenders, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-sab-900-and-podcasting/): This week’s issue comes to you by candlelight. Okay, not really but it almost did, as it’s storm season in the Midwest. Technically part of this issue was written during a blackout though. While not as entertaining as Conan O’Brien’s 2003 blackout episode, hopefully this is the second most worthwhile thing you consume this week
- [Gen Z Streams Together, YT Upgrades Android 📺 Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-z-streams-together/): The Stream 2025: Audience Insights Shaping Streaming A new report from Tubi features the findings of a survey conducted by The Harris Poll in November of last year, encompassing 2,502 adults aged 18+ who had streamed at least one hour of content that week. 79% of respondents say they expect no ads if they pay
- [Wondery Report 🔎 Podcast Fandom, Creators Supporting Smaller Comrades, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/wondery-report-looks-at/): Ten Years of Amplifi & Podcasting’s Evolution — amplifi media by Steven Goldstein A look back at April of 2014 when Goldstein founded Amplifi Media, following a career working at places like NBC, ABC, and growing Saga Communications to encompass over 100 radio stations. 2014 remains a focal point for two reasons: Apple Podcasts becoming
- [ABC Invests in True Crime, Integrated AI Podcast Segments, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/abc-invests-in-true-crime/): Brian Wieser revises ad forecast downward as U.S. ad market grows wary by Seb Joseph Analyst and principal at Madison and Wall Brian Wieser has published a new forecast for U.S. ad spend predicting non-political spend growth will be 3.6% this year, a decrease from the rosier 4.5% prediction several months ago. Ad tech firm
- [Super Spenders in Audio, Podcasters vs. Influencers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/super-spenders-in-audio/): Podcast Super Fans Are Super Spenders by Deepika Das A look at Super Fans, podcast audiences who tune for more than eight hours per week, and how they engage with brands that advertise on their favorite podcasts. According to Nielsen Scarborough Research’s Podcast Recontact Study (listeners only) from last November, which had 53,528 respondents, 60%
- [Brand Fans Promote Podcasting, SXSW 2025 Recap, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brand-fans-promote-podcasting/): Once again, podcasting showed up to SXSW and made waves. The little industry that could continues to grow into something not so little. It’s also a week of new research and insights into audiences that’ll help the industry grow even more. Let’s get into it. What Brand Fans Love About Podcasts (and How They Listen)
- [Podcasting's ➡️ Problem, Bundling Subscriptions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-moving-problem/): The Power of Branded Podcasts New from JAR Audio and Sounds Profitable: The Sounds Profitable Educational Series continues with a new report that looks at a section of respondents to the 2024 survey of 5,071 Americans aged 18+. Of respondents asked their likelihood to consume a podcast about a favorite brand or product, Brand Fans
- [Video Influencer Upfronts, Spotify Producing Audiobooks, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-influencer-upfronts/): Digiday+ Research: YouTube usage drops as fewer brands put a large amount of marketing spend toward the platform by Julia Tabisz Every six months Didigay+ Research surveys industry professionals about the state of spending. According to the Q1 2025 data, “my company currently uses YouTube” has dipped to 63%, down from 71% in Q3 of
- [Content Creators x SXSW, Complications of True Crime, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/content-creators-x-sxsw/): 🚨LAST CALL🚨: Sounds Profitable is hosting a webinar tomorrow, Wednesday, March 12, at 2 PM Eastern. Tom Webster will be joined by Liz Hames from JAR Audio and special guest Andrea Marquez from Amazon as they present The Power of Branded Podcasts, featuring new research from Sounds Profitable and a key case study from Amazon.
- [Free SXSW Podcasting Panel 🔊, Wondery's FAST Podcast Moves, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/free-sxsw-podcasting-panel/): 🚨Before we get into the news🚨: Sounds Profitable is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, March 12, at 2 PM Eastern. Tom Webster will be joined by Liz Hames from JAR Audio and special guest Andrea Marquez from Amazon as they present The Power of Branded Podcasts, featuring new research from Sounds Profitable and a key
- [🔎 Podcasting @ SXSW, Efficient Smaller Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-at-podcasting-at-sxsw/): Good morning, Podcasting! Today marks the start of SXSW, with the official Podcast Stage ready to present podcasting to the wider SXSW world yet another year. While I'm back at home base, you can catch Bryan and Lauren around the event, say hi for me. Let's get into the news. What’s Happening with Podcasting @
- [Podcasting @ SXSW, How to Use Surveys, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-at-sxsw/): 🚨Before we get into the news🚨: Sounds Profitable is hosting a webinar next Wednesday, March 12, at 2 PM Eastern. Tom Webster will be joined by Liz Hames from JAR Audio and special guest Andrea Marquez from Amazon as they present The Power of Branded Podcasts, featuring new research from Sounds Profitable and a key
- [Are Podcasters Influencers? AdOps Takes Center Stage, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/are-podcasters-influencers/): 🚨Before we get into the news🚨: Sounds Profitable is hosting a webinar next Wednesday, March 12, at 2 PM Eastern. Tom Webster will be joined by Liz Hames from JAR Audio and special guest Andrea Marquez from Amazon as they present The Power of Branded Podcasts, featuring new research from Sounds Profitable and a key
- [Small Podcasts Drive Traffic, News Audiences ❤️ Video, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/small-podcasts-drive-traffic/): News podcast listeners over-index on video podcast consumption by Sara Guaglione Digiday coverage of The News Podcast Consumer, Sounds Profitable’s most recent report built from The Podcast Landscape. Specifically, the piece focuses on findings regarding video consumption. News podcast audiences are falling more in with podcasts in general, with 50% of them reporting spending more
- [Advertisers 🧱 The Oscars, Podcasting OK in UK, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/advertisers-block-the-oscars/): How City Cast picks its new cities by David Plotz and Andi McDaniel City Cast focuses on producing podcasts and newsletters for specific cities, keeping the content hyper-local. In this piece, Plotz and McDaniel break down the decisions that went into expanding the company’s coverage to two new markets: Seattle and the Twin Cities (Minneapolis
- [🔎 News Podcast Listeners, Looking @ On Air Fest 2025, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-at-news-podcast-li/): What a week! It seems just as I fly back from On Air Fest, other Sounds Profitable folks are packing for SXSW. It's a busy time in the business of podcasting, let's look at what happened this week. The News Podcast Consumer from Sounds Profitable and NPR This Wednesday from Tom Webster at Sounds Profitable:
- [Australian Audio Performance, Updating YouTube's Midrolls, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australian-audio-performance/): In light of recent social media conversation and press coverage, we want to briefly revisit yesterday's story regarding YouTube reaching 1 billion monthly podcast users. The continued expansion of podcasting beyond RSS has introduced several analytical terms that mean different things in different spaces. The same terms are used with different definitions and expectations between
- [Looking @ News Podcast Audiences, Combating Podcast Churn, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-at-news-podcast/): The News Podcast Consumer from Sounds Profitable and NPR Today the latest report in the Sounds Profitable Educational series was published, built from 2024’s The Podcast Landscape survey of 5,071 Americans aged 18+. One particularly interesting facet of News consumers is their propensity for co-listening. 67% of non-News consumers rarely or never co-listen to podcasts
- [Performance ⚖️ Brand, Securing Authentic Celeb Partnerships, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/performance-vs-brand/): Tomorrow the Sounds Profitable Educational Series is back with a look at podcasting’s News audience. Join in this Wednesday, February 26th at 2:00 p.m. EST for a live webinar featuring Tom Webster and Lamar Johnson, VP of Sponsorship Marketing at NPR’s sponsorship subsidiary National Public Media. Admission is free, register here today! Rise of alt-measurement
- [Podcast-Friendly YouTube Premium, Podcasts on BBC.com, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-friendly-youtube/): The Sounds Profitable Educational Series continues with a look at the News Podcast audience, in a live webinar featuring Tom Webster and Lamar Johnson, VP of Sponsorship Marketing at NPR’s sponsorship subsidiary National Public Media. This free event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, at 2PM Eastern – register here today! YouTube Plans Lower-Priced,
- [Potential Podcast Paywalls, Reading UK Ranker, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/potential-podcast-paywalls/): Hello hello from the polar science outpost that is Brooklyn, this week’s issue is typed while looking out my hotel window at the Wythe as it bustles with On Air Fest activity. Before I head out to another presentation we’ll likely cover next week, let’s look at this week’s news! The Sounds Profitable Educational Series
- [📌 Podcast Popularity, Prepping for Video, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pinning-podcast-popularity/): The Sounds Profitable Educational Series continues with a look at the News Podcast audience, in a live webinar featuring Tom Webster and Lamar Johnson, VP of Sponsorship Marketing at NPR’s sponsorship subsidiary National Public Media. This free event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, at 2PM Eastern – register here today! Where You Live,
- [Brands Bolstered by Podcasts, TV ♻️ Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brands-bolstered-by-podcasts/): The “Why” and “How” Behind Branded Podcast Performance by Paul Riismandel Signal Hill Insights has published their second annual Benchmark Report for branded podcasts. Key findingings include the “halo effect” brands receive for creating the branded podcast content. 61% of surveyed branded podcast listeners said the episode they had just listened to made them feel
- [Spotify’s Report Card, Slow 💰 Builds Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-report-card/): The Sounds Profitable Educational Series continues with a look at the News Podcast audience, in a live webinar featuring Tom Webster and Lamar Johnson, VP of Sponsorship Marketing at NPR’s sponsorship subsidiary National Public Media. This free event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th, at 2PM Eastern - register here today! Spotify is Booming—Except
- [Podcasting @ SXSW, YouTube on 📺, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-sxsw-youtube-on-📺-more/): Tuning in to On Air Fest This Wednesday from Sounds Profitable: as part of the ongoing Sounds Profitable Insights thought leadership series, Bryan Barletta sat down with work x work creator Scott Newman and On Air Fest Executive Director Jeff Weiner for an interview about the creation and evolution of On Air Fest. A quote
- [Podcasting 🔜 SXSW, Measuring Podcast Churn, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-🔜-sxsw-measuring-podcast-churn-more/): Are you attending SXSW? We’ve created an incredibly short form so we can know who’s coming along. We’d love to see you there. SXSW x Podcasting 2025 by Bryan Barletta Sounds Profitable will be the lead sponsor of the Official Podcast Stage at SXSW 2025, the latest step in a three year journey bringing podcasting
- [Interviewing On Air Fest, 📺 Beats 📱 on YouTube, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/interviewing-on-air-fest-📺-beats-📱-on-youtube-more/): Tuning in to On Air Fest w. Scott Newman and Jeff Weiner by Bryan Barletta An interview with work x work creator Scott Newman and On Air Fest Executive Director Jeff Weiner focusing on the creation of On Air Fest, its place in the podcasting industry, and how it keeps things fresh each year. From
- [Australia ❤️ Audio, Netflix Eyes Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australia-loves-audio/): Audio’s Growth in Australia [Multiple Sources] Edison Research has posted The Infinite Dial Australia 2024, conducted in Q1 of last year with a national survey of 1,719 respondents aged 12 and older. Key findings include radio reaching 81% of respondents, which when grafted to population statistics ranks 27% higher than the U.S. Podcast listenership has
- [Fragmented Video Podcasting, Wow in the World + Wondery 360, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/fragmented-video-podcasting/): Spotify’s Push Into Video Is Missing Some of the Biggest Podcasts by Ashley Carman A look at where Spotify video podcasting is at, a year into the company’s new strategy to shift away from big-ticket exclusive deals to focus more on advertising. Using the Edison Research top 50 podcasts ranker for Q4 2024, Carman finds
- [Podcast Investment Reach, Super Bowl $avings, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-investment-reach/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello one and all from underneath a warm blanket. I caught a cold on Monday, which is why you've been hearing exclusively the dulcet tones of Newt on the podcast this week. While I may be down for the count, podcasting sure as heck isn't. Let's look back
- [Affordable Podcast Ads vs. The Big Game, Determined DEI, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/affordable-podcast-ads/): Media Briefing: Some podcast execs are not won over by Spotify’s video efforts yet By Sara Guaglione Four podcasting executives tell Digiday they’ve yet to be swayed by Spotify’s push into the world of video podcasting, choosing to prefer YouTube. One factor, as brought up by Pushkin VP of marketing and audiobooks Eric Sandler, is
- [Podcasting for Canadian 🍔, the NMPA Spotify Crackdown, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-for-canadian/): Music Publishers Begin ‘Extensive’ Spotify Podcast Takedowns Over Licensing Violations by Jem Aswad Starting February 4th, the National Music Publisher’s Association has begun filing thousands of takedown notices to Spotify regarding podcasts using unlicensed music from members of the group. The initial wave encompassed over 2,500 instances of identified infringing music. A Spotify rep told
- [YouTubers Becoming Podcasters, Australian Podcasting's 2024 Performance, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtubers-becoming-podcast/): YouTubers are using podcasts to reinvent themselves — and cash in by Amanda Perelli A piece looking at big-name podcasters who’ve pivoted to podcasting as a way to revitalize or renew their public image. Long-tail YouTubers like Tana Mongeau and Logan Paul have found success in connecting with newer audiences and building a new brand
- [How Podcasts Covered Disaster, Growing Turkish-Language Market, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-podcasts-covered-disaster/): The Podcast Ecosystem in Türkiye by Rıfat Özcan An overview of podcasting in Türkiye, dating back to the first tech blog to use the word (only a month after the term ‘podcast’ was officially coined in the U.S.). In addition to the growth of Turkish-language podcasting as an industry (clocking in at the 15th most-podcasted
- [Podcasting's Share of ⏰, Podcast Listening @ Work, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-share-of-time/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hey howdy hey, it’s cold out there today. This week we’re talking about a fair amount of data, and what it means for the future of podcasting. Let’s get to reading before I start my umpteenth batch of soup prepared this winter. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Attention sports fans
- [Google's Open Source Adtech, Black U.S. Podcast Listenership, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/googles-open-source-adtech/): And Now, Your Moment of (Audio) Zen by Tom Webster A recent Edison Research Share of Ear release included a graph indicating audio listenership has returned to something similar to ‘normal’ listenership in 2019 before the pandemic lockdowns radically changed consumption habits. Webster highlights that the peak of overall audio consumption was 2015, and even
- [Podcasters 🔜 White House Press, How Commuters Listen, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasters-at-the-white-house/): According to Podnews reporting, SiriusXM has announced a round of layoffs that impact podcast teams and Earwolf, with 100 roles impacted. With that in mind we’d like to remind readers that Sounds Profitable hosts a free public job board for open positions from companies in the business of podcasting, updated daily as new positions come
- [Consuming Podcasts @ Work, Cooper Goes YouTube Exclusive, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/consuming-podcasts-at-work/): Before we get started, we want to give a quick heads up for sports fans looking to attend On Air Fest next month: once again the ESPN 30 for 30 Lounge is taking pitches for new 30 for 30 podcast episodes! Last year’s pitches went over well, with an episode based on one of the
- [Podcasts Powering Growth, Selling Old Shows with 🤖](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-powering-growth/): Kamala Harris’s Podcast Strategy Fell Way Short of Trump’s by Ashley Carman A section of Carman’s Soundbite newsletter is dedicated to key data points from the massive multi-reporter article covering 2024’s presidential ‘podcast election.’ A big one being the raw view count difference, with YouTube video podcast episodes featuring Trump reaching 113.6 million views while
- [What Business Listeners Want, 📝 On the Podcast Election, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-business-listeners-want/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting I’m back from Orlando! Not a lick of a tan because it’s January and overcast but you bet your bottom dollar I had some good food and saw some passionate podcasters. Now that I’ve tapped the sand off my shoes and am back at the desk, let’s look
- [Audio =/= Video Podcasting, Podcast Listening Approaching Pre-Pandemic, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-doesnt-equal-video/): Audio Is Different From Video, So We Filmed Our Audio Recording to Show You Eric Silver and Amanda McLoughlin of Multitude have filmed the production of an audio podcast to demonstrate how the strengths of spoken word cannot be maintained 1:1 if an audio-first podcast simply has a camera added to the production. Host performance
- [Reflecting on the Podcast Election, Netflix's Ad Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/reflecting-on-the-podcast/): Looking Back at the Podcast Election (Multiple Sources) This morning Bloomberg Technology has dropped a sizable article authored by seven writers on the political utility of ‘manosphere’ video podcasts in the Trump reelection campaign. In addition, Ashley Carman’s latest edition of Soundbite covers the D.C. podcasting scene during inauguration weekend. Meanwhile, Oxford Road has published
- [Podcast Leads Digital Audio, Podcast Hall of Fame Inductees, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-leads-digital-audio/): 2025 Outlook: A Snapshot into Ad Spend, Opportunities, and Strategies for Growth The IAB has published their forecast for advertising in 2025 and podcasting looks to be in a good spot. Overall, digital audio and podcasting is projected to grow less this year due to increased investment in paid search and social media. According to
- [Listening to Podcast Listeners, Shortform Video’s Future, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/listening-to-podcast-listeners/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello from sunny Orlando! Today’s issue of The Download Recap comes to you from Florida as I have parachuted in to Podfest Expo. Before I scurry out to my first panel of the day, here’s the news from this week. Transparency. Performance. Automation. A Look at the Business
- [Who Listens to Business Podcasts, the Hunt For Connection, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/who-listens-to-business/): As most of the team heads to Florida for Podfest Expo, we’re bringing you another “Oops, all quick hits” edition of The Download. Say hi if you see us around, and don’t forget to catch our very own Tom Webster being inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame tomorrow. Tom Webster highlights the power of
- [Audioboom's 2024 Earnings, Taking Podcast Ads to 🎮, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiobooms-2024-earnings/): On Air Fest Reveals 2025 Schedule - Its Most Expansive Lineup Yet Next month podcasting will descend on Brooklyn once more, with On Air Fest set to take place February 19th through 21st, featuring “the most dramatic expansion in the event’s eight year history.” The event’s lineup, which had already announced names like SubwayTakes’ Kareem
- [Podcast Ad Ads @ LAX, 2025 for Influencers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-ads-at-lax/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads up that the first Sounds Profitable presentation of 2025 is next week! Join Tom Webster for a half-hour presentation of The Business Podcast Consumer, a look at the audience for business podcasts and what makes them different to the audience of any other genre. Join in
- [Why Razorfish ❤️ Podcast Ads, Affiliate 🍪 Allegedy Overwritten, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/why-razorfish-loves-podcast/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads up that the first Sounds Profitable presentation of 2025 is next week! Join Tom Webster for a half-hour presentation of The Business Podcast Consumer, a look at the audience for business podcasts and what makes them different to the audience of any other genre. Join in
- [Examining Business Podcast Audiences, Potential Impact of 🍯, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/examining-business-podcast/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello from underneath a blanket! You might have noticed I was not around this Monday, at that's because an ice storm decided power was a privilege I didn't need. I'm back, warm, and ready to hand over the news from this week. Also, good luck to all the
- [Renewing Big Podcast Deals, Meta's Changing Ad Ecosystem, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/renewing-big-podcast-deals/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads up that the first Sounds Profitable presentation of 2025 is next week! Join Tom Webster for a half-hour presentation of The Business Podcast Consumer, a look at the audience for business podcasts and what makes them different to the audience of any other genre. Join in
- [Audio Lessons from 2024, The Podcast Promotion Landscape, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-lessons-from-2024/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads up that the first Sounds Profitable presentation of 2025 is next week! Join Tom Webster for a half-hour presentation of The Business Podcast Consumer, a look at the audience for business podcasts and what makes them different to the audience of any other genre. Join in
- [How 🍯 Might Impact Podcasting, Audio Fuels Branded Search, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-honey-might-impact/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads up that the first Sounds Profitable presentation of 2025 is next week! Join Tom Webster for a half-hour presentation of The Business Podcast Consumer, a look at the audience for business podcasts and what makes them different to the audience of any other genre. Join in
- [Podcasters Prepare For a TikTok Ban, 2025 Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasters-prepare-for-a/): Uncertainty over TikTok’s U.S. future splinters creators and agencies By Antoinette Siu As a possible TikTok ban encroaches, creators of all stripes are looking to preserve their audiences and imagine a future without the platform. According to Digiday’s Antoinette Siu, not everyone is worried. In the ever-changing landscape of social media, creators have long diversified
- [The $1,000 Podcast Listing, Podcasting's 2025 Predictions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-1000-podcast-listing/): The Case for Making a Case for Spoken Word in 2025 This Wednesday from Tom Webster at Sounds Profitable: To end out the year’s newsletter, Webster looked back at how audience media habits appear to be changing. The 5,071 respondents to The Podcast Landscape 2024 were asked to rank which of fifteen major types of
- [Preserving Spoken Word, Canadian Podcasting Charts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/preserving-spoken-word-canadian-podcasting-charts-more/): The Most Important Thing Podcasting Needs To Talk About In 2025 by Tom Webster A look at how podcast audiences perceive their own media consumption habits. Looking at what media formats respondents to The Podcast Landscape 2024 consumed both more and less of this year, the data suggests younger folk are eschewing audio for video
- [IAB Solicits Podcast Best Practices, On Air Fest 2025 Grows, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-solicits-podcast-best-practices-on-air-fest-2025-grows-more/): On Air Fest Adds New Speakers; Expands Program The February 2025 edition of On Air Fest is set to take place over six locations and feature over 80 live performances, exhibitions, and industry sessions. New speaker announcements include a keynote with journalist Taylor Lorenz and a creator session hosted by SubwayTakes’ Kareem Rahma. Live podcast
- [Influencer Agencies Managing Talent, Podcast Listing Invoices, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/influencer-agencies-talent/): Optional Out - from AdExchanger’s Optimizing the News YouTube has announced a new setting that will allow creators to opt into having their content used for AI model training. According to TechCrunch coverage, the new setting in the creator dashboard includes a list of 18 companies partnered with YouTube to train their generative AI
- [Podcast Expert 2025 Predictions, ANA 🔎 Programmatic Transparency, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-expert-2025/): 28 Expert Podcast Predictions for 2025 by Tianna Marinucci Rounding out 2024, the CoHost blog rounded up nearly thirty experts from the business of podcasting and asked them what they anticipate for podcasting next year. The crowd (including a familiar Sounds Profitable face) offers up sentiments like anticipating a rise of video and accompanying analytics,
- [Amazon Auto’s Potential, True Crime Podcast Audiences, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazons-auto-potential/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s getting chilly outside, which means it’s time to make some chili. Before I start cracking open cans of beans and dealing with the emails I’ll get about putting beans in chili, it’s time to take a look back at news from the business of podcasting this week.
