Today in the business of podcasting:The Podcast Study 2026 from Strategic Solutions Research and Point-To-Point Marketing finds new revenue opportunities beyond the traditional podcast ad. Nearly half of the 1,205 U.S. podcast consumers surveyed would join a free VIP club, and 46.7% have bought merchandise or attended an event.At Podcast Movement 2026, Amplifi Media’s Steven Goldstein ran a focus group with Gen Z NYU students. They described watching whole podcasts through clips and deciding within 30 seconds whether to keep listening.Audioboom reports record Q3 2026 revenue of $23.8 million, up 17% year over year, with Showcase marketplace revenue up 20%. The company plans three to four acquisitions as podcast industry consolidation continues.Ad tech and data vendors are preparing for fallout from iOS 27, which made Safari block identity vendors like LiveRamp and The Trade Desk’s ad-serving domain. IAB Tech Lab’s Trusted Server concept is offered as a server-side workaround.To find links to these, and every article covered in today’s episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download’s newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster looks at how podcast consumers feel about politics in podcasting as the midterms approach, drawing on the politics chapter of The Podcast Landscape 2026 and, for the first time, what moved since last year.Tom gets into:How the podcast audience compares to the country by party and ideologyWhether politicians belong on podcasts, and how weekly consumers and never-consumers differHow likely midterm voters say a podcast appearance would affect their voteWhat happened to political talk as a genre heading into the electionRead the full issue here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podscribe’s Q3 benchmark report finds geography is the strongest targeting signal for podcast ad results, followed by a recent visit to the advertiser’s website and its Buyer Power Score.The Podcast Study 2026 finds only 8.6% of listeners would accept more ads to keep a podcast free, while 54.8% say shows already carry too many.Right Side Up’s Krystina Rubino shares how a podcast host halved her rate for a fertility brand, and why bespoke deals still run on one-to-one relationships.Media, Built’s Steve Raizes argues Spotify’s Joe Rogan renewal buys the right to sell him rather than an exclusive, and what that means for ad sales across platforms.ADOPTER Media’s Adam McNeil explains how a brand’s place on the adoption curve should shape how it buys podcast ads.To find links to these, and every article covered in today’s episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download’s newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Apple Podcasts product manager Ted Hosmann explains how video podcasts work over HLS at the IETF’s HLS Interest Day. He says top shows have grown their audience more than 20% on average since adding video, and Apple has also quietly acqui-hired members of the team behind AI audio startup Huxe.Audible and NielsenIQ surveyed 18,000 spoken-word listeners across 11 countries. 34% say they listened to more audio than the year before, and 50% are open to AI-narrated content.Digiday reports that top creators like Alix Earle and Kevin Cooney are cutting their brand rosters and asking more of the partners they keep, including equity and product input.PQ Media says global product placement spending hit $37.16 billion in 2025, with music and audio the fastest-growing category thanks to placements in popular podcasts.RSS.com launches a free in-browser transcription tool built on OpenAI’s open-source Whisper model, so audio never leaves the user’s device.To find links to these, and every article covered in today’s episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download’s newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster says AI is the average machine, so podcasters should hand it routine work like show notes and ad operations and protect the host-read ad and the show itself.Audacy's Leah Reis-Dennis argues the old podcast advertising playbook is outdated, citing 22% lower cost per acquisition on mid-sized shows, the hybrid audio and video audience, and the trust behind host-read ads.Signal Hill Insights' Audio on the Move study finds AM/FM radio holds 46% of Canadian in-car listening and that 68% of Canadians dislike fully AI-generated podcasts.WARC forecasts global ad spend will grow 11.9% to $1.34 trillion in 2026, with growth slowing to 8.4% in 2027.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster says AI is the average machine, so hand it the routine podcasting work like show notes, transcripts and ad ops, and protect the human work of host-read ads and the show itself.WARC forecasts global ad spend will grow 11.9% to $1.34 trillion in 2026, with social, search and retail media taking 66.4% of spend and growth slowing to 8.4% in 2027.A new tool called Pod Is Life combines podcast charts from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Castbox and Pocket Casts into one ranking, though the scores seem to reflect the biggest shows in each country.A federal appeals court has given the FCC until noon Friday to decide whether to uphold its lowest unit rate policy for political ads, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster reports back from Denver, where Content Marketing World, LIONS, and The Market Research Event shared one expo floor and nearly every booth was selling an AI-augmented something. His argument is that large language models are built to produce the most probable answer, which makes them a machine for the average, and that the real opportunity is to hand over the average work and reinvest the time in what only people can do.Tom gets into:Why synthetic survey respondents hand you the consensus back, and why research earns its keep by finding what you didn't expectWhere AI belongs in podcasting (show notes, transcripts, ad operations) and where it doesn't (the host-read ad and the show itself)Why "good enough" is a thermostat setting, and what it takes to turn it upWhat happens when AI becomes just another tool and the expo floor goes back to arguing about the workRead the full issue here.

Today in the business of podcasting:A Signal Hill Insights survey of 6,161 Canadians finds AM/FM radio still holds 46% of in-car listening, while 68% of Canadians dislike AI-generated podcasts and only 4% like them.The Podcast Study 2026 identifies "Prime Prospects," the 18% of podcast consumers who value the host and show growing consumption, as a major opportunity to grow podcast superfans, who make up 17% of the audience.Apple's iOS 27 update has Safari blocking a first handful of ad tech companies, including The Trade Desk, LiveRamp, ID5, and Permutive, a quiet blocklist that was the talk of Advertising Week New York.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster and ADOPTER Media's Glenn Rubenstein host a free webinar on October 13 at 2:00 p.m. ET, using new Podcast Atlas analysis to profile podcasting's heaviest buyers, the Super Spenders.Audacy's Leah Reis-Dennis argues in a Sounds Profitable guest article that outdated podcast advertising advice needs a rewrite, citing 22% lower CPA on mid-sized shows, the value of host expertise, and the discovery role of video.Barometer's AI contextual brand suitability and targeting segments are now available in Amazon Ads DVA+ for podcast campaigns, with episode-level pre-bid targeting across major platforms and supply side partners.An AdExchanger column from Krystina Rubino and Lindsay Piper Shaw says podcasting is having its viewability moment, and that buyers should ask what kinds of impressions they are getting heading into 2027.Dhar Mann says the $100M creator-brand deal target he set as Advertising Week New York's first chief creator officer is already pledged by CMOs, though contracts are not expected this week.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Podcast Landscape 2026 shows podcast reach holding steady at 74% of U.S. adults, while Netflix debuts as the third most-used podcast platform and video viewing climbs to 44% weekly.Acast's Greg Glenday, Oxford Road's Dan Granger and Triton's Sharon Taylor explain how they reached scale, why measurement remains the industry's biggest problem, and why they believe podcast advertising is still early.International Podcast Day brought a wave of announcements, from free Podcast Movement NYC sessions and a Headliner credit giveaway to a redesigned Podigee platform and Flightcast's Collaborative Publishing.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Podcast Landscape 2026 finds U.S. podcast reach holding steady at 74% of adults, with Netflix arriving as a top-three platform and weekly video podcast viewing rising to 44%.ExchangeWire asks whether podcasting is rated highly enough in the media mix, as UK weekly listening grows to 27% and ad execs weigh in on attention, host-read ads, and attribution.Oxford Road CEO Dan Granger and Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta explain why the host is podcasting's most valuable ad asset, and why they favor a "both-and" monetization strategy.Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 shows 86% of Australian podcast fans consume both audio and video, and that podcasters were the only creator category to gain commercial trust in the past year.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster shares Part One of The Podcast Landscape 2026, our annual study of how Americans consume podcasts, drawn from a census-weighted survey of 5,473 US adults. Podcasting's audience is large and stable, but it is increasingly consuming in places not built for podcasts. Tom gets into five findings:Reach held steady, with 74% of adults having consumed a podcast and 39% in the past weekNetflix is the third most-used service for podcasts, ahead of Apple PodcastsPodcast-native apps kept shrinking as a most-used platformVideo kept growing, with 44% watching a video podcast in the past weekMore people are consuming podcasts together with othersPlus, Tom points to his Podcast Movement NYC keynote on the Netflix finding.Read the full issue here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Acast, Oxford Road, and Triton Digital leaders explain how they reached scale, why inconsistent measurement remains a core problem, and why one CEO says podcast advertising is still "at the basement."International Podcast Day brings a wave of announcements, including 82 free Podcast Movement NYC sessions on YouTube, a redesigned Podigee platform, and Flightcast's new Collaborative Publishing.Radiocentre research finds that shifting search and social budgets into audio could add £1 million in profit for the average brand without raising total spend.Talent agencies like CAA and UTA are moving into creator representation, blurring the line between agents and managers.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:BetterHelp has tapped creator-led agency Media Bodies to lead its international podcast advertising strategy across 10 markets, using localized approaches rather than one global playbook.The IAB Tech Lab has opened its first Programmatic Standard Practices for public comment through October 16, setting shared business rules for how buyers and sellers use existing programmatic standards.A new Media, Built issue draws on Hub Entertainment Research's study of 1,600 U.S. broadband users to show how being a viewer's "default" streamer drives retention, with default users two to six times more likely to keep a subscription.Myles Younger of U of Digital argues AI is closer to labor, a utility or an appliance than to publishing, which makes paid models a better fit than advertising.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:1UpMedia founder Guang Jin Yeo shares what Asia's podcast market can learn from the global playbook, from static-frame video podcasts to dubbing and generative AI. His golden rule for AI in podcasting is that audiences shouldn't be able to tell, but they must always be told.Programmatic podcast advertising is growing fast, and 82% of agencies now buy audio programmatically. New Podscribe benchmark data shows average podcast ad load fell to 10.3% in Q2 2026, and heavy ad loads can cut conversion rates nearly in half.Patreon is ending per-creation memberships and moving creators to monthly-only billing by November 1, 2026. Seasonal podcasts like audio fiction and investigative series will likely feel it most.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster explains why Netflix passing Apple Podcasts to become the third most-named place Americans consume podcasts is a warning sign, since most shows can never get on the platform.Triton Digital's Sharon Taylor argues video is expanding podcasting rather than replacing audio, noting 80% of monthly podcast consumers both watch and listen.ADOPTER Media, Right Side Up and Oxford Road, representing about half a billion dollars in ad buying, commit to YouTube Engaged Views after YouTube inflated its public view counts.Lower Street's Annalise Nielsen details the roadblocks she hit trying to spend $72,000 on podcast ads, from missing sales contacts to $150,000 minimums.Recaps from Podcast Movement NYC and the Sounds Profitable Business Summit cover AI-era podcast SEO, smart TV listening growth, and ad buyers' take on Spotify's skip button.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Lower Street's Annalise Nielsen explains why it's so hard to buy podcast ads. Trying to spend a $72,000 budget, she ran into missing ad contacts, $150,000 minimums and a host-read quietly downgraded to a post-roll.Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster finds Netflix has passed Apple Podcasts to become the third most-named place Americans consume podcasts. He warns that it's a true walled garden where most shows can't get in.YouTube CEO Neal Mohan lays out the platform's 2026 playbook, from creator-first TV ambitions to new Made on YouTube features like prompt-built feeds and a weekly AI podcast guide in YouTube Music.The Podglomerate recaps Podcast Movement's NYC debut, from AI-era podcast SEO to James Cridland's call to protect RSS and NPR Music's case for personality-driven shows.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Apple Podcasts and Apple Maps launch Hidden Histories, a feature that uses the podcast:location tag to place episodes on real-world locations. Apple also confirms that video is coming to Apple Podcasts Subscriptions in more than 170 countries and regions.A new Audacy report argues that mid-sized podcasts are an untapped advertising opportunity, citing a 22% lower cost per acquisition than on celebrity shows. It also finds that listeners are 27% more likely to be swayed by topic experts than by celebrities.Karo Chakhlasyan says Podcast Movement left them less convinced that audio is the best way to grow audio. They point to video clips as a growing driver of discovery and to incrementality as the measurement question the industry hasn't answered.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster comes back from his Podcast Movement keynote in New York with a number that should stop the industry cold. Across four years of The Podcast Landscape, the study has asked people every place they have consumed a podcast in the past year, and the third most-named platform is no longer Apple Podcasts. It is Netflix. Tom lays out why that ranking troubles him, and why he thinks 2026 is another one of those turning-point moments for the medium.Tom gets into:Why Netflix landed at number three, and what a deliberately low-bar survey question does and does not tell usThe three reasons Netflix worries him, from the gatekeeper problem to the fates of shows like Mindhunter and The OAHow the top three places people find podcasts all reward deliberate search over discovery, with 77% of YouTube discovery coming from intentional searchThe quiet slide of podcast-native apps, down from 19% to 15% as most-used, and what it means to lose our "Tower Records"Plus why Tom worries the rush toward Netflix could turn podcasting, for much of America, into Temu TV, and what the industry should be protecting instead.Read the full issue here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Triton Digital's Sharon Taylor pushes back on the video-first narrative, pointing to 2025 U.S. Podcast Report data showing 80% of monthly listeners both watch and listen while only 7% watch exclusively. Her advice is to treat video as an expansion of an audio show rather than a replacement for it.A growing number of creators and the companies representing them want to sell ads through TV-style upfront commitments, but unlimited, always-on creator inventory does not behave like a network's finite schedule. Experts told Digiday the model will likely work only for the top one percent of talent, sold through agencies and creator networks.The legal fight over the executive order targeting NPR and PBS funding has quietly ended, leaving in place a First Amendment ruling that permanently blocks key provisions of Executive Order 14290. It is a limited victory, since Congress had already rescinded the money and dissolved the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Ad buyers draw a line on YouTube's "Engaged Views": At last week's Sounds Profitable Business Summit, ADOPTER Media, Right Side Up, Oxford Road, and YMH Studios committed to counting only YouTube's "Engaged Views" when buying ads on the platform. The move answers YouTube's August decision to count a view after a single frame plays, a change that roughly doubled raw view counts.IAB on video plays: At its 2026 Podcast Upfront, the IAB argued podcasting is underbought, noting digital audio takes 16% of media time but only 2% of ad spend even as podcast revenue grew 17.6% to nearly $3 billion in 2025. The IAB also stopped short of backing a single unified standard, pointing instead to existing podcast and digital video definitions.Bumper's partnership with Oxford Road: Oxford Road is bringing Bumper's new Bumper Score into its planning and buying, rating shows from 0 to 200 on their ability to deliver ads to verified listeners across audio and YouTube. Bumper co-founder Dan Misener says better data means greater trust, and greater trust leads to more investment.NPR wants to sign more independent creators: NPR is looking beyond in-house production to strike more distribution and ad-sales deals with independent creators while letting them keep their IP. It recently teamed with Casey Newton and Kevin Roose to distribute and sell ads against their new AI-focused video podcast "Machine Gods."Women athletes are running the creator playbook: A new Digiday report finds pro women athletes using content creation to supplement thin salaries and build brands that outlast their careers, with Snapchat's "Snap the Gap" cohort growing an average of 1,491% and pulling in 16 million story views. The common thread is ownership over how they show up and who they reach.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Podcast Week in New York opened with the Sounds Profitable Business Summit, where This American Life's Ira Glass argued that podcasts build deeper audience connections than influencer content and that the depth makes their advertising more effective. A later panel tackled Spotify's skip button test, with Right Side Up and Acast pushing the industry toward better ad quality and more transparency.Writing in The Roast, ADOPTER Media's Adam McNeal makes the case for pinning YouTube ad deals to "engaged views" rather than the platform's newly inflated public view count, arguing buyers should anchor contracts to the more meaningful metric while they still can.Spotify is expanding its Partner Program for podcasts to more than 35 new markets this fall, its largest geographic rollout yet, citing a 140% jump in video podcast consumption and working with hosts like Acast, Libsyn, and Omny so creators can opt in without switching distributors.At the IAB Podcast Upfront during Podcast Week, the IAB released a new video podcast measurement guide and argued a brand-new medium-agnostic framework like the AMP Accords is not needed, pointing buyers instead to existing IAB Tech Lab standards and clarifying which one applies where.Apple's fall operating systems bring a wide batch of new Apple Podcasts features across iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27, with video as the throughline: a redesigned Apple TV app, video playback on macOS, full transcripts and chapters, and a new Search in Show tool.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The IAB used its Podcast Upfront during Podcast Week to release new video podcast measurement guidance, declining to adopt a single medium-agnostic standard like the AMP Accords in favor of two existing IAB Tech Lab frameworks.Spotify is expanding its Partner Program to more than 35 new markets this fall, opening audio and video podcast monetization to creators across Latin America and Europe while partnering with hosts like Acast, Libsyn, and Audioboom.Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 study of 4,300 listeners across 13 markets finds audiences no longer see audio and video as competing formats, with 88 percent now consuming both and trust in podcast host recommendations climbing.