- [True Crime Listener Research, YouTube's Video Podcast Milestone, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/true-crime-listener-research/): The True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape The new report, sponsored by Libsyn, is built from The Podcast Landscape, the largest public study of podcasting in America with 5,071 respondents aged 18+. Findings include 16% of respondents having consumed a True Crime podcast in the past month, which translates to approximately 42 million Americans. Respondents who
- [Meme Marketing Perils, New Zealand's Podcasting Pedigree, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/meme-marketing-perils/): Amazon's online car 'dealership' with Hyundai is now live by Andrew J. Hawkins Starting yesterday, shoppers in 48 U.S. cities can shop for Hyundai vehicles on a new Amazon car shopping spinoff dubbed Amazon Auto. The arrangement acts as a storefront for dealerships to list their inventory and for customers to order, finance and arrange
- [Podcaster Launches Beverage, BetterHelp Top AU Podcast Advertiser, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcaster-launches-beverage/): Don’t forget, registration is live for The 2024 True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape Report from Libsyn and Sounds Profitable. Join us Wednesday, December 11th, at 2:00 p.m. EST for a live research presentation hosted by Tom Webster. Podcasting becomes the primary strategy, not an afterthought by Joni Deutsch For Nieman Lab’s 2025 predictions series,
- [Ad-Friendly True Crime, A Trillion Dollar Year, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-friendly-true-crime/): Don’t forget, registration is live for The 2024 True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape Report from Libsyn and Sounds Profitable. Join us Wednesday, December 11th, at 2:00 p.m. EST for a live research presentation hosted by Tom Webster. True Crime Podcasts Can Win Advertisers – As Long As The Discourse Stays Civil by Anythony Vargas An
- [Paywalling Podcast Journalism, Growing Audio Globally, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/paywalling-podcast-journalism/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy start of the holiday season from Sounds Profitable! Gavin is back from their week by the seaside (for their ailments and maladies and also a cold) and we've got some piping hot podcast news for you. Let's dive in. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Podcasting and Building on “Rented
- [Magellan AI x Public Media, Focusing Subcultures over Demographics, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/magellan-ai-x-public-media/): A watchword for The Download is “concise,” we try to get the day’s news to you in five minutes or less with no fluff or filler added to meet arbitrary wordcount. In the spirit of that, today’s issue comes to you in the form of a slightly extended list of “quick hits.” Also, while I
- [Podcast Reporting 🔜 Paywalls, WARC on Increasing Audio Spend, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-reporting-paywalls/): Paywalling Podcast Journalism Today Adam Shepherd, former editor of PodPod, announced he is stepping away from podcast coverage to work in a different section of Haymarket Media Group, the parent company that merged PodPod into Campaign in February of this year. After the announcement of the PodPod brand being dissolved, podcast industry coverage appears to
- [Programmatic's 2024 Performance, YouTube's Podcasting Lead Continues, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/programmatics-2024/): Before we get into the news, a quick announcement! Join us for an insightful webinar that’s a must-attend for brands, agencies, and media buyers looking to connect with one of podcasting’s most devoted audiences: true crime fans. The 2024 True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape Report from Libsyn and Sounds Profitable will feature NEW data on
- [Podcast Show London Tickets Live, Mobile Shopping on 🦃 Day & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-show-london/): Before we get into the news, a quick announcement! Join us for an insightful webinar that’s a must-attend for brands, agencies, and media buyers looking to connect with one of podcasting’s most devoted audiences: true crime fans. The 2024 True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape Report from Libsyn and Sounds Profitable will feature NEW data on
- [New Shows Grow in Triton Ranker, More Podcasting M&A, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-shows-grow-in-triton/): Hello, everyone! Gavin Gaddis, your local Download author here. Today we’re bringing something a little different, as it’s the last email Sounds Profitable will send out this week due to the holiday in the U.S. With that in mind, I’ve got a special Oops All Quick Hits version of The Download to deliver, as well
- [Australian Podcast Ads Grow, 2025 Focus on SEO Spend, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australian-podcast-ads-grow/): Australian Podcasting Continues Growth [Multiple Sources] IAB Australia has published their Internet Advertising Revenue report, prepared by PwC Australia. Podcasting stands out as the fastest-growing ad format in the country, up 26.5% year over year for the quarter. Meanwhile, Southern Cross Austereo reports their audio business is their main focus as a broadcaster while in
- [Audible on Amazon Music, Audio "vs" Video Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audible-on-amazon-music/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s the final Download Recap of November! Before I disappear to hard-boil a lot of eggs in preparation for two gatherings’ worth of deviled eggs, let’s round up the stories from this week. (The secret to elevating traditional deviled eggs is smidge of vinegar in the filling, by
- [Looking @ Spotify's Video Pivot, Uptick in Gen-AI Sites, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/looking-at-spotifys-video/): Before we get into the first story, a quick correction: Podscribe’s debut webinar for their new Podcast Advertising Benchmark report is Monday, November 25th. The Implications of Spotify for Creators by Bryan Barletta Barletta reflects on last week’s announcement that Spotify for Podcasters has been rebranded to Spotify for Creators, along with the launch of
- [Taking Podcast Research Global, Apple's Top Podcasts of 2024, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taking-podcast-research/): Podcasting is Global - Research Should Be Too by Paul Riismandel With podcasting’s worldwide growth as a medium, it’s time to acknowledge that while the United States is one of the largest podcast markets, the industry should not consider it the default when doing research on podcasting overall. Local cultural and socioeconomic factors influence how
- [Audiobooks on Amazon Music, News Influencers Are Growing, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audiobooks-on-amazon-music/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up that Sounds Profitable’s own Tom Webster will be presenting new data and findings from the landmark Podcast Landscape 2024 study in a free webinar with Crooked Media VP of Sales Giancarlo Bizzaro. The two will discuss how the study’s findings show the real story behind “audio
- [Paying Video Podcasts w/ Watchtime, Facebook 🔜 Views](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/paying-video-podcasts/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up that Sounds Profitable’s own Tom Webster will be presenting new data and findings from the landmark Podcast Landscape 2024 study in a free webinar with Crooked Media VP of Sales Giancarlo Bizzaro. The two will discuss how the study’s findings show the real story behind “audio
- [Podcasting 🤝 OOH, Spotify Launches Partnership, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-and-ooh/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s Friday once again, podcasting. I celebrated the autumnal milestone of turning the thermostat from COOL to HEAT for the first time in many months, I’ve got comfy slippers on. It truly is the season of warm soups and cool temperatures. Grab a nice hot beverage and let’s
- [New Spotify Partnership Program, KANTAR Looks @ Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-spotify-partnership/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up that Sounds Profitable’s own Tom Webster will be presenting new data and findings from the landmark Podcast Landscape 2024 study in a free webinar with Crooked Media VP of Sales Giancarlo Bizzaro. The two will discuss how the study’s findings show the real story behind “audio
- [Spotify 📈 Q3, Influencer Blackouts are Over, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-q3-influencer/): Before we get into the news, a quick heads-up that Sounds Profitable’s own Tom Webster will be presenting new data and findings from the landmark Podcast Landscape 2024 study in a free webinar with Crooked Media VP of Sales Giancarlo Bizzaro. The two will discuss how the study’s findings show the real story behind “audio
- [New Media Growth During Election, Podpage Debuts Survey Tool, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-media-growth-during/): iHeartMedia, Inc. Reports Results for 2024 Third Quarter Noteworthy changes in iHeart’s Q3 2024 financial report from last week include podcast revenue increasing 11% year-over-year to $114 million, accounting for 11.3% of the company’s earnings in total. In addition to the quarterly report, an anonymous source told The Hollywood Reporter that iHeartMedia was in the
- [Audience Data on Podcast Discovery, Industry Tracking Changes, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audience-data-on-podcast/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Busy week, huh? Good thing with all the major events that have happened this year we've not got any major holidays coming up in the next eight weeks, right? Insert nervous laughter here. In the mean time, we have some stories about promising data, a story about a
- [Asking Tough Brand Safety Qs, Defining Creator vs. Influencer, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/asking-tough-brand-safety/): Twice a year Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable publish an update to The Podscape, an infographic designed to provide a bird’s-eye view of the podcasting industry at large. The deadline for submitting any changes or new companies for the end-of-year update is Friday, November 29th. Submitting to the Podscape is free and open now! Why
- [Tracking Podcast Tracking, Super Bowl is Sold Out, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tracking-podcast-tracking/): Twice a year Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable publish an update to The Podscape, an infographic designed to provide a bird’s-eye view of the podcasting industry at large. The deadline for submitting any changes or new companies for the end-of-year update is Friday, November 29th. Submitting to the Podscape is free and open now! Fox
- [Spotify ✈️ Emirates, Wellness Industry Growing Fast, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-✈️-emirates-wellness-industry-growing-fast-more/): The Podscape End-of-Year Update Twice a year Sounds Profitable and Magellan AI team up to update The Podscape, an infographic designed to give a bird’s-eye view of the podcasting industry. With the explosive growth of the industry in recent years, the Podscape infographic aims to take inventory of known companies, services, agencies, and anything in
- [Issues with Third-Party Pod Tracking, SXM's Podcasting Q3, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/issues-with-third-party-pod/): A New UK Podcast Ranker by Adam Bowie Recently Podtrac announced its podcast tracker is now available in thirty countries, including the UK. Bowie takes a look at the new UK top podcasts and publishers on Podtrac, comparing them to similar charts from Edison Research. He highlights that Podtrac’s methodologies chosen for UK charts include
- [Selling Podcasts with Curiosity, FTC Influencer Ad Crackdown, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/selling-podcasts-with-curiosity/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy Hall-darn, just missed it. October is behind us, what a whirlwind! Ignore the fact I've watched 31 horror movies since September 15th for Hooptober, that totally didn't make the month more frantic at all. Now that the scares are behind us, time to look forward to the end of
- [New IAB Guide to Selling Podcasting, Inspiring Curiosity in Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-iab-guide-to-selling/): Before we get started: Back in July Sounds Profitable posted the Podcast Industry Glossary, a collaborative effort between Sounds Profitable partner companies to build a comprehensive collection of key terms and terminology used in the podcast industry. We’re thrilled to announce there is now a Spanish-language version of the glossary provided by Genuina Media, available
- [Acast on the Podcast Pulse, False Endorsement Law Arrives, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acast-on-the-podcast-pulse/): Podcast Advertising Transcends Audio: Podcast-first Omnichannel Campaigns Drive 84% Listener Action, Acast Study Finds A new study from Acast, the Podcast Pulse, is built from an Edison Research survey of 1,031 U.S. residents aged 13 and up. The survey results were then weighted for age, gender, ethnicity, and region against the U.S. Census’ American Community
- [New Sonic Branding Report, Influencer Marketing's Political 🧳, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-sonic-branding-report/): Beauty brands could use a sonic glow-up: report by Alyssa Meyers Sonic branding agency amp has published a new report called The Sound of Beauty looking at the state and future potential of sonic branding for beauty companies. According to the report, Old Spice and their iconic whistle-jingle are at the top of amp’s rankings.
- [Podcast Socials Drive Watch Time, Consumer Election Anticipation, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-socials-drive-watch/): Podcasts go long on social media, driving watch time Social video analytics firm Tubular Lab has published new data charting trends in podcast promotion. The Tubular Audience Ratings analyzed top U.S. podcasters by domestic minutes watched found on YouTube and Facebook. Key findings include an absence of big-name podcasts (such as Smartless and Call Her
- [Spotify's Ad Exchange, Insignia Buys Veritone One + Oxford Road, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-ad-exchange/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This has been a week of big moves. New tools, new acquisitions, and preparing for the future. What better way to prepare, then arm oneself with knowledge? Let’s get into the news. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Video’s Role in Podcast Discovery (Where it Exists) This Wednesday from Tom Webster
- [UK Digital Listening Up, Spotify Launches Podcast Auto-Mod, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/uk-digital-listening/): Does Video Drive Discovery? Audio and Video Podcast Consumers in 2024, Part Two by Tom Webster A continuation of looking at the behaviors of ‘audio primes’ (those who consume 75% or more of their podcasts via audio) and ‘video primes’. One notable difference between the two groups is discovery. The top discovery method for video
- [Spotify Launches 🎷, Podcast Live Show Promotes Literacy, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-launches-sax/): Scoop: Spotify launching an ad exchange, will partner with Trade Desk by Sara Fischer Spotify is piloting their own supply-side platform (SSP) in an effort to scale automated ad offerings, three sources have told Axios. The initial focus on the Spotify ad exchange will be video. The internal name for the exchange is Spotify Ad
- [Insignia Buys Veritone One/Oxford Road, Top Sept. Podcast Spenders, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/insignia-buys-veritone/): Insignia Buys Veritone’s Podcast Agency for Up to $104 Million by Ashley Carman Investment firm Insignia Capital Group LLC has announced the acquisition of two podcast advertising agencies, purchasing Veritone One and Oxford Road. Dan Granger, CEO and founder of Oxford Road, is now CEO of both companies, which will remain separate for the time
- [Amazon's Audio Generator, DoubleVerify ✔️ Spotify Video Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazons-audio-generator/): DoubleVerify expands invalid traffic and viewability measurement to Spotify video ads With this new Spotify integration, DoubleVerify now offers advertisers on the video side of Spotify fraud measurement and viewability verification. The former aims to detect invalid traffic and comprehensive fraud (hijacked devices, bots) while the latter determines if an ad had the opportunity to
- [Kids & Family Ad Opportunity, Music Debuted on Podcast, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/kids-and-family-opportunity/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This week marked a massive occasion here in the midwest: the first time the heater’s had to kick on since Spring. Before I get too busy digging out my best flannel button-downs and quilts made from old t-shirts, let’s take a look at this week’s autumnal harvest of
- [Spotify 💸 Audiobook Publishers, Podcast Protests Airline, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-audiobook-publishers/): Audio and Video Podcast Consumers in 2024, Part One by Tom Webster The first of a two-part article series about both audiences who primarily listen to audio when consuming podcasts, and audiences who primarily watch video podcasts. The Podcast Landscape 2024, built from a survey of 5,000 Americans, found 47% of respondents estimated the percentage
- [Podcast Debuts 🎵 Single, YouTube on RSS, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-debuts-single/): Panel submissions are open for Podcast Show London. Sounds Profitable is proud to announce we’ll be hosting a private event the evening before for our partners. More details to follow. Questions To... YouTube's Sandy Wilhelm The Podnews interview series Questions To… continues with Sandy Wilhelm, the UK Head of Podcasts & News YouTube Partnerships. Similarly
- [Kids & Family Ad Opportunity, Libsyn Gains New CEO, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/kids-and-family-ad/): Breaking News: Brendan Monaghan, formerly CEO of Megaphone, has announced he is now CEO of Libsyn. Podcasters’ Message To Ad Buyers: We’re An Industry That’s Growing Up During panels at Advertising Week New York, podcasting industry experts told buyers of the industry’s evolution and maturation in recent years. Speakers like SoundStack CRO Rockie Thomas and
- [Podcast Audience Interia, A Podcasting Election, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-audience-inertia/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy Friday, podcasting, I hope you remembered to bring me back a bagel from Advertising Week New York. I’m sure the cream cheese will travel fine in a checked bag. This week we’ve got some pretty big-picture stories, ranging from politics to the very inertia slowing down podcast
- [Walmart's Podcasting Insights, Audible en España, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/walmarts-podcasting/): Advertising Week Briefing: Brand storytelling versus performance debate takes center stage at AWNY by Kimeko McCoy Advertising Week New York has kicked off its 20th anniversary this week with panels like Brand as ‘Multiplier’ - Why We Need to Rethink Brand vs. Performance and Bridging the Gap: Performance Marketing Meets Brand Building. The divide between
- [Podcasting's Inertia Problem, Wondery x Spencers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-inertia-problem/): Inertia Is The Enemy of Podcasting by Tom Webster One section of the 2024 edition of The Podcast Landscape asked respondents why they have ever quit a podcast that was part of their regular listening routine. Three of the top five answers relate to the quality of the show. When asked why they haven’t listened
- [Influencers Focus Live Events, Podcast Ad Size Matters, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/influencers-focus-live-events/): Advertising Week Briefing: Marketers are taking the athlete influencer opportunity seriously by Sam Bradley Digiday’s coverage of Advertising Week New York continues, with today’s focus looking at panels about brand advertising and sports. The growth and maturation of brands’ relationship with influencer marketing has a knock-on effect when working with athletes. Brands are more used
- [Presidential Podcasting Tour, Wondery Launching Toy Line, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/presidential-podcasting-tour/): Good morning to all in the Big Apple for Advertising Week New York! A reminder that there is a plethora of podcasting events scheduled inside AWNY, as well as YMH Studios’ takeover of New York Comedy Club on Wednesday, done in collaboration with RedCircle, Podscribe, and Sounds Profitable. Will the ‘SmartLess’ Podcast Be the Biggest
- [Chartable Replacements, Podcasting @ Advertising Week, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/chartable-replacements/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s almost Advertising Week Eve! Before you jet off to New York and soak in all there is for the advertising industry to offer, let’s dig into this week’s news. Which, coincidentally, involves information to help you plan out AWNY podcast panels! Transparency. Performance. Automation. 19.2 Ounces of
- [Podcasting Like Liquid Death, Transcript Upgrade @ Apple, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-like-liquid/): 19.2 Ounces of Podcasting Wisdom by Tom Webster When Liquid Death began producing canned still and sparkling water, they stood out in a crowded seltzer market with irreverent language, grotesque artwork reminiscent of punk posters, and the fact their water came in a 19.2oz ‘tallboy’ can. At Podcast Movement, Tom Webster encountered his first 12
- [Podcasting 🔜 Advertising Week NYC, Ad Tolerance Rising, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-at-advertising-week/): If you’ve not been keeping tabs on the Job Board section at the bottom of this newsletter, we’ve had an influx of new open position posts recently and are doing a super-sized Job Board today, catch it after the Data Snapshot! Podcasting is Coming to Advertising Week Advertising Week New York kicks off on Monday,
- [Can't Skip YouTube, Spotify Pod Fan Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/cant-skip-youtube/): Looking to network and see some standup during Advertising Week New York? YMH Studios, in collaboration with Redcircle, Podscribe, and Sounds Profitable are taking over New York Comedy Club on October 9th. Space is incredibly limited, be sure to fill out this form for consideration ASAP. Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers by Steve
- [Chartable to Close, NYT Teases VP Podcast Appearance, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/chartable-to-close/): Chartable is closing. What should I use instead? By Dan Misener Bumper’s Misener reflects on the history of Chartable and its place in the industry now that it has been announced that the service will be shut down in December of this year. While there is no one solution that fits into a Chartable-shaped hole,
- [FTC Data Privacy Concerns, Podcasting’s Next 20m Listeners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ftc-data-privacy-concerns/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting We heard you liked data, so enjoy a big scoop of it right at the top. This week we’re covering where podcasting’s next 20 million audience members could come from, the evolution of video, and more. Let’s get down to business. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Connecting With Podcasting’s Next
- [Podcasting's Next 20m Listeners, Spotify Syncs Feeds, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-next-20m/): The Persuadables – Podcasting’s Next 20 Million Consumers by Tom Webster People who do not listen to podcasts are not a monolithic group. According to The Podcast Landscape, 26% of Americans 18+ have never consumed a podcast, down 2% year over year. When asked why they haven’t consumed a podcast, the top reasons include “my
- [Meta Ad Bugs, Paramount Announces Layoffs, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/meta-ad-bugs/): Paramount Begins 'Phase 2' of Layoffs as Jeff Glor Exits, Paramount+ Comms Team Dissolved by Brad Pareso Reports indicate the latest round of Paramount layoffs have impacted the audio division. If you or anyone you know is looking for top-tier podcast strategy, sales, marketing, and operations, please let us know and we will gladly make
- [Australia's 2m Daily Listeners, NYT Launches Podcast Tier, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australias-2m-daily-listeners/): Australia: two million podcast fans listen daily A new study from Australian podcast production house Deadset Studios and market research agency Insightfully surveyed 1,607 Australians aged 15+ who listen to podcasts at least monthly. Key findings include 25% of respondents listen to podcasts daily, which when applied to the country’s population comes to two million
- [FTC on Privacy, Spotify Reaffirms Extremist Content Policy, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ftc-on-privacy/): FTC Denounces Social Media And Video Streaming Platforms For ‘Privacy-Invasive’ Data Practices by Allison Schiff Four years ago the FTC issued an order compelling nine of the largest social media and video streaming platforms to share detailed information on how they collect and use personal consumer data. The report flags issues like indefinite data retention
- [Women’s Sports 🔊 Revolution, Voters Trust Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/womens-sports-revolution/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Fall continues to threaten to happen here in the midwest, and I can hear my flannel button-downs calling from the closet. While I anxiously await the leaves to start changing color, let’s look at this week’s news from the business of podcasting. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Reversing the Flywheel
- [Refocusing Podcasting for Women, YouTube's Launching Hype, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/refocusing-podcasting-for/): Reversing the Algorithm for Women in Podcasting by Tom Webster Women make up 51% of the U.S. population. Yet according to the gender profile from The Podcast Landscape, respondents who have listened to a podcast at least once in the past month skew 56% male. Webster proposes podcasting hasn’t necessarily “lost” women as listeners, more
- [FAST Fill Rates, Podcast Habits of Registered Voters & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/fast-fill-rates/): The Podcast Influence: The Listening Habits of Registered Voters Voxtopica has published a new study built from an online survey of 683 self-identified registered American voters aged 18+, weighted to the most recent census data for the U.S. population’s age and gender. Respondents were asked whether they listen to podcasts, how often, why they listen,
- [Coca-Cola on Open Web, International Brands on Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/coca-cola-on-open-web/): Acquired, Zuckerberg, and Your CEO’s Favorite Podcast [Multiple Sources] Last week Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal’s Acquired hosted a live recording at the Chase Center in San Francisco, bringing in an audience of reportedly nearly 6,000 to see Mark Zuckerberg interviewed (along with surprise cameos from Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang). Brian
- [BBC Renews Podcast Strategy, Spotify Focusing Video, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bbc-renews-podcast/): Why you’ll get the best of the BBC, first, on BBC Sounds by Mary Hough After a trial period, the BBC has decided to keep its strategy of podcasts releasing in timed exclusivity on the BBC Sounds app before hitting open RSS feeds. According to the piece, the two common availability windows will remain seven
- [Elections Influencing Influencers, Women's Sports a Slam Dunk, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/elections-influencing/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hey-ho, podcasting. The wind blew slightly and immediately conjured feelings of autumnal joy. While I wait for the summer heat to finally leave and I can start making soup again, let’s look at the news from this week. Transparency. Performance. Automation. How Elections are Influencing Creator Marketing This
- [Setting Midrolls Straight, Podcast Execs Eye Influencer Budgets, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/setting-midrolls-straight/): Four Years Strong by Bryan Barletta At the beginning of the month, Sounds Profitable turned four years old. In light of the anniversary, Bryan Barletta looked back at what has been accomplished in podcasting over the past four years, and where the industry is heading and common sources of infighting. Looking at the shifting definition
- [Women's Sports Excel @ Upfront, Issues w. Bulk Data, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/womens-sports-excel/): The State of Audio Advertising - Oxford Road The new report is pitched as ‘the chief audio officer’s guide to maximizing ROI in a changing landscape.’ Oxford Road provides a bird’s-eye view of podcasting as an industry, explaining big developments and challenges of the past few years in bite-sized summaries. From the iOS 17 auto-download
- [IPv6 vs. IPv4, 📉 Streaming Ad Prices, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ipv6-vs-ipv4/): Podscribe Launches IPv6 Tracking Solution to Prevent Loss of Up to 50% of Podcast Ad Results As the shift from IPV4 to IPv6 continues to gain momentum, Podscribe urges the potential future where podcast advertisers could lose up to half of ad performance data during this between-period. A lot of attribution systems rely on iPv4
- [Influencing During Elections, AI 🔎 for AI, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/influencing-during-elections/): How elections are shaping influencer marketing, from brand strategies to social media spending by Antoinette Siu Influencer-focused agencies interviewed by Digiday expect TikTok to play a key role in the creator space during the final months of the U.S. election cycle. A report from Collective Voice found 76% of surveyed consumers want election content from
- [Brand Perceptions of Podcasting, Australia's Audio Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brand-perceptions/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello, podcasting! You’ve possibly been seeing a lot of me this week, as we’re now publishing daily teasers of Download top stories on YouTube and LinkedIn. While I decide if Monday’s news will be read off the back of a VHS copy of Con Air or Easy Money,
- [Attention Attention, Limited Time 🍂 Branding, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/attention-attention/): Scoop: IAB And MRC To Collaborate On Attention Measurement Accreditation by Anthony Vargas The Media Rating Council and IAB’s Measurement Task Force are launching a joint effort focused on accrediting attention measurement vendors. The project expects a draft of accreditation guidelines will be ready for public comment by Q1 of next year. A core goal
- [Podcast Advertising's August, Industry Growth in Saudi Arabia, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-advertisings-august/): Saudi Arabia’s Podcast Boom: Breaking Records and Boosting Brands by Suzi Kuban In November of 2022, Saudi podcast Finjan uploaded an episode that amassed 113 million views, making it one of the most-watched podcast episodes on YouTube globally. Podcasting in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region has grown steadily, despite not grabbing as many headlines.
- [New Branded Podcast Report, Australia's Audio 📈, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-branded-podcast-report/): CoHost and Sounds Profitable Release “The Impact of Branded Podcasts” Report Uncovering Key Insights on Brands with Podcasts Podcast analytics and insights provider CoHost, created by Quill Podcast Agency, has published a new report titled The Impact of Branded Podcasts, created in partnership with Sounds Profitable. Key findings include high satisfaction with podcast initiatives, with
- [A Look @ Podcasting's Landscape, Rising Ad Loads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-look-at-podcasting/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting I would say it’s refreshing to be home with all of my stuff out of a suitcase, but I’ve yet to fully unpack yet and that would make me a liar. Now that we’ve all flown home from Podcast Movement (boy, are our arms tired!), it’s time to
- [New Podcast Landscape Study, Why Big-Ticket Podcast Deals Happen, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-podcast-landscape-study/): The Podcast Landscape, 2024 Sounds Profitable has published the 2024 edition of The Podcast Landscape, a study on audience perceptions of podcasting. This edition, fielded with Signal Hill Insights, surveyed 5,071 Americans aged 18+, making it the largest publicly-available study of podcasting in the country. Key findings include the fact podcasting is still generating new
- [New Audience Survey Tool, News Publishers on Brand Safety, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-audience-survey-tool/): How to Conduct an Audience Survey with Gumball's Latest Feature by Dane Cardiel Gumball is launching a new Audience Surveys tool. Gumball podcasts will be able to create a bespoke webpage for collecting survey responses, use a Gumball-provided script to record a podcast ad promoting the survey, and insert custom questions to get important information
- [Kelce Bros. Sign Amazon, SXM Finds Podcast Ad Halo Effect, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-halo-effect/): Before we get started, we want to do a last call for webinar registration. Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EST, Sounds Profitable will debut our latest research study The Podcast Landscape 2024 in a live presentation hosted by Tom Webster. Registration is free and open now. New Knit Podcast Consumer Study: Podcast Audiences Have An Appetite
- [The Case for Hard News Ads, Raising Standards for Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-case-for-hard-news/): “Audio reaches the brain quicker” — Tom Webster holds forth at Podcast Movement Rain News coverage of Tom Websters’ keynote presentation from Podcast Movement in Washington, D.C. His keynote address contained teases of data from Sounds Profitable’s 2024 edition of the Podcast Landscape study, built from surveys of over 5,000 respondents. 97% of them had
- [Stories @ Podcast Movement DC, FTC Eyes Fake Followers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/stories-at-podcast-movement/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Whew, what a trip! Here’s to good times and safe travels for everyone leaving Podcast Movement in sunny National Harbor, Maryland. While we all unpack our suitcases and stow away lanyards, let’s catch up on this week’s news. Transparency. Performance. Automation. The Podcast Movement Grab Bag Call Glenn
- [Podcasting @ Advertising Week, The Podcast Landscape in 2024, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-at-ad-week/): Podcasting Takes Over Advertising Week New York As part of the 20th anniversary of Advertising Week, AW New York has announced a series of new interactive ‘zones’ showcasing the latest tech, focused thought leadership, and dedicated spaces to educate and network. In partnership with Sounds Profitable, Advertising Week will be running its first dedicated podcasting-focused
- [Thrumm Brings the 🎵, Auto Ads Up in AU, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/thrumm-brings-the-music/): UTA Alum Kristin Myers Joins Podcast Research Firm Sounds Profitable as Principal by William Earl Myers joins Sounds Profitable after working as UTA’s executive director of business development and podcasts. Her move to Sounds Profitable was officially announced at the opening day of sessions for Podcast Movement in Washington D.C. With Myers on board, Sounds
- [Premium Ad-Supported Podcasting, FTC Fights Fake Followers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/premium-ad-supported/): Before we get started, a quick scheduling note for this week: Sounds Profitable is currently just next to Washington, D.C. for Podcast Movement. To account for travel time, there will be no daily episode of The Download on Thursday. If any breaking news happens while we’re travelling, it will be covered in the Friday Recap.
- [Apple's Distraction Control, GARM Disbands Over X, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apples-distraction-control/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s almost that time again! We look forward to seeing all of you in sunny Washington, D.C. for Podcast Movement. If you’re partaking, swing by the Sounds Profitable Business Leader’s Lounge to say hi. I’ll be the one hovering near a laptop, pecking at the day’s issue of
- [Precarious Podcast Ad Load, Audio Streamers📈 YoY, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/precarious-podcast-ad-load/): The Danger of Rising PodLoad Oxford Road has published a new report looking at the impact of increasing ad load on podcasts. Historically, podcasting has gone for quality over quantity, sporting a significantly lower ad load than traditional mediums like television or radio. Oxford Road and Podscribe collaborated over H1 to observe 164 advertisers across
- [SAG-AFTRA 🤖 Voice Deal, Spotify Changing in EU iOS, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sag-aftra-ai-voice-deal/): Apple finally allows Spotify to display pricing in the EU by Mariella Moon Spotify users in the European Union will soon be able to see the pricing of Spotify services and promotional offers for Spotify outside the iOS app. This comes after Spotify filed a complaint against Apple to the EU, and a €1.8 billion
- [Legislating Kidfluencers, Prepping for Ho-Ho-Holiday Shopping, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/legislating-kidfluencers-prepping-for-ho-ho-holiday-shopping-more/): The Podscribe Performance Benchmark, Q2 2024 Podscribe’s quarterly benchmark report, built from analyzing 58,000 campaigns from 238 advertisers, is now live.One key finding is that episodic campaign types perform twice as well as impression-based buys. Head of Marketing and Growth Amelia Coomber told The Download “[That] performance gap boils down to frequency.” Impression-based buys have
- [Podcasts Challenge 📺 Attention, GARM's Gone, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-challenge-tv-attention/): Audio Platforms Generate Nearly The Same Attentiveness As TV by Pierre Bouvard Attentiveness measurement firm Adelaide, which first showed open interest in podcast measurement at the Podcast Upfronts, has published their 2024 Outcomes Guide. Key findings include the fact that not all impressions are created equal. To achieve the same attentiveness of a $1,000 AM/FM
- [Olympic Social Media Bumps, Evergreen Brand Focus, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/olympic-social-media-bumps/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What a week! Olympic medals all around and some half-decent weather in my neck of the woods, to boot. With sunny skies on the mind, let’s look at some news that pitches a blue sky future for podcasting, and shows how the industry has made itself more accessible
- [Olympian Social Media 🥇, History Podcasting’s Long Tail, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/olympian-social-media/): If you couldn’t make yesterday’s webinar with Tom Webster, good news! The recording of Building a Better Pitch for Podcasting is now available for free. Click here to catch Tom’s 41 minute lecture and Q&A session focused around how to sell the world of podcasting to agencies. How These Olympic Athletes Are Winning on Social
- [Big Brands 🔜 Niche Audiences, U.S. Ad Spend Forecast 📈, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/big-brands-niche-audiences/): Before we get started, we’d like to quickly announce the midyear update to the Podscape is now live! Check it out here for a bird’s-eye view of the podcasting industry with companies organized into one infographic. BIA: U.S. Local Ad Spend In 2025 To Hit $171 Billion A new U.S. Local Advertising Forecast from BIA
- [Strategizing Podcast Growth, Evergreen Brand Storytelling, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/strategizing-podcast-growth/): Last call! Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EST Tom Webster will host a free webinar titled Building a Sales Pitch for Podcasting. The hour-long event will feature tips and strategies for pitching the world of podcast advertising to agencies, as well as how to use Sounds Profitable’s grab-bag of data The Safest Bet to back up
- [Child Safety in Advertising, Patreon Podcasters Made $350m in '23, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/child-safety-in-advertising/): What advertisers need to know about the kids’ privacy bills passing the Senate by Ryan Barwick The U.S. Senate passed two bills last week proposing to make the internet safer for children’s privacy. COPPA 2.0 aims to effectively ban targeted advertising and collection of information about anyone under the age of 17, while also empowering
- [Ad Skipping's Real Impact, UK Podcasting Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-skippings-real-impact/): The Hidden Cost of Ad-Skipping by Tom Webster Ad Nauseam, the latest research study from Sounds Profitable, is focused on consumer perceptions of advertising in podcasts. Part of that involved looking at reasons why podcast audiences skip ads. The issue with ad-skipping is podcast advertising truly works, as has been demonstrated repeatedly over the past
- [Megaphone ✅ IAB Certified, YouTube's Scale Power, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/megaphone-iab-certified/): Megaphone Now IAB Certified According to an email sent to Megaphone publishers this morning, the platform is now IAB Podcast Measurement v.2.2 certified. Europe’s podcast market — diverse trends and emerging opportunities by Phillippe Chapot Chapot reflects on lessons learned while moderating a panel of experts from the Netherlands’ BNR, RTL+ in Germany, and perspectives
- [Top Podcast Q2 Performance, Web Browser Regulation, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/top-podcast-q2-performance/): Podcast advertising benchmarks: Q2 2024 Magellan AI has posted their latest quarterly benchmark report, built from analysis of just over 101,000 podcast episodes that they track directly and for their clients. Noted trends include a 22% year-over-year increase in podcast ad revenue from last year. In addition, ad load increased 20%, reaching 7.19% advertising per
- [Acast Q2 Goes for Gold, Pacific Content 🔜 Lower Street, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acast-q2-goes-for-gold/): For Olympic activations, brands are turning to platforms beyond broadcast by Alyssa Meyers Many younger Olympics viewers are expected to consume this year’s Paris games through social platforms, such as clips posted to TikTok, than on a traditional TV watching NBC or streaming on Peacock. In anticipation, Team Great Britain officially partnered with TikTok, while
- [Ethics for AI 🔊 Advertising, Google Keeping Cookies, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ethics-for-ai/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello once again, podcasting. I’m back, I’m 34 years old, and I’m refreshed from spending several days in a forest cottage. There was a Starbucks less than a mile away but it still counts. This week we’re looking at earnings reports, planning for the future, and looking at
- [New IDs in Podcasting, Micro-Influencer Rates 📈, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-ids-in-podcasting/): Magellan AI Brings Privacy-Compliant UID2.0 and ID5 to Audio Measurement The two new identifiers being integrated into Magellan AI will allow the platform to provide clients with enhanced measurement capabilities in a privacy-focused environment. Even with the cookie receiving a stay of execution from Google, next-generation identifiers originally designed for a cookie-less world continue to
- [Spotify's New Ad Manager, U.S. Political Advertising Shakeup, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-new-ad-manager/): Introducing the newly branded Spotify Ads Manager The Spotify Ad Studio self-serve platform has rebranded to Spotify Ads Manager. With the rebrand comes updates to the user interface. A new Audience Manager feature will be released in closed beta ahead of full release in 2025. Recent introductions to the platform include visual ad formats, Canvas
- [Google Keeps 🍪(Kinda), Spotify's Q2, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/google-keeps-cookies/): Google will Not Break Cookie Jar As covered by Digiday, The Information, AdExchanger, and a host of others: Google has announced they are considering not formally killing off the third party cookie. The proposed alternative is an opt-out tool that asks for tracking permission from the browser user. While third-party cookies staying around in some
- [AI Ethics for Ads, Podcasting's Olympic Potential, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ai-ethics-for-ads/): New Ethics Guidelines for Generative AI in Advertising Late last week Adopter Media announced a new standard for authentic podcast advertising and YouTube sponsorships, establishing usage of generative AI to make “personal endorsement” style ads as disingenuous and unethical. Similarly, the Association of National Advertisers has published a new ethics framework that includes best practices
- [Platforms Fight to Stay Brand Safe, Programmatic’s Future, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/platforms-fight-to-stay-brand-safe/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hi all! Newton Schottelkotte here, in for Gavin as they take their birthday week off. I promise you won't even notice the difference, unless you like me better, in which case please email Bryan with gusto. But after you check out the stories below... Transparency. Performance. Automation. Webinar
- [What Your Podcast Can ✂️, From Athlete to Influencer, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-your-podcast-can-cut/): What Has Your Podcast Got To Lose? by Tom Webster In his latest article for Sounds Profitable, Partner Tom Webster takes on the question of editing your podcast, and why you really, really should. Cutting down your show to the very best bits can be time consuming, but while some may argue it also sacrifices
- [Podcasting Gets Global, Programmatic Tempts CTV, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-gets-global/): iHeart is Australia's #1 podcast publisher for 50th time Podcasting is seeing highs and lows down under as iHeart maintains their #1 spot among Australian podcast publishers for the 50th time as of June 2024. According to data aggregated by Podnews, Australian digital audio revenue also increased by 27.1% in Q2 of this year as
- [Rapid Misinformation, Audio's Prime Advantage, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/rapid-misinformation/): Platforms struggle with misinformation and exploitation amid Trump assassination attempt by Krystal Scanlon and Marty Swant After the assassination attempt of Trump on Saturday, social media platforms have been struggling to deal with an influx of misinformation and conspiracy theories capitalizing on the event. From selling a variety of products styled around the event, such
- [Sports Explosion, Going Long on YouTube, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sports-explosion/): Soccer in the US Is Here to Stay. What Are Brands Going to Do About It? by Daniela Silva The fútbol (or soccer, for us Yanks here at Sounds Profitable) craze has officially taken America by storm, with events such as the CONMEBOL Copa America and Leagues Cup building excitement for the 2026 FIFA World
- [Women's Sports A Good Bet, Spotify Adds 💬, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/womens-sports-a-good-bet/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello, podcasting! It’s that time of year: the time I take a week off to hide in a cave while I turn another year older. To keep y’all informed in my absence, the wonderful Newton Schottelkotte will be taking over both the Recap and the daily version of
- [Advertising’s Mid-Year Checkup, Defending The Right Not To Buy, and More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/mid-year-checkup/): Creator Startups Have Already Raised As Much This Year as in 2023 by Kaya Yurieff and Akash Pasricha New data from The Information’s Creator Economy Database shows that creator economy startups are seeing big returns. While investment levels have not returned to the high that was seen three years ago, the number of startups built
- [TAL Ad Sales Switch, Creators @ Cannes Lions, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tal-ad-sales-switch/): This American Life is going back to NPM for ads by Ashley Carman This American Life is moving its ad sales from its previous home at the New York Times to National Public Media, one of the many high-profile ad deals in podcasting that has recently come up for renewal. The decision was made citing
- [Spotify Podcasts Get 💬, Nielsen on Women's Sports, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-comments/): Spotify Adds Comments, Podcast Management App Last year Spotify debuted both Q&A and poll functionality for podcast profiles within the Spotify app. Now Spotify for Podcasters has introduced the ability for podcast audiences to leave comments on podcasts. In addition, the Spotify for Podcasters dashboard is now available as a mobile and desktop app to
- [Managing Misinformation, Tackling Sports Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/managing-misinformation/): Two-thirds of advertisers bought ads on misinformation sites, researchers find by Ryan Barwick Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Stanford, recently published in the science journal Nature, have found a significant portion of top advertisers unknowingly ran ads on misinformation sites between 2019 and 2021. More than 75% of websites flagged by NewsGuard and the Global
- [YouTube Trends Report, Where Gen Z Gets News, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-trends-report/): YouTube Sees Brand Fans Move From Consumers Of Culture To Shaping It by Laurie Sullivan Last week at VidCon, YouTube debuted the 2024 edition of their Culture & Trends Report. Brand Fans are a key character in the survey, with 80% of fans using YouTube to consume content at least weekly about the person or
- [News Producers ❤️ Podcasts, Updates from Vidcon, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/news-producers-love-podcasts/): News From Vidcon Annual video industry conference and fan convention Vidcon took place in Anaheim, CA. The Information covered TikTok’s renewed focus on longer videos. Despite their retiring official podcast support before it launched, this could be good news for video podcast distributors. And Digiday interviewed over a dozen Gen Z Vidcon attendees on their
- [Expected Podcast Ad Load, 🎵 Labels Sue AI Startups, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/expected-podcast-ad-load/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Long-time readers of The Download will be familiar with the accidental themes I discover when collecting together the highlights of the week’s podcasting news. This week keep an eye out for podcasting’s future, and the power of sports. Now, let’s get into the news. Transparency. Performance. Automation. How
- [Olympic Advertising Strategies, Acast's UK Election Campaign, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/olympic-advertising/): Acast highlights news podcasts in new campaign for UK voters The UK general election is set for July 4th, which means June is the region’s pre-election period. While the government abstains from buying any advertising space on politically-adjacent content during this period to remain neutral, Acast is harnessing the increase in political content. According to
- [NYT’s Audio Paywall, Podcasting's Ad Advantage, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nyts-audio-paywall/): New York Times to Move Podcasts Behind Paywall by Anne Steele According to the Wall Street Journal’s sources, the NYT is seeking new revenue from its podcasting arm by way of paywalling existing content and making premiers of new shows a premium offering. All but the last three episodes of The Daily will be put
- [🎵Labels on Music AI, Cross-Apple Podcast Subscription, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/labels-on-music-ai/): Apple TV+ reveals trailer for new Apple Original podcast “My Divo” premiering July 1 The new show is Apple TV+’s first dual-language podcast, released in both English and Spanish. My Divo also is the first Apple Original Podcast that is paired with the Apple TV+ connected subscription service, allowing subscribers early access to all eight
- [Sports Podcasts a Touchdown for Brands, New Spotify Plans, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sports-podcasts-a-touchdown/): Medals, Mics, & Marketing: How sports podcasts bring brands closer to the conversation A new study from Global and Digital Ad Exchange is built from a nationally-representative panel of 732 UK respondents who listen to sports podcasts on at least a monthly basis. Key findings include 70% of respondents saying they feel advertising in sports
- [Improving Podcasting's Accessibility, Worldwide Industry Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/improving-accessibility/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Good morning from the Heat Dome, I hope all of you are keeping safe and as cooled off as possible. On the bright side, we've got some delicious data about podcasting around the world and important news to cover. Let's get started. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Podcasting Grows Globally This
- [Podcasting is Influencing, Coverage from Cannes, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-is-influencing/): Before we get started, we want to quickly shout out the Keep Optimizing with Chloe Thomas and her recent episode interviewing Sounds Profitable’s very own Tom Webster. Catch the episode here! Podcast Advertising Delivers 4.9 Times ROI and Outperforms Traditional Media, According to New Study Acast has published a new study produced with OMD looking
- [Bringing Podcasts to 🖁, Amazon's Ad Relevance, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bringing-podcasts/): Amazon unveils Ads Relevance, claiming it is no longer reliant on single IDs by Ronan Shields The new offering, announced during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, uses signals like browsing, shopping, and viewing behavior across Amazon properties to predict user behavior and offer media buyers ad opportunities using that data. Ad Relevance is designed
- [🌐 Ad Revenue Forecasts, Podcast Performance Abroad, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/global-ad-revenue-forecasts/): Ad Revenue Forecasts Predict Clear Skies Things are looking cautiously optimistic for the advertising world in the back half of 2024. GroupM’s 2024 Global Midyear Forecast predicts worldwide ad revenue will increase 7.8% in 2024, reaching $989.8 billion. Narrowing down to the U.S. level, every category of media is predicted to grow save for newspapers,
- [Spotify Video Goes Wide, New Podcast Ad Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-video-goes-wide/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Good morning from sunny Indiana. This week's news contains quit a bit of research and re-framing existing assumptions about advertising, so get those re-thinking caps ready. Let's get started! Transparency. Performance. Automation. Ad Nauseam: Frequency, Repetition, and Consumer Perceptions of Podcast Advertising This Wednesday Sounds Profitable debuted their
- [Podcast Ad Frequency Study, Forbes x Walmart Creator Upfront, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-frequency/): Ad Nauseam: Frequency, Repetition, and Consumer Perceptions of Podcast Advertising Sounds Profitable’s latest study, conducted with Signal Hill Insights, surveyed 1,011 weekly podcast listeners to gauge how they react to podcast ads. When asked how they reacted to ads in the last podcast episode they listened to, 68% of respondents listened to at least some
- [Apple's Attribution Revamp, Side Hustlers ❤️ Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apples-attribution-revamp/): The Hidden Podcast Audience: The Side-Hustler by Paul Riismandel In recent years Signal Hill Insights has found more business-to-business and general advertisers aiming to connect with small business owners. Given the prevalence of ‘side hustle’ businesses growing to the point they effectively are one-person small businesses, SHI shares data on just how into podcasts SBOs
- [Focusing Influencers @ Upfront, 🌏 Branded Podcasting's Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/focusing-influencers/): Before we get started, we want to quickly shout out AV123 - an audiovisual show by Voice123 and their recent episode interviewing Sounds Profitable’s very own Bryan Barletta. Catch the episode here! How are brands doing with their podcast businesses? By Kaiwen Yans An op-ed looking into the state of branded podcasting in China. Along
- [Audio's Cross-Platform Power, Video on Spotify, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-on-spotify/): Audacy: Cross-Platform Audio Listeners Boost Results For Advertisers Back in June of 2023, Audacy commissioned a survey by Suzy Insights looking at cross-platform listeners; audiences who consume content over the air, online, and via podcasts. 60% of respondents say they have made a purchase in the past year based on an audio ad. The survey
- [Megaphone to Recertify, Audiences on Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/megaphone-to-recertify/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s a week of new beginnings, both in the wider world of podcasting and here at Sounds Profitable. This week is our first with the wonderful Newton Schottelkotte on board as Assistant Producer and they also join me as new co-host of the Download Recap podcast edition! Now,
- [Tolerating Podcast Ads, SAG-AFTRA AI Waiver, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tolerating-podcast-ads/): “My Audience Won’t Tolerate Advertising” by Tom Webster The headline is a familiar refrain in podcasting. Webster has decided to put it to the test with Sounds Profitable’s upcoming study Ad Nauseam, which surveyed 1,000 weekly podcast listeners on their expectations with podcast ads. When it came to the percentage of weekly podcast listeners who
- [Discord Signs TuneIn, Canadian Tax on Foreign Streamers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/discord-signs-tunein/): New Canadian Legislation to Tax Foreign Streamers The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has passed the Online Streaming Act, amending the Broadcasting Act. The new bill requires foreign streaming services operating in Canada to pay 5% of their Canadian revenue to support the domestic broadcasting system. The levy is expected to raise $200 million CAD
- [Spotify Signs Nebula for Video, Kids' Podcasts Cut 📱Time, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-signs-nebula/): Digital Markets Bill passed paving way for publisher ‘level playing field’ with big tech by Dominic Ponsford Just before Parliament dissolved for the U.K.’s pre-election period, the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill was passed. This move opens the door for the replication of Australian legislation that, among other things, compels tech companies to pay
- [Megaphone to Rejoin IAB, 🍁 Podcast Trend Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/megaphone-to-rejoin-iab/): Spotify’s Megaphone to return to IAB certification In an exclusive reveal on Sunday, Podnews has broken the story that Spotify’s Megaphone platform is now working to be recertified. The move comes after the discovery in late April that all of Spotify’s podcasting arms (Megaphone, Spotify for Podcasters, and Chartable) had been removed from the list
- [Addressing Spotify, Aging Out Demographics, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/addressing-spotify-aging-out/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting We are officially all back from across the Atlantic safe and sound. Well, I caught a cold as soon as I got home but you gotta take the good with the bad. Before I check on my slowly-depleting box of tissues, let’s recap this week in the business
- [Spotify's Place in Podcasting, Podcasts' Retail Strength, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-place-in-podcasting/): Of Mice and Megaphone by Bryan Barletta Barletta takes a look at recent decisions by Spotify and how they impact podcasting. By leaving the IAB, downloads on Megaphone can no longer be squared with IAB-compliant downloads, and “ad delivery” is also now without meaning. Barletta encourages publishers on Megaphone to shop around and compare recent
- [Hurdles for Middle East Podcasting, Targeting Older Demos, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/hurdles-for-middle-east-podcast/): Entrepreneurial Lessons From The Frontlines Of The Podcasting Scene In The Middle East by Malak Fouad Podcasting has undergone a healthy expansion in the Middle East / North Africa region (MENA) in recent years, though the region’s podcasting potential has some hurdles to being fully unlocked. Examples include a lack of authentic regional content, lack
- [Pacific Content Shuttered, UK Election Media Impact, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pacific-content-shuttered/): Rogers Sports & Media to shutter Pacific Content by Connie Thompson Parent company Rogers Sports & Media, who acquired Pacific Content in 2019, say that with the U.S. podcasting space - particularly branded podcasting - becoming more competitive they are re-focusing on Canadian audio business. A quote from Sounds Profitable partner Tom Webster: “We have