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Apple's fall software releases bring a wave of new Apple Podcasts features across iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27, led by a video-first redesign. A revamped Apple TV app adds video podcast playback and channel browsing, while full transcripts, chapters, and a new Search in Show tool arrive across devices.Amazon Music is expanding its global video podcast partnerships, integrating shows hosted on ART19, Omny Studio, and Flightcast, with SiriusXM, Megaphone, and Libsyn to follow. Video is rolling out to new markets including the UK, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan, and publishers keep control of hosting, ad inventory, and targeting.The Podcast Study 2026, built from a nationally representative survey of 1,205 listeners, finds 82% see the host as a significant reason they tune in and that listeners remember and act on host-read ads more than other formats. The research also maps new revenue paths through ad-light subscriptions and interest-based targeting.NPR unveiled a packed fall slate headlined by Machine Gods, a video-first, twice-weekly show from Hard Fork creators Kevin Roose and Casey Newton. The public radio outlet also announced Your Turn with Allison Aubrey and a weekend expansion of Planet Money's The Indicator.Members of the Podcast Standards Project are meeting tomorrow during Podcast Movement to push for features that improve the open podcasting ecosystem. The gathering is open to anyone who builds for open podcasting, member or not.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Week in New York kicked off with the Sounds Profitable Business Summit, where This American Life's Ira Glass argued that podcasting's depth and audience connection make it more effective for advertisers than most influencer content. Panelists also pushed back on Spotify skip-button anxiety, making the case that better ads and more data transparency beat fear.Genius Sports CRO Josh Linforth lays out how athlete-tracking technology is reshaping athlete-led media, using the Chris Paul partnership to show how the same data players rely on can feed fans directly and reshape sponsorships around content like athlete-led podcasts.PRX named Chief Operating Officer Jason Saldanha its next president and CEO, effective October 15, succeeding Kerri Hoffman after more than a decade leading the organization, launching Radiotopia and moving over $200 million to independent creators.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcasts Take Over New York — Podcast Week NYC kicks off with three back-to-back events: the Sounds Profitable Business Summit today and tomorrow, the 2026 IAB Podcast Upfront on Wednesday, and Podcast Movement closing out Thursday and Friday. Tom Webster has teased a keynote built on The Podcast Landscape 2026 data he expects to spark real industry debate.Magellan AI's Q2 2026 Podcast Measurement Benchmark Report — New benchmarks show roughly 41% of podcast ad site visits land within seven days and 76% within 30, so reading a campaign too early can undercount results by more than half. Host-read ads posted a 3.22% median response rate against 2.09% for produced spots, and video shows outpaced audio-only.Zero Seconds by Adam McNeal — ADOPTER Media's Adam McNeal argues for demanding YouTube "Engaged View" reporting in ad contracts, after founder Glenn Rubenstein warned the platform's new view metric can nearly double public counts without more real engagement. Any network holding its CPM flat on inflated views effectively hands itself a raise buyers can only counter up front.Substack Adds a Dedicated Podcast Tab — Substack rolled out a dedicated podcast tab in its app to help creators reach current listeners and get found by new ones, noting podcasters collectively earn over $200 million on the platform. It is a notable carve-out for podcasting's brand from a company that once folded blogs into simply being "a Substack."To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:New Sounds Profitable data shows the smart TV has overtaken the smart speaker as a top device for podcast listening, with Tom Webster arguing audiences increasingly treat podcasts as foreground viewing rather than background audio.The IAB raised its 2026 U.S. ad market forecast to 12.3 percent, with podcast advertising expected to grow 8.7 percent and outpace other digital audio formats.Scalable examines the wave of executive departures at creator-founded companies like Dude Perfect, Audiochuck, and Good Good Golf, and what those exits reveal about scaling creator-led businesses.True Native Media's Sabrina Nelson makes the case that podcasters do not need to be on every platform to grow, and should focus their time where it actually moves the needle.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:New Podcast Landscape 2026 data shows smart TVs now drive 12% of primary podcast listening, up from 8% in 2024, while smart speakers have flatlined at 1%. Tom Webster argues audiences increasingly treat podcasts as foreground content on the shared living-room screen rather than voice-summoned background audio.The IAB raised its 2026 U.S. ad growth forecast to 12.3%, up from the 9.5% it projected in January, after a stronger-than-expected first half. Podcast ad spending is climbing 8.7%, outpacing other digital audio and ranking ahead of paid search, digital display, and gaming.YouTube's public "view" count now registers the moment playback starts, letting mouseovers and autoplay inflate the number, while the stricter "engaged views" metric is visible only to uploaders. ADOPTER Media's Glenn Rubenstein urges buyers to make engaged views the standard on 2027 insertion orders so brands don't overpay for the same attention.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: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 and cutting the over-blocking that leaves safe inventory unsold.Scalable examines a wave of executive departures at creator-founded companies like Dude Perfect, Audiochuck, and Good Good Golf, tracing them to founder-centric business models and the friction of bringing in professional managers to scale.True Native Media's Sabrina Nelson argues podcasters do not need to publish on every platform to grow, making the case for a focused distribution strategy that spends limited time where it actually moves the needle.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster goes to the bottom of the device table in the brand-new The Podcast Landscape 2026 data and finds a story that has been quietly eroding for years. The smart speaker, once pitched as podcasting's cleanest shot at owning a default, has flatlined at one percent. The device actually climbing is the biggest screen in the house. Smart TV as the most-used way to listen jumped from 8 percent in 2024 to 12 percent in 2026, and folded together with second-most-used it now reaches 25 percent of podcast consumers, while the phone slipped.Ahead of his keynote at Podcast Movement in New York, Tom gets into what that shift really means:why podcast listening in the home is consolidating onto the television rather than spreading across every device in itwhat a screen changes for advertisers when a show can be seen by a whole room instead of heard through one pair of earbudswhy the car makes the same point from the other direction, and the one context the industry has spent the least time thinking aboutwhat the move from background to foreground says about what the audience has decided a podcast actually isA preview of the questions Tom will take to the stage on the 17th.Read the full issue here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Bloomberg reports that BetterHelp is podcasting's biggest advertiser of all time, with an estimated $242 million spent since 2023 and ads running on more than 1,000 shows at once, per Magellan AI.MS NOW is expanding its Crooked Media partnership, adding Jon Lovett's Lovett or Leave It to its Saturday night lineup starting September 12 through the 2026 midterms.Digiday reports the creator economy still has no standard way to price talent, with roughly half of marketers mispricing fees and many admitting they overpay.NPR launches a Senior Podcast Challenge inviting Americans 65 and older to submit original audio stories, with entries due November 30.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster runs through the stars and keynotes of Podcast Movement 2026 in New York, including his Podcast Landscape 2026 study of more than 5,400 consumers and a surprising finding that Apple has slipped out of the top three podcast platforms.YouTube's redefinition of a view roughly doubled reported view counts overnight, and Oxford Road's Dan Granger and Bumper's Dan Misener argue the resulting confusion makes the case for trustworthy cross-platform measurement standards.Australia's internet advertising hit a record $19.8 billion in FY26 with podcasting up 10.1%, even as IAB Australia's Future of Measurement review warns the industry still needs shared data standards to measure cross-channel impact.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every week.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement 2026 heads to New York City September 17 and 18 at Terminal 5, where anyone registered by September 4 gets their podcast or company artwork on a Times Square display, and Tom Webster previews the keynote lineup and his Podcast Landscape 2026 research.Hernan Lopez breaks down a new inflection point in streaming distribution, weighing direct-to-consumer, wholesale deals through Amazon Channels, Roku, and YouTube, and ad-tier monetization, projecting Amazon Channels could reach roughly $10 billion a year.A federal judge ruled Google will not be forced to break up its ad tech business despite earlier monopoly findings, a decision set to reshape pricing, inventory access, and competition across programmatic advertising.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:IAB Australia's Future of Measurement review finds the biggest constraint on advertising is fragmented data, not a shortage of measurement methods, and it calls for a shared campaign-data taxonomy modeled on IAB US's Campaign Data Standards 1.0.YouTube and Variety are launching the inaugural Variety x YouTube Creator Festival at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, premiering a Mark Vins documentary and two episodes of Ziwe's You'd Be an Iconic Guest before both become YouTube exclusives.Netflix is doubling down on podcasts, ordering new shows from Katt Williams, Harlan Coben, and Stephanie Soo, renewing its entire slate of originals, and adding acquired Spotify video podcasts including The Bill Simmons Podcast and The Rewatchables.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week Tom Webster delivers his final Podcast Movement programming rundown, along with a deadline you don't want to sleep on. Register by end of day Friday, September 4 and the art for your show or your company logo goes up on a screen in the middle of Times Square. Fewer than 200 tickets remain at $199 for both days.Tom also previews the four keynotes headed to the New York stages:Thursday at 11:30, Tom releases The Podcast Landscape 2026 live from the stage, the fourth year of the Signal Hill Insights study and the largest publicly available study of podcasting in America at 5,400 consumers weighted to the census. For the first time since podcasting began, Apple is no longer among the top three platforms people name, and Tom reveals what replaced it.SiriusXM Media brings MrBallen, John Allen, for a fireside on turning a devoted true-crime fanbase into a lasting multi-platform brand.Arielle Nissenblatt and Lauren Passell tackle the question the industry never settles in WTF is a Podcast in 2026?, built from answers gathered from attendees all week.Steve McLendon, Head of Product for YouTube Podcasts, closes out the keynotes with what YouTube is building next for podcasters.Plus the details on the IAB Podcast Upfront after party at Terminal 5, featuring a live taping of Dana Gould's Hangin' with Dr. Z in full Planet of the Apes makeup.Read the full issue and register for Podcast Movement here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Oxford Road's Dan Granger argues that YouTube's decision to redefine how it counts views, a change Bumper's Dan Misener found inflates play counts by nearly double, is the jolt that proves podcasting needs cross-platform measurement standards it can actually trust.Former Adelicious leaders Andy Goldsmith and Craig Eastwood team with industry veteran Mike Wooller to launch Everywhere, a new media company built to unify creator commercial partnerships as audiences increasingly follow creators across platforms rather than staying on one.Earmax Media's Andy Maxwell makes the case that podcast advertisers chasing cheap reach and low CPMs are missing what makes the medium work, arguing that a tightly focused community, brand affinity, and strong creative deliver far more value than raw scale.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Trailer Park: The Podcast Trailer Podcast launches a three-part miniseries built on Coleman Insights research, developed with NOVA Entertainment and Pantheon Podcasts, testing 500 U.S. listeners to pin down what actually makes a podcast trailer convert. Authenticity won stronger listener preference in three of the four trailers tested.IAB Australia reports internet advertising grew 14% to $19.8 billion in FY26, its strongest financial-year growth since FY22. Podcasting led audio's gains, rising 10.1% to claim 40% of all audio spend and setting a fresh quarterly record of $40 million.Digiday examines why brands cannot simply flip the "employees as creators" switch, as companies like Gap and Starbucks weigh new measurement, oversight, FTC disclosure, and compensation questions that never applied to outside contractors.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Apple Music now mandates "Made With AI" labels on AI-generated tracks, a music-distribution move that signals how fast audio platforms are formalizing AI disclosure.Political ad spending on radio jumped 22% in a month to $124 million, with AdImpact projecting a record $11.6 billion cycle and the biggest wave still expected after Labor Day.Bloomberg reports YouTube is offering creators millions to stay exclusive and off Netflix, a video-first fight worth watching as podcasting leans deeper into YouTube.Steven Goldstein argues Spotify's new Skip Ahead test simply shows that podcasting is not necessarily huge to Spotify's bottom line, urging publishers to diversify beyond any single platform.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podscribe launched YouTube-only modeled attribution, closing a measurement gap for influencer campaigns that run only on YouTube by anchoring probabilistic modeling to audio performance data. It is free through September 30.Digiday weighs the case for and against the programmatic-ification of the creator economy, as automated buying pushes into brand-creator deals once struck by hand and raises questions about commoditizing creators.YouTube's EMEA chief pushes back on a UK proposal requiring guaranteed prominence for public-service broadcasters, defending its algorithm while acting as a TV distributor without the obligations broadcasters carry.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Signal Hill Insights' Paul Riismandel breaks down four ways audience research drives return in podcasting, from uncovering whitespace to proving value to advertisers with measurement tools like Triton Digital's Demos+.Podscribe reports that podcast video has gone mainstream, with 82% of episodic campaigns now including a YouTube simulcast, even as Spotify's baked-in video ads still face attribution gaps.In a Google-sponsored piece, Digiday lays out how publishers can strengthen connections with advertisers in the AI era through first-party data and diversified, cross-platform selling.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Political ad spending on radio has jumped 22% in the past month to $124 million, and with AdImpact projecting $6.1 billion in total 2026 political advertising, the post-Labor Day rush is a reminder of how much election money still flows to audio heading into the fall.A new IAB white paper argues radio's attribution gap with digital is closing fast, crediting pixel-based attribution, dynamic ad insertion, and identity resolution with giving audio the kind of digital-like precision advertisers expect.Steven Goldstein breaks down where podcasting actually fits at Spotify, noting podcast ads make up roughly 4% of Spotify's revenue while subscriptions drive about 89%, so the platform will keep prioritizing listeners over publishers.Kirby Grines uses TikTok streaming a live championship boxing match to argue that traditional media categories are collapsing, as social, streaming, creator, gaming, and TV now all compete for the same finite attention that podcasting fights for too.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The IAB has revealed the full agenda for its 2026 Podcast Upfront, the invitation-only event landing September 16 between the Sounds Profitable Business Summit and Podcast Movement, with an official after party at Terminal 5.Apple Music will now require "Made With AI" labels on tracks made with artificial intelligence, a signal of how fast audio platforms are moving toward AI content transparency.Triton Digital's Q2 2026 U.S. Podcast Ranker shows comedy still on top with 44.5% reach while news climbs 8.4% ahead of the midterms, as creator-led and opinion-driven shows convert social audiences into chart placement.Bloomberg reports YouTube is offering top creators millions to keep their videos off Netflix, protecting first-view exclusivity as the lines between podcasting, YouTube, and streaming keep blurring.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:SXSW will make podcasting a core pillar in 2027 with its first-ever four-day Podcast Festival, and Podcast Movement Evolutions returns to Austin that same week for two free days at the SKYBOX on 6th.Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster argues podcasting's real gap is the lack of a default, as dedicated hardware fades and 57% of Americans aged 12 to 34 now live in homes with no radio.Point-to-Point Marketing and Strategic Solutions Research announced the Podcast Study 2026, a listener research project on discovery, loyalty, and monetization that debuts at the Sounds Profitable Business Summit on September 14.YouTube is redefining the "view" as an "engaged view," a change that runs about 7% lower across 300,000 podcast episodes and could reshape CPMs and sponsorship math for video podcasts.To find links to these, and every article covered in this week's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:SXSW will make podcasting a core pillar in 2027 with its first-ever four-day Podcast Festival, and Podcast Movement Evolutions returns to Austin that same week for two free days at the SKYBOX on 6th.Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster argues podcasting's real gap is the lack of a default, as dedicated hardware fades and 57% of Americans aged 12 to 34 now live in homes with no radio.YouTube is redefining the "view" as an "engaged view," a shift that runs about 7% lower across 300,000 podcast episodes and could reshape CPMs and sponsorship math for video podcasts.Magellan AI released its first H1 2026 podcast advertising benchmarks for Ireland, showing 33% year-over-year spend growth, financial services on top, and a 5.71% average ad load.Flightpath shipped Automation Playbooks to fight unreliable ad delivery, responding to an ad-tech platform change it says threatens publishers with revenue losses of up to 50%.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The Podcast Academy opened submissions for the 2027 Ambies, spanning 23 show categories. This cycle adds Best Music Podcast, Episode of The Year, and a new Advertising category covering Best Ad Read, Best Branded Podcast, and Podcast Advertiser of The Year.Triton Digital released its Australian Podcast Ranker for July 2026. Mamamia Out Loud held the top spot, Hamish and Andy placed second, and ABC News Top Stories cracked the top three for the first time.The IAB updated its AI Transparency and Disclosure Framework with a standardized sparkle icon or text label for advertising where AI materially changes what consumers see or hear. The harder problem is keeping that disclosure attached to the creative as it moves through agencies, DSPs, ad servers, and publishers.Buzzsprout reports more than 11,000 HLS video episodes are now live on Apple Podcasts. Among 562 established shows, median Apple Podcasts downloads rose 19 percent in the 28 days after a show's first HLS video episode.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

A nine-button Italian radio with a dead app can teach us some lessons about podcast discovery.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin Gaddis"Find the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Spotify says a bug, not a policy, made a podcast ad appear unskippable, telling Podnews the 15-second skip was hidden in the viral example and has since been fixed — and that skipping works for both Free and Premium listenersYouTube changes how it counts a "view" starting August 24, registering a play from the very first frame while making the more meaningful "engaged views" metric private, cutting off third-party rankers and data companiesPoint-To-Point Marketing and Strategic Solutions Research announce the Podcast Study 2026, a national effort on discovery, loyalty, and monetization co-sponsored by Crooked Media, NPR, and PRX, with findings due September 14-15 at the Sounds Profitable Business SummitThe Streaming Wars reports NFL insider Tom Pelissero, out at ESPN, has landed at both Netflix and Spotify-owned The Ringer, a case study in one institutional job splintering into several targeted assignmentsA Magellan AI case study details how boutique network Rhapsody Voices used data-driven creator-sponsor matching to reach better than 80% sell-through on two priority shows as it scaled beyond manual researchTo find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Register for Ask a Marketer: How Advertisers Read the ResearchSpotify has begun selling unskippable podcast ads that Premium listeners cannot jump past, even with the standard 15-second skip. The move follows the company's test of a "Skip Ahead" button that automatically skips ad breaks, sponsorships, and intros.Amplifi Media's Steven Goldstein pushes back on the widely shared claim that only 10 of the top 200 podcasts have video. His own tally finds 84% of Edison's US Top 50 now publish full video episodes, along with 77% of Apple's Top 100.Australian podcast ad spend broadened well beyond tech and finance in Q2 2026, according to ARN's iHeart and Magellan AI. Alcohol led the growth at 58% quarter on quarter, and Airbnb topped the advertiser rankings.Creators are moving away from platform exclusivity as Netflix lets shows from Rhett & Link and Nick DiGiovanni run on YouTube at the same time. Free ad-supported channels on Amazon Prime Video and Roku are becoming part of the same strategy.Steve Raizes argues the industry's giant podcast guarantees function as subscriber-acquisition campaigns for streaming platforms rather than ad plays. Because those deals expire, he says talent should trade peak leverage for ownership of an operating business.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster walks through Podcast Movement's five-day takeover of Terminal 5 in New York City, from the inaugural Sounds Profitable Business Summit to a creator conference spanning more than 80 sessions across five stages.Sport Social's Ryan Barker makes the case that official club podcasts are the natural landing spot for betting sponsorship money as the Premier League phases out front-of-shirt gambling deals in 2026/27.Quill and CoHost CEO Fatima Zaidi explains why branded podcasts get cut, and lays out the named audience, defined behavior change, and single accountable owner that lasting shows share.Nielsen agreed to acquire media verification company DoubleVerify in a $2.15 billion all-cash deal, pairing audience data with verification tooling across a stack that explicitly includes audio.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster details Sounds Profitable's five-day takeover of New York City's Terminal 5 in September, spanning the partner-only Business Summit, the IAB Podcast Upfront after party, and Podcast Movement NYC.Quill and CoHost CEO Fatima Zaidi argues brand podcasts fail from unclear purpose rather than small budgets, and offers a three-part test for building shows that survive budget cuts.Alex Cooper's Unwell takes its first outside investment from Patrick Whitesell's firm WTSL at a $500 million valuation, signaling continued investor appetite for podcast creator IP.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Acast acquires Backyard Ventures for $20 million, adding more than 200 premium creators across podcasts, YouTube, newsletters, and social to accelerate omnichannel monetization.Spotify asks artists to disclose AI-generated music and will label AI artist identities as "AI Personas," excluding them from editorial and algorithmic recommendations beginning in mid-September.The Media Leader asks seven industry specialists whether podcasting has hit saturation, and the consensus is that the medium is maturing, with ad spend still lagging consumption and discovery shifting to social platforms.Signal Hill Insights analyzes how 4,819 Americans define the word "podcast," finding that only about 33 to 38% mention audio or listening while just 7% of listeners describe podcasts as video only.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Register for Podcast Movement 2026In this week's Sounds Profitable newsletter, Tom Webster breaks down the company's most ambitious week yet: five days taking over Terminal 5 in New York this September, running three different events for three different audiences under one roof. He walks through the Business Summit bringing the buy side and sell side of podcasting into one room, the official IAB Podcast Upfront after party, and the reimagined Podcast Movement creator days at just $199 for two full days in Manhattan. Along the way he makes the case for why not a single minute of stage time is for sale, how the partners underwrite it all, and the small idea he's proudest of, a four o'clock block built for the person who doesn't already know everyone in the room.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin Gaddis"Find the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:With the Premier League banning front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships from the 2026/27 season, Sport Social's Ryan Barker argues official team and fan podcasts are the natural landing spot for betting brands, pointing to a Sky Bet partnership across 20 football podcasts that reached more than one million listeners.Bumper co-founder Dan Misener explains why Apple Podcasts play counts are inflated: Apple counts every tap of the play button, not every listener, making the metric impossible to compare with Spotify plays or YouTube views.iHeartMedia reported Q2 2026 podcast revenue up 20.7% year over year to $162 million, now 16.5% of total company revenue, alongside a new video podcast deal bringing shows to Disney+ and Hulu.Magellan AI's Q2 2026 Podcast Advertising Quarterly Benchmark Report finds podcast ad revenue up 23% year over year, with average ad load rising to 8.75% of runtime, or roughly five and a half minutes of ads per hour.YouTube is doubling its Partner Program requirements effective February 1, 2027, raising qualified watch hours from 4,000 to 8,000 and Shorts views from 10 million to 20 million, raising the cost of entry for podcasters leaning on video.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Ask a Marketer webinar on August 18 brings Right Side Up's Krystina Rubino and Quo's Tori Murray together with Tom Webster to break down The Podcast Atlas, a survey of 5,061 U.S. consumers on how creator-based advertising performs across audio, video, social, and newsletters. The two buyers sort which research findings actually move a media plan.The FCC voted 2-1 to repeal the 39% national TV ownership cap, clearing the way for broadcast station-group consolidation and shifting oversight to antitrust courts. Larger groups gain leverage in retransmission talks and more inventory for FAST channels and connected-TV advertising.RSS.com launched a Max plan that publishes video podcasts to Apple Podcasts via HLS streaming with dynamically inserted programmatic ads from episode one. Creators keep 70% of ad revenue with no audience threshold, unlike YouTube's 1,000-subscriber and 4,000-watch-hour requirements.Nielsen agreed to acquire media-verification company DoubleVerify for $2.15 billion in an all-cash deal at $13.60 per share. The combined company spans TV, streaming, digital, social, mobile, and audio measurement with more than $4 billion in annual revenue.The ANA, the 4As, and the IAB are aligning for the first time in nearly a decade on AI governance, retail media standards, and workforce development, culminating in an Industry Leadership Summit this October. The group's AI-governance and measurement work could shape standards that reach audio advertising.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Spotify is testing "Skip Ahead," a one-tap ad-skipping tool for Premium subscribers, and the industry is pushing back over what it means for host-read sponsorships and advertiser attention reporting.Acast has opened video publishing on Apple Podcasts to all creators on its platform, after beta shows saw an estimated 25% increase in weekly Apple Podcasts sessions.A coalition of 18 U.K. media organizations is urging the government to reject advertising on BBC podcasts, citing an estimated £10 million in annual revenue against the harm to independent audio businesses.The IAB released "Measuring Visibility in the AI Era," a framework sorting AI search visibility metrics into four categories as more than 20 vendors sell competing tools with materially different results.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Industry leaders including Crooked Media's Tommy Vietor, Right Side Up's Krystina Rubino, and ADOPTER Media's Glenn Rubenstein are responding to Spotify's "Skip Ahead" test, which lets Premium listeners clear an entire ad break, sponsor read, or intro in a single tap.A coalition of 18 U.K. commercial audio companies is urging the government to drop proposals allowing advertising on BBC podcasts, arguing the BBC would earn only about £10 million a year while draining revenue from the independent audio sector.Gap Inc., Staples, and Starbucks have launched employee-creator programs, betting that firsthand accounts from actual staff read as more credible than polished brand marketing.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Acast has opened video publishing on Apple Podcasts to all creators on its platform, ending the beta waitlist after shows using video saw an estimated 25% lift in weekly Apple Podcasts sessions.Media measurement and ad effectiveness have moved from CMO-CFO conversations onto public earnings calls, even as a Gain Theory survey finds 49% of marketers doubt their data can hold up at the CFO level.New Jersey's data broker law is already in effect, banning sensitive data sales with $50,000-per-record penalties and creating a "data collector" category that pulls podcast ad-tech and listener-data practices into scope.Hollywood studios chasing creator-driven IP are running into ownership problems, as A24's attempt to trademark "the backrooms" shows the risks of adapting open-source collaborative worlds.Kirby Grines argues the smartest streaming strategy is licensing mature catalog while keeping current releases exclusive, citing Parrot Analytics data showing licensed titles drove over 53% of Netflix series sign-ups in Q1 2026.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Spotify is testing "Skip Ahead," a one-tap ad-skipping feature for Premium subscribers that collapses a nine-tap skip into a single action, raising questions about ad delivery reporting and advertiser attention data.Eight major streaming platforms have launched vertical clip feeds in 20 months, a convergence driven by premium streaming's first single-digit growth year at 7% in 2025.The IAB released new guidelines for measuring brand and publisher visibility in AI-generated search results, built around web search analytics.A new Audacy/YouGov survey finds cost-of-living anxiety shaping the 2026 midterms, positioning radio and podcasts as channels that reach commuting voters.Digiday reports agencies are pushing for more control over programmatic ad-buying infrastructure, with implications for how podcast inventory is transacted.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Apple's fiscal Q3 2026 results show Services revenue, the segment housing Apple Podcasts, up 12% year over year to $30.7 billion, while SiriusXM Media CEO Jennifer Witz reported podcast revenue up 30% year over year.Bloomberg's Ashley Carman reports podcasters are building businesses on free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, opening a video distribution and revenue path beyond YouTube.Livewire's July 2026 podcast hosting data shows Spotify for Creators rebounding to a 24% share of episodes released and Spreaker hitting a 2026 record of 13.6%, with most other platforms slipping.Bauer Media Advertising MD Simon Kilby argues advertisers should shift budget to regulated digital audio, citing AA/WARC data showing digital audio grew 22% year over year in Q1 2026, the fastest-growing medium in the period.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster makes the case that a podcast newsletter is the one channel where creators gather unmediated audience feedback, separating the work of promotion from the work of understanding what listeners actually need.The industry reacts to The AMP Accords, which define a podcast, a play, and an ad impression, with Bryan Barletta, Dan Granger, James Cridland, and Steve Goldstein weighing in on adoption, economics, and whether Apple Podcasts and Overcast will share exposure data.Nick Cicero of Mondo Metrics argues podcasters undervalue social clips, and that sports teams solved this a decade ago by packaging clip distribution alongside full-episode integrations in a single sponsorship deal.Ofcom's Media Nations 2026 report details U.K. podcast and speech-audio listening, with 53% of adults tuning in to speech audio and YouTube leading as the most-used audio platform.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster closes out The Podcast Atlas series by arguing the email newsletter is the only piece of real estate a podcast creator actually owns, giving shows a direct line to listeners that survives algorithm changes.Mondo Metrics founder Nick Cicero explains what podcasters can learn from the sports social industry about selling social clips as sponsorship inventory rather than giving them away.Ofcom's Media Nations 2026 report finds 53% of U.K. adults listen to speech audio, YouTube is now the most-used platform for any audio content, and only 45% of listeners think podcasts carry too many adverts.Steve Goldstein writes for RAIN News that the download is an obsolete metric that can inflate audience figures by up to 50%, and that verified impression metrics could unlock $1 billion to $2 billion in new ad revenue.SiriusXM launches a $5-per-month Sports Pass on September 1, bundling NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL games with local Audacy stations, ESPN Radio, and hundreds of sports podcasts.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Signal Hill Insights' new Audio on the Move study finds podcasts account for 9% of ad-supported audio listening time in Canada, while YouTube and YouTube Music together hold 25% and rank as the top podcast discovery platform. AM/FM radio still leads all ad-supported audio at 39%.Richard Fawal argues mission-driven podcasts underestimate their reach, using Sounds Profitable Podcast Atlas data to make the case that audience loyalty follows the host, not the platform. He lays out a federation model that treats audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters as one asset instead of five separate channels.NBCUniversal will bundle Peacock Premium with YouTube Premium starting in early 2027, a move The Streaming Wars reads as media companies handing the customer relationship to YouTube for cheaper distribution. The same discovery-driven dynamic is reshaping podcasting, where YouTube already leads as the platform for finding new shows.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

In the final stop on The Podcast Atlas article series, Tom Webster makes the case that a podcast newsletter is the most valuable piece of owned media a creator can build, and the one channel no platform or host can take away. Drawing on Sounds Profitable research, he unpacks why 61% of listeners still haven't subscribed, why existing subscribers convert to listening at 87%, and why the real prize isn't promotion but permission and a feedback loop that makes your show better every week. If you care about podcast audience growth, email newsletters, and turning first-party audience data into episodes people actually want, this is the best real estate to own in podcasting.Download The Podcast AtlasWritten by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin Gaddis"Find the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Five podcast industry leaders from Audioboom, Sounds Profitable, Octave, The Times, and Bauer Media weigh in on the future of AI and audio measurement, with a growing consensus that podcasting already has adequate measurement tools and the real opportunity is smarter use of existing data and attribution.RedCircle extends its AI-powered Mic Check tool to programmatic advertising, transcribing and verifying each ad's metadata, advertiser identity, and category to keep mislabeled political, gambling, tobacco, and sexual ads out of podcast inventory.Steve Raizes breaks down Netflix's decision to cut its What We Watched report to once a year starting in 2027, the 7% stock drop that followed, and what it signals about transparent measurement as podcasting pushes standardized metrics through the AMP Accords.AdExchanger reports on the fight over programmatic transparency as ad tech watchdog Check My Ads is denied DSP access by multiple platforms, exposing the tension between the industry's public embrace of transparency and its resistance to giving watchdogs real access.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting released its accords, giving the industry shared definitions for what counts as a podcast, a play, and an ad impression, plus a recommended hold-out group standard for proving incremental lift to advertisers.Patreon is cutting 93 jobs, roughly 20% of its workforce, as CEO Jack Conte points to organizational changes and market conditions rather than AI, saying the creator platform remains financially strong with more than 300,000 creators.YouTube posted $11.055 billion in Q2 advertising revenue, up 13% year over year and ahead of expectations, a figure that covers ad sales only and excludes YouTube Premium and YouTube Music subscriptions.Castro developer Dustin Bluck argues independent podcast apps have flatlined as a category while platforms like YouTube absorb podcasting's growth, and revives the case for indie apps receiving a share of industry revenue.Digiday weighs mass reach against hard-won audience trust, a debate that shapes how podcast and influencer advertising budgets get allocated between big-brand campaigns and niche creator targeting.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's fourth Podcast Atlas installment argues social platforms are the denominator of podcast advertising, with YouTube reaching 82% of monthly podcast listeners and Facebook 80%, and makes the case that audio and social should be planned together rather than pitted against each other.New research from Sound Insights and Sounds Profitable finds UK podcast advertising priced at roughly £0.18 per listener-hour versus £0.94 in the US, a 5.2x gap, even as podcast ad recall among 18 to 34 year olds hits 86% and outpaces broadcast TV.Comscore expanded its Proximic contextual targeting to Spotify, SiriusXM, Triton Digital, Acast, and Libsyn, enabling episode-level targeting so buyers can purchase podcast ads through the same programmatic tools they use for CTV and display.Steve Raizes warns that brands copying employee creator programs like Starbucks' Green Apron Creators are taking on unpriced obligations, from unsettled copyright ownership and overtime exposure to likeness rights that outlast employment.Podcast advertisers are increasingly valuing a creator's cross-platform reach across YouTube, social, video, and live events over raw download counts, with Acast's Ricardo Neto noting mid-tier creators at 50,000 weekly downloads now drawing buyer attention.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Thought processThought processToday in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's fourth Podcast Atlas installment frames social platforms as the denominator of podcast advertising, with YouTube reaching 82% of monthly podcast listeners and Facebook 80%, and argues audio builds trust while social delivers the frequency and retargeting every campaign multiplies against.New research from Sound Insights and Sounds Profitable finds UK podcast advertising priced at £0.18 per listener-hour versus £0.94 in the US, a 5.2x gap despite comparable reach, with podcast ad recall among 18 to 34 year olds hitting 86% and outpacing broadcast TV.Acast reported Q2 2026 net sales of SEK 775.6m, up 28% year over year and 29% organically, with adjusted EBITDA margin expanding to 7% from 3% as CEO Greg Glenday says the strategy of scaling revenue ahead of costs is working as intended.Comscore expanded its Proximic contextual targeting to Spotify, SiriusXM, Triton Digital, Acast, and Libsyn, enabling episode-level targeting so buyers can purchase podcast ads through the same programmatic tools they use for CTV and display.New Edison Research data finds 65% of US fiction audiobook listeners would be likely to try an AI-narrated title and 61% could not distinguish the AI voice from a human, even as trust concerns and informed wariness about AI-voiced podcasts persist among college educated listeners.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Creator content was the most boring part of the World Cup, and Scalable pins the blame on FIFA's restrictive partner posting policies while athletes and fans drove the standout moments. The final drew 1.8 billion viewers and @fifaworldcup topped 24 billion views, TikTok's biggest content moment to date.Audio is reaching back-to-school shoppers more consistently than video, according to a new Audacy Insights post, with 40% of parents planning to shop sooner and 80% listening to AM/FM radio weekly against 52% who watch broadcast TV.Podcast advertising is moving past download counts to weigh a creator's cross-platform influence across YouTube, social, video, and live events, with Acast's Ricardo Neto noting mid-tier creators around 50,000 weekly downloads are drawing new buyer attention.ROI Media 360 argues low view counts on Netflix podcasts hide stronger ad performance, citing about 60% completion versus roughly 35% on YouTube and a SKIMS campaign that delivered a verified 20% conversion lift.Steve Goldstein profiles the fast-growing higher-education podcasting sector that measures success by influence over chart rank, pointing to Higher Ed PodCon and a community of roughly 214 organizations producing more than 1,600 podcasts combined.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Winning on quality is only half the story when the audience you want is already spending its day somewhere else.