- [Podshow London Connections, Business Podcasting Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podshow-london-connections/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This is a very special episode of The Download Recap, folks. If only because I’m writing this particular missive from a crowded seating area in Heathrow Airport. Podcast news sleeps for nobody, so let’s take a look at this week! Transparency. Performance. Automation. Connecting With Podcasting in London
- [Industry Leaders in London, Licensing in Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/industry-leaders-in-london/): Connecting With Industry Leaders at Podcast Show London This week the annual Podcast Show London has brought the business from podcasting from all over the globe to Islington. To get an idea of what representatives from companies across various fields inside podcasting are looking to get out of the event, Bryan Barletta toured the show
- [Spotify Podcast Trends, Business Podcast Audience Analysis, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-podcast-trends-business/): 2024 Podcast Trends Tour This latest report from Spotify is themed around trends identified in Spotify podcasting data. Such as the overall 172% increase in streams of podcasts about Taylor Swift on Spotify the week of her Grammy win. Spotify reports there has been a 78% year-over-year increase of podcasts with at least one video
- [Podcast Show Preview, Simplecast Launches Pro Tier, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-show-preview/): What Simplecast’s Professional Tier Means for Podcast Professionals by Bryan Barletta The new tier for Simplecast customers offers deeper integration between the Simplecast platform and AdsWizz, giving podcasters and publishers alike more granular control over advanced programmatic capabilities. To take a close look at how enabling the ability to more directly involvement in that side
- [Gen Z ❤️ Podcasts, ASA Host-Read Guidelines. & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-z-❤️-podcasts-asa/): The rise of podcasts among Gen-Z: A look at the success of LA-based show, Dropouts Podcast by Jada Camille Daily free newspaper AMNY covers a recent live show of comedy podcast Dropouts, which sold out popular NYC venue Gramercy Theater. A podcast selling out live shows is noteworthy, but AMNY goes on to discuss Gen
- [Politics in Podcast Ads, Spotify Removes Ad Floor, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/politics-in-podcast-ads/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting London’s calling! Someone else will have to pick up, as I’m busy packing, but Sounds Profitable will be at The Podcast Show London on May 22nd and 23rd. Before I finish packing my suitcase, let’s look at this week’s news. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Spotify to remove price floors
- [1/3 UK Listens to Podcasts, Spotify Tests Transcripts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/1-3-uk-listens-to-podcasts/): New Features From Spotify Two new facets have been unveiled on the podcasting side of Spotify this week. First up: Podnews reports the streamer is experimenting with automatically-generated transcripts and automated chapters, currently viewable on Accidental Tech Podcast. And on the Spotify for Podcasters dashboard, users can now see “Consumption Time” in their metrics for
- [Spotify Removing Price Floor, New Hub for Podcast IP, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-removing-price-floor/): Spotify Audience Network to remove price floors. A new email from Spotify has announced that as of July 1st, publishers on Megaphone will no longer have the ability to set price floors for the Spotify Audience Network (SPAN). The current ad ecosystem on Megaphone operates as a waterfall, with each ad request hitting direct-sold, then
- [How VCs Use Podcasts, Industry Leaders @ IAB Upfront & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/how-vcs-use-podcasts-industry-leaders-iab-upfront-more/): How Venture Capitalists Are Using Podcasts to Lure in Founders by Andrew Zucker The field of podcasting is giving VCs the ability to establish credibility and reach a wide audience. The wider a net cast, the more chance of finding investment opportunities. Podcasts also allow for sharing investment philosophies and approaches to business, helping VCs
- [Podcast Upfront Recap, Audio Announcements, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-upfront-recap/): Coverage of the IAB Podcast Revenue Study Last Thursday the IAB published their annual study on podcast revenue, and quite a few outlets have covered it. The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the finding of podcast ad revenue increasing 5% in 2023 due to overall rocky waters for advertising. Digiday highlighted the growing long tail of podcasting,
- [Podcasting in India, Q1 Revenue Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-in-india-q1/): City Cast Finds Traction in Radio Model by Mark Stenberg As the name suggests, City Cast produces daily podcasts and newsletters for news and cultural happenings in each of the 11 cities it currently serves. According to Sounds Profitable founder Bryan Barletta, one of the aspects that has helped City Cast grow since 2021 is
- [IAB Podcast Revenue Report, Global Podcasting Grown, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-recap-report-global/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Next week we’re off to the land of Jaffa cakes and Monster Munch. As I plan out how much empty space to reserve in my suitcase for smuggling back McVitie’s digestives after Podcast Show London, let’s look at this week’s news. Upcoming Webinar: Demystifying Pixel-Based Attribution in Podcast
- [New IAB Podcast Report, Growing Podcasting's 55+ Crowd, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-iab-podcast-report/): Podcast Revenue Growth Slowed in 2023, Will Return to Double-Digit Growth in 2024, According to IAB’s U.S. Podcast Advertising Study The latest IAB U.S. Podcast Advertising Revenue Study is now available. Key findings include a 5% revenue increase for the industry in 2023 and projections of 12% growth next year. A quote from Sounds Profitable
- [Podcast Wins Pulitzer, Optimistic Advertising Budgets, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-wins-pulitzer-optimistic/): The Golden Age of Podcasting Is Just Beginning by Tom Webster A MarTechSeries guest article from Tom Webster details how, despite doom-and-gloom headlines, podcasting’s ‘golden age’ isn’t winding down. Recent layoffs are more industry adjustment towards sustainability than they are signs of impending collapse. Podcasting’s core audience continues to grow, the medium offers a uniquely
- [Upcoming Podcast Upfront, Audio Creating Demand, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/upcoming-podcast-upfront/): IAB Podcast Upfront to Kick Off Thursday This year’s Podcast Upfront, an annual event focused on bringing together brands, agencies, and media buyers, is almost here. Modeled after the TV tradition of annual upfronts teasing upcoming presentations for ad buyers, podcasting’s Upfront experience is likely to also grow into discussions of ad tech and multi-channel
- [Podcasting Prime Minister, Global Weekly Listeners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-prime-minister/): Beyond the Headphones: The Portrait of a Podcast Listener as Filipino A new study conducted in the Philippines surveyed 850 respondents from late October to late November of last year. In the four years since the last version of this survey, podcasting has risen from 22.5% in preferred media platforms (sixth place overall) to 50.5%,
- [Podcast Advertising's Q1, The Safest Advertising Bet, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-advertisings-q1/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This might have been the busiest week we’ve had in months over on the daily version of the Download. Here’s the cream of the crop, once more. Let’s get started. Upcoming Webinar: Demystifying Pixel-Based Attribution in Podcast Advertising Sign up today! New Podcast Measurement Guidelines This Tuesday from
- [Spotify's NewsFronts Debut, IAB Podcast Measurement v2.2, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-newsfronts-debut/): Podcast Measurement v2.2 is Ready for Implementation The IAB Tech Lab has finished incorporating feedback from the public into version 2.2 of the Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines. Changes include new language requiring podcast measurement companies to document how they solve for anomalous activities, such as sudden download spikes from a single IP address. [Source] Brands
- [SXM Q1 Podcast Growth, ✈️ Travel Advertising Surges, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxm-q1-podcast-growth/): SiriusXM Q1 Earnings Report This morning the company posted their Q1 earnings report. The chief statistic grabbing headlines is a decrease in satellite radio and Pandora paid subscribers. DWNLOAD Media CEO Chris Peterson highlights a particular aspect of the call not being discussed in a lot of coverage: podcasting. SXM’s podcast revenue saw a 22%
- [March's Top Podcast Advertisers, Growing YouTube Shorts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/marchs-top-podcast-advertisers/): Magellan AI: Top Podcast Advertisers, Movers and Shakers March 2024 According to Magellan AI data, podcast ad spend held steady throughout March, just $111,000 shy of February’s total among the top fifteen spenders. Once again sports remains the most popular top genre for spend, taking the lead with nine of the 15 advertisers. March’s movers
- [Spotify Has Left the IAB, Podcast Adspend Grows in UK, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-has-left-the-iab/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Long time Download readers will know I regularly stumble into themes and connective tissue in the Recap. This week’s accidental theme is one of growth and podcasting’s progress outside the U.S., so get ready for an international adventure. Let’s get started. Transparency. Performance. Automation. Spotify has Left the
- [Podcasts Rival TikTok in Japan, Acast's Annual Report, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-rival-tiktok-in-japan/): Survey of Podcast Usage in Japan Japan-based digital audio advertising agency Otonal has partnered with The Asahi Shimbun Company to produce Survey of Podcast Usage in Japan #4. The survey is built from 10,000 respondents aged 15-69 in Japan and 800 daily podcast listeners selected by demographic breakdown. Key findings include that podcasts are as
- [UK Podcast Adspend Growth, Avoiding Marketing Fatigue, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/uk-podcast-adspend-increase/): IAB: Podcast, CTV and social video ‘outperform’ digital ad market by Ella Sagar According to the new Digital Adspend report from IAB UK, UK digital ad spend grew 11% year over year in 2023, reaching £29.6 billion ($36.8 billion USD). Highlights include the continued growth of podcast advertising, which since 2021 has closed the gap
- [Spotify's Q1 Earnings, Podcasters to Cover UK Election, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-q1-earnings-podcasters/): Marketers Vastly Understate The Sales Effect Of Creative And Significantly Overestimate The Impact Of Targeting by Pierre Bouvard For five years Cumulus Media and Westwood One’s Audio Active Group have commissioned Advertiser Perceptions to do an annual survey of brands and media agencies, focusing on the sale contribution of five factors that impact advertising effectiveness:
- [Spotify Leaves IAB, GroupM Reclassifies YouTube, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-leaves-iab/): Spotify is no longer a member of the IAB According to Podnews reporting, Spotify has quietly ended their IAB membership and has not recertified, meaning Megaphone, Chartable, and Spotify for Podcasters have been removed from the published list of compliant companies for podcast measurement. All at a time when agencies, advertisers, and holding companies commonly
- [Sports Fans Love Audio, Creator Funding Surges, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sports-fans-love-audio/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Another Friday, another batch of interesting news to deliver you way. This week we have a dualogy of stories centering around sports and advertising, so put on your favorite jersey and let’s get started. Transparency. Performance. Automation. U.S. Creator Funding Surges, Overall Creator Funding Grows This Tuesday from
- [UK Election Advertising, SXM Sports Audio Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/uk-election-ads/): The Real Work of Murder: Lessons from the Stars of True Crime by Tom Webster During this year’s Sound Summit at SXSW, Nick Witters and John Allen from Ballen Studios joined audiochuck’s Brittany Bigelow and Kylie Low of Dark Downeast to share insights on the creative process, audience development, and challenges of producing true crime.
- [Digital Audio Ads Growing, JAR Audio Pilot Competition, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/digital-audio-ads/): Ofcom Podcast Survey 2024 by Adam Bowie The raw data from this year’s iteration of Ofcom’s podcast survey is now available, built from surveying a nationally-representative pool of 1,857 people, including those who don’t consume podcasts, and regular listeners. According to the report, 50% of people in the U.K. have at least consumed a podcast
- [IAB Revenue Report, ARN Path to SCA, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/arn-path-to-sca/): Correction: Contrary to our reporting yesterday, Adam Sachs is not leaving his position at SiriusXM or Team CoCo. The podcast and website version of the issue have been altered to reflect this and we apologize for the mistake. IAB/PwC Internet Advertising Revenue Report 2024 This year’s edition of the IAB Internet Ad Revenue report has
- [IAB's Podcast Upfront, Olympic Ads Selling Fast, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iabs-podcast-upfront/): 2024 IAB Podcast Upfront: Demonstrating the Power of Podcast Advertising and Captivating Audiences On May 9th the IAB will gathered brands, agencies, and media buyers for the annual Podcast Upfront. The event will be hosted in New York City and streamed on IAB.com. In addition to the usual presentations from big names in podcasting,
- [The Roost Acquired by Night, True Crime's Success in Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/roost-acquired-night/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Spring has sprung in our corner of the world. As we out Midwest-way start to fly kites and fire up the grill, I’ve got a basket of stories this week centering around potential, renewal, and looking to the future. Let’s get started. Transparency. Performance. Automation. 48 Hours Shows
- [Gumball's Campaign Builder, RadioDays NA's Podcast Summit, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gumballs-campaign-builder/): Gumball’s AI-Powered Campaign Builder During the lead-up to Podcast Movement’s Evolutions conference in Los Angeles, Bryan Barletta dropped by the Headgum studios for an impromptu Deepdive video with Marty Michael, CEO of Gumball about the company’s Campaign Builder. The new feature uses AI technology to streamline the podcast advertising process. Now advertisers can log into
- [Bartlett Founds Flight Studio, New Podcast Ad Research, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bartlett-flight-studio/): Amid the True Crime Boom, Legacy Franchise ’48 Hours’ Sees a Burst in Popularity by Natalie Korach The CBS true crime series 48 Hours, a mainstay of the field that has been on air since 1988, has spent recent years branching out into other fields like streaming, social media, and podcasting. Similar to NBC’s Dateline
- [Night Acquires The Roost, Gen Alpha's Loving Sports, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/night-acquires-roost/): Rooster Teeth Podcast Network Sold to Night Talent Management Night Talent Management, which represents high-profile YouTubers and Twitch streamers like Mr Beast and Kai Cenat, has acquired The Roost podcast network (formerly of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Rooster Teeth). While the specifics of the deal have not been disclosed, Night has said the majority of the
- [L.A. Evolutions Keynotes Published, 2024 M&A Drivers, & more](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/la-evolutions-keynotes/): Evolutions 2024 Keynotes Couldn’t make it to Evolutions by Podcast Movement last month? The Podcast Movement YouTube channel has uploaded videos of all five keynote speeches to the official keynote playlist. The 2024 section of the official playlist kicks off with Tom Webster’s keynote in which he starts off with a slide from Sounds Profitable’s
- [Podcasting is an Ad Bargain, Retail Media's Audio Future, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-is-an-ad-bargain/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What a week for data! New reports, new coverage, and podcasting continues its steady growth. As those of us in the path of totality begin our eclipse plans (I’m making cookies), let’s spend the weekend reflecting on the news. Transparency. Performance. Automation. The Ad Bargain of Podcasting. This
- [Cord Cutting Grows in USA, Podcasting's Netherlands Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/cord-cutting-grows-in-usa/): Five Things to Know About The Ad Bargain by Tom Webster Yesterday Sounds Profitable published a new study into the ‘bargain’ consumers make with ad-supported media: publishers give them content they like, they’ll give advertisers some attention (within reason). The Ad Bargain primarily looks at how good the bargain is in podcasting when compared to
- [Political Podcasting Survey, Spotify's Education Experiment, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/political-podcasting-survey/): Sounds Profitable at Evolutions by Podcast Movement Tomorrow the Evolutions by Podcast Movement conference kicks off in the J.W. Marriott at LA Live in sunny Los Angeles. The Sounds Profitable Partner Lounge returns once more, powered by Claritas. In addition to its function as a private space for Sounds Profitable partner networking, the lounge will
- [Podcasting's Ad Bargain, Gen Alpha's Favorite Platforms & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-ad-bargain-gen/): The Ad Bargain is Live As of an hour ago, Sounds Profitable’s latest study, The Ad Bargain, is live. The study is named after the inherent deal made by any consumer of ad-supported media: publishers provide content the consumer likes, and the consumer will give some attention to its sponsors. Back in 2023 The Medium
- [Retail Media x Audio, Podcasting's PR Power, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/retail-media-x-audio/): Audio and retail are getting in tune with one another by Travis Clark Industry experts interviewed by The Current agree that retail media networks could be a driver for programmatic audio as the next essential advertising channel. Currently, RMNs and audio platforms are beginning to find a symbiotic relationship. CTV (connected television) might be the
- [Audio Strategy @ the NYT, YouTube's Podcaster Workshop, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-strategy-the-nyt/): Before we get into the news proper, a quick reminder that the webinar debuting our latest study, The Ad Bargain, is this Wednesday at 3PM EST. We’d love to see you there. Shortcuts, shenanigans, and real audience growth by Dan Misener Last week Bloomberg covered the existence of MowPod and their tools that deliver Apple
- [The 2024 Ambies, Why Executives Listen to Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-2024-ambies/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting A lot’s happening here in sunny California, and there’s more to come! Coming next week: The Ad Bargain, the newest research from Sounds Profitable. Tom Webster’s live webinar debuting the study is free to attend and registration is currently open. For more on the study, see Tom’s article
- [Audible Grows Originals, True Crime's Advertiser Appeal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audible-grows-originals-true-crimes-advertiser-appeal-more/): High Fidelity: Audible Rides Audio Boom with Big Investments in Original Content by Cynthia Littleton Audio fiction, a bedrock of radio dating back to the earliest days of audio drama, has become a hotbed for testing new IP before committing to a full TV or film shoot. But on top of that are the companies
- [2024 Ambies Winners, Top Executives Love Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2024-ambies-winners/): The 2024 Ambies Award Winners Last night the fourth annual Podcast Academy awards ceremony capped off the first day of podcasting’s descent on Los Angeles for Evolutions by Podcast Movement. Podcast of the Year went to Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus took home Best Interview Podcast. Best Kids Podcast
- [Triton Acquires Sounder, Brand Safety in a Deepfake World, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/march-26th-download/): Triton Digital Acquires Sounder The acquisition will bring Sounder’s brand suitability capabilities and Ai-powered podcast analysis to Triton Digital’s suite of audio streaming and podcasting tech. The deal also brings Sounder full circle, as iHeartMedia (parent company of Triton Digital), led the Series A round of investment for Sounder in February 2022. [Source] Nearly A
- [Podcasting's March Madness Potential, New Host-Read Programmatic Tool, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-march-madness/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It feels like we just unpacked our bags and now it’s time to jet off once more. Here’s hoping to see you all in sunny Los Angeles for Podcast Movement: Evolutions! You’ll find me at the door to the Sounds Profitable partner lounge, possibly writing next week’s edition
- [AdvertiseCast to Rebrand, Podcasting's Ad Responsibility, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/advertisecast-to-rebrand/): Libsyn Rebrands AdvertiseCast to Libsyn Ads; Fuels Next Phase of Podcast Advertising Growth As of today Libsyn is beginning a rebrand of the AdvertiseCast Marketplace into Libsyn Ads. The new brand will make it debut at Podcast Movement: Evolutions in Los Angeles next week. LibSyn’s Vice President of Marketing Rich Romano says the new Libsyn
- [Streamlining Host-Read Ads, BBC Proposes UK Podcast Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/streamlining-host-read/): Announcing OpenRAP RedCircle has debuted a new platform-agnostic product for delivering fully-automated host-read podcast ads. As of today, OpenRAP (RedCircle Ad Platform) is available to podcasters hosted on other platforms, allowing anyone to use VAST connections to let RAP handle ad insertion, measurement, and reporting. If fully enabled, OpenRAP aims to handle every aspect of
- [March Madness Podcast Potential, YouTube's Teen Userbase, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/march-madness-podcast/): Men’s March Madness ad inventory is all but sold out by Alyssa Meyers According to Warner Bros. Discovery’s EVP of ad sales, both CBS Sports and TNT Sports are basically sold out of ad inventory for the men’s side of March Madness. This year’s NBA March tournament is breaking revenue records for WBD as the
- [Podcasting's Once-in-a-Century Opportunity, BBC Podcasts x Amazon Music, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-once-in-a-century/): Podcasting is a once in a century opportunity, there is freedom to do anything Australian outlet RadioInfo has written up a recap of everything to do with podcasting at this year’s edition of Radiodays Europe. EBU senior analyst Matthieu Rawolle shared data on the top three reasons surveyed Europeans listen to podcasts. The urge to
- [Podcasting's SXSW 2024, Video Adopts Podcast Techniques, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-sxsw-2024/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What a weekend! The Sound Summit at SXSW was a whirlwind (more on that in our first story), and podcasting in general has made a splash at the conference. With that in mind, let’s dive into the news this week. Don't Miss Out! Register for Podscribe's upcoming webinar
- [Podcasting's Bright Future, Apple's Transcript Transparency, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-bright-future/): Podcasting’s Bright Future: Insights from SXSW 2024 Odile Beniflah, Head of U.S. at Ausha, shares her experiences with podcasting at SXSW, including the Sound Summit official day of podcasting held on March 9th. Key takeaways from the four panels include Jonathan B. Allen’s take that getting a podcast on a chart is valuable currency for
- [U.S. Latino Podcast Growth, Letting Brand Studies Breathe, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/u-s-latino-podcast/): Latino podcast network My Cultura plans for major growth by Astrid Galván The podcast network My Cultura is ramping up production ahead of its third anniversary. According to Nielsen’s Hispanic Audiences in Focus study from last year, Latino audiences are 13% more likely to listen to podcasts than the general U.S. population. A number that
- [Podcasting's Share of Audio, GenZ Pays for Premium, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/genz-pays-for-premium-more/): Edison Research Share of Ear Q4 2023 Analysis: Podcasts and Radio on the “Audio Clock.” Among the topics covered in Edison Research’s Q4 edition of their Share of Ear Study, one section of the study broke down how much share of a listener’s average day was divided between different forms of audio. Cumulus Media and
- [Who's Buying Indie Podcast Companies, Flightpath to Fix "Faked-In", & more](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/whos-buying-indie/): More Buyers Eye Independent Podcast Companies by Ashley Carman The end of 2023 had some dark clouds for independent podcast companies. Several big players in the industry have cooled on big-ticket acquisitions and the advertising industry’s bumpy back half of the year made the future uncertain for self-owned podcasts and networks. As spring arrives, 2024
- [Apple Podcasts Transcripts Arrive, Bringing Music to Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcast-transcripts-live/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s almost showtime! As we load the Sounds Profitable-mobile with everything needed to throw the best Sound Summit possible at SXSW (this Thursday at the Thompson, by the by), here’s this week’s news highlights. Transparency. Performance. Automation. iOS Update Adds Apple Podcast Transcripts This Tuesday from Amrita Khalid
- [New British Podcast Festival Announced, The Roost Thrives, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-british-podcast-festival/): Podcasting Licensed Music – It’s Time by Tom Webster. Last week Tom Webster spoke at the Country Radio Seminar held each year in Nashville, Tennessee. In his talk, Webster spoke to the Country-shaped hole in podcasting and how it’s time for both industries to take each other seriously and break down the hurdles that would
- [Apple's Podcast Transcripts Live, PRX Helps Radio Fundraising, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apples-podcast-transcripts/): Apple Podcasts now includes transcripts by Amrita Khalid With the release of iOS 17.4, the previously announced Apple Podcast transcription feature is now available. Moving forward, all new podcasts will auto generate transcripts and appear shortly after publication. Podcast backlogs are expected to be transcribed over time as the system catches up. Podcasters have the
- [Podcasts Are Transforming Digital Strategy, Markle to Keynote SXSW, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-are-transforming/): Podcast Frenzy Report New from strategic consultancy and marketing research firm KS&R, the report’s full title is Podcast Frenzy: Riding the Wave of Ever-Increasing Popularity. The report is built from an online survey of 5,000 respondents across March and April in 2023, with an age range of 13 to 76 years old. Key findings include
- [Earnings Call Roundup, Australia's Audio Advertising Revenue, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/earnings-call-roundup/): Podcast companies see signs of an improved ad market in 2024 by Sara Guaglione It’s once again earnings call season, and four biggies in podcasting have posted their numbers for Q4 2023. iHeartMedia, Spotify, SiriusXM, and Acast all report their podcast revenue had positive year-over-year growth in the quarter, and a consistent message among company
- [Making Space for Podcasting @ SXSW, Decision-Makers Listen to Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/making-sxsw-space/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting The calm before the SXSW storm has arrived. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush and various sundries next week if you’re joining us in Austin! Until then, let’s look at what’s happening this week: Transparency. Performance. Automation. Podcasting’s SXSW Splash in 2024 This Monday from Sara Guaglione at
- [Podcasting's Attribution Gap, Untapped Rural Listeners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-attribution-gap/): Urban, Suburban, Rural Listening Differences Edison Research has a new Weekly Insight focusing on data from their Q4 2023 Share of Ear study. This time, they’re looking at the share of time spent listening to audio sources, collected from surveys of U.S residents aged 13 and up. AM/FM radio maintains a strong foothold in rural
- [Turning Up Ad Audio, Canadian Podcasting's Continued Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/turning-up-ad-audio/): Radio on the Move Not-for-profit Canadian radio trade association Radio Connects has published new 2023 data on the audio industry’s growth in the country, created in partnership with Signal Hill Insights. Of Canadians aged 18+ surveyed, 14% spend their audio listening time with podcasts, edging out music streaming (which sits at 11% of time listened).