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:The IAB Tech Lab has opened a 30-day public comment period on version 2.3 of its Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines, updating how downloads, audience, and ad delivery are counted across audio and video podcasts.Digiday breaks down five lessons from the World Cup on creator marketing, including how Unilever scaled a creator network to roughly 300,000 and how Michelob Ultra generated $11.5 million in earned media value with fewer than 350 creators.A Media, Built newsletter piece argues that employee-creator programs modeled on Starbucks' Green Apron Creators carry unpriced legal risk around copyright, overtime pay, and labor protections.AdExchanger talks to OpenX's chief privacy officer about the end of "actual knowledge" standards in children's privacy law, as new state rules push platforms toward a "should have known" test for underage users.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:A new Nielsen Podcast Listen & Watch report finds audio remains the core of podcast consumption, with 90% of monthly listeners tuning in via audio and 62% also watching video, as listeners and viewers use the two formats in distinctly different ways.WARC reports YouTube podcast viewing on TV screens has surged past 700 million hours monthly, up 70% year over year, even as the platform's ad revenue growth is projected to slow amid rising competition from TikTok and Netflix.A new YouGov survey of U.S. podcast consumers finds genre preferences split sharply by gender, with men far more likely to listen to sports podcasts and women over-indexing in true crime, self-improvement, and wellness content.Spotify's podcast strategy has shifted from paying for exclusive content to operating the infrastructure creators depend on for discovery and monetization, a repositioning that hands the company more market control with less financial risk.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's latest Podcast Atlas installment examines podcast clips as a discovery engine, finding 89% of listeners watch clips on social platforms and roughly a third go on to become full-episode listeners.DAX U.S. President Brian Conlon argues the "shrinking attention span" is a myth, pointing to Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026 finding that 45% of Americans age 12 and older listened to a podcast in the past week, the highest level ever recorded.Six Colors previews the iOS 27 public beta, including Apple Podcasts video expanding to macOS and Apple TV and a rebuilt Siri that can retrieve old podcast episodes by description.Creator economy newsletter Scalable reports brand safety concerns among enterprise marketers have dropped from 50% in 2023 to just 10% in 2025, with the industry shifting focus to brand fit instead.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's latest Podcast Atlas installment digs into podcast clips as the industry's discovery engine, finding that 89% of listeners watch clips on social platforms and roughly a third convert into full-episode listeners.Amazon DSP adds Triton Digital as a programmatic partner, giving buyers access to Triton's global audio and podcast inventory paired with Amazon's first-party shopping and streaming data.A new WARC Media report pegs YouTube's 2025 ad revenue at $40.4 billion, but growth is decelerating even as podcast viewership on the platform surges 70% year-over-year.Digiday explores creators breaking into Hollywood with box-office hits and private equity backing, while flagging IP ownership as the ceiling on how far that crossover can go.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Audioboom posted record H1 2026 results, with revenue up 30% year-on-year to $45.7 million and adjusted EBITDA up 80% to $3.2 million, while also ending its strategic review and unveiling Spotify and Apple partnerships to power video monetization later this year.Creator economy newsletter Scalable finds brand safety concerns among US enterprise marketers have plummeted from 50% in 2023 to just 10% in 2025, as the industry pivots toward brand fit over blanket caution, a shift with clear implications for podcast advertising.The BBC's newly released annual report shows its ad-funded podcasts outside the UK drew over 515 million downloads and 116 million listeners, offering a rare public benchmark for global podcast monetization.Netflix subscribers on ad-free tiers keep getting blindsided by ads during live sports events like the Home Run Derby, a trust gap podcasting has largely sidestepped by setting clear ad expectations upfront.Media analyst Brian Morrissey argues publishers' second attempt at video is built for durability, using platforms like YouTube and TikTok as acquisition funnels toward owned audiences and revenue, a strategy many podcast publishers are already running on YouTube.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Podcast clips aren't just filler content, they're the top of the discovery funnel, with 89% of listeners watching them on social platforms and about a third reliably converting into episode views or new regular listeners.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Six Colors gets a first look at the iOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS 27 public betas, including a rebuilt Siri powered by large language models and Apple Podcasts video expanding to Mac desktops and Apple TV.Podstock CEO Michael Paretzky argues podcast back catalogs are losing strategic value as most downloads happen in a show's first 30 days, urging publishers to invest in new content and integrated advertising instead.The Association of National Advertisers releases its first Inclusive Marketing Case Study Compendium, spotlighting 100 award winning campaigns from brands like Kraft Heinz, McDonald's, and Major League Baseball.Unilever scales its creator network to 300,000 people using AI for vetting and briefing while keeping strategy and relationships human, part of a projected $13.7 billion influencer marketing market by 2027.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Buzzsprout has brought its official podcast, Buzzcast, back to Spotify months after pulling it, with co-founder Kevin Finn citing fixes to Spotify's video lock-in issue and a desire for broader multiplatform distribution.Megaphone shifts to the Spotify Ad Server on July 17, raising the maximum ad duration to 90 seconds while dropping VAST tag support, a change to the migration first reported in May.DAX U.S. President Brian Conlon pushes back on the "shrinking attention span" narrative, pointing to Edison Research's Infinite Dial 2026 finding that 45% of Americans 12 and older listened to a podcast in the past week.Ad Results Media argues digital audio is built for a privacy-first future, citing AdsWizz data on contextual targeting and SiriusXM Media research on consumer trust as reasons marketers should layer first-party and contextual signals instead of chasing cookie replacements.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement 2026 opens public voting on conference sessions for the first time, with nearly 800 submissions from more than 500 speakers. Voting runs through July 21, and 50% of the New York City conference's schedule will be decided by community vote.Tom Webster publishes The Podcast Atlas, Part Two: What The Screen Adds, with five findings on video podcasting as an ad environment, including a shorter path to purchase and the highest attention levels of any format in the study.Bloomberg's Soundbite checks in on Apple Podcasts' video rollout four months after launch, finding encouraging early numbers from Acast and Transistor.fm but analytics that can't yet separate audio plays from video plays.Owl & Co's Streamonomics previews Q2 earnings season through engagement data across nine platforms, showing Netflix viewing hours declining while Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube keep growing.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's The Podcast Atlas, Part Two: What The Screen Adds compares how video and audio podcast ads perform among each format's most engaged users. Video shortens the path to purchase, with 15% of video users buying immediately after seeing an ad versus 10% for audio.Bloomberg's Soundbite newsletter checks in on Apple Podcasts' video rollout four months after launch, finding encouraging but muddy early numbers as analytics can't yet separate audio plays from video plays.Owl & Co's Streamonomics newsletter previews Q2 earnings season through engagement data, with Netflix viewing hours falling while Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube keep growing.In a sponsored Digiday post, Tatari argues streaming in-show sponsorships beat standard placements on efficiency, with a 62% higher response rate despite CPMs running 2 to 3 times higher.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Signal Hill Insights' 2026 benchmark report, "How Podcasts Impact Brand Perceptions," finds video podcast ads now make up 54% of aggregated brand lift data, up from zero in 2023, with video edging audio by one to two points on mid funnel and purchase intent metrics.Forbes contributor Damion Taylor argues podcasters need to make their audio "AI legible" with transcripts, speaker IDs, and timestamps, warning that platforms prioritizing video visuals over audio quality risk making hosts sound less intelligent and likable to listeners.Audacy research covered by Inside Audio Marketing finds news/talk radio listeners are more loyal and trusting than other formats and skew affluent, making the audience a strong fit for integrated sponsorships over traditional spot buys.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week, Tom Webster cracks open the Podcast Atlas to look at video podcasting's strengths in advertising. The Podcast Atlas finds video podcast ads outperform audio on purchase intent and post-ad actions, 15% for video versus 10% for audio, while matching or beating audio on trust, commanding the highest attentive viewership of any format, and topping YouTube ads on five of six receptivity measures.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement 2026, set for September 17-18 in New York City, has launched its first public voting process for conference sessions, with half the schedule chosen by community vote and half by a selection committee reviewing nearly 800 submissions.AdsWizz has renewed exclusive European audio ad sales agreements with SoundCloud and Sonos, extending partnerships first signed in 2021 and 2022 and covering SoundCloud's reach across 14 markets.Febreze is leaning on podcasting for its World Cup and MLS season marketing push, including a first-ever off-studio brand integration with What Now? with Trevor Noah filmed in an NFL soccer team's boot room.Mel Robbins talks with Digiday about AI in content creation, shifting ad dollars toward audio, and what audience ownership looks like for independent podcasters.AdExchanger's Cannes coverage shows creator and influencer marketing solidifying as the new normal for brands, a trend podcasting is well positioned to capitalize on.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's new Podcast Atlas report maps five interconnected territories of podcasting audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters, finding that 78% of listeners engage with podcasts during hands busy activities while 77% still report giving the medium their full or nearly full attention.Netflix CMO Marian Lee outlines the streamer's deliberately varied podcast deal strategy, mixing exclusive arrangements like Jay Shetty's with non-exclusive deals as the company adapts its traditional greenlight model to a creator economy where the creator is the brand.Spotify's VP of Product details a multi-year rebuild of the company's ad infrastructure, including a proprietary ad exchange called SAX that has now opened podcast inventory to Amazon DSP buyers, even as Q1 2026 ad-supported revenue dipped 5% year over year despite audience growth.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable released The Podcast Atlas, a study of more than 5,000 U.S. consumers mapping the creator economy into five territories: audio, video, short-form clips, newsletters, and social platforms.Tom Webster's follow-up analysis, The Format That Travels, uses the Atlas data to argue audio wins the ad environment battle, capturing 78% of hands-busy listening moments and topping every platform on listener trust and ad receptivity.Miroma Group acquired audio advertising agency Ad Results Media, marking a major U.S. expansion move that folds ARM's podcast-native performance advertising expertise into Miroma's broader agency portfolio.Ben Robins' latest Purchase Funnel installment digs into UK podcast ad conversion data, finding strong purchase rates among younger listeners but a notable gap among listeners 55 and older compared with other platforms.Cannes Lions recaps from Next Audio's Lemya Soltani and Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta highlight how podcast networking events can be run on a shoestring budget, alongside a new Sounds Profitable YouTube panel on why niche podcast communities can outperform broad-reach shows on advertiser metrics.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:A new Sounds Profitable report, The Podcast Atlas, finds audio podcasts lead every creator-economy format on trust, with 58% of listeners rating audio highest for factual accuracy and only 31% skeptical of its ad claims, even as video and clips drive more immediate purchase action.Keyari Page argues the creator economy hasn't replaced traditional media but reorganized it entirely around direct audience relationships, with creator-led models becoming core commercial infrastructure for modern media.A five-market study from NumberEight finds podcast audiences split nearly evenly by gender and skew Millennial, challenging assumptions that listeners are uniformly young or male and pointing to real variation by market and age group.Signal Hill Insights' Paul Riismandel highlights data showing U.S. weekly podcast consumers grew 45% since 2022, with YouTube and Spotify driving new-listener growth as Apple Podcasts' app share declines.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

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.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement has received nearly 800 submissions for the upcoming New York City edition of the conference and business summit.Next Audio co-founder Lemya Soltani detailed on LinkedIn how her MENA audio network hosted a Cannes Lions networking event without VC funding, cutting costs through shared boat rentals, local catering, and budget flights. Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta shared a similar low-cost Cannes playbook, showing brands don't need big budgets to make an impact at the festival.A Sounds Profitable panel from Cannes Lions, "Riches vs Niches," is now live on YouTube, featuring executives from SoundStack, Red Seat Ventures, ART19, and ADOPTER Media. The group makes the case that niche podcasts can outperform broad-reach shows on engagement, ad rates, and subscription revenue.Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment and Mondo Metrics launched the Women's Sports Index, a real-time platform benchmarking media value across women's sports using social data. The tool aims to fill gaps left by traditional ratings metrics as new women's sports leagues build fan bases largely through social media.Nielsen's May 2026 survey found PM drive listening now leads AM drive across the top 10 U.S. radio markets, with afternoon share continuing to grow year over year. The trend challenges long-standing assumptions about morning drive's dominance in radio ad planning.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: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 has acquired performance audio advertising agency Ad Results Media, with CEO Jordan Fox framing the deal as a major U.S. expansion that brings ARM's podcast-native performance advertising into Miroma's broader portfolio.Ben Robins' latest UK Advertising Landscape installment finds 44% of UK podcast listeners aged 18 to 34 made a purchase after hearing a podcast ad, and flags the 55-plus demographic as a meaningful untapped opportunity for podcast advertisers.YouTube has retired BrandConnect in favor of Creator Partnerships built into Google Ads, monetizing brand amplification of creator content while controlling discovery, distribution, and measurement rather than taking a commission on creator deals.Podnews editor James Cridland tests whether HLS streaming improves podcast consumption measurement, concluding the data is clearer than traditional downloads but that browser buffering and inconsistent play definitions across apps still limit meaningful measurement gains.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Registration for The Podcast Atlas debut webinar on July 1 at 2pm Eastern is available here.New Sounds Profitable research from The Podcast Atlas finds 73% of podcast listeners would follow a creator from audio to video and 71% from long-form episodes to short-form clips, showing audience loyalty is tied to creators rather than formats.iHeartMedia expands its advertising partnership with Amazon Ads, becoming a reseller across Amazon Music, Prime Video, Twitch, Fire TV, and Alexa, giving its sellers access to Amazon's first-party shopping and streaming data.Owl & Co. founder Hernan Lopez shares findings from the second annual Global Podcast Economy Report, revealing that ten companies capture roughly 60% of U.S. podcast advertising revenue alongside a vibrant long tail of smaller players.DoubleVerify launches DV Neura, an AI engine that unifies media verification, content classification, and campaign optimization, and can recommend campaign changes across its DV Media AdVantage Platform.Oxford Road's ORBIT tool releases its June 2026 ranking of the top 15 Entertainment and Media podcasts, with The Popcast with Knox and Jamie taking the top spot and the data favoring show-level buying over genre-level approaches.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Register here for the Podcast Atlas debut webinar next week!Two new Sounds Profitable studies reshape the discovery conversation: the Podcast Discovery Playbook 2026, co-published with JAR Podcast Solutions, finds 61% of listeners discover shows through YouTube and social media, while Tom Webster's A New Map for Podcasting and the forthcoming Podcast Atlas argue that platform-native vertical clips, not trailers, drive discovery for audiences under 35.Two industry leaders weigh in on SoundsProfitable.com: Triton Digital's Mattia Verzella explains why cross-channel CPM comparisons mislead publishers and details the floor-pricing "triangle of sadness," and Voxtopica's Richard Fawal argues that mission-driven podcasters at nonprofits, universities, and government agencies deserve research, pricing, and recognition the industry has yet to provide.New data digs into audio's ad effectiveness: the YouGov U.S. Podcast Advertising Report 2026 finds podcast ads are the most-skipped yet least-annoying format, with 60% of listeners taking action after hearing one, while Sounds Profitable and Veritonic launch a free preview of Veritonic Instant Insights to test whether video ad creative holds up as audio before launch.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Register here for the Podcast Atlas debut webinar next week!Tom Webster previews The Podcast Atlas, a new Sounds Profitable research report debuting at Vidcon that maps how audiences move across audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters, finding that vertical clips from platform-native creators drive podcast discovery for listeners under 35 far more than trailers or podcast ads.Richard Fawal, founder and CEO of Voxtopica, argues that mission-driven podcasters at nonprofits, universities, and government agencies are overlooked by the industry, and calls for research, benchmarks, and pricing that recognize their impact beyond downloads and CPMs.A global study of 1,262 campaigns from the Effie x System1 Databank, presented by Mark Ritson at Cannes Lions 2026, finds that campaigns using audio delivered 75% higher profits, 81% greater trust, and 19% more customer acquisition, with profits roughly doubling when audio is paired with emotional creative.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable and Veritonic launched a free preview of Veritonic Instant Insights, a tool that tests audio and video ad creative before launch and returns awareness and intent signals across podcast, YouTube, CTV, social, and streaming, benchmarked against more than a decade of testing data.A new joint study from Radiocentre, the Radio Advertising Bureau, and Commercial Radio & Audio Australia, spanning 1,262 campaigns over 17 years, found that adding audio to the marketing mix delivers a 75% profit uplift, an 81% increase in consumer trust, and a 19% gain in customer acquisition.Prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket are moving into podcasting, with Kalshi backing the Men in Blazers World Cup recap show Night Cup and Polymarket launching the weekly pop culture show What Are the Odds? with Dear Media.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Tom previews of The Podcast Atlas, a new study mapping how audiences now move across audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters.He argues podcasting is now a territory creators live in, not a single thing they make. Using listeners under 35, he shows why reaching them means going vertical with native clips and organic creators, not the old trailer-and-swap launch kit, ahead of the full Atlas premiere in a webinar July 1 at 2pm Eastern.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.Register here for the Podcast Atlas webinar.