- [B2B's Spending Big on Podcasts, IAB Australia Tracks 21% Podcast Growth, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/b2bs-spending-big/): AM/FM Radio And Podcasts Deliver Decision Makers For Business-To-Business Advertisers by Pierre Bouvard An important aspect of business-to-business marketing is not creating demand out of thin air, but getting a company’s name out in hopes of “being known before they are needed.” In a report focusing on the B2B side of audio, Bouvard points to
- [Spotify's $10b Goal, Podcasting's SXSW Experiment, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-10b-goal/): Why media companies are pushing podcasts at SXSW ‘Trojan-horse style’ by Sara Guaglione Multiple companies are planning to spotlight both individual podcasts and the industry as a whole at this year’s SXSW. In addition to live podcast performances on Vox Media’s podcast-themed stage, iHeartMedia will be hosting a live awards show, and on March 9th
- [Making SXSW Count, Spreaker's Supporter Club, Podcasting with AI & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/making-sxsw-count/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting We have officially entered the calm before the SXSW storm. Commemorating that, we have one more echo of Super Bowl news paired against a guide to make the most of your trip to Austin this year. Let’s get started! Greater Trust. Greater Transparency. Better Performance. Guide to Making
- [Your AI Co-Host, Temu's Sonic Branding Win, PodPod's Merger, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/your-ai-co-host/): PodPod to be merged into Campaign Haymarket Media Group has announced the decision to merge podcast news platform PodPod into sister publication Campaign. As a result, the PodPod brand will be retired. In addition, live events like the British Podcast Awards that were formerly overseen by PodPod will now be run by Campaign. For a
- [Top Podcast Advertisers, Middle East Brand Safety, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/top-podcast-advertisers/): Spreaker unveils the Supporters Club, a new monthly subscription feature directing 100% of revenue to creators. With a commitment to amplifying the creator-audience connection, Spreaker's transparent, all-in-one platform fosters a sustainable and vibrant podcasting ecosystem. See more. Audacy Receives Court Approval of Reorganization Plan Back in early January, Audacy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Now
- [Maximizing SXSW Podcast Potential, Opportunity @ NPR, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/maximizing-sxsw-podcast/): Spreaker unveils the Supporters Club, a new monthly subscription feature directing 100% of revenue to creators. With a commitment to amplifying the creator-audience connection, Spreaker's transparent, all-in-one platform fosters a sustainable and vibrant podcasting ecosystem. See more How to Maximize Your SXSW 2024 Experience as a Podcast Professional by Edward Fuller Media Bodies founder Edward
- [Spreaker's Supporter Club, Spotify entre dans ACPM, & more](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spreakers-supporter-club/): Spreaker Introduces Supporters Club. As of this morning Spreaker has launched a new offering dubbed the Supporters Club. The new feature allows podcast fans to pay their favorite creators through a monthly subscription model, except in Spreaker’s case the subscription has no platform fees. 100% of the money paid to the Supporters Club goes to
- [Super Bowl Special, Brand Marketing Growth, Slate's Best Year, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/super-bowl-special/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Whether you partake of American football or kept the TV off last Sunday, the Super Bowl is a force to be reckoned with in advertising and we’re kicking off today’s issue with a grab-bag of news about how that impacted podcasting. Let’s get started. Greater Trust. Greater Transparency.
- [Pepsi Goes Wide, Sports Fans Love Video Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/pepsi-goes-wide/): Analysis Shows How Important Digital Audio Is Becoming For Retailers A Million Ads has conducted an analysis of over half a billion ad impressions across a three month period. Findings include a third of ad spend and impressions coming from just one category: retail. According to data from July 1st through September 30th of 2023,
- [Taylor Swift’s Podcast Influence, Upper Funnel Success, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/taylor-swifts-podcast/): Most B2B content marketers have trouble creating the right content for their audience by Meaghan Yuen Back in July 2023, Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs surveyed 1,080 business-to-business (B2B) marketers. When asked about their top content creation challenge respondents’ teams faced, the top result at 57% was creating the right content for the audience. Even
- [Branded Content Surging, Building Authentic Multicultural Ads, & more](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/branded-content-surging/): Podcast Consumers Engage With Social Media And Listen To Episodes Within A Day Of Release by Lauren Vetrano Back in October, Cumulus Media and Signal Hill retained MARU/Matchbox to conduct a survey of 608 weekly podcast consumers for the Fall 2023 edition of the Podcast Download report. This week Lauren Vetrano looks at the data
- [Gen Z Ad Appeal, Slate's Podcast Success, Acast on Apple, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-z-ad-appeal/): Acast expects short-term impact on listens from Apple update by Ella Sagar The interim end-of-year financial report for Acast shows the company experienced an organic growth of 7% last quarter. According to their official release, gross margin for the quarter was 24%, but this number is due in part to the iOS17 update that changed
- [What $7m Buys in Podcasting, Brand Investment Increase, YouTube's Streaming Success, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/what-7m-buys/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This week we’ve got a collection of both headline-grabbers and quiet inside baseball that nevertheless influences important aspects of the industry. Let’s get started! Greater Trust. Greater Transparency. Better Performance. How Much Podcasting Does a 30 Second Super Bowl Spot Buy? This Tuesday from Kimeko McCoy at Digiday:
- [2024 Benchmarks, Lowballing SSPs, NYT Ad Revenue Down, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/2024-benchmarks/): The Trade Desk Plans To Lowball SSP Floor Prices To counteract supply-side platforms (SSPs) tacking on their own costs on top of a publisher’s minimum asking price, The Trade Desk has announced it will start undercutting SSP price floors in its bids. The Trade Desk’s argument is the existing SSP prices are not reflecting of
- [Bumper's Podcast X-Ray, Brand Advertising Growing, More Podcast Investments, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bumpers-podcast-xray/): More than a third of marketers will increase their brand marketing investments this year by Meaghan Yuen According to new WARC data, the percentage of respondents who focus on growing brand over performance has increased 13% since 2022, with a projected 5% increase in 2024. To give some insight into this for the world of
- [What $7m Buys in Podcasting, YouTube Outpaces Netflix, Spotify Q4 Earnings, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/super-bowl-buys/): Netflix's Threat Isn't in Hollywood. It's YouTube by Entertainment Strategy Guy Despite previous narratives proposing Netflix was most challenged by old-guard Hollywood studios, a certain free video platform is proving to be the real challenger. According to Nielsen’s “The Gauge,” a monthly usage tracker of major streamers, YouTube has had at least a 1% market
- [Spotify Expands Rogan, Black-Owned Accreditation, January Podcast CPMs & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/rogan-goes-public/): Spotify’s Multiplatform Strategy, Rogan Going Public Late last week Spotify announced the renewal of their contact with The Joe Rogan Experience, but this time around Rogan is not being kept on-platform. Since last year Spotify has begun shifting its focus from populating a walled garden with exclusives to releasing those exclusives to the wider world
- [Apple's Automatic Transcriptions, Podcasts on ESPN 2, Brand Safety Summit Lessons, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apples-automatic-transcriptions/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What a news week. Since last we recapped, podcasting has delivered oodles of new data and a big step forward in podcast accessibility and inclusion. Let’s get to it! Greater Trust. Greater Transparency. Better Performance. Apple Podcasts Debuts Automatic Transcript Generation A long-awaited accessibility feature has arrived on
- [Call Her Daddy Exclusivity Ends, DTC Shoppers Trust Podcasts, IAB ALM Recap & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/call-her-daddy/): Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ Podcast Is No Longer Exclusive to Spotify by Caitlin Huston As of January 30th, the back catalog of Call Her Daddy has been made available as an open RSS feed on all platforms, with the first official wide release dropping on Wednesday. As has been the case with previous Spotify
- [Brand Podcasting Summit, Open Internet Study, Publishers Holding Strong, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brand-podcasting-summit/): The Free and Open Ad-Supported Internet This week the IAB published a new study built from surveying 1,500 consumers for their thoughts, preferences, and concerns about their personal data and digital advertising. 80% of respondents agree a free and open internet is important to democracy and free speech. When asked how much they’d have to
- [Spotify's Audiobook Boom, Podcast Listener Growth, Prime Video Ads, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-audiobook-boom/): Apple’s New iOS 17 Software Is A Positive Step For Podcast Advertisers And Content Creators John Wordock and Pierre Bouvard The article breaks down the changes to auto-download behavior for Apple Podcasts introduced by iOS 17, including the collaborative effort by a coalition of industry partners to recommend the necessary changes. Now Apple downloads are
- [Apple Transcripts, ESPN Broadcasts Podcasts, Wondery Debuts Toys & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-transcripts-espn/): Transcripts on Apple Podcasts Apple has announced transcripts are available for new episodes in Apple Podcasts with the iOS 17.4 update, including English, French, German, and Spanish. Back catalog episodes will be added over time. Every new episode published from the program’s launch will be automatically transcribed by Apple. The automated transcript can be replaced
- [New NPR CEO, Open APIs for Podcasting, Audacy Revenue Projections, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-npr-ceo/): Unlocking the Value of Audio Content: Why Open APIs Are a Game-Changer (featuring Bryan Barletta, Partner at Sounds Profitable) This week Sounder announced they are opening their APIs (application programming interface) to public use, making them open for all. Chief among these tools is the core tech behind Sounder’s speech-to-text, making their automatic speech recognition
- [Sounder on APIs, Apple Rating Analysis, YouTube's Host-Read Haven](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sounder-on-apis/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This week the accidental theme that presents itself in the news is one of aspiration and collaboration. Podcasting can, has, and will continue to improve and evolve itself. With that in mind, let’s get into the news. Sounder Debuts Open APIs For Transcription This Thursday from Ryan Coughlin:
- [Diversity Delivers, Personalization Pitfalls, Money Movers, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/diversity-delivers/): Most streaming music tracks do not reach monetisation threshold by Ella Sagar Back in November, Spotify announced a change to music royalties on their platform intended to stop bad actors gaming royalty systems. Under the new rules, tracks that get less than a thousand streams in the previous 12 months do not qualify for payout.
- [Audio's 2024 Momentum, Challenging TV Upfronts, Networks Test AI, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audios-2024-momentum/): How podcast networks are testing AI tools for faster translation, ad sales by Sara Guaglione Representatives from networks like Acast, iHeartMedia, and Spotify shared what they’re currently testing in the world of AI, ranging from client outreach to language translation. iHeart plans to use generative AI in translating podcasts for international markets and further globalize
- [Sports' Gen Z Problem, Host-Read on YouTube, Podcasting's Cool Factor & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/gen-z-sports/): Not All Podcast Ads are Created Equal. Here's Why by Kedric Walls While YouTube is a dominant force in platforms for podcast consumption, native YouTube ads can be a jarring experience for audiences that could backfire for brands. Sounds Profitable’s study Sound You Can See: Podcasting’s Video Dilemma found the native YouTube ad was the
- [RAJAR's MIDAS Study, Podcast Guests Generate Revenue, Trader Joe's Podcast Advantage & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/rajar-midas-study/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Next week Sounds Profitable is headed to the bright lights and big city, with our final big partner event of the year in Manhattan this coming Tuesday. I look forward to seeing you all there! As I count down the hours to my first New York bagel, it’s
- [Audio to Pass $75 billion, ANA Finds Missing Adspend, Programmatic Summit Recap, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ana-finds-missing-adspend/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting As the end of the year draws near, it’s a popular time to be retrospective and look back at the last 11 months, as well as to the coming year. In that spirit, a special thanks to all of our partners who turned out for the Business Leaders
- [Host Engagement in Video Podcasts, Spotify Signs Warner Bros. Discovery, TikTok Top Teen Choice & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/video-podcast-engagement/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Remember to bundle up, folks. Yours truly decided to play with fire by not wearing a jacket out on a crisp December afternoon and here I am, surrounded by tissues and Tylenol. Still, through the fog of acetaminophen, I bring you this week’s developments in the business of
- [Skippable Ad Engagement, Pivoting to Long-Term Branding, Podcasting x SXSW, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/skippable-ad-engagement/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Hello hello, one and all, I come to you in the frozen tundra of the Midwest. Which is to say, the snow has already mostly melted and we’re back to only needing windbreakers. Here’s the week’s podcasting news to keep you warm this weekend. Podcast Download: Disconnect Between
- [Podcasts Save Time, Teen's Search on TikTok, Chrome Closes Cookie Jar, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-save-time/): The 25th Hour by Tom Webster This week for the Sounds Profitable newsletter, Tom Webster proposes a reframing of how podcasting is sold to accommodate people who would listen to podcasts if they weren’t time-starved by other activities. Using the time management analogy of a jar filled with rocks and sand, where rocks are the
- [Podcast Ad Expectations, 1 Billion Down-Under Downloads, Podcasting's Programmatic Potential, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-ad-expectations/): Podcast Ad Creative Disconnect Revealed In Cumulus Media And Signal Hill Insights’ Podcast Download by Pierre Bouvard The Fall 2023 edition of the Podcast Download, a report by Signal Hill Insights and Cumulus Media, found podcast consumers’ ad preferences are different than the majority of ad creatives they receive. Of the 608 weekly podcast consumers
- [SXSW x iHeart Awards, Skippable Ad Appeal, Keeping Child-Safe Compliant, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxsw-x-iheart-awards/): The incredible shrinking podcast industry by Max Tani This article covers Apple’s change to auto-download behavior that was released with iOS17 back in September. While the change was a net positive for the health of the download metric, many podcasters were surprised by the sudden change. Tani’s piece serves as an excellent reason why clear
- [A Year in Acquisitions, YouTube Ingests RSS, Accounting for Authenticity, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/a-year-in-acquistions/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy New Year, podcasting! Let’s recap the week, as well as some of the bigger bits of news to happen during our hibernation over the past few weeks. Podcast Acquisitions & Investments - 2023 Industry Recap This Wednesday on Sounds Profitable: Bryan Barletta kicks off the year with
- [Acquisition in Podcasting, Spotify Ambassador Ads, Branded Music Pitfalls](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acquisition-in-podcasting/): Podcast Acquisitions & Investments - 2023 Industry Recap by Bryan Barletta Bryan Barletta returns with the annual Sounds Profitable roundup of podcast industry highlights. Collected in the piece are the year’s acquisitions and investments, sorted by what sector of podcasting was affected (e.g. monetization, creator tools, hosting). 2023 can now be reflected on as the
- [RSS Live on YouTube, 2023's Average CPM, Podcast Execs on 2024 & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youcan-rss-to-youtube/): YouTube officially allows creators to publish podcasts via RSS feeds by Reem Makari As of yesterday, YouTube’s RSS feed ingestion tool is out of beta and available for YouTube users in 98 countries, including the US, UK, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, and South East Asia. Users can now add their podcast’s RSS feed to their
- [NPR's Brand Safety, SXM's Mood Ring, COPPA on Contextual, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nprs-brand-safety/): Sounder Analysis: NPR's News Podcasts Significantly Safer for Brands than General Population of News Podcasting According to the new data from Sounder, 81% of NPR’s podcast news content was classified as unrelated or low-risk for sensitive topics in the GARM brand safety floor and suitability framework. In comparison, the general population averages 54%. Sounder also
- [Podcasters in Pajamas, SXM's Research Roundup, Cumulus Signs BiggerPockets & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasters-in-pajamas/): Streaming audio twice as “authentic” than TV for advertisers. Podcasts? Nine times. by Brad Hill At the end of December, SXM Media released “Digital Audio Vs.,” an aggregation of data on the efficacy of digital audio as a marketing channel in comparison to other media. Highlights include the finding that digital audio listeners use it
- [Christmas Sports Sold Out, YouTube and Co-Measurement, SmartLess' Big Business, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/christmas-sports-sold-out/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting We did it, folks. We made it back around to the time of year when everyone starts saying they won’t be able to do something “until next year” and sharing a hearty chuckle. This is it for The Download until 2024, so for one last time before our
- [Simplecast's YouTube Integration, Barbie's Lessons for 2024, Netflix's Data Dump, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/simplecast-youtube-integration/): Today in the business of podcasting: Simplecast adds YouTube integration for automatic uploads by Adam Shepherd Simplecast has announced a new batch of features that include more robust analytics, an update to episode notes, and automatic YouTube transcoding. Audio podcasts on Simplecast can now have their new episodes automatically shipped over to YouTube for transcoding
- [Seasonal Podcast Ad Strategy, Streaming Audiobook Royalty Concerns, 2024 Agency Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/seasonal-podcast-ad-strategy/): Today in the business of podcastingWelcome to the ad-free internet More and more ad-supported forms of media have introduced ways for users to pay their way out of seeing ads. Along with music streaming and video providers, social media is now joining the fray with Facebook introducing a paid ad-free version in Europe. While the
- [IAB Creator Economy Study, YouTube Postpones Co-Viewing, 2024 Ad Trends, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-creator-economy/): Today in the Business of Podcasting IAB Releases First-of-Its-Kind Research Report on the Creator Economy Advertising Opportunity The new report, titled The Creator Economy Opportunity: Where Authenticity Meets Impact, was conducted in partnership with research agency Talk Shoppe. The study tracked over 1,000 consumer purchase journeys from start to finish. Key findings include the discovery
- [Disney's Christmas Sports Inventory, SmartLess' Big Business, Behind the SiriusXM Rebrand, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/disney-christmas-sports/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Disney is almost sold out of Christmas NFL, NBA, and Rose Bowl ad inventory by Alyssa Meyers Monday Night Football is the belle of the holiday sports ball this year, with reportedly more advertisers and categories booked for this year than last, and the five NBA games airing on
- [Podcasting's Video Dilemma, Realm Signs Adelicious, Marketers Predict Podcast Adspend, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-video-dilemma/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Sound You Can See: Podcasting’s Video Dilemma The latest research from Sounds Profitable is built from an online study of 1,155 podcast listeners aged 18+ who had consumed at least one video podcast in the last 30 days. The study finds there aren’t video consumers or audio consumers, the
- [TikTok Podcasts Ending, Podcasting's Newest Demographic, McDonald's Continues Diverse Podcast Initiative, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tiktok-podcasts-ending/): Today in the Business of Podcasting TikTok Sunsets Podcast Feature Last week TikTok users in the app’s Podcast integration beta received an email announcing the end of the program. According to a screenshot from Jason Gore in the Podcasting Community Discord server, the feature will be available through Friday the 15th, after which it’ll be
- [Podcasting Eats Share of Ear, Spotify Signs Warner Bros. Discovery, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasting-eats-share/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Edison Q3 2023 “Share Of Ear”: AM/FM In-Car Listening Surges To Pre-Pandemic Norms, Spoken Word Grows To Highest Level, And Pandora and Spotify Are Down by Pierre Bouvard This final quarterly report from Edison Research has arrived, built from a survey of 4,000 U.S. citizens. Key findings include the
- [TikTok Going Longform, 2024 Ad Spend Predictions, Tech Startup Capital Issues & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tiktok-going-longform/): Today in the Business of Podcasting People are watching longer TikToks. What does that mean for competition with YouTube? by Sara Lebow According to eMarketer, TikTok has surpassed YouTube for time spent by adult users in 2022, and in 2024 adult TikTok users are projected to spend an average of 55 minutes per day on
- [Podcast Language Diversity, ANA Finds Missing Adspend, Programmatic Summit Recap, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-to-pass-75b/): Today in the Business of Podcasting What Are the Fastest-Growing Podcast Languages? by Becca Butcher While English-language podcasts have made up the bulk of shows, podcasting’s global rise has caused a steady increase of shows produced in other languages. Using end-of-year data from their podcast database, Rephonic has calculated the growth of various languages in
- [Podcast Consumption to Grow, YouTube's Podcast Discovery Power, Spotify Addresses  CRTC](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/12-06-download/): Today in the business of podcasting: A brief programming note before we get started: tomorrow, Wednesday the 6th, there will not be an afternoon edition of The Download. We’ll see you Thursday! YouTube’s Growth As A Podcast Power Player Revealed In Cumulus Media And Signal Hill Insights’ Podcast Download – Fall 2023 Report by Pierre
- [Audio to Pass $75b, Spotify Announces Layoffs, NPR Hires Campbell, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/12-05-download/): Today in the business of podcasting. Spotify Cuts 1,500 Jobs, CEO Ek Says Streamer Must Be Leaner by Lucas Shaw Daniel Ek’s announcement this morning signals a 17% right-sizing of the company, focusing on making Spotify operating costs leaner. The decision comes during a Q4 where Spotify projects €93 to €108 million in operating losses.