Today in the business of podcasting:Triton Digital's Mattia Verzella explains why publishers should stop comparing ad revenue by CPM alone, arguing that programmatic, direct, and backfill demand each play a different strategic role in a healthy audio marketplace.Amazon is launching a Creator Hub on Fire TV this summer, bringing videos and podcasts from over 120 creators, including MrBeast and Dude Perfect, into one discoverable place on connected TVs.Magellan AI's first Podcast Measurement Benchmark Report finds podcast ads drive clicks, leads, and sales, with video podcasts and host-read ads outperforming other formats on response and conversion.YouGov's U.S. Podcast Advertising Report 2026 shows podcast ads are the most-skipped yet least-annoying format, with 60% of listeners taking action after an ad despite low trust scores.Kirby Grines breaks down the new content model that is cheaper, faster, and less Hollywood, with video podcasts and interface control reshaping how streaming platforms compete.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:New Sounds Profitable and JAR Podcast Solutions research finds 61% of podcast listeners discover their favorite shows through YouTube and social media, with YouTube now the most-used podcast platform ahead of Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Penske Media Corporation is acquiring the remaining assets of Vox Media, including The Verge, Eater, and SB Nation, completing the breakup of one of digital media's largest independent companies while the podcast network goes to James Murdoch's Lupa Systems.Oxford Road released its Top Performing International Podcasts ranker, scoring shows on advertiser return on investment rather than download counts and drawing on roughly $1.8 billion in verified podcast ad spend.Ad Results Media argues podcast marketers must plan beyond audio, citing Nielsen data on host-read recall and YouTube's 1 billion monthly podcast viewers to make the case for integrated audio, video, and social campaigns.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement 2026 tickets are now on sale for $199, with the New York City conference set for September 17 and 18 at Terminal 5. The open call for speakers runs through June 30, with half of all sessions selected by popular vote.Tubefilter, in partnership with Comscore, the Whalar Group, and Gospel Stats, publishes "The Creators List," a guide to the content creators attending this year's Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.Apple announces OS 27, bringing upgraded video podcast playback, a fully redesigned Apple TV Podcasts app, and a smart downloads system ahead of a July 2026 public beta.Substack is actively working on distributing video podcasts to Apple Podcasts via HLS, according to comments from Substack product manager Zach Taylor.Point-To-Point Marketing's Tim Bronsil makes the case that YouTube is the most overlooked revenue stream in audio, as audiences follow trusted personalities and content rather than platforms.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Podcast Movement is coming to New York City! Tickets are now on sale for the two events running September 14-18: the Sounds Profitable Business Summit and Podcast Movement NYC. The open call for Podcast Movement 2026 speakers is open until Tuesday, June 30. The era of growing a podcast audience by making people curious about podcasting is over — the people who were going to discover the medium on its own merits already have. New research shows YouTube and social feeds now dominate how listeners find shows, but the single most effective discovery tool is still a friend's recommendation. The practical upshot: stop over-investing in the channels ranked lowest by your own listeners, and start making your show easy to describe, share, and recommend.Tom Webster argues that LLMs have advanced faster than most people realize, and that pretending otherwise is magical thinking. He traces his own journey from basic prompt use to running local models on a home server, all without a coding background, to show that these tools are accessible to anyone willing to engage. And he has some pointed advice for anyone still on the fence about embracing AI in their work.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:New Edison Research Podcast Metrics data shows Netflix and Tubi are gaining traction as video podcast platforms, with 14% of U.S. weekly podcast consumers using Netflix and 4% using Tubi, while YouTube leads at 64% and Spotify follows at 42%.A reported $100 million deal has taken Jay Shetty's podcast On Purpose into exclusivity with Spotify and Netflix, with Spotify handling global ad sales and Netflix securing the video rights, raising questions about whether major exclusivity deals can successfully pull audiences off YouTube.Several new podcasts are launching in connection with the U.S. 250th anniversary, including Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise with President Barack Obama, First America from Pushkin Industries and Critical Frequency, and The Indigenous Setlist from Indigenous House and Little Bear Audio.YouTube is hosting a free live webinar on June 17 to help podcasters set up Channel Memberships, covering perks, pricing tiers, and strategies for converting casual viewers into paying members.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Bumper has opened its podcast analytics dashboard to creators of every size, introducing a free tier alongside new Pro and Enterprise plans and making its independent Bumper Score available across the board, while Enterprise subscribers also gain access to a new Bumper MCP server connecting podcast data directly to AI tools.Two notable proposals are stirring debate in the open podcasting community on GitHub, one calling for a standardized way to disclose AI generated content in RSS feeds and another suggesting a method for verifying which apps are actually downloading episodes, an idea that could reshape how podcast apps get paid.The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Google to let publishers opt out of having their content used to power AI search features, giving the company nine months to roll out the changes and requiring it to publish regular compliance reports.New data from streaming measurement firm Digital i shows YouTube overtaking Netflix in daily audience attention, with Australia ranking among the top viewing markets worldwide and Netflix's own YouTube channel pulling in significant reach.A new analysis argues that short form video isn't killing long form content but reshaping its role instead, with short clips driving discovery and habit formation while podcasts and longer series build deeper audience attachment over time.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:SXSW 2027's PanelPicker application period opens June 23, with live AMAs scheduled and Podcast Movement Evolutions confirmed to return Monday through Wednesday of the event.The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting unveiled its first unified impression framework for audio and video podcasting, ratifying four cross-platform exposure definitions to give advertisers and publishers a shared basis for measuring podcast inventory across audio and video.Tom Webster's latest Sounds Profitable article reflects on a year of deepening AI use, arguing that the real question for creators is not whether AI was involved but whether they are proud of what they made.Both Sport Social Network and Quill + CoHost have new articles this week in the Sounds Profitable thought leadership article series. To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster reflects on a year of rapid AI adoption — from pasting into ChatGPT to running open-source language models on a home server — arguing that the real question for creators is not whether they use AI, but whether they stand behind what they publish.The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) Task Force has released its first unified impression framework, defining Podcast Play, Podcast Audience, Ad Impression, and Ad Audience to enable cross-platform comparison of audio and video podcast inventory for the first time.SXSW 2027's PanelPicker submission process opens June 23, with live AMAs and office hours scheduled through July, and Podcast Movement Evolutions confirmed to return for the conference.DIRECTV Advertising's Drew Groner argues that sports rights fragmentation across streaming apps has undermined the reach of national ad buys for local and regional sports fans, while CBC Podcasts opens a pitch call for a new narrative sports feed.Podscribe's May 2026 Industry Ranker shows Crime Junkie and The Daily holding the top two spots for audio reach, The Oprah Podcast jumping from #7 to #4, and Shopify leading advertiser spend across ten industries represented in the top ten.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sport Social Podcast Network argues that sports podcasting has shifted from a complementary format to a defining part of how fans experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing a new BBC Studios and NumberEight campaign that drove a 19% awareness lift for a U.S. hospitality brand.CoHost and Quill CEO Fatima Zaidi kicks off a new series by asking 10 founders what they would do differently in year one, drawing responses from industry figures including Oxford Road's Dan Granger and Sounds Profitable Partner Bryan Barletta.Tubefilter examines what the box office success of creator-led films like Backrooms and Obsession signals for YouTubers and content creators looking to make the jump to Hollywood.Nielsen's Q1 2026 edition of The Record finds U.S. consumers spend nearly four hours daily with audio, with 82% of ad-supported audio time going to radio and podcasts, and Edison Research data showing podcasts account for 30% of ad-supported audio time among adults 18 to 34.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This year at Cannes Lions, Sounds Profitable is a sponsor of the Little Black Book Beach! Our partners will receive up to 3 tickets for access to the beach all week. Be sure to fill out this Google Form so we can register you and your team for the beach! Also, we have a custom graphic generator for those looking to announce they’re headed to France in a couple of weeks with some flair.Tom Webster argues that LLMs have advanced faster than most people realize, and that pretending otherwise is magical thinking. He traces his own journey from basic prompt use to running local models on a home server, all without a coding background, to show that these tools are accessible to anyone willing to engage. And he has some pointed advice for anyone still on the fence about embracing AI in their work.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:SiriusXM has struck a non-exclusive distribution and advertising deal with Fox's free streaming service Tubi, bringing popular video podcasts including Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Rotten Mango, and The School of Greatness to the platform starting in late June.The ANA's Q1 2026 Programmatic Transparency Benchmark finds a growing performance gap between top advertisers, who convert 54% of programmatic spend into quality impressions, and lower-performing peers who convert just 32.1%, with private marketplace transactions accounting for 85% of all programmatic spending.The IAB has filed an amicus brief in Baker v. Seattle Children's Hospital, a case before the Washington Supreme Court in which plaintiffs argue a hospital's use of Meta Pixel for marketing constitutes illegal wiretapping under 1960s-era laws — a theory the IAB's general counsel says could threaten all ad-supported media.Media, Built newsletter author Steve Raizes argues the podcasting industry is better served by confronting accurate audience metrics sooner rather than later, using Apple's iOS 17 auto-download change as a precedent and pointing to the Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting's ongoing work to establish a verified industry metric.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:CoHost & Quill VP of Marketing Alison Osborne argues the podcast industry is solving the wrong measurement problem: B2B brands have moved past "how many downloads" and are now asking who is listening, whether the right audiences are finding the show, and whether those listeners are appearing in the sales funnel.Acast CEO Greg Glenday says brands are misallocating podcast ad spend by following genre assumptions rather than audience behavior, citing Acast data showing food podcasts receive roughly half of food delivery ad spend despite representing less than 1% of relevant listener conversations.Magellan AI has built an attribution platform measuring broadcast radio alongside podcasts and streaming audio, with early case studies showing radio drives far greater total sales volume while digital audio outperforms on a per-impression basis — making the case for measuring all audio together.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Grab your custom Cannes Lions attendee announcement graphic for free here!Today in the business of podcasting:A roundup of all the top stories from The Podcast Show London last week. New data from Sounds Profitable's Advertising Landscape 2025 study shows that AM/FM radio Primes and podcast Primes have only a 1.4% overlap, challenging the idea that the two formats compete for the same audience. Tom Webster argues that sellers holding both types of inventory are offering two nearly non-duplicated engaged audiences in a single buy — a stronger combined asset than the competitive framing has allowed advertisers to see.The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP), a 12-member industry task force organized by Oxford Road and including Spotify, SiriusXM Media, BetterHelp, DraftKings, and others, has publicly emerged after meeting since July 2025 to address podcast measurement and definition challenges. The group's three focus areas are standardizing impression metrics, developing cross-platform performance measurement, and agreeing on a universal definition of a podcast.A new Signal Hill Insights Pulse Report, conducted with FlightStory, finds that 45% of monthly podcast consumers in the U.K. have used a smart TV to listen to or watch podcasts in the past month, making smart TVs the second most-used device ahead of computers. More than half of video podcast viewers in the U.K. watch during prime time (7–11 p.m.), and the data suggests video podcasting is growing podcasting's overall audience share by replacing other video consumption rather than cannibalizing audio listening.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP), a 12-member task force organized by Oxford Road, is working to standardize podcast ad measurement and establish a universal definition of "podcast." The group plans to present its framework at Oxford Road's CAO Summit in Los Angeles in July 2026.New data from Sounds Profitable shows that the most engaged AM/FM radio listeners and the most engaged podcast listeners have only 1.4% overlap, making them nearly distinct audiences. Tom Webster argues that buying both channels together offers advertisers a level of combined reach that neither medium can deliver alone.Magellan AI's new global analysis estimates total podcast ad spend reached $3.94 billion in 2025, with non-U.S. markets surging 79% year-over-year in Q1 2026, led by rapid growth in Germany, France, the U.K., and Ireland.YouTube is moving AI content labels to more prominent positions, appearing directly below long-form videos and as overlays on Shorts, with automatic detection rolling out for content creators who do not self-disclose.Canada's broadcast regulator, the CRTC, has expanded its digital media contribution framework, raising the required revenue contribution from foreign streaming and audio services including Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify from 5% to 15%.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:A new Signal Hill Insights Pulse Report, conducted in partnership with FlightStory, finds that 45% of monthly podcast consumers in the U.K. used a smart TV to listen to podcasts in the past month, making it the second most-used device behind smartphones and ahead of computers. More than half of video podcast viewers watch during prime time hours, suggesting video podcasting is becoming a living-room, prime-time television behavior in the U.K.NPR, its sponsorship subsidiary National Public Media, and podcast distributor PRX have announced a collaboration enabling NPM to sell sponsorships for station-produced podcasts hosted on PRX's Dovetail platform, with stations including Boise State Public Radio, LAist, and WWNO already participating.Podcast subscription platform Supporting Cast has launched delivery of gated, subscriber-only video on Spotify using Spotify's Distribution API, making it the first subscription platform to offer this capability. Journalist-led podcasts Libero and Legacy are the first shows to use the feature.Media writer Brian Morrissey examines how AI-driven changes to Google Search are accelerating the decline of page-view-based publisher models, and argues that the recent Vox Media sale reflects how owned podcast networks have become central to media companies' valuations.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Make your own Cannes Lions announcement graphic!Sounds Profitable Partner Tom Webster breaks down data from the 2025 Advertising Landscape study showing that AM/FM radio Primes and podcast Primes overlap by just 1.4% of U.S. adults, arguing that the two media are not competitors but complementary channels reaching almost entirely different engaged audiences, and that combined inventory is worth more than either piece alone.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here.

Today in the business of podcasting:The Podcast Show 2026 wrapped up in London with a wave of industry activity, including the debut of a new UK advertising landscape study from Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights showing podcast ad recall is at near-parity with broadcast television, plus analyst presentations, an annual Podcast Standards Project meetup, and a live episode of Podnews Weekly Review recorded on stage.RAJAR's MIDAS Spring 2026 survey found that 25% of UK adults listen to podcasts weekly, a figure that has remained relatively static since Winter 2024, with podcasts accounting for 6% of adult listening hours — ahead of owned music at 5% and audiobooks at 3%.Goalhanger launched Goalhanger Ventures, a new investment and partnership arm that will back creator-led media businesses, with initial activity including an equity investment in Invisible Media and support for the podcast Backyard Cricket.Spotify announced a wave of new features: a Memberships program for creators, an AI-driven Personal Podcasts feature, and Articles — a library of over 650 narrated long-form magazine pieces available to Premium subscribers through their monthly audiobook allowance or purchasable individually for $1.99.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:A new Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights study of 5,033 U.K. adults finds 43% of British adults listen to ad-supported podcasts monthly, with 79% of those listeners recalling a podcast ad in the past week at nearly equal rates across genders, offering a direct transatlantic comparison to the 2025 U.S. Advertising Landscape.Owl & Co's Global Podcast Economy Report finds the global podcast industry generated $9.2 billion in revenue in 2025, up 23% year over year, with publishers that treated video as a monetization layer seeing the fastest revenue growth.The fifth annual Podnews Report Card, based on creator feedback, finds YouTube has climbed to second place among major podcast platforms, overtaking Spotify but still trailing Apple Podcasts.Rodrigo Tigre, co-founder and president of Ozen.fm, argues that Brazil's podcast advertising market is dramatically underdeveloped relative to U.S. digital audio and identifies three structural barriers that have now matured enough to be overcome.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights released The Advertising Landscape UK, the first large-scale study of how British audiences experience podcast advertising, finding that 43% of British adults listen to an ad-supported podcast monthly and 56% of those tune in daily or almost daily.Owl & Co's Global Podcast Economy Report finds the global podcast economy generated $9.2 billion in revenue in 2025, a 23% increase from 2024, with publishers who treated video as a monetization layer growing revenue the fastest.James Murdoch's Lupa Systems agreed to acquire most of Vox Media, including its podcast network, main website, and New York magazine, with CEO Jim Bankoff set to continue running the acquired assets.Data from influencer platform Upfluence shows that top-tier TikTok micro-creators saw average brand deal rates rise 125% in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025, as brands shift toward smaller creators and paid content boosting over big-name influencer deals.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights released the Advertising Landscape UK, the first large-scale study of how British audiences experience podcast advertising, benchmarked against 20+ other ad-supported platforms across 5,033 adults. Key findings include that 43% of British adults listen to ad-supported podcasts monthly, 79% recalled a podcast ad in the past week, 44% have made a purchase after hearing one, and ad-supported podcasting has outpaced broadcast TV among 18- to 24-year-olds. The UK's BBC heritage sets a higher bar for advertising acceptance than in the US, but the data suggests podcasting clears that bar more reliably than most other formats, positioning it as a strong vehicle for reaching discerning British audiences.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin Gaddis

Today in the business of podcasting:Spotify is expanding its Verified by Spotify badge to podcast shows, adding a green checkmark to identify official creator, publisher, and brand presences on the platform based on listener activity, platform standing, and audience authenticity.The 2026 Podnews Report Card collected 779 pieces of community feedback on major podcast platforms, with YouTube reaching second place in the overall rankings for the first time, just behind Apple Podcasts and ahead of Spotify.A new WARC report, The Multiplier Playbook, surveying more than 200 senior marketers finds that 60% say their C-suite does not fully understand the role of advertising, and only 21% say advertising objectives align with broader corporate goals.New Omeda research finds 70% of publishers consider audience data critical, yet only 9% of their organizations use it effectively, a gap writer Brian Morrissey links to decentralized and siloed data infrastructure.YouTube is rolling out its AI-powered likeness detection technology to all eligible creators over 18, expanding access beyond select YouTube Partner Program members and allowing users to set up protection via ID verification.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Triton Digital's latest Podcast Report reveals that digital audio in the US has reached a market value equivalent to Brazil's entire digital ad industry, highlighting the growing scale of US podcast and streaming audiences.Global has launched a new premium video advertising format on YouTube, giving brands access to connected TV-style placements alongside the broadcaster's content, including the news podcast Up to Speed.Captivate has enabled HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) support for private podcast feeds, improving playback reliability and compatibility for subscription and members-only audio content.A new Digiday report examines the rise of agentic advertising, with survey data showing a majority of advertisers already integrating or building agentic AI capabilities into their ad workflows.Industry analysis explores how podcasting's trust advantage and audience engagement position it as an effective channel as advertisers evaluate where to place budgets in an AI-driven media landscape.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcasters took center stage at the upfronts, as Amazon unveiled Oprah Winfrey's new Wondery podcast deal and YouTube's Brandcast event featured content announcements from major creators, with both platforms positioning video podcasting as a direct competitor for TV advertising budgets.Amplifi Media founder Steven Goldstein reports results from a NYU focus group study of AI-generated podcasts, which averaged a 2.3 out of 5 rating; students valued narrow-utility formats but consistently described AI hosts as flat and inauthentic, with Goldstein calling for industry-wide disclosure standards to preserve listener trust.Podcast hosting platform Flightcast has launched full support for video on Apple Podcasts and HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video publishing, allowing users to activate video for their entire back catalog with a single click at no additional cost.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:New data from the 2026 U.K. Advertising Landscape Study, conducted by Sound Insights for Sounds Profitable, finds that 79% of U.K. podcast listeners recall a podcast ad from the past week — a striking result in a country shaped by decades of ad-free BBC broadcasting, with recall essentially equal across men and women.A Reuters Institute report finds video is reshaping news podcasting at every level, from how shows are produced and discovered to how they make money, with publishers increasingly building around personalities and layering in revenue from events, subscriptions, and merchandise.Amazon Music has launched video podcasts for U.S. iOS and Android users using HLS video within an open RSS ecosystem, starting with ART19-hosted content and expanding to more hosting partners later this summer.Spotify is expanding its video distribution network through five new hosting platform integrations and announcing forthcoming support for Apple Podcasts' HLS video technology, giving creators a path to distribute and monetize video across both platforms simultaneously.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Spotify has officially integrated five new hosting platforms into its video distribution ecosystem and announced that Spotify-hosted podcasts will gain support for Apple Podcasts' HLS video technology, enabling video distribution to Apple Podcasts without changing existing setups.New research from Sound Insights finds that 79% of U.K. podcast listeners recall an ad heard in the past week, outperforming most media in a country where nearly half of adults cannot recall any brand advertising, with podcast ad recall among 18-to-34-year-olds surpassing broadcast TV.RAJAR Q1 2026 data shows U.K. radio weekly reach growing slightly year over year at 87% of the population, with 27% of adults listening to podcasts each week and 11% of podcast listeners reporting no traditional radio consumption.Streamonomics reports the top eight U.S. streamers posted a combined $9.8 billion in Q1 2026 profits, a 54% increase from 2025, while the Attention 20 index of top global attention economy companies reached $20 trillion in enterprise value.Japan's inaugural PODCAST EXPO 2026 drew 12,713 attendees across two days in Tokyo, bringing together podcast creators, listeners, and industry professionals in what organizers describe as Japan's largest podcast festival to date.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Amazon Music has launched video podcasts for U.S. users on iOS and Android, starting with its ART19 platform and using HLS video delivered via the open alternate enclosure RSS tag. Amazon is not charging creators or networks for access, with plans to expand to additional partners later this summer.Magellan AI and Signal Hill Insights have partnered to deliver full-funnel podcast measurement by combining ad exposure data with brand lift studies, enabling more precise audience matching and a clearer read on how campaigns drive awareness, favorability, and purchase intent.BBC Sounds reported a record Q1 2026, with 718 million total plays of radio, podcast, and music content — up 5% year over year — along with 265 million on-demand radio and podcast plays and 11 million signed-in accounts.Streaming services including Prime Video, Netflix, Paramount+, and Disney+ have launched short-form video clip feeds that serve as recommendation engines for their longform content, in contrast to social platforms where short-form video tends to be original programming.Heading into Upfronts week, ad buyers say the focus has shifted toward performance measurement and lower-funnel outcomes over reach and premium content, with brands expecting media buys to demonstrate concrete business results.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

The upcoming 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study finds podcasting breaks through baked-in ad avoidance in U.K. audiences.Register here for the Trust and Attention: Why Sports Media Wins (And How Brands Prove It) webinar this afternoon!A new Sounds Profitable UK Advertising Landscape Study finds that 47% of UK adults cannot recall a single brand from advertising they encountered in the past week, compared to 31% in the US, a gap the researchers attribute to the BBC's century-long commercial-free baseline shaping British listeners' expectations. Despite that structural resistance, 79% of UK podcast listeners recall an ad heard in the past week, a result the study frames as especially significant given how skeptical the UK audience is of advertising broadly. Among 18-34 year olds, podcast ad recall in the UK reaches 86%, edging ahead of broadcast TV's 83% for the same age group, a crossover the study says UK media plans have not yet caught up to. Podcast ad recall is also effectively gender-equal in the UK at 79% male and 80% female, a pattern the researchers describe as structural to the medium rather than a regional quirk.Written by Ben RobinsEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Tom WebsterFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Register here for tomorrow's Sounds Profitable and Locked On webinar!Today in the business of podcasting:PRX's 2025 annual report shows the nonprofit leaning deeper into podcasting to navigate federal public media funding cuts, with Radiotopia launching 18 seasons and specials and drawing 47.3 million downloads across the network.A new PodSEO analysis of 11 million keyword-ranking pairs on Apple Podcasts and Spotify finds both platforms still search like record stores, over-weighting keyword-stuffed show titles and fresh episodes in a pattern that disadvantages evergreen, host-driven content.iHeartMedia's Q1 2026 earnings show podcast revenue up 26.9% year over year to $147 million, beating the company's guidance, while digital revenue excluding podcasting grew 12% to $180 million.Media, Built examines two recent newsletter deals, Puck acquiring Air Mail and The Ankler moving from Substack to Passport, to argue that audience ownership rather than audience size is the defining asset in newsletter monetization.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Register for Trust and Attention: Why Sports Media Wins (And How Brands Prove It)A new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism finds that news podcast publishers are pivoting to video in response to audience demand and platform changes, while audience research shows that video and audio podcast consumers largely overlap. Publishers are also experimenting with hybrid revenue models — including live events, merchandise, and subscriptions — to supplement advertising income.WARC's The Future of Measurement 2026 identifies three major trends reshaping advertising measurement: a shift toward outcomes-based approaches, the expanding role of AI in campaign analysis and planning, and the rise of "creative intelligence" tools that aim to predict ad performance before campaigns launch.The IAB projects creator ad spend will reach around $44 billion this year, but the form of creator promotion is shifting — sponsored content is giving way to paid ads featuring creators directly, and third-party clipping networks are emerging as a new paid distribution strategy.The New York Times reported Q1 2026 digital advertising revenue grew 31.6% year over year, with CEO Meredith Kopit Levien crediting the company's expanding content portfolio and identifying video as a key area of strategic investment.The UK government has confirmed that podcasting and audio will be formally recognized within the Standard Industrial Classification 2026 framework, a milestone AudioUK says will reshape how podcast and audio businesses are defined, measured, and supported in the British economy.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Register here for the upcoming Trust and Attention: Why Sports Media Wins (And How Brands Prove It) webinar.New data from the 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study shows that podcasting reaches 60% of UK adults aged 18 to 34 monthly, surpassing broadcast TV's 57% reach in that demographic. Sound Insights' Ben Robins argues that for media planners targeting UK adults under 45 at scale, podcasting is no longer a niche option.A case study from Transistor.fm co-founder Justin Jackson shows that Primary Technology, the first Transistor-hosted podcast to add Apple Podcasts HLS video, saw per-episode plays roughly double and engaged listeners climb from 707 to 1,072 after the switch, with no loss on YouTube or other audio platforms.It was a busy week for Apple Podcasts HLS video adoption, with Buzzsprout bringing its video distribution out of beta for all users, Podigee launching one-upload video distribution across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for every plan tier, and Captivate announcing official Apple Podcasts HLS video support.Starting in mid-July 2026, Megaphone will transfer campaign management to the Spotify Ad Server, enabling new ad formats including video while removing third-party VAST serving entirely. Pre-booking on the new system opens May 15, 2026.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Register here for the Trust and Attention: Why Sports Media Wins (And How Brands Prove It) webinar!Today in the business of podcasting:New data from the 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study shows podcasting already reaches more 18-to-34 year olds in the UK than broadcast TV, challenging the assumption that podcasting is a niche channel for media planners targeting younger audiences.A case study from Primary Technology shows that publishing video episodes on Apple Podcasts roughly doubled plays and grew engaged listeners from 707 to 1,072, with no measurable cannibalization of the show's YouTube or audio-only audiences.Radio station groups once expanded into local CTV sales by leveraging their existing relationships and advertiser trust — a move that never happened for digital audio, despite targeting and measurement that now rival video in quality.The IAB projects U.S. digital video ad spending will reach $81.9 billion in 2026, an 11% year-over-year increase, with 54% of marketers shifting budget away from broadcast TV and 23% pulling from digital audio.A new white paper from Magellan AI and True Native Media argues that adding podcasting to a broader audio plan extends reach into audiences that streaming audio alone cannot capture, because the two formats serve fundamentally different listening contexts.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:New Sounds Profitable research finds 86% of podcast listeners consume clips on at least one platform, raising questions about paid clipping strategies and whether flooding social feeds with short-form content helps or hurts long-term audience growth.Signal Hill Insights' Paul Riismandel examines what it actually means to have a "hit" podcast, finding that even The Joe Rogan Experience — the #1 show on reach-based charts — reached only 20% of the U.S. podcast audience in a given month.AdExchanger Senior Editor Alyssa Boyle analyzes YouTube's NewFronts presentation, where creators blurred the traditional line between talent pitches and publisher sales decks, as advertisers increasingly demand outcome-based commitments over broad reach.Consultant Steve Raizes explores how the weekly podcast production cycle traps creators on a content hamster wheel with no time for strategic growth, using Audiochuck's operational infrastructure as a model for sustainable scale.Tribeca Festival 2026 announces its most ambitious podcast lineup to date for its June run in New York City, featuring live events with Radiolab, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and Lemme Say This, with guests including Peter Dinklage, Adam Scott, and Laurie Anderson.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Guest writer Ben Robins analyzes new data from The 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study.Register here for the Pod-Tails and Cocktails waitlist.A new study from Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights finds that podcasting reaches 60% of UK adults aged 18 to 34 monthly, outpacing broadcast TV's 57% reach in the same demographic. The 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study, fielded with more than 5,000 UK adults and weighted to census, also finds that 35 to 54 year olds have the highest rate of "Prime" podcast usage of any age group, at 16%. The findings challenge the conventional UK media planning framework that treats podcasting as a supplementary buy, suggesting it is already the primary option for brands targeting audiences under 45.Written by Ben RobinsEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Tom WebsterFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podigee has launched video podcast distribution across YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, making the feature available on every plan with no waitlist.Acast reported its first-ever profitable Q1, with 20% net sales growth overall and 43% organic growth in North America.Megaphone is transitioning its campaign management to the Spotify Ad Server starting July 15, 2026, enabling new video ad formats while removing third-party VAST serving.Radio Ink contributor Steve Allen draws on Tom Webster's analysis of the SiriusXM/iHeart deal to argue that local radio's most underleveraged asset is the quality of its advertising creative.Nielsen data shows 77% of U.S. soccer fans use radio and podcasts for soccer content, with Millennials 41% more likely to consume World Cup coverage via podcasts than any other medium.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Podcast DescriptionToday in the business of podcasting:Bloomberg's Ashley Carman surveys the growing landscape of AI-generated podcasts, examining how hosting platforms like RSS.com are setting monetization guardrails and how Spotify is rolling out a new badge to authenticate real music artists.John Spurlock's HLS Podcast Radar tracks video podcasts using the alternate enclosure tag, which several hosting platforms support but Apple Podcasts does not, as Buzzsprout announces that its video distribution to Apple Podcasts is out of beta and available to all users.New PQ Media data shows digital audio recorded the fastest consumer spending growth rate among all media categories in 2025, even as audio overall ranks last in total spending out of the $2.4 trillion consumers spent on media content and technology.A Scalable report examines the scale of creator-led media companies, including Beast Industries, which employs around 750 people and ranks among the less than 1% of U.S. companies with over 500 employees.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster of Sounds Profitable audited iHeartMedia radio stations across three mid-size U.S. markets and found that less than 4% of weekday airtime in Pittsburgh features locally produced content, while Indianapolis registers effectively zero. The research challenges the premise that a SiriusXM acquisition would meaningfully reduce local programming that, by most measures, has already disappeared.New S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows podcast listening among U.S. online adults grew 10 percentage points in early 2026, reaching nearly 60% — a figure that aligns with Sounds Profitable's own Podcast Landscape 2025 research when video-only listeners are factored in.Nielsen has integrated Triton Digital's Podcast Metrics Demos+ data into its Nielsen Media Impact planning platform, giving ad buyers a more complete picture of the podcast audience alongside other media channels for more precise campaign planning.A new report from the Nigerian Podcast Index examines 329 shows across more than 20 hosting platforms and finds that while English-language content gives Nigerian podcasting global reach, the absence of local measurement infrastructure keeps the market largely invisible to international advertisers and investors.