- [Ad Revenue Beats Expectations, Black Friday Goes Omnichannel, New Podcast Documentary, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-revenue-beats/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Strong online sales show Black Friday was an ‘omnichannel event’ by Alex Vuocolo This year’s Black Friday skewed heavily from its in-person doorbuster sale roots, with a Deloitte representative forecasting primarily-online Black Friday purchases as the new normal. Deloitte also found “buy now, pay later” financing hit an all-time high
- [Podcasting's Multiplatform Future, Ad Market Growth Continues, Chili's Sonic Branding & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastings-multiplatform-future/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Podcasting’s Multiplatform Imperative by Steven Goldstein In leading the business of podcasting course at NYU this semester, Steven Goldstein has found students are far more broad in how they consume podcasts. Instead of staying within the confines of one app, they’re watching short form clips on social media like
- [Australian Audio Spend Up, Stripping Podcast Ads, IGN's Realm Deal, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/australian-audio-spend-up/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Auddia Announces Intent to Strip Ads From Podcasts App developer Auddia has announced (for the second time) their faidr app will soon use AI to remove advertisements from “the top 200 most popular podcasts,” providing a promised 50,000 episodes of content ad-free. faidr currently costs $5.99 a month and
- [UK Podcast Reach Doubles, Guest Hosting Drives Revenue, Trader Joe's Podcasting Play, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/uk-podcast-reach-doubles/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Rajar Midas: podcasts double weekly reach in six years by Ella Sagar We start off the day with good news for podcasting in the U.K. According to the latest Midas (Measurement of Internet Delivered Audio Services) survey from Rajar (Radio Joint Audience Research), podcasting’s weekly reach rose from 10.3%
- [Spotify's Android Commission Rate, X Cancels MRC Audit, Adblocker Usage Rising & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-android-commission/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Before we get into the news, one quick programming note: due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this will be the last installment of the Download for the week. We’ll see you next on Monday the 27th. A secret Google deal let Spotify completely bypass Android’s app store fees by Adi
- [Spotify’s Global Ad Expansion, Podcasters > Social Influencers, Consumer Holiday Spending & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-global-ad-expansion/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Forecast: Double-Digit Online Ad Growth For Both 2023 And 2024. A new report from Baird Equity Research projects online ad spend will increase 13% this year and continue another 11% for 2024, a healthier outlook than Baird projected earlier in the year. In the near term the report anticipates
- [TikTok's Spotify Integration, Record Spoken Word Listenership, Podcasting's Video Dilemma, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tiktoks-spotify-integration/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Before you head off to the weekend, visions of cans of cranberry sauce dancing in your head, I have a brief programming note. In light of the upcoming turkey-geddon next Thursday, Sounds Profitable will be taking the week off. If you’re subscribed to the Download Daily (this is
- [Spotify’s Google AI Play, Australia’s Top 100, YouTube’s AI Policies & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotifys-google-ai-play/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Spotify’s podcast and audiobook discovery will get a boost from Google Cloud’s AI by Amrita Khalid Spotify is attempting to alleviate the age-old discovery problem in podcasting, as well as audiobooks, with a huge computer. Google Cloud’s large language models are being trained on the roughly 5 million podcasts
- [Predictive Contextual Audience Targeting, Representation Impacts Ads, Global Signs iHeart](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/predictive-contextual-audiences/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Acast Inks Global Partnership with Proximic by Comscore for Cookie-Free Podcast Targeting Across More than 100,000 Podcasts The new partnership allows advertisers working with Acast to access Proximic’s Predicitve Audience tool, which uses privacy-friendly contextual signals to target based on consumer behavior. Global Head of Ad Innovation Elli Dimitroulakos
- [TikTok x Spotify, Few Word Do Trick, New Podcast Trends Report](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/tiktok-spotify-integration/): Today in the Business of Podcasting 2023 Podcast Trends Report from Megaphone and Spotify The 2023 Podcast Trends Report is built from internal Spotify podcast listening data, Google Trends weekly trending search results, and social media data sourced from Tubular Labs. Combined with the recently-released Fan Study, the new Spotify report shows distinct peaks and
- [Post-Strike Advertising, NPR Spoken Word Report, Increasing YouTube Podcast Reach](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/post-strike-advertising/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Spoken word audio report (NPR / Edison Research): Record high consumption; podcast share growing; AM/FM unbeatable in the car by Brad Hill It’s time to look at the fifth annual Spoken Word Audio Report, built from a nationwide survey of over 4,100 people aged 13 and up. 48% of
- [Brands Increase 2024 Budgets, Super Bowl Podcast Potential, Podcast Consumer Verticals, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brands-increase-2024-budget/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Crisp fall winds have descended on the Midwest and annual discussions of “turkey or ham this year” have begun filling family group chats. Before it’s time for some of us to start deviling eggs and mashing potatoes, let’s tuck in to the podcasting news from this week. Track
- [SiriusXM Revamp Revealed, Niche Beats Scale, Spotify's Fan Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/siriusxm-revamp-reveal/): Today in the Business of Podcasting SiriusXM Lowers Price, Reboots to Take on Streaming Music Rivals With “Human-Curated” Focus by Alex Weprin SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz has given THR an interview detailing the much-teased fall update to the SiriusXM app. The price of an all-access streaming subscription is now down to $9.99, a dollar cheaper
- [Bigger 2024 Ad Budgets, Podcasting's Branding Boom, Spotify's Growing Library](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/bigger-2024-ad-budgets/): Today in the Business of Podcasting 200,000+ Audiobooks Are Now Available to Spotify Premium Listeners in the U.S. A batch of audiobooks previously only available to Spotify Premium users in the U.K. and Australia have been made available in the U.S. The new books are accessible with Spotify’s new 15 hours of audiobook listen-time made
- [Acast's Sales Growth, Podcast Listener Consumer Verticals, AdWeek's Podcast Awards, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acasts-sales-growth/): Today in the Business of Podcasting What types of podcast listeners are which types of consumers? By Brad Hill New research from Signal Hill Insights and Triton Digital, identifies four types of listener: heavy listeners who listen to more than five hours a week, sports podcast listeners, music podcast listeners, and those new to podcasting.
- [Super Bowl Ad Sellout, New BBC Podcast Tool, NYT Covers LeVar, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/cbs-super-bowl/): Today in the Business of Podcasting CBS is ‘virtually sold out’ of ad slots for Super Bowl 58 by Alyssa Meyers Last year NBC Universal said they sold their last bit of Super Bowl ad space just ten days before the match. CBS says they had a similar timeframe for 2021. Now, months before Super
- [Interactive Audio Ads, Jolly Holiday Spending, Spotify's Audiobook Revamp, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/interactive-audio-holiday-spending/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Halloween is over, and much like Meg Ryan and David Duchovny it’s time to look at What Happens After. This week we’ve got a few predictions for advertising during this holiday season, a new audio ad type, and a bright future for audiobooks. Let’s get started. Track behaviors,
- [A Billion for Audioboom, Branded Podcast Directory, Marketers' Big November](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audioboom-breaks-billion/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Sounds Profitable launches branded podcast directory in partnership with Lower Street by Reem Makari As announced in Bryan Barletta’s article on Wednesday, Sounds Profitable has partnered with branded podcast production company Lower Street to create Brands in Podcasts. The public directory for branded audio current contains over 500 podcasts
- [Top September Podcast Advertisers, BBC Podcast Growth, Keeping Your Feed Fresh](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/keeping-your-feed-fresh/): Today in the Business of Podcasting BetterHelp And Amazon Lead Monthly Ranking Of Top Podcast Advertisers. According to Magellan AI’s monthly estimate, the top 15 advertisers in podcasting spent just under $47 million in September, a 2% drop from August. The small dip can be attributed to BetterHelp, one of the bigger spenders in podcasting,
- [GenZ Brand Recognition, Monitoring Apple Podcast Analytics, Spotify's Audiobook Evolution](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/genz-brand-recognition/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Gen Zers can recognize brands based solely on ‘sonic memes,’ report says by Alyssa Meyers A new report from sonic branding agency amp finds members of Gen Z are able to identify brands based on sound alone. 75 members of gen Z were gathered to listen to a handful
- [Amazon's Interactive Audio, Positive Holiday Shopping Indicators, 2024 Programmatic Strategies](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-interactive-audio/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Amazon launches interactive audio ads on both ad-supported Amazon Music and Amazon Publisher Direct on Alexa in the U.S. The new form of ad on Amazon Music is built around engaging listeners with the ad using their voice, prompting them to use the Alexa assistant to send more information,
- [Podcasting's Brand Safety Boom, Netflix Frequency Drop, Wondery Podcasts on CTV](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brand-safety-boom/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Halloween is almost upon us and I’ve got some scarily good research for you this week. Yes, I waited all month to make that joke. Let’s get started. Track behaviors, trends, and insights: Download Magellan AI's podcast advertising benchmark report for Q2 Less is More: ARM’s Podcast Ad
- [Podcast Ad Frequency Study, YouTube Trend Data, IAB Podcast Revenue Report, & more.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/iab-2023-study-2/): Today in the Business of Podcasting What is the Optimal Number of Ads in an Audio Ad Break? by Lisa Prentis Jacobs Ad Results Media (ARM) has completed a 14 month study of how podcast ads perform based on the number of ads in a commercial break. The analysis takes into account over $80 million
- [Sports Podcast Branding Potential, Phones Dominate Shopping, Spotify's Podcast Strategy](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sports-podcast-branding/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Mobile phones are the most popular devices used to shop, report says by Alyssa Meyers A new report from Integral Ad Science finds mobile phones are the most popular devices used for shopping, edging out desktop computers and tablets. 75% of the over 1,000 shoppers surveyed said they shop
- [Wondery CTV Play, DTC Brands on Programmatic Audio, Did Somebody Say McDonalds?](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/wondery-freevee-channels/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Wondery launches three podcast FAST channels on Amazon Freevee by Sara Guaglione Wondery podcasts are coming to a smart TV near you. The podcasting company is putting shows onto three free ad-supported television (FAST) channels on Amazon’s Freevee, also owned by parent company Amazon. When they go live on
- [Apple’s Podcast Advertising Potential, Netflix's Ad Frequency, UK Podcast Upfront, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-podcast-advertising/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Apple considers selling more podcast ads by Ashley Carman The tradition of Apple not selling ads on Apple-produced podcasts might be changing. According to anonymous sources familiar with Apple’s plans, podcasting’s original home is looking into the possibility of selling ads on its own podcasts, including those greenlit through
- [YouTube's RSS Ingestion, New Branded Podcast Study, Antiquated Keyworld Blocking, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-rss-ingestion/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy Friday, podcasting! Hopefully the autumnal vibes will carry those of you in the right parts of the northern hemisphere into harvest festivals, carving gourds, or perhaps even a hay ride. Before then, I’ve gathered the week’s podcasting news you need for a balanced reading diet. Let’s get
- [Reframing YouTube Podcasting, CTV Measurement Needs Transparency, Millennials Love Podcasts, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/reframing-youtube/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Confused About Video? The Listeners Aren’t! by Tom Webster This week on Sounds Profitable, Tom Webster writes about a hot-button topic: the definition of the word ‘podcast’ now that YouTube is the biggest platform for podcast discovery. While the modern definition of “a podcast” is often debated online, surveyed
- [Keyword Blocklist Danger, Spotify’s Brand Safety Play, ARN Aims for SCA, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/keyword-blocklist-danger/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Streaming-Powered Tools Coming to Spotify Megaphone, Spotify’s enterprise-level hosting service, is testing out what it calls “streaming-powered tools for Spotify.” The new system will allow users to upload and monetize video podcasts on Spotify, access enhanced analytics reporting, and use a new clickable promo system to cross-promote an episode
- [YouTube's Podcast Ad Policy, B2B's Marketing Bloom, Publishers Mislabeled as MFA](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtubes-podcast-ad/): Today in the Business of Podcasting YouTube Podcasts in the UK and The Youtube Advertising Conundrum by Adam Bowie As YouTube’s RSS feed ingestion draws closer to wide release, Bowie focuses on YouTube’s policy regarding advertisements and how that will impact podcasters who aren’t already YouTubers. The terms of service explicitly state podcast content uploaded
- [YouTube Passes Netflix w. Teens, Targeting Gen Alpha, Public Media's Future, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/youtube-passes-netflix/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Audio ads can be effective, but only if they’re not disruptive: report. By Alyssa Meyers The Sound of Suitability, a new report from Integral Ad Science, surveyed 1,000 U.S. digital audio listeners in June. Echoing Sounds Profitable’s findings last year in After These Messages, host-read podcast ads drove the
- [Canada's Podcasting Registration, Latino Podcast Listener Data, Reinforcing Download Metric, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/canada-podcasting-registration/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting I couldn’t quite package dry ice fog or eerie theremin music in a newsletter so just pretend I decorated the place to be extra Halloweeny for this particular Friday the 13th. Luckily, I bring nothing particularly horrifying in the world of podcast news. Track behaviors, trends, and insights:
- [Download Metric Integrity, Speaker's Outlier Algorithm, Airchecks in Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/download-metric-integrity-speakers-outlier-algorithm-airchecks-in-podcasting-more/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Joint Statement on the Continued Integrity of the Download Metric by Bryan Barletta A collaborative effort by the podcast industry has led to Apple Podcasts taking recommendations and updating the behavior of automatic downloads. As of September 18th with the release of iOS 17, podcast publishers may begin to
- [Postal Match Issues, HGTV Stars Launch Podcast Network, Improving Hispanic Targeting, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/postal-match/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Nearly Half the Data Used for Ad Targeting is Wrong by Jack Neff According to Truthset, a firm that evaluates consumer database accuracy, an important data match (anonymized email addresses with postal addresses) is right only 51% of the time. The proposed core problem seems to stem from pressure
- [Latino Listener Report, Canadian Podcast Registration, Spreaker's PodUptime, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/canadian-podcast-registration/): Today in the Business of Podcasting The Latino Podcast Listener Report 2023 The new report uses data from 2,637 online interviews with U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults 18 and up, conducted in August of 2023. Among other key findings: Monthly podcast listenership with the US Latino population has increased 52% since 2020, almost four times faster than
- [Keyword Buying in Video, Authentic Hispanic Audio Campaigns, YouTube's Podcasting Potential & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/keyword-buying-video/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Happy October to all who stretch the Halloween festive season out into a four-week affair. Fortunately for us there’s nothing frightening in the world of podcast news this week. Just reminders of podcasting’s power and what can be done when audiences are taken into consideration. Let’s get started.
- [Amazon Audio DSP Goes UK, Social Referrals Down for News ,Branded Podcast Study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/amazon-audio-dsp/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Why Branded Content Could Be Bigger Than You Think by Tom Webster In this week’s Sounds Profitable newsletter, Tom Webster takes a look at the potential for brands and podcasts, and how data shows they have even more room to grow. More than four in ten Americans 18+ say
- [Spotify + Audiobooks, AdvertiseCast's CPM Increase, Veritonic Holiday Ad Study, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-audiobook-hours/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Brands Are Slowly Going Always-On With Hispanic Audiences by Catherine Perloff In 2021 consumer good company Danone North America decided to progress beyond occasional one-off campaigns targeting Hispanic consumers. After successful initial test campaigns in English, Danone has scaled up to national campaigns specifically targeting Hispanic consumers over the
- [Podcasts in Classrooms, Gen Z Adults Embrace Audio, ADL Search Ad Investigation, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-in-classrooms/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Streaming video, music among Gen Z’s most popular media activities by Sara Lebow New data from eMarketer ranks the daily media activities conducted by Gen Z adults (aged 18 to 26) weighted compared to all respondents 18+. The top activity is watching video streaming services with 46% of Gen
- [Dentsu's Keyword Buying, Spotify's CTV Play, Amazon Podcast Previews Go Global, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/detsu-keyword/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Dentsu Brings Keyword Buying to Connected TV to Improve Brand Safety and Targeting by Jack Neff Using GumGum’s Verity platform and Iris.tv, Dentsu’s Contextual Intelligence for CTV (connected television) offers keyword targeting at the video level. While available in most text-based forms of advertising, the ability to target words
- [Spotify's AI Translator, New Apple Podcasts, SXSW x Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-ai-translator/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Welcome to Friday, podcasting. We made it through the week, and the themes we’ve picked up along the way include cool new features, and re-envisioning how we approach old tactics with new information. Let’s get started. Track behaviors, trends, and insights: Download Magellan AI's podcast advertising benchmark report
- [Brand Lift for Influencer ROI, International Podcast Day, Adlarge Partners w/ Barometer](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/brand-lift-influencer/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Influencer agency adopts brand lift metrics across campaigns to address measurement challenges by Antoinette Siu The influencer marketing agency aptly-named Influencer is partnering with measurement company ThisThat to use brand lift metrics to demonstrate return on investment for Infleuncer’s campaigns. According to Linqia’s State of Influencer Marketing 2021 study,
- [Audio Attention Outperforms, Sunsetting Google Podcasts, CTV Lifts Programmatic, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-attention-outperforms-sunsetting-google-podcasts-ctv-lifts-programmatic-more/): Today in the Business of Podcasting How attention metrics is tuning into audio investments by Michael Bürgi Attention metrics firm Adelaide has finished a study involving tracking an eBay campaign running across multiple publishers (including iHeart, NPR, and Audacy) from Q2 to Q3 of this year. Audio spots that ran on NPR and iHeart outperformed
- [Apple's Apps to Podcasts, Streaming Spending Down 25%, Branded Narrative Has More Lift, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-updates-subscriptions/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Over 100 new podcasts from top apps and services launch on Apple Podcasts This afternoon Apple has announced some new Apple Podcasts additions with iOS 17. Subscribers to apps such as Apple Music, Apple News+, Calm, and LingoKids now have access to over 60 original podcasts, with more shows
- [Spotify's Voice AI, Ads on Prime Video, Behind the Minimum Guarantee Numbers & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-voice-ai/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Spotify Announces Voice Translation Earlier today Spotify CEO Daniel Ek tweeted a short video demonstrating an upcoming feature for Spotify: artificial voice translation. According to Ek, the tech translates podcast episodes into alternate languages using AI to imitate the podcaster’s original voice. No further details were provided regarding whether
- [Ad Spend Recovery, Audio Could Overtake TV Reach, FTC: Keep it Clear with Kids, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-spend-recovery/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Cool autumnal winds have reached my corner of the world, signaling we’re well past the halfway point of the year and able to look back on where we’ve come. Some of this week’s news follows suit, using podcasting’s history to give perspective on how we can move forward.
- [Audio Flu Shots, TV Industry Certifies Nielsen Competitors, Podcasting's 3 Eras, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/audio-flu-shots/): Today in the Business of Podcasting The CDC Uses Digital Advertising To Reframe The Narrative Around Flu Vaccines by Hana Yoo Flu vaccination rates have plummeted for both pregnant people and children (16% and 7% respectively), leading to elevated rates of severe flu cases, hospitalization, and death. In part this is attributed to the misconception
- [FTC Defines Blurred Advertising, Spotify on Apple, Sony Downsizes Podcasting, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ftc-blurred-advertising/): Today in the Business of Podcasting FTC recommends brands avoid “blurred advertising” when marketing to kids by Ryan Barwick Last week the Federal Trade Commission published new recommendations for advertisers intending to further distinguish the difference between entertainment and advertisement. The more organic and content-like an advertisement is, the more the FTC is concerned children
- [Digital Ad Spend Recovering, Pivot to Pivot to Video, '24 to Break Political Ad Records, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-spend-pivot/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Digital Ad Spend Showing Promising Recovery from Recession Fears. After many months of recession woes and economic uncertainty throwing advertising for a loop, signs point toward the industry healing. Booster’s 2023 Media Ad Sales Trend Report and Operative’s H1 2023 Benchmarking Report both show publisher digital advertising revenue is
- [Audio Outgrows Adspend, Recapturing TV’s Reach with Podcasts, NASA en Español](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/recapturing-tvs-reach/): Today in the Business of Podcasting AM/FM Radio And Podcasts Can Recapture Lost TV Reach Due To Writers/Actors Strike As 22% Of The Heavy Linear TV Audience Say They Will Watch Less TV This Fall by Pierre Bouvard According to a MARU/ Matchbox National Study from late August, of 1,003 respondents, 27% of respondents say
- [Claritas Acquires ArtsAI, Audible's Into the Buffyverse, Google's Antitrust Case, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/claritas-buffy-google/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting It’s a good week in podcast-relevant news, both for the data-nerds and the pop culture nerds. My condolences to those of you who’re about to get lost in a seven season rewatch of a supernatural drama series from the last 90s. Before you boot up Hulu, let’s get
- [Buffy's Podcast Stake, Inclusive Leadership Makes More, APAC Marketers on Measurement & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/buffys-podcast-stake/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Top ten popular podcasts consumed in affluent households by Brad Hill A new top ten list from Edison Research compiles the ten podcasts that index highest for households that have an income over $100,000. The data was pulled from the Edison Podcast Metrics Q1 2020 through Q2 2023. A
- [Podcast Ad Spend Up 5% YoY, Branded Kids' Podcasts Prove Popular, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/ad-spend-up-kids-podcasts-popular/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting A busy week, both in podcast news in general and here at Sounds Profitable. Our largest study yet has launched, The Download is back in full swing now that I’m not producing it live from the floor of Podcast Movement. Let’s go over the essentials from this first
- [Podcasts Command Attention, Influencer Spend Increasing, the DoJ's Case Against Google & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcasts-command-attention/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Influencer Spending Forecast To Grow Double-Digits This Year by Inside Audio Marketing PQ Media has released their newest Global Marketing Influencer Forecast report, and signs show influencer marketing budgets are growing faster than traditional advertising or marketing spending. For 2022 PQ Media estimates 3.6% of total marketing spend in
- [Claritas Converts ArtsAI, The Delete Act, Importance of Social Search, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/claritas-converts-artsai/): Today in the Business of Podcasting How Claritas Aims to Bring Google and Meta AI Marketing Capabilities to Other Forms of Media by Jack Neff Two of the bigger audio measurement players are now one, as ArtsAI has been acquired by Claritas. The acquisition will allow the two companies to combine their tech and work
- [Influencer Spend Outpaces Social, Media Mix Problems, Business Owners Overindex as Listeners, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/influencer-spend-outpace/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Over half of business owners are daily podcast listeners, study shows by Reem Makari New research from podcast production company Lower Street, partnered with ContentFX, looks at the impact of business to business (B2B) podcasting. The study was built from the listening habits of 511 senior-level individuals in the
- [SXM’s Brand Safety Play, ABC Audio Picks Advertisecast, Luminary Adds Ads w/Acast, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxm-brand-safety-play/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting News keeps happening in podcasting, regardless of if we get a four-day weekend or not. We’ve got some fun new announcements, some opinions to chew on, and developments in the wider world of Digital. Track behaviors, trends, and insights: Download Magellan AI's podcast advertising benchmark report for Q2
- [SXM Announces Brand Safety Tool, Podcast CPMs Hold Steadier Than Digital, & More.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/sxm-brand-safety/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Sirius XM Creates a Podcasting Brand Safety and Suitability Tool for Advertisers by Antoinette Siu The new feature developed in partnership with brand safety company Barometer and marketing automation platform ArtsAI, enables agencies and brands to run an ArtsAI pixel on their campaign and then use Barometer’s contextual targeting
- [Back to School Opportunities, Podcasts at 7% Share of Eare in Cars, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/back-to-school/): Today in the Business of Podcasting First-Ever Auto Brand “Share Of Ear” Reveals Listening Among Car Owners By Pierre Bouvard New analysis from Westwood One and Cumulus Media focuses on the automotive data in Edison Research’s Share of Ear study. Since 2014 the Share of Ear has asked respondents the make and year of their
- [New Research on Causes of Podcast Churn, Nielsen's Podcasting Today Report & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/new-research-on-causes-of-podcast-churn-nielsens-podcasting-today-report-more/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Lapsed listening and podcast churn are due to time constraints by Amrita Khalid New coverage of Sounds Profitable’s latest study, The Podcast Landscape in America, focuses on the reasons podcast listeners stop listening. 39% of respondents say they lack the free time to listen to podcasts, while 25% marked
- [Acast Partners with Podscribe, Amazon's Building an SSP, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/acastpodscribeamazonssp/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting This is your final reminder to start packing for Podcast Movement if you’re going. The next time you’ll hear from us will be a dispatch produced and uploaded from Denver. Until then, here’s the news from this week week before we all jet off to the Centennial State.
- [Updates to Spotify for Podcasters, PodcastOne to Go Public, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-wednesday/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Changes coming to Spotify for Podcasters New from Podcast Movement: Spotify is bringing updates to their Spotify for Podcasters dashboard, as well as a new addition to Megaphone. Podcasters logging into their Spotify backend will get access to impression analytics showing how audiences find their podcast within Spotify. On
- [29% of US Households Cancel Video Streamers, New Nickelodeon Audio Drama, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/nickelodeon-audio-drama/): Today in the Business of Podcasting As streaming wars heat up, nearly three in 10 US internet households are canceling services to save money by Jeremy Goldman A new Parks Associates study finds 29% of US internet households are canceling video streaming service subscriptions to save money. The study also found 47% annualized subscriber churn
- [Word-of-mouth Still Best Podcast Promotion Tool, Ad Spend Continues to Grow, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/word-of-mouth/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Word of mouth is still the best podcast promotion tool, study shows by Reem Makari Sounds Profitable’s latest study, The Podcast Landscape, was covered this morning from Podpod Built from a survey of 2,400 people in the U.S. aged 18 and up, the research found 55% of respondents discover
- [Podcasting's Top Spenders in July, CTV Buyers Want Program Data, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/july-spenders/): Today in the Business of Podcasting July 2023: Top spenders, movers and shakers in podcast advertising Magellan AI’s monthly analysis of advertising data from the top 3,000 podcasts in the US on Apple Podcasts has arrived. HelloFresh, Amazon, and BetterHelp continue to hold the top three spots of Top Spenders from last month. In the
- [Time Spent With Podcasts Quadruples Since 2017, Dr. Seuss Coming to Wondery+, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/dr-seuss/): Today in the Business of Podcasting “Share Of Ear” Q2 2023: Podcasts And AM/FM Radio Represent The Vast Majority Of Time On The “U.S. Ad-Supported Audio Clock,” Podcast Growth Surge Continues, And Spotify’s Usage Growth Does Not Benefit Advertisers by Pierre Bouvard The newest installment of Edison Research’s Share of Ear study, built from a
- [Updates Coming for Apple and Spotify, Podcast Ad Consideration Up, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-friday/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting What a week! From killer presentations to bonding over being tired from a 4:00am fire alarm, Podcast Movement Denver has been an adventure. Now as we all retreat back home from the mile-high city, here’s this week’s news. Track behaviors, trends, and insights: Download Magellan AI's podcast advertising
- [Embracing YouTube Podcasting, CTV's Path Through Maturity, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcast-movement-thursday/): Embracing YouTube: A Must for Today’s Podcasters by Steve Goldstein. This week at Podcast Movement, Amplifi Media and Coleman Insights debuted a new study titled “The New Rules of Podcasting on YouTube.” In a today’s new article, Amplifi Media CEO Steve Goldstein focuses on two key findings from the study: YouTube now outranks Spotify and
- [Triton Digital Integrates YouTube, new Advertiser Perceptions study, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/triton-digital-integrates-youtube-new-advertiser-perceptions-study-more/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Triton Digital Announces YouTube Integration with Podcast Metrics The new integration adds YouTube views of podcast episodes into the Triton Podcast Metrics dashboard, allowing publishers to keep track of both podcast downloads and YouTube performance. Westwood One - Advertiser Perceptions: Podcast Advertising Consideration and Spending Intention Grow to Nine-Year
- [Apple Announces Linkfire, SXM Media partners with The Trade Desk, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/apple-announces-linkfire-sxm-media-partners-with-the-trade-desk-more/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Three updates to Apple Podcasts As of this morning, Apple now provides Subscription Analytics in Apple Podcasts Connect, adding the ability to track how many listeners started free trials, number of paid subscriptions, the percentage of users who converted from free to paid, and more. The new batch of
- [Acast Partners with Podscribe, Performance of Former Spotify Exclusives, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/4600/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Acast Announces Podscribe as Global Preferred Attribution Partner. The partnership adds Podscribe attribution services for Acast customers at no additional cost. Acast announces the partnership as a step towards fostering an open and transparent future for podcasting. Starting in September, Acast will no longer accept new campaigns in Spotify’s
- [Why Podcasters Should Embrace Ad Measurement, New Acast US Leadership, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/podcastadmeasurement/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Why Podcasters and Publishers Should Lean into Ad Measurement by Paul Riismandel Paul Riismandel stresses the importance of ad creative and measurement, as podcasters have unique agency compared to other media channels. Testing podcast ad campaigns on a pass/fail binary misses crucial information, like asking why an ad performed
- [Descript Acquires Squadcast, Australian Podcast Ad Revenue Up 64%, & More](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/4579/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Descript Acquires SquadCast Paying subscribers to Descript will soon receive access to a Squadcast integration. Now the platform offers, as their press release says, a ‘complete stack’ of remote podcast production capabilities with recording, editing, and publication tools. Squadcast customers have the ability to switch their subscription to Descript
- [Podcasts reach 10% share of ear, Amazon's building an SSP, & more.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/10percentshareofear/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Amazon is quietly building a publisher-focused ad product team to grow its $37 billion ad business by Lauren Johnson Recent job postings describe a new team called “PubTech,” who will be part of Amazon Ads. Their stated focus is to build a new supply-side platform. There is also a
- [The Download Recap: Podcasting Q2 Earnings, Spotify x Patreon, and more.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/downloadrecap811/): This Week in the Business of Podcasting Ten days from now several of us Sounds Profitable-ians will be in Denver for Podcast Movement (stop by the Sounds Profitable Partner Lounge, I’ll likely be handing out badge stickers). Lots of prep to do, and the industry doesn’t stop just because you need to find your suitcase.
- [Spotify x Patreon is here, Why Most Podcasters Skip Video, and more from The Download](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/spotify-x-patreon-is-here-why-most-podcasters-skip-video-and-more-from-the-download/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Why Are More Than Half of Podcasters Still Not Publishing Video? Katie Paterson, feature writer at Alitu and The Podcast Host, tackles four reasons why audio-only podcasters have yet to join in on the video podcasting gold rush, including fragmented workflows to questions about the data suggesting video podcasting’s
- [The Download for August 9th, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-august-9th-2023/): Today in the Business of Podcasting KQED snatches up Snap Judgment and Spooked by Amrita Khalid Oakland-based NPR and PBS member station KQED has acquired Snap Judgement Studios. No layoffs will occur as a result of the acquisition and both the titular radio series Snap Judgement and its Luminary-exclusive spinoff podcast Spooked are publicly available.
- [The Download for August 8th, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-august-8th-2023/): “True potential” in Sirius XM podcast biz by Brad Hill Sirius XM’s quarterly earnings call displayed confidence in their current podcast offerings, as well as potential future growth. Both podcasting and streaming music are considered ‘off platform’ content in SXM’s reporting structure, with off-platform reaching 13% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2. Pandora’s Q2 profit was $152
- [The Download for August 2nd, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-08-02-2023/): What you need to know for Wednesday, August 2nd.
- [The Download for August 3rd, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-08-03-2023/): What you need to know for Thursday, August 3rd.
- [The Download for August 7th, 2023](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-august-7th-2023/): Today in the Business of Podcasting Why some publishers are reducing their podcast slate to try to grow their audio businesses by Sara Guaglione Several major podcast producers gave Digiday their strategy on reducing new podcast endeavors to bolster existing content. NPR has shifted focus to consolidating podcasts down from individual feeds into central ‘showcase’
- [The Download weekly recap for Friday, July 28th.](https://soundsprofitable.com/the-download/the-download-for-8-01-22/): Your weekly recap of essential news for the business of podcasting.

## Insights

- [The New Rules of Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-new-rules-of-podcast-advertising/): By Leah Reis-Dennis, Head of Podcasts at Audacy More than ever before, advertisers are pouring into podcasting. Monthly spend per new advertiser more than doubled in the last year, and podcasting now delivers ROI stronger than social, display, video, or search. [Source: eMarketer and Magellan AI, November 2025; The Podcast Advertising Opportunity, eMarketer, Jan 2026]
- [Three Podcast Leaders on How They Got to Scale, and Why It’s Still Early](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/three-podcast-leaders-on-how-they-got-to-scale-and-why-its-still-early/): By Fatima Zaidi, CEO & Founder of Quill & CoHost Podcast Movement's first New York edition brought the industry to Terminal 5 last week, and over two days I sat down with three of the people shaping where this business goes next: Greg Glenday (CEO, Acast), Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road), and Sharon Taylor (CRO,
- [Why Is It So Hard to Give You Money?](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/why-is-it-so-hard-to-give-you-money/): by Annalise Nielsen, Head of Podcast Strategy & Development at Lower Street I spent years selling podcast ads. First at a small network, negotiating directly with inbound sponsors, then later at a larger media company educating sales teams about podcasts and coordinating between sales and production. I had a pretty solid understanding of how ads
- [Most Podcast Listeners Aren’t Choosing Between Audio & Video. Why Is the Industry?](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/most-podcast-listeners-arent-choosing-between-audio-video-why-is-the-industry/): By Sharon Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer, Triton Digital Every few months, another headline declares that podcasting has gone video-first. YouTube's reach numbers get cited. A streamer announces a video podcast slate. Someone builds a chart ranking video views alongside downloads as if they measure the same thing. And the conclusion is always the same: audio
- [Inside the Q2 2026 Podcast Measurement Benchmarks](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/inside-the-q2-2026-podcast-measurement-benchmarks/): Magellan AI's Q2 2026 Podcast Measurement Benchmarks are here, and the report has changed shape. Sounds Profitable President Bryan Barletta sits down with Jim Ballas, President of Measurement at Magellan AI, to walk through the new attribution benchmark data covering the first half of 2026, plus the two methodology changes behind it: a shift from
- [Your podcast's problem was never the budget](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/your-podcasts-problem-was-never-the-budget/): by Fatima Zaidi, CEO and Founder, Quill and CoHost Every brand podcast lives or dies on one question, and most teams cannot answer it in a sentence: What is this show for? It's a harder question than it sounds. A brand team can usually tell you everything else about their show, like the cadence,
- [Official Podcasts: The Natural Home of Betting Sponsors in 2026/27 ](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/official-podcasts/): by Ryan Barker, Sport Social Podcast Network Agency Account Manager Last season (25/26) 11 of the 20 Premier League clubs had betting brands as their Front of Shirt sponsor. That’s all change for this season as new rules prevent gambling sponsors taking that prime real estate, creating a challenge for both the advertisers and the clubs they
- [What Podcasters Can Learn From the Sports Social Industry About Selling Their Shows](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/what-podcasters-can-learn-from-the-sports-social-industry-about-selling-their-shows/): by Nick Cicero, Founder - Mondo Metrics Chris Balfe, whose Red Seat Ventures sells ads for Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly, told Peter Kafka last week that podcast clipping gives the platforms his content and gives him zero dollars back. I think his argument confuses the medium for the value. The value was never the
- [Why the argument for not investing in UK podcast advertising just ran out of road](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/uk-podcast-advertising/): Five thousand respondents interviewed, twenty ad-supported platforms measured, and four posts have brought us to this question: how do you close the gap between what the data says and what the media plan reflects? This is the gap: UK podcast advertising receives approximately £0.18 per listener-hour of advertising investment. In the US, that figure is
- [Building a Revenue-Driven Audio Marketplace for Publishers](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/building-a-revenue-driven-audio-marketplace-for-publishers/): by Mattia Verzella, Vice President of Programmatic Partnerships at Triton Digital. “Stop Comparing CPMs — Each Revenue Channel Plays a Different Role.” When publishers look at ad revenue in podcasting and streaming audio, the first instinct is often to compare CPMs across channels and platforms. On paper, this feels intuitive: if one buyer pays $18
- [The Purchase Funnel](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-purchase-funnel/): By Ben Robins Last time, we looked at why UK 18-34s trust podcast advertising more than any social platform. Trust is interesting. But trust that doesn't lead anywhere is just a nice statistic. So what happens after the trust? The Headline Number 44% of UK 18-34 podcast listeners made a purchase after hearing a podcast
- [The Podcasters Our Industry Forgets](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-podcasters-our-industry-forgets/): By Richard Fawal, founder and CEO of Voxtopica Walk the floor at any podcast conference, and you can map our industry’s priorities by what’s on the signage. Attribution. Programmatic. Dynamic ad insertion. IAB measurement compliance. CPMs and brand lift. It’s a sophisticated business, and the people building it are good at their jobs. Now find
- [The Trust Dividend](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-trust-dividend/): By Ben Robins My two daughters (now aged 21 and 13) barely know what a linear TV schedule is. To them, the idea that you'd sit down at a fixed time to watch a fixed programme, and then wait through whatever comes next, is genuinely charming. Like a museum exhibit of how old people used
- [Voices of the World Cup](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/voices-of-the-world-cup/): The Sound of a Global Game There was a time when the defining sound of the World Cup was the roar inside the stadium or the authoritative tone of a broadcaster on BBC Sport or Sky Sports. In 2026, the defining sound is just as likely to be a familiar voice in a pair of
- [The question B2B brands keep asking that downloads can't answer](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-question-b2b-brands-keep-asking-that-downloads-cant-answer/): by Alison Osborne, VP of Marketing, CoHost & Quill After a few hundred B2B podcast conversations, I can almost predict the first thing a marketer is going to say. It's some version of this: "Right now, we have no idea who's actually listening to our podcast. I don't know if we're hitting the right audience.
- [Beyond the Broadcast: Why Podcasts Are the New Home for Sports Fans](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/beyond-the-broadcast-why-podcasts-are-the-new-home-for-sports-fans/): Written by Jim Salveson, Director of Sport, Sport Social Podcast Network For decades, live broadcast has been the gravitational centre of the sports media universe. Matchday television, appointment viewing and the shared cultural moment of live sport remain hugely powerful. But the way fans surround those moments has changed dramatically. In an era of fragmented
- [CEO Tyler Denk on Why beehiiv is Serious About Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/an-interview-with-beehiiv-ceo-tyler-denk/): To mark the launch of podcast hosting and monetization on beehiiv, Sounds Profitable Partner Bryan Barletta spoke with beehiiv co-founder and CEO Tyler Denk about how their podcast offering came together and intended audience. Barletta: To date, each piece of beehiiv's offering has centered around distribution of written content, whether to the newsletter itself or
- [The Rural Podcast as Civic Infrastructure](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/rural-podcast-civic-infrastructure/): By Tom Fox, founder of Compliance Podcast Network and co-founder of the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network. There are moments when a market shifts not because of a new technology, a flashy startup, or a venture-backed disruption, but because an essential institution begins to recede. We may be in one of those moments right now
- [The Rehearsal Was Never the Point](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-rehearsal-was-never-the-point/): by Jack Levy, Co-Founder, Manifest Media Productions Hollywood has been doing table reads since before the talkies. Actors gather around a table. The script is read aloud. Writers hear what works and what falls flat. Directors begin imagining the film before a single frame is shot. It is one of the most valuable tools in
- [Apple Podcasts Is In On Video. Will Users Notice?](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/apple-podcasts-is-in-on-video-will-users-notice/): by Jay Nachlis, Vice President/Consultant, Coleman Insights. Apple announced this past week that it will introduce advanced video capabilities in its Apple Podcasts app this spring, including seamless switching between watching and listening and dynamic video ad support, and that is indeed a very big deal. But video podcasting isn’t new for Apple. Apple brought
- [Advertisers' Trust in Public Media, with Thomas De Napoli](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/advertisers-trust-in-public-media-with-thomas-de-napoli/): A conversation with Thomas De Napoli, VP Head of Sales & Underwriting APM and MPR about how things have operated on the business side of MPR and APM during a period when national attention is being paid to Minnesota in general, and Minneapolis specifically. What does it look like internally when a moment like this
- [Using Creativity and Comedy to Process Grief, with Roger Nairn](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/using-creativity-and-comedy-to-process-grief-with-roger-nairn/): A conversation with Roger Nairn, Co-Founder JAR Podcast Solutions, about the launch of his podcast Dead Dads and what hosting a comedic show about death and grief opens up for him. This is clearly a passion project born from a real moment. What’s it been like stepping from behind the scenes into the host chair, and how
- [Podcast Advertising in 2026, With Gretchen Smith Dubois](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/gretchen-smith-dubois/): 2026 has already been a busy year for the business side of podcasting. For an advertiser's perspective on everything from brand safety to Netflix entering the world of video podcasting, Bryan Barletta spoke to Gretchen Smith Dubois, VP of Media at Ad Results Media. If you could snap your fingers and make one metric matter
- [Catherine Browne on Theo Von, Polar Bears, and Pepsi](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/catherine-browne-interview/): Recently, The Roost took on a marketing campaign using one of their podcasters to extend a Super Bowl TV ad into a larger campaign using social media, a polar bear costume, and two hand signs. To learn more, Bryan Barletta spoke with Catherine Browne, Vice President of Revenue and Partnerships for the Roost about the
- [What Podcasts and Milkshakes Have in Common](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/what-podcasts-and-milkshakes-have-in-common/): by Dan Kendall, Founder of Mission Based Media. Ever wonder what podcasts and milkshakes have in common? No, it's not just that they're both cool. Or that they're easy to consume. (Though both are true.) Harvard professor Clay Christensen tells a story in his 2003 book "The Innovator's Solution" about a fast-food chain trying to
- [Why Podcasting Is a Must-Have For Rights Holders and Brands](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/why-podcasting-is-a-must-have-for-rights-holders-and-brands/): Written by Jim Salveson, Director of Sport, Sport Social Podcast Network How trust, brand safety, and a new era of fan behaviour are reshaping sports media. Sports media has changed forever. Rights holders are no longer dependent on broadcasters to reach their audience. Instead, they’ve become their own publishers, building direct relationships with fans through
- [Robert Tuchman on AudienceLift and Publisher Data Transparency](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/robert-tuchman-on-audiencelift-and-publisher-data-transparency/): The following is an interview with Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta and Robert Tuchman, co-founder of Amaze Media Labs, conducted after the release of the Publisher Data Transparency feature for podcast growth platform AudienceLift.com (owned by Amaze Media Labs). The text has been edited for clarity. Bryan Barletta: Will this new transparency feature will be included
- [Building Interactive Audio Experiences in Hit Replay - Spooler x Pantheon Media.](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/spooler-x-pantheon-media/): In a new deep-dive conversation, Bryan Barletta is joined by Spooler co-founders James Boggs and Andy Bower, as well as Pantheon Media co-founders Christian Swain and Peter Ferioli. The group spends a half-hour breaking down how the two companies came together to create Hit Replay, an interactive podcast puzzle game produced in partnership with the
- [The collaboration behind The Hidden Third](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-hidden-third-collaboration/): Last week The Roost Podcast Network launched a new podcast with Mariana van Zeller titled The Hidden Third. To mark the occasion, The Roost VP of Revenue & Partnerships Catherine Browne and journalist Mariana van Zeller kindly agreed to an interview with Sounds Profitable. The Roost has come a long way from it's original roots as
- [Discussing Collaboration with LiveRead.io and Companion](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/liveread-io-and-companion/): Today Bryan Barletta returns with another deep-dive conversation this time bringing together LiveRead.io President Ilyas Frenkel, Director of Operations at Companion Arts Shawya Mogharabi, and Companion General Manager AJ Feliciano. The group discusses how LiveRead.io came to be, how Frankel first approached Companion, and what the service has done to open up valuable bandwidth as
- [A Conversation with Acast CEO Greg Glenday](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/acast-ceo-greg-glenday/): Back on September 18th, recently-appointed Acast CEO Greg Glenday sat down with Bryan Barletta to discuss the podcasting industry, what Acast's role in podcasting is, and where things are headed.
- [Katie Nolan on Keeping Sports Casual with SiriusXM](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/katie-nolan-on-keeping-sports-casual-with-siriusxm/): by Gavin Gaddis During Podcast Movement 2025 in Dallas, I got to sit down with Katie Nolan, host of the sports discussion podcast Casuals. What follows is our interview going over Nolan's background, why she wanted to start Casuals, and how SiriusXM has factored into the business side of making sports approachable. All right, so we start
- [An Interview With Rodrigo Tigre, CEO of Ozen.fm](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/an-interview-with-rodrigo-tigre-ceo-of-ozen-fm/): At Podcast Movement 2025, Sounds Profitable and Randi P'Pool interviewed Ozen.fm co-founder and CEO Rodrigo Tigre. Topics include the growth of podcasting in South America, including Brazil and wider Latin America/LatAm, how brands should recognize podcasting's growing global importance, and how Ozen uses tech, curation, and data intelligence help podcasts scale.