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster audits iHeartMedia station clusters in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City and finds that locally originating programming makes up a tiny fraction of weekday airtime, while local advertising load remains far higher, reframing what a SiriusXM acquisition would actually affect.Amplitude Media Partners' Reggie Risseeuw breaks down recent Megaphone ad server updates, including new Priority Pre-Book campaign tools and a mandatory geotargeting requirement taking effect July 14, 2026.WARC projects advertisers will spend over $10.5 billion during the four weeks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reversing a spending decline from the 2022 Qatar edition, with Spotify expecting the tournament to drive significant content consumption across its platform.Kirby Grines examines how the most valuable ad inventory is shifting away from exposure-based outcomes toward measurable results, with creators and rights holders building vertically integrated businesses to capture that value directly.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Libsyn has announced that video functionality is now available across all its hosting plans, with direct video distribution to Spotify — powered by the Spotify Distribution API — starting at $25 per month.Marketing firm JoneKiri is offering brand sponsorship opportunities for a live performance of Hanging with Doctor Z at Netflix Is a Joke Fest, with options ranging from organic product placement to full season four title sponsorship.Patreon has launched a redesigned Home feed featuring Quips, recommended creators, and collaboration posts, with the company reporting that creator interactions boost fan engagement more than five times above baseline.Bauer Media and Elevate Consultancy's Sound Check Europe 2026 study finds 86% of European advertisers now consider audio a core part of their media strategy, with 82% saying podcasts reach highly engaged audiences and 47% planning to increase podcast investment.A new study from iHeartMedia and Omnicom finds audio advertising drives measurable lift across brand metrics, with long-form host-read ads delivering up to twice the recall of shorter spots.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Nielsen has integrated Triton Digital's Podcast Metrics Demos+ data into its Nielsen Media Impact planning platform, making it easier for advertisers to evaluate podcasts alongside other media channels with the same precision and comparability. Nielsen also launched Predictive Sales Lift, a new outcomes-based capability to help media buyers forecast sales lift for video ad campaigns on Nielsen One Ads.Spotify's Q1 2026 earnings show continued growth across the board, with Premium subscribers up 9% year over year to 293 million, Monthly Active Users up 12% to 761 million, and total revenue reaching €4.5 billion — a 14% constant currency increase over 2025.A new Precisify survey of 1,000 U.S. teens and Millennials finds YouTube is the one platform both generations share, reaching 83% of Gen Z respondents and 78% of Millennials, with nearly 45% of each group spending at least 30 minutes to an hour on the platform daily.The Nigerian Podcast Index 2025 Report surveys 329 shows to map Africa's largest English-language audio market, finding the ecosystem heavily reliant on Spotify for Creators at 58% of indexed shows, with a persistent lack of audience data identified as the industry's key challenge.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:iHeartMedia and Sirius XM are in preliminary talks about a potential merger that would combine the largest radio station owner and the largest satellite radio service in the United States, creating a company with more than $12 billion in combined annual sales.S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows U.S. podcast listening grew 10 percentage points from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026, with nearly 60% of online adults now reporting they listen, a figure that aligns with Sounds Profitable's Podcast Landscape 2025 research when video-only listeners are factored in.Spotify has launched new fitness features for free and Premium subscribers, including curated workout playlists and access to more than 1,400 on-demand Peloton classes, alongside a new Claude AI integration that delivers personalized recommendations based on users' listening data.Spanish-language podcast platform iVoox has debuted what may be the first formal television ad campaign for a dedicated podcast app, developed by agency Drop&Vase and airing on Mediaset España channels in Spain.European audio platform Audion has raised $15 million to fund its expansion into the United States, with investment going toward go-to-market operations, partnerships, and product development.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:SiriusXM Media has become the exclusive audio advertising representative for YouTube in the United States, giving advertisers the ability to buy guaranteed audio ad impressions against YouTube audiences at scale for the first time through SiriusXM's combined ad technology stack.Sounds Profitable's new Audio Primes report, drawn from The Podcast Landscape 2025, identifies the 22% of podcast consumers who listen to 75% or more of their shows as audio, and examines the measurement gap that arises when platforms track video while listeners are consuming audio.Bumper co-founder Jonas Woost launched Bumper Score, a new third-party audience verification metric that rates podcast ad delivery on a scale of 0 to 200, aiming to give media buyers a standardized, comparable measure of whether ads are reaching real, verified listeners.Content platform beehiiv has surpassed its Q2 goal for podcast signups by more than 10x and is expanding its feature set with a new AI-powered podcast data tool and a webinar hosting feature supporting up to 10,000 attendees.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's new Audio Primes report finds that 22% of podcast consumers listen to 75% or more of their episodes as audio-only — and 90% of them use YouTube, making them heavier consumers of video platforms than the average podcast listener while still choosing audio for podcasts.Beehiiv is expanding its creator platform with MCP-powered AI podcast analytics and a new webinar product that supports up to 10,000 attendees, positioning the platform as a full-stack destination for content creators beyond newsletters.Bumper has launched Bumper Score, an independent audience verification tool designed to bring transparency and consistency to podcast advertising, with clients already directing over $500,000 toward ad buys enabled by the new metric.A Barrett Media column uses Sounds Profitable's Podcast Landscape 2025 data to argue that podcasting's most engaged listeners tolerate high ad volume but will leave over irrelevant ads, making hyper-targeted and programmatic advertising essential to avoiding broadcast radio's mistakes.Streamonomics author Hernan Lopez examines Netflix's $670 billion total addressable market estimate and compares it to the creator economy's projected TAM, which may exceed Netflix's figure when all creator platforms and direct creator revenue are included.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: SiriusXM Media has become the exclusive audio advertising representative for YouTube in the United States, giving advertisers access to guaranteed impressions against YouTube's audio audiences at scale for the first time. The deal connects YouTube to SiriusXM's broad ad sales infrastructure, which already spans Pandora and a wide network of podcast and streaming inventory.A new Radiocentre report, High Gain Audio, analyzed by WPP Media, finds that multiplatform audio advertising outperforms the all-media ROI average in both short-term and long-term campaigns. The report recommends that brands allocate up to 25% of total media spend to audio to maximize overall campaign ROI.The IAB Tech Lab has launched the Programmatic Governance Council, a new industry body designed to align business expectations and technical standards across programmatic advertising. Founding participants include major buy- and sell-side organizations such as Dentsu, Omnicom Media Group, WPP, Disney, The Trade Desk, and Mediavine.A growing number of content creators are launching their own in-house ad agencies, positioning them as faster and more platform-native alternatives to traditional intermediaries. Recent launches include Natalie Marshall's Expand Co-Lab and Max Reisinger's Camp Agency, part of a trend that Scalable traces back to Dhar Mann's Fifth Quarter in 2022.David's Bridal has invested in a creator ambassador program called Style Squad, which enlists both external influencers and internal employees to produce shoppable content across social platforms. The program, launched in January 2026, allows participants to earn commission on sales they drive rather than receiving flat fees.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

What platforms record and what podcast consumers are actually doing can be two different things.New research from Edison Research introduces "Audio Primes" — the 22% of podcast consumers who listen to 75% or more of their podcasts as audio — finding that this segment skews younger, more educated, and higher-earning than the average podcast listener, upending common assumptions about who chooses audio-first consumption. Ninety percent of Audio Primes use YouTube for podcast listening, but predominantly as audio infrastructure with screens off or minimized, revealing a significant gap between video platform metrics and actual podcast listening behavior. Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Netflix Co-CEO, President and Director Ted Sarandos called out podcasting as a bright spot in the company's Q1 2026 earnings, noting that internal data shows video podcasts are driving incremental engagement, with particular strength in daytime viewing and on mobile devices.Adobe has deepened its partnership with Speechmatics by adding on-device speech-to-text transcription to its Premiere video editing suite, processing an hour of audio in about 55 seconds at near-cloud accuracy while keeping all audio local to the device.Bumper co-founder Jonas Woost introduced the Bumper Score, a third-party audience verification metric that measures how well a podcast delivers ads to a verified audience on a 0-to-200 scale, drawing on hosting provider data, platform audience data, and episode-level retention data.The top 15 podcast advertisers spent an estimated $58 million in March 2026, down from $61.4 million in February, with sports podcasts dominating genre preferences across most of the top spenders, according to Magellan AI tracking data.Podnews compiled the podcasting-relevant winners from the 30th Annual Webby Awards, which this year featured expanded podcast categories, with a winners ceremony set for May 11.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The IAB, in partnership with PwC, reports that digital audio ad spend reached a record $8.4 billion in 2025, a 10.2% year-over-year increase, with podcast advertising revenue climbing to $2.9 billion on 17.6% growth that outpaced the broader digital audio market.A Scalable newsletter analysis examines how Netflix's early video podcasting push has stalled, with the YouTube presence of major Netflix-exclusive shows beginning to atrophy as the platform makes no new big-ticket acquisitions, while YouTube says it has no plans to counter with exclusivity deals and is instead developing AI tools to help creators generate short clips automatically.Barrett Media's Garrett Searight argues that YouTube's new Shorts daily time-cap feature is less a crisis for podcast discovery than a prompt for independent creators to diversify their short-form video strategy and prioritize content quality across platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok.Acast's 2025 year-end report shows full-year net sales growth of 29% year-over-year, with North American net sales up 50% in Q4, and the company closing the year with 429 full-time employees, up from 364 in 2024.A new Sounds Profitable study, Audio Primes: The Podcast Industry's Most Valuable Audience, profiles the segment of podcast consumers who listen to at least 75% of their content as audio, finding they skew younger, more educated, and higher-income than the broader podcast audience, with a webinar presentation from Tom Webster and Alberto Betella now available on Sounds Profitable's site and YouTube channel.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster previews the new Audio Primes 2026 report from Sounds Profitable, showing that audio-first podcast listeners are nearly twice as likely as video-first viewers to reject AI-generated voices in their favorite shows. The split suggests a widening gap in how synthetic audio is received across listening modes.Samba TV VP of Measurement Science Alyson Sprague debuts the company's first Netflix Podcast Ranker, drawn from smart-TV viewing data across tens of millions of U.S. households. The Breakfast Club led Q1 2026 with 44% of Samba-tracked views, followed by Bridgerton: The Official Podcast at 16%.YouTube rolls out two livestream ad changes designed to protect creator-audience moments: ads will pause for viewers who send paid items like Super Chats, and automated ads will be held back when Live Chat engagement peaks. The update has clear implications for live podcast productions that rely on real-time chat.Steve Raizes argues the current wave of podcast M&A — OpenAI acquiring TBPN, The Chernin Group backing Goalhanger and Audiochuck, Fox Entertainment buying Red Seat Ventures — is being driven by audience density and convertibility rather than raw reach, a shift from the Spotify-Gimlet and SiriusXM-Stitcher era.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Tom Webster's new Sounds Profitable piece previews the Audio Primes report, which finds audio-first podcast listeners are notably less receptive to AI-generated voices in their favorite shows than their video-first counterparts, with Video Primes twice as likely to keep listening.YouTube is rolling out two new livestream ad behaviors: pausing ads for viewers who send Super Chats or virtual gifts, and automatically delaying ad breaks during peak chat activity to help creators protect engagement moments.Audioboom reported Q1 2026 revenue of $22.5 million, up 30% year-over-year, alongside a 118% jump in adjusted EBITDA and a 79% increase in downloads and video views, crediting its Adelicious acquisition and new Creator Network signings of Crooked Media and RedHanded.A new Reuters Institute report finds 18-to-24-year-olds are more engaged with podcasts than older audiences, but are getting their news from chat shows, comedy podcasts, and short-form video rather than traditional news publishers.A new All About Cookies survey of 1,000 U.S. adults finds only 24% of viewers pay attention to streaming ads, and 67% would prefer a single longer ad break at the top of a show over multiple midroll interruptions.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

A look at how audiences that consume media differently feel about AI generated voices.Sounds Profitable's new Audio Primes study reveals that podcast listeners who consume at least 75% of their content through audio are significantly more resistant to AI-generated voices than their video-first counterparts, with 48% of Audio Primes saying they would be less likely to continue listening compared to only 40% of Video Primes. The research, drawn from The Podcast Landscape 2025, introduces a new mindset-based framework for understanding podcast audiences and its implications for creators, platforms, and podcast advertisers.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisClick here to register for the Audio Primes webinar.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Magellan AI has published a case study with American Public Media showing how podcast attribution data transformed APM's advertiser conversations and helped the organization achieve its strongest digital sales performance since 2021. The study makes the case for treating podcasts and streaming audio as measurable, accountable components of the media mix rather than discretionary brand-spend.Ad Results Media has released a new Playbook on navigating the Netflix video podcast migration, examining how the shift to video and streaming distribution is creating both opportunities and measurement challenges for brands. The playbook addresses ad buying strategies, cross-platform tracking, and how to measure reach and frequency across RSS and streaming ecosystems.Syracuse University is launching a Center for the Creator Economy this fall, offering education, research, industry partnerships, and an accredited minor focused on digital content creation and entrepreneurship. The announcement comes as IAB data puts the U.S. creator workforce at more than 1.5 million full-time equivalents — surpassing the number of licensed physicians and active lawyers.Signal Hill Insights has announced Audio On the Move, Canada's first holistic share-of-audio research study, tracking how and when Canadians listen across digital audio, radio, streaming, satellite, podcasting, and emerging platforms. Pattison Media and Spotify have signed on as inaugural subscribers, with the first edition expected in late spring 2026.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:The podcast industry is in another M&A cycle, but today's buyers look different from those who drove acquisitions in the pre-pandemic era. Rather than investing in podcasting infrastructure, companies like OpenAI, The Chernin Group, and Fox Entertainment are acquiring shows that have proven they can leverage their audiences — reflecting the medium's shift from speculative asset to established media property.Oxford Road's ORBIT data shows 80% of the top 15 performing podcasts for advertisers in March 2026 were independent shows, not network titles. Ben Robins argues that publishers and platforms best positioned for podcasting's next phase will be those who invest in polished content without sacrificing the niche specificity that makes podcasting work for advertisers.A podcast company called Light Knot Studios was found publishing AI-generated audio that cloned the names, artwork, and formats of more than 75 history podcasts, monetizing each with programmatic ads through RSS.com's PAID platform. Podcast lawyer Lindsay Bowen identified potential grounds for copyright and trademark infringement suits, and flagged that hosting platforms and directories without a registered DMCA agent cannot claim safe harbor protections.AdsWizz, Barometer, and NPR are hosting a webinar on April 23 to address the misconception that podcasting lacks scale for brand advertisers. Presenters will cover how content filtering and evaluation practices are driving that perception, and what a more audio-native approach to targeting looks like in practice.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Register for Audio Primes: The People Who Listen to Podcasts.The Podcast Show London 2026 will take place May 20 and 21 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, with Global and iHeartPodcasts returning as headline partners. Global's presence will spotlight its newly launched Global Studios division, focused on premium podcast and digital content creation.Samba TV has published its first Netflix Podcast Ranker, revealing that 13% of U.S. Netflix households watched at least one minute of a podcast in Q1 2026. The Breakfast Club led all shows with over 40% of total views, followed by Bridgerton: The Official Podcast at 16%.Amplifi Media founder and CEO Steven Goldstein argues that the podcast industry has been optimizing for downloads, a distribution metric that does not reliably measure actual listening or audience engagement.Digiday's Michael Bürgi reports on how media buyers responded to this year's NewFronts, where improved measurement capabilities were the standout positive trend. Heading into upfront negotiations, buyers are demanding flexibility in long-term commitments, while automotive and spirits budgets face slight downward pressure.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting...Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta reflects on the company's two-day Business of Podcasting space at Advertising Week Europe, where nearly 450 attendees gathered across 16 panels, arguing that podcasting has earned its place in mainstream media conversations and must now show up in the rooms where broader advertising decisions are made.Sport Social Podcast Network's Jim Salveson makes the case for sports podcasting as a commercial and editorial extension of live broadcasting, citing Edison Research data showing that sports podcast listeners are significantly more likely than general sports fans to follow an athlete after a trade.YouTube has announced several new TV-focused features, including Stations, a 24/7 programming channel format debuting with Coachella coverage, a voice-controlled AI chatbot called Ask coming to smart TVs, and TV Companion, a phone-based tool that lets viewers interact with content without taking their eyes off the screen.Independent Australian podcast What I Survived, from Queensland-based Mashed Pumpkin Productions, reached #31 on the U.S. Apple Podcasts overall chart and #1 in Documentary within its first 47 days, with host Jack Laurence crediting an Apple Podcasts editorial homepage feature for driving over 440,000 downloads.OpenAI has acquired Silicon Valley tech podcast TBPN in a deal the Financial Times values in the low hundreds of millions of dollars, making the show ad-free while including an editorial independence covenant, with commentators debating whether the real asset was the podcast itself or the talent behind it.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting...Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta reports that the Business of Podcasting programming track at Advertising Week Europe drew nearly 450 unique attendees across 16 panels, a signal that mainstream advertisers are actively seeking out podcasting expertise on their own. Barletta argues that podcasting's reach, with 55% of Americans listening monthly per Sounds Profitable's Podcast Landscape 2025 report, now warrants a commensurate presence in the rooms where major advertising decisions are made.American Public Media and Streamguys have partnered to launch the Inform Media Network, a new digital audio advertising marketplace connecting 30 or more public media and prestige audio publishers with national advertisers. The network aggregates more than 55 million monthly impressions and more than six million unique listeners across podcast and livestream inventory.Spotify has rolled out new video control settings as of April 9, 2026, giving Family Plan managers the ability to toggle video content on or off for any plan member and allowing all subscribers to disable music videos, Canvas looping visuals, and other video formats directly within the app.Patreon's podcast category generated $629 million in revenue in 2025, a 33% year-over-year increase, driven by more than 47,000 podcaster accounts and 7.6 million paid memberships. Top creators like Joe Budden reportedly average $1 million in monthly income through the platform from the Joe Budden Network's 70,000 or more subscribers.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.Updated todo