- [Once and For All: Video will NEVER Kill the Radio Star, and Here's Why](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/once-and-for-all/): by Jen Moss, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer JAR Podcast Solutions The question isn’t “Will audio storytelling survive?” It’s “Where will it go next?” After nearly twenty years in radio, a decade teaching creative writing for podcasting and new media at the University of British Columbia, and eight years as Chief Creative Officer at JAR
- [How Podcast Clips Can Work For You - An Interview with Louis Roberts](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/with-louis-roberts/): As part of Sounds Profitable's mission to uplift and connect the podcast industry, we're conducting a series of interviews with industry professionals and leaders to share their stories and insights about where podcasting is, and where it's going. Today we speak to Louis Roberts, Head of Business Development at OpusClip. What follows is a transcript
- [The Power of Podcast Search Optimization - An Interview with Jennifer Han](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/jennifer-han-interview/): As part of Sounds Profitable's mission to uplift and connect the podcast industry, we're conducting a series of interviews with industry professionals and leaders to share their stories and insights about where podcasting is, and where it's going. Today we speak to Jennifer Han, CMO of Ausha What follows is a transcript of the video,
- [Colin Gray on Growing ThePodcastHost.com and Alitu](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/colin-gray-interview/): As part of Sounds Profitable's mission to uplift and connect the podcast industry, we're conducting a series of interviews with industry professionals and leaders to share their stories and insights about where podcasting is, and where it's going. Today we're interviewing Colin Gray, founder of ThePodcastHost.com and editing app Alitu.  Welcome, would you mind
- [Wondercraft's Oskar Serrander Explains Convo Mode with Convo Mode](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/wondercrafts-oskar-serrander-explains-convo-mode-with-convo-mode/): by Bryan Barletta, Partner, Sounds Profitable Recently Wondercraft announced a new feature being added to their creative production studio: Convo Mode. To get a better understanding of the tool, Bryan sent over some questions for co-founder Oskar Serrander to answer in a video interview. Serrander responded by using the Convo Mode tool itself to generate
- [Coworking: Cassandra Faulding](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-cassandra-faulding/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, here’s the form to submit! Today I’d like to spotlight Cassandra Faulding, Marketing Director and Producer at Wellness Loud.
- [Putting Podcasts in Times Square - An Interview with Emi Norris](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/putting-podcasts-in-times-square-an-interview-with-emi-norris/): by Bryan Barletta, Partner, Sounds Profitable This Spring, Amazon Music has been bringing podcasts to the most popular out-of-home advertising venue in the U.S.: Times Square in Manhattan. And it's making an impact, as I regularly see pictures of the billboards from proud publishers, podcasters, and fans posted on social media. From early March through
- [Podcasters, please stop thinking about, aiming for, or expecting a TV deal.](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/podcasters-please-stop-thinking-about-aiming-for-or-expecting-a-tv-deal/): by Atomic Entertainment co-founder Jerry Kolber You’re not getting a TV deal for your podcast. Let me explain why. After creating and Executive Producing Nat Geo’s Brain Games with my producing partner Adam “Tex” Davis, he and I co-created and Executive Produced Netflix’s hit science series Brainchild with Pharrell Williams and Mimi Valdés. We were
- [Coworking: Marc Sanchez, American Public Media](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-mark-sanchez-american-public-media/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, fill out this form! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? When I started
- [Coworking: Joni Deutsch](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-joni-deutsch/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, fill out this form! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? Back in my
- [The UK Podcast Advertising Opportunity: Insights from AudioUK's Power of Podcasting Showcase](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/uk-podcast-advertising-opportunity/): by Ben Robins, Founder of Sound Insights This week, industry leaders gathered at AudioUK's ‘Power of Podcasting Showcase’ to explore the growing podcast landscape and its advertising potential in the UK market. The event, hosted in partnership with Universal Production Music, revealed a striking disparity: while podcast listenership continues to surge across the UK, advertising
- [Podcasts and Gaming: Elevating How We Cater to Industry Interests](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/podcasts-and-gaming-elevating-how-we-cater-to-industry-interests/): By Edward Fuller, CEO of Media Bodies Selling the potential of Podcasts from an ad creative and audience potential perspective is one thing. But getting an unfamiliar segment on board with the reliability of the channel and its performance is another. In a recent piece, I covered the potential that Podcasts hold for Game Marketing.
- [Coworking: Molly Murphy](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-molly-murphy/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, drop us a line! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? Joining Linkfire as
- [Coworking: Colin Gray, Alitu & The Podcast Host](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-colin-gray-alitu-the-podcast-host/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, drop us a line! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? I started out
- [Coworking: Odile Beniflah, Ausha](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-odile-beniflah/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, drop us a line! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? Meeting
- [Coworking: Christian Swain, Pantheon Media](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-christian-swain-pantheon-media/): Welcome to Coworking, a recurring feature in The Download where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, drop us a line! What's a moment in your career that shaped how you approach podcasting? When other podcasters
- [Interview: Mike Wright and Jason Moore of The Fantasy Footballers](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/interview-mike-wright-and-jason-moore-of-the-fantasy-footballers/): by Gavin Gaddis, Head of Content, Sounds Profitable During Evolutions by Podcast Movement, I sat down with Mike Wright and Jason Moore, two of the three hosts of The Fantasy Footballers podcast, a multiplatform podcast that's hit its tenth year of production, as well as starting an exclusive podcasting relationship with SiriusXM back in January that includes
- [Coworking: Milton Camay, Podcast Reach Network](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/coworking-milton-camay-podcast-reach-network/): Welcome to Coworking, a new recurring series at Sounds Profitable where we highlight some of the folks working in the business of podcasting. If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring and answer some questions, drop us a line! What advice would you give someone looking to get into podcast ad operations? Build
- [Podcasts for Game Marketing: An Untapped Opportunity](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/podcasts-for-game-marketing-an-untapped-opportunity/): By Edward Fuller, Media Bodies As an industry, we’re always good at celebrating how far we’ve come. How our tools and set ups have evolved to allow advertisers a level of strategic targeting and measurement like never before. How we’ve taken on the agility to shape our content, formats, and platforms to cater to consumer
- [How City Cast picks its new cities](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/how-city-cast-picks-its-new-cities/): By David Plotz and Andi McDaniel, co-founders of City Cast. It’s official: City Cast is launching two new markets in 2025: Seattle and the Twin Cities! These two cities–as delightful as they are complicated–won out over dozens of others, but how? By nailing every criterion we’ve developed over the last four years to predict where
- [Tuning in to On Air Fest w. Scott Newman and Jeff Weiner](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/tuning-in-to-on-air-fest-w-scott-newman-and-jeff-weiner/): In anticipation of On Air Fest next week, Bryan Barletta interviewed work x work creator Scott Newman and On Air Fest Executive Director Jeff Weiner about the event’s place in the podcasting industry, how it got started, and the process behind keeping innovation rolling each year. On Air Fest passes are still available, including a
- [The Riches in the Niches: How Niche Podcasts Overlap with Mainstream Audiences and What It Means for Advertisers](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/the-riches-in-the-niches-how-niche-podcasts-overlap-with-mainstream-audiences-and-what-it-means-for-advertisers/): Written by Sabrina Nielsen, Marketing Director at True Native Media Podcasting has evolved into one of the most dynamic and engaging mediums for both content creators and advertisers alike. While mainstream shows like The Joe Rogan Experience and Call Her Daddy continue to dominate the airwaves, there's a powerful shift happening in the podcasting ecosystem:
- [How Emotion AI Will Transform Podcast Advertising](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/how-emotion-ai-will-transform-podcast-advertising/): Written by Alberto Betella, co-founder of RSS.com In today’s audio advertising landscape, we have a broad spectrum of strategies ranging from Run of Network (RON) ads to host-read ads. RON ads are generic and typically have the lowest efficacy, while host-read ads have consistently proven to be more effective because they establish a deeper connection
- [Saudi Arabia’s Podcast Boom: Breaking Records and Boosting Brands](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/saudi-arabias-podcast-boom-breaking-records-and-boosting-brands/): By Suzi Kuban, Direct of Marketing and Content, Next Broadcast Media Saudi Arabia’s Podcast Boom: Breaking Records and Boosting Brands A 3-hour Saudi podcast broke Joe Rogan and Elon Musk's record as the most watched podcast episode in the world. While podcast's mighty growth in North America has been well documented, the Middle East and
- [Building A Sales Pitch For Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/building-a-sales-pitch-for-podcasting/): With nearly two decades of experience in podcasting AND presentations, Tom Webster shares his insights on crafting compelling sales pitches for the podcasting industry by breaking down Sounds Profitable’s recent report, The Safest Bet, and explaining the rationale behind its structure and flow. Tom does this work all the time with many of the 180
- [What Simplecast's Professional Tier Means for Podcast Professionals](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/what-simplecasts-professional-tier-means-for-podcast-professionals/): By Bryan Barletta, Founder - Sounds Profitable Back in the Summer of 2020, SiriusXM acquired Simplecast, committing to their focus of prioritizing podcasting by integrating their robust audio programmatic platform AdsWizz with this newly-acquired, creator-first podcast hosting platform. Integrating two (or more) unique pieces of technology is a difficult feat on its own, but when
- [Preparing for pre-election, mitigating the UK’s general election impact on revenue](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/preparing-for-pre-election-mitigating-the-uks-general-election-impact-on-revenue/): by Andrew Goldsmith, CEO Adelicious It is highly likely that usual podcasting advertising schedules, and therefore creator’s revenues, will be interrupted by the upcoming UK general election. Here, I explain why this is and offer some simple advice to help you reduce the impact. First things first, none of us in the UK know when
- [Gumball's AI-Powered Campaign Builder](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/gumball-campaign-builder-ai/): Gumball CEO Marty Michael joins Bryan Barletta to debut the new Campaign Builder Gumball has released, using AI-powered tech to assist advertising campaign setup. Below is a transcript of their conversation. Bryan Barletta 00:50 Hi, everyone, Brian Barletta here from Sounds Profitable, and we're gonna be doing a special product DeepDive live, because Marty here
- [How to Maximize Your SXSW 2024 Experience as a Podcast Professional](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/how-to-maximize-your-sxsw-2024-experience-as-a-podcast-professional/): by Edward Fuller, founder of Media Bodies. South By Southwest is less than a month away, and the media and marketing world is gearing up for what promises to be an unparalleled experience learning from and networking with the industry’s biggest and brightest. But while Podcasting is steadily gaining more attention in the mainstream media,
- [Embracing YouTube: A Must for Today’s Podcasters](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/embracing-youtube-a-must-for-todays-podcasters/): by Steve Goldstein, CEO of Amplifi Media While platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify have traditionally been the homes for audio content, a new player is proving to be a game-changer: YouTube. The rise of YouTube as a podcast consumption platform is undeniable. At our Thursday keynote at Podcast Movement, we revealed a lot of
- [Why Are More Than Half of Podcasters Still Not Publishing Video?](https://soundsprofitable.com/insights/why-are-more-than-half-of-podcasters-still-not-publishing-video/): by Katie Paterson, Feature Writer at Alitu/ The Podcast Host Ask any podcaster what they think about video, and it will go one of two ways: they’ll either tell you with absolute confidence that video is the future of podcasting, or they’ll say (with equal confidence) that video podcasting is just a fad. A few

## Deep Dives

- [Spanish Broadcasting System x Mediastream | Partnership Deepdive](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/spanish-broadcasting-system/): Spanish Broadcasting Systems Head of Technology Dennis Vaque joins Bryan Barletta for a special Partnership Deepdive, sharing how SBS has been able to expand their content offerings thanks to their partnership with Mediastream.
- [What VAST Can Do for Podcasting with ArtsAI](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/vast-explainer-artsai/): This week ArtsAI Vice President, Partner Success Caleb Mansfield is here to discuss VAST. What do video ad serving templates actually do with ads? How can they be incorporated into podcast advertising? Where can VAST tags go in the future? All this, and more, is covered in today's Deepdive.
- [Business to Business Prefix Tracking with CoHost](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/b2b-prefix-cohost/): CoHost’s Fatima Zaidi walks Bryan Barletta through the CoHost dashboard, demonstrating how it alleviates common podcast advertising pain points.
- [Growth-Focused Features With CoHost](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/growth-focused-features-with-cohost/): CoHost’s Fatima Zaidi walks Bryan Barletta through the CoHost dashboard, demonstrating how it alleviates common podcast advertising pain points.
- [Distributing Content with Mediastream's OTT Offerings](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/distributing-content-with-mediastreams-ott-offerings/): This time on the Deepdive, Mediastream's Angelica Potes give a tour of the platform's OTT offerings, including the ability to set up a customizable live event with branding, program scheduling, and built-in breaks.
- [Campaign Monitoring with Podscribe's Ad Placement Tab](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/podscribe-ad-placement/): This week Bryan Barletta is joined by Podscribe Head of Growth Amelia Coomber to take a look at a new feature on the Podscribe platform
- [Reverse Searching with Podscribe's Social Graph](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/reverse-searching-with-podscribes-social-graph/): This week Bryan Barletta is joined by Podscribe Head of Growth Amelia Coomber to take a look at a new feature on the Podscribe platform
- [Analytics, Broadcast-to-Podcast, and Generative Content with Sonnant AI](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/sonnant-q3/): Welcome to Deepdive Quick Hits. In each video Bryan Barletta and Sonnant CEO Tony Simmons break down three aspects of Sonnant AI in fifteen minutes per less.
- [Planning and Competitive Intel with Podscribe](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/planning-and-competitive-intel-with-podscribe-product-deepdive/): With AI transcription keeping track of top podcasts, Podscribe displays everything from the top advertisers on a given podcast to where each ad read takes place in a given episode.
- [Podcast-to-Broadcast with SoundStack](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/podcast-to-broadcast-with-soundstack/): SoundStack CRO Rockie Thomas walks Bryan through how SoundStack is flipping the "broadcast to podcast" script to offer audio-as-a-service channels in SoundStack.
- [Sonnant's Insights Dashboard](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/sonnants-insights-dashboard/): CEO Tony Simmons walks through the Sonnant insights dashboard. Contextualize, categorize, and index everything to get an overview of content, enabling more informed sales decisions.
- [Flightpath's Ad Ops Tools](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/flightpaths-ad-ops-tools/): Flightpath founder Sean Howard demonstrates how the service can optimize podcast ad operations. With precog that can detect problems before they happen, Flightpath aims to improve yield and accelerate the quote-to-cash pipeline.
- [Mediastream](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/mediastreamq2/): With over 15 years of experience creating streaming solutions, Mediastream enables companies manage, distribute, host, and grow their audiences from one central location.
- [Frequency x Hindenburg](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/frequency-x-hindenburg/): Frequency’s Rob Favre and Hindenburg’s Jonathan Hurley to discuss a collaboration between the two companies to optimize workflow and make targeted ad creative easier to produce and flight.
- [Podscribe](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/podscribe-2/): Amelia Coomber, Chief Growth and Product Officer at Podscribe, joins Bryan Barletta to discuss the platform and how it empowers advertisers to monitor their campaigns in real-time from one centralized dashboard.
- [Decibel](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/decibel/): Decibel is a self-serve programmatic audio ad buying platform with an easy-to-use interface and tools to help you get your campaign ready, including AI creative generation
- [Libsyn](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/libsyn/): Libsyn President and CPO John Gibbons joins Bryan to discuss Libsyn's goals for the future of podcasting and how they aim to enable it with their Connect and Studio tools.
- [SoundStack Marketplace](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/soundstack-marketplace-and-open-independent-programmatic/): SoundStack Marketplace, an independent, tech-agnostic global audio ad exchange that makes it easier to buy and sell premium digital audio advertising.
- [Flightpath](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/flightpath/): Flightpath: using modeling, reporting, and targeting insights to take the guesswork out of order performance, sales, availability, and more.
- [Sonnant](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/sonnant/): Sonnant CEO Tony Simmons talks through how the Sonnant platform uses AI to transcribe audio, automatically check for relevant trends on social media, place ad markers, and more.
- [Triton Digital Podcast Metrics](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/triton-digital-podcast-metrics/): A deep dive into Triton Digital Podcast Metrics - a pioneering, IAB certified measurement service.
- [AdsWizz Audiomatic](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/adswizz-audiomatic/): A deep dive into AdsWizz Audiomatic - a scalable way to reach podcast and audio listeners.
- [Omny Studio for enterprise](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/omny-studio-for-enterprise/): A deep dive into Omny Studio, an enterprise-grade podcast hosting company
- [Spreaker Enterprise for Publishers](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/spreaker-enterprise-for-publishers/): A deep dive into Spreaker Enterprise - the ultimate enterprise podcast platform
- [SGrecast from StreamGuys](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/sgrecast-from-streamguys/): A deep dive into SGrecast, a tool to easily create, manage and monetize your podcasts.
- [Kevel](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/kevel/): Build your own adserver? Here's the benefits of not doing that, from Kevel
- [Podverifi from Podscribe](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/podverifi-from-podscribe/): Podverifi checks that every scripted point, promo code or URL has been implemented correctly.
- [RedCircle for Publishers](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/redcircle-for-publishers/): RedCircle can help any podcaster monetise their content.
- [Veritonic](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/veritonic/): Veritonic is a company focused on audio insights - and has just launched their new brand lift product.
- [Claritas](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/claritas/): Claritas talks about device graphs and identity graphs, and why good data is so important.
- [ThoughtLeaders Partner Intelligence Solution](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/thoughtleaders-partner-intelligence-solution/): Elsie Bernaiche, Director of Sales at ThoughtLeaders, joins us for our latest product deepdive into the ThoughtLeaders Partner Intelligence Solution.
- [Adori Labs](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/adori-labs/): Adori Labs dive into their new technology which makes turning audio content into YouTube content a breeze.
- [Triton Digital](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/triton-digital/): Triton Digital has worked hard to bring a comprehensive and accurate metric tool to users.
- [Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast Marketplace](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/libsyns-advertisecast-marketplace/): Dave Hanley, CRO AdvertiseCast, sits down with Bryan for a walk-through—and deep dive—of their new marketplace.
- [Veritone Voice](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/veritone-voice/): Veritone has taken its award winning AI voice application, Veritone Voice to the next level with advanced features and customization options.
- [Triton Advertising Platform](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/triton-advertising-platform/): Bryan Barletta is joined by Triton Digital’s Advertising Strategy Manager Isabelle Lleres to walk through the brand new features of the newly-released Triton Advertising Platform.
- [Frequency](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/frequency/): Bryan is joined by Pete Jimison from Frequency to take a deep-dive at a campaign management tool that includes creative management tools built to allow you to produce creatives, deploy them via VAST tags across ad servers, and measure the campaigns all from one efficient dashboard.
- [Veritonic Attribution](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/veritonic-attribution/): Bryan Barletta is joined by Veritonic Client Success Engineer Chase Bernhardt to tour the Veritonic Attribution platform. Join them as they explore how Veritonic Attribution allows clients to measure success, improve upon, and find the best fits for their campaigns.
- [SoundStack](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/soundstack/): Bryan Barletta is joined by SoundStack CEO Jon Stephenson to embark on a three-part journey through what the audio-as-a-service company has to offer. Tune in to learn how the SoundStack platform makes podcast hosting/distribution, broadcast-to-podcast, and monetization really simple.
- [Building ad creative in the Adthos Creative Studio](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/building-ad-creative-in-the-adthos-creative-studio/): Join Bryan Barletta as CEO Raoul Wedel and operations manager Emile Renaud demonstrate some of the Creative Studio’s features.
- [Podscribe](https://soundsprofitable.com/deep-dives/podscribe/): A deep dive into Podscribe: critical intelligence for podcast advertisers.

## Researchs

- [The Power of Branded Podcasts](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-power-of-branded-podcasts/): The Power of Branded Podcasts, from Sounds Profitable and JAR Podcast Solutions, takes a look at Brand Fans in a whole new light - not only for their value as consumers, but also as potential force multipliers for podcasting.
- [The Podcast Landscape 2026 — Part One: Core Podcast Metrics](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-podcast-landscape-2026-part-one-core-podcast-metrics/): The Podcast Landscape is Sounds Profitable’s annual study of how Americans consume podcasts, based this year on a census-weighted survey of 5,473 US adults fielded in August 2026. Part One covers the core numbers: who consumes podcasts, how often, for how long, on which platforms and devices, and with whom. The topline: 74% of American
- [The Podcast Atlas: A Map of the Creator Ecosystem](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-podcast-atlas/): The Podcast Atlas maps the five interconnected territories, audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters, that now make up podcasting, revealing how audiences actually move through a creator's full footprint.
- [The Podcast Discovery Playbook 2026](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-podcast-discovery-playbook-2026/): Is your podcast launch strategy based on outdated assumptions? Do your promotional channels line up with where your audience expects to find you? Then you need The Podcast Discovery Playbook, a granular look at how listeners actually find new podcasts, built from The Podcast Landscape, America’s largest publicly available study of podcast consumption. https://youtu.be/hbtaNjNAP_k?is=ZmwOAK6zEevemDcb This
- [The Advertising Landscape UK](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/uk-advertising-landscape-2026/): The Advertising Landscape UK is the first large-scale study of how British audiences actually experience podcast advertising, measured against more than 20 other ad-supported media platforms.
- [The Sports Podcast Audience 2026](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-sports-podcast-audience-2026/): A high-value audience hiding inside the genre-sourced from the Advertising Landscape 2025 study.
- [Audio Primes: The Podcast Industry’s Most Valuable Audience](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/audio-primes-2026/): Not all podcast consumers are created equal. In the Audio Primes 2026 report, the latest research from Sounds Profitable, we identify a powerful segment hiding in plain sight: the 22% of podcast consumers who listen to at least 75% of their content as audio.
- [The Last Quarter: Understanding America's Podcast Holdouts](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-last-quarter/): Three out of four Americans have now consumed a podcast. That’s a remarkable number — but it also means a significant portion of the country hasn’t. Not because they can’t. Not because the infrastructure isn’t there. In most cases, because nobody has given them a good enough reason.
- [After These Messages](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/after-these-messages/): Creative Execution of Podcast Advertising
- [Safe and Sound, from Sounds Profitable](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/safe-and-sound-from-sounds-profitable/): The first-ever study of brand safety and suitability from the listeners’ perspective
- [The Business Podcast Consumer](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-business-podcast-consumer/): A look at the audience for business podcasts, and what makes them different to the audience for any other genre.
- [The News Podcast Consumer](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/news-podcast-consumer/): A look at the audience for news podcasts, and what makes them different to the audience for any other genre.
- [The Creators 2025](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-creators-2025/): A comprehensive look at not listeners, but the people behind the mic (and increasingly, the camera)
- [True Companions: The Power of TV and Film Podcasts](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/true-companions/): TV & Film has been a mainstay of podcasting since the beginning, and for good reason.
- [The Podcast Landscape 2025 Part One: Core Podcast Metrics](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-podcast-landscape-2025/): Every year podcasting gains listeners — but also loses them. While early listeners were fans of the medium, the space is growing ever more complex, with people dipping in and out of the medium for a single show or catching their favorite podcast in places creators never planned for. While there is no shortage of
- [The Advertising Landscape 2025: Driving to Action](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-advertising-landscape-2025-driving-to-action/): Part Three of The Advertising landscape focusing on how podcast audiences actually respond to advertising compared to other digital and traditional channels.
- [Unlock the Power of Purpose-Driven Podcasting](https://soundsprofitable.com/research/unlock-the-power-of-purpose-driven-podcasting/): The latest research from Sounds Profitable and SiriusXM Media / SiriusXM Podcast Network focuses on two of podcasti