With podcasting having arrived at the mainstream, it’s time for the industry to be in the rooms where decisions are made.Podcasting has reached mainstream status, with 55% of Americans consuming a podcast monthly, and industry leaders are now expanding their presence beyond podcast-specific events into major global advertising and marketing conferences. Sounds Profitable is driving this growth by placing podcasting content at high-profile venues like SXSW, Advertising Week Europe, and Cannes Lions to attract brand strategists, media buyers, and agency decision-makers. A key opportunity remains the roughly 25% of American adults who have never tried podcasting, representing a significant untapped audience for podcast content creators and advertisers.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisClick here to register for the Audio Primes webinar.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Soros Fund Management is leading an investment round in MeidasTouch Network, the progressive media company behind The MeidasTouch Podcast. The move follows prior Soros investments in podcast-related companies including Audacy and Crooked Media.Marketing agency Right Side Up has published a newsletter revisiting its generative engine optimization (GEO) framework, outlining how brands can improve their visibility in AI-generated answers from tools like ChatGPT and Google. The framework emphasizes content structure, technical foundations, and third-party brand mentions across the web.Independent Australian podcast network Mashed Pumpkin Productions saw its show What I Survived reach number 31 on the overall U.S. Apple Podcasts chart, number one in Documentary Podcasts, and number four in Society and Culture within 47 days of launch. Host Jack Laurence credits an Apple Podcasts editorial feature on the platform's U.S. homepage for driving over 440,000 cumulative downloads.An anonymous podcast producer who worked on multiple hit narrative shows during the podcast boom recounts being laid off from two major companies as narrative podcast opportunities contracted around 2023. Published in The Hollywood Reporter, the piece examines the high cost of narrative podcast production and the industry's shift toward celebrity and influencer-hosted formats.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube is rolling out new TV features including Stations (a FAST-style 24/7 channel hub), TV Companion (phone-to-TV interactivity), and voice-enabled Ask chatbot support on smart TVs.Despite sports podcasting's success in the U.S., sports podcasts barely register in Latin America's Spotify charts, but Genuina Media's David R. González sees the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a major growth opportunity for LatAm sports podcasters and advertisers.Spotify has launched a beta Prompted Playlist feature for podcasts, letting Premium users in seven markets use generative AI to build and auto-update personalized podcast playlists.Podcast strategist Steve Raizes shares how two structural changes, cold opens and episode callbacks, helped a struggling show achieve a 264% increase in cumulative downloads and views.Audacy is cutting jobs across its broadcast radio division and consolidating around a regional leadership structure, with the podcasting side of the business appearing unaffected.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: Red Seat Ventures has launched Speakeasy, an all-in-one podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform supporting RSS, HLS, and video formats. CEO Chris Balfe says the platform addresses the growing complexity of podcast distribution beyond the traditional RSS feed.Sports podcast audiences show stronger athlete loyalty than general sports fans, with 76% of sports podcast listeners continuing to follow traded athletes versus 51% of general fans, per Edison Research. Sport Social Podcast Network Director of Sport Jim Salveson argues broadcasters can use podcasting to reach younger, mobile-first, and international audiences.OpenAI has acquired Silicon Valley tech podcast TBPN in a deal valued in the low hundreds of millions of dollars, with an editorial independence covenant and an ad-free model in place. Industry observers are divided on whether the acquisition makes financial sense or represents a long-term investment in AI-friendly media reach.The TuneIn broadcaster portal has reopened after closing in February 2024, following Stingray Group's acquisition of the platform in November 2025. TuneIn remains a key podcast directory for listeners on Tesla and Sonos, making it a worthwhile submission target for podcast publishers.Spotify's new "Sound-On Era" report, developed with Bold Insight and based on surveys of 5,000 consumers and 105 media buyers across multiple markets, finds 86% of Spotify users mute other platforms to listen to audio. The report positions audio advertising as a high-recall, high-attention alternative to digital and social video ads, with 75% of consumers reporting stronger memory of audio content over social media content.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:beehiiv has launched podcast hosting and monetization, letting newsletter creators consolidate their audio content into one platform with IAB compliant infrastructure and built-in growth tools.New Sounds Profitable research reveals that podcast discovery relies heavily on algorithmic amplification, leaving moderate and centrist audiences without the institutional infrastructure needed to bring them into the medium.A 2025 survey shows podcast listenership in Japan has grown to 18.2%, with the highest adoption among Gen Z listeners aged 15 to 19 and strong representation among corporate decision-makers.Industry analyst Ben Robins argues that podcast advertising effectiveness data is being hoarded by major players, limiting market growth at a time when audio connection metrics could attract more ad spend.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Newsletter and blogging platform beehiiv has launched integrated podcast hosting and monetization services, with CEO Tyler Denk positioning podcasts as a core product pillar alongside its newsletter tools and IAB certification now underway.Sounds Profitable's new research report The Last Quarter finds that the 25% of Americans who have never listened to a podcast skew politically centrist, a group that algorithmically driven platforms are poorly designed to reach.Spotify's programmatic advertising platform SAX grew its monthly active advertiser count 222% year-over-year since its April 2025 launch, though media buyers say host-read podcast advertising still favors direct deals over programmatic buying.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Ben Robins shares his takeaways from Advertising Week Europe, arguing the podcast advertising industry is data-rich but insight poor. Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster will debut the 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study at The Podcast Show London in May.Spotify has launched interactive carousel ads and branded playlist takeovers for advertisers, adding A/B testing and automated bidding to its Ads Manager platform.A federal judge has issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration's executive order cutting federal funding for NPR and PBS, though the operational impact remains uncertain as an appeal is expected.Podcast brands get into the April Fools' spirit: Noiser, Airship, and Magellan AI turn a History Daily episode into a 1572-themed ad experiment, while Headliner announces "Full Circle," a tool that converts video back into video.Podnews is accepting submissions for its fifth annual podcast platform report card through April 30, with results to be presented at The Podcast Show London in May.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

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.Why do politically moderate and center-right Americans make up a disproportionate share of podcast holdouts, even as right-leaning shows dominate the charts? Data from The Last Quarter reveals that the gap isn't about ideology or content, but about discovery architecture: the platforms conservative audiences rely on surface content algorithmically, while podcasting demands initiative. The real problem isn't a content gap but a distribution problem that leaves center-right listeners with no clear on-ramp to the medium.Written by Tom WebsterEdited and narrated by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisClick here to register for the Audio Primes webinar.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

This week in the business of podcasting: Beehiiv Enters Podcasting: Newsletter platform Beehiiv is quietly recruiting independent podcasters from Substack to join its upcoming podcast program, with a full launch expected this week. Podnews Weekly Review will feature an exclusive interview with Beehiiv CEO Tyler Denk this Friday.JAR Podcast Solutions Launches JAR Replay: JAR Replay is a new podcast audience retargeting tool that uses listening signals to serve Visual Audio ads to recent podcast listeners in premium mobile environments. The product lets branded podcasts stay ad-free while still monetizing audiences post-listen at a $12 CPM, including ad production.IAB Identifies Ad Fragmentation as Top Barrier to Video Ad Growth: IAB CEO David Cohen says streaming, connected TV, social video, and creator content have converged for consumers, but ad buying remains fragmented across platforms. The IAB is pushing for standardized frameworks across key categories in 2025, with creator-driven content measurement and sales being the most relevant development for podcast advertising growth.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting: Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW 2026 recordings are now live: The official Podcast Movement YouTube channel has published a playlist of 25 session videos, ranging from 10-minute Discovery Track talks to full 50-minute panels.Japan podcast listenership is growing, especially among younger audiences: An annual survey by Otonal and The Asahi Shimbun found national podcast consumption reached 18.2% in 2025, with 15-19-year-olds hitting 40.5% usage. Podcast listeners also over-index as corporate decision-makers, ranking second among seven major media types.HLS video podcast adoption tracker launches on Livewire Labs: Researcher John Spurlock is tracking HTTP Live Streaming video podcasts on Apple Podcasts, identifying 78 shows and 1,070 episodes as of March 29, with detailed data on hosting platforms, codecs, and video formats.IAB NewFronts 2026 signals a shift toward always-on ad buying: Ad Results Media reports that traditional upfront tentpole buys are fading as connected TV and creator-led media become ongoing investments, with NewFronts moving earlier in the year to reflect the new buying landscape.Versant is reportedly pursuing Vox Media's podcast network: The CNBC and MS NOW parent company is in talks to acquire Vox Media's podcast business, aligning with CEO Mark Lazarus's goal to diversify revenue away from pay-TV and expand Versant's existing audio footprint.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Apple launched its new HLS video experience for Apple Podcasts with the iOS 26.4 update, bringing full video podcast support to iPhones — with hosting platforms Podspace, Riverside, Ausha, and Firstory joining the growing list of supported services.Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster debuts new research on podcasting's "last quarter" — the 25% of American adults who have never listened to a podcast — revealing a Spanish-language opportunity, a word-of-mouth "Bubble Problem," and a case for leading promotional efforts with topics over technology on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.Spotify laid off 15 employees in its podcast group on March 23, primarily from The Ringer and Spotify Studios, with the company describing the cuts as an alignment move rather than cost-cutting.YouTube has rebranded its BrandConnect creator monetization tool as Creator Partnerships, adding a Gemini-powered suite of influencer matching and campaign management features.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple Podcasts Video Launch: Apple released iOS 18.4 with HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) support for Apple Podcasts video, with 48 podcasts available at launch including 31 hosted on Acast, though macOS and Apple TV support is not yet available.FIFA World Cup 2026 Podcast Advertising Opportunity: With $10.5 billion in incremental global ad spend forecast during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter, brands are expanding beyond live match broadcasts into companion media like sports podcasts, creating a major growth opportunity for podcast advertising revenue.Audio Advertising Spend Gap Study: Audion and WPP Media released a French-market study revealing that audio accounts for 34% of media consumption time but only 6% of advertising revenue, highlighting a significant audio advertising spend gap similar to trends seen in the U.S. market.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting...Podcast Audience Growth & Non-Listener Research: Tom Webster's new Podcast Landscape data reveals that the 25% of U.S. adults who have never listened to a podcast are best reached via YouTube and Facebook, and respond better to topic-driven messaging than format or technology-focused promotion.Apple Podcasts HLS Video Distribution Update: Apple's iOS 26.4 update expands HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video podcast support, adding hosting platforms Podspace, Riverside, Ausha, and Firstory to its growing list of approved Apple Podcasts distribution partners.Podcast Awards & Creator Recognition: As digital creators push for mainstream recognition alongside Hollywood talent, the podcast industry continues to build its own awards ecosystem — including The Ambies, the iHeartPodcast Awards, and the newly launched Indie Podcast and Creator Awards, debuted at Podcast Movement Evolutions during SXSW 2026.Content Strategy & Discoverability in Podcasting: Steve Raizes argues in his new Media, Built newsletter that great podcast content must be "built to travel" — integrating marketing and communication strategy from creation to distribution in order to drive audience growth and reach.Marketing Podcast Awards & Industry Recognition: The Marketing Podcast Network has launched the MPN Awards, an annual awards show celebrating top marketing podcasts available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with nominations open through April 30 and a livestream ceremony planned for June.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Click here to read the report. A look at who makes up the 25% of U.S. adults who have never consumed a podcast. Tom Webster examines the 25% of U.S. adults who have never listened to a podcast, drawing on data from a 5,000-person Podcast Landscape study. The holdouts skew older, female, and lower-income, with key barriers including lack of awareness, format misperceptions, and limited word-of-mouth in homogeneous communities. Webster identifies actionable strategies for podcast discovery and audience growth, including YouTube outreach, Facebook marketing, radio advertising, and Spanish-language content development.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting...Spotify Layoffs Hit Podcast Division: Spotify cut 15 employees from its podcasting sector this week, with The Ringer and Spotify Studios bearing the brunt of the reductions — and New York, New York With John Jastremski being canceled. If the news has you thinking about your next move, the Sounds Profitable job board is free to use and updated daily with new podcast industry opportunities.Barometer and AdsWizz Bring Episode-Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising: SiriusXM Media has expanded its partnership with Barometer and AdsWizz to deliver episode-level brand suitability targeting across the SiriusXM Podcast Network. Unlike keyword-blocking tools built for text, Barometer's technology analyzes tone, sentiment, and contextual intent in spoken-word audio — giving advertisers more precise, nuanced brand safety controls across AudioServe, AudioMatic, and AudioMax.YouTube Launches AI-Powered Creator Partnerships Suite Ahead of IAB NewFronts: YouTube has unveiled Creator Partnerships, a Gemini-powered toolkit designed to help brands discover creators and automate campaign management from matchmaking through execution. Influencer marketing experts say the platform will be a particular boon for mid-funnel creators looking to grow brand deal revenue and expand their audience reach.Veteran Podcasters Are Calling It Quits as the Industry Matures: A wave of established podcasters — including The Try Guys, Barstool's KFC Radio, and Celebrity Memoir Book Club — have shut down their shows in the past year, citing everything from video podcast production burnout to intensifying competition with celebrity-hosted shows. To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: Podcasting Outperforms Other Media for Brand Reach and Attention – A new Acast and Nielsen survey of 3,500 UK adults found that adding podcast advertising to a media mix boosts brand consideration 33% more than radio alone, with podcast ads also outperforming live TV, BVOD, and streaming video in both campaign reach and audience credibility.Goalhanger Launches Creator Fund to Grow UK Podcast Talent – Gary Lineker's podcast production company Goalhanger is launching The Accelerator, a content creator fund offering select UK podcasters up to £10,000 in funding plus mentorship and production support, as the company continues scaling its hybrid revenue model of podcast advertising and premium subscriptions.Why Attention-Based Advertising Could Be Podcasting's Next Big Opportunity – Media strategist Kirby Grines argues that traditional reach-and-frequency advertising fails to account for audience attention quality, pointing to the rise of branded narrative content like microdramas as a model that podcast producers could adapt through affordable branded audio fiction to drive deeper listener engagement.4 Million Books Published in 2025 — So Why Do People Say There Are Too Many Podcasts? – New Bowker data shows book publishing surged 32.5% year-over-year in 2025, topping four million titles with zero cultural controversy, prompting podcast industry observers to push back on the tired "too many podcasts" narrative given that fewer than 208,000 new podcast feeds launched globally that same year.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting:Apple Podcasts announced new HLS video hosting partners at Podcast Movement Evolutions, including Transistor, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com and others. John Spurlock estimates the full iOS 26.4, including HLS video support, rollout should land between March 25 and March 30.Sounds Profitable Partner and Podcast Movement President Bryan Barletta recaps Evolutions' debut as a fully integrated SXSW event, highlighted by keynotes from Apple and YouTube, live recordings from Table Read, Scalable, and Broken Record, the inaugural Indie PaC Awards hosted by Killer Mike, and the iHeartPodcast Awards at ACL Live — with Podcast Movement already confirming a 2027 return to SXSW.YMH Studios is partnering with Magellan AI to make full multi-platform attribution free for all advertisers and agencies across its network. This includes audio, Spotify streaming, and YouTube video without minimum spend or category restrictions.Amazon Ads and Spotify have partnered to give Australian advertisers programmatic access to Spotify's audio and video inventory through Amazon DSP. IAB Australia has named the Future of Measurement a 2026 strategic priority, with intentions to announce findings at the MeasureUp conference in Sydney on September 2.A new Australian Communications and Media Authority report finds 52% of Australian adults consumed podcasts or non-music audio weekly via online services in 2025, up from 49% in 2022.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode of the Recap, click here. You can also subscribe to Sounds Profitable's newsletters, including the daily edition of The Download to get news straight to your inbox Monday through Thursday.

Today in the business of podcasting:• Podnews reports Apple Podcasts' HLS video update is expected to arrive with iOS 26.4, with a release candidate already posted. John Spurlock estimates a launch window of March 25 to March 30, greeting users with a splash screen highlighting the new video podcasting features.• A new Nielsen Audio Today report finds podcasts add 5.6% incremental reach on top of radio's 88.8% among 18- to 34-year-olds, yet Nielsen says marketers are still undervaluing podcast ROI despite performance comparable to TV and digital display.• Sounds Profitable Partner and Podcast Movement President Bryan Barletta reflects on Evolutions' debut as a fully integrated SXSW event, framing Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable as connective tissue providing the podcast industry with opportunity, research, and visibility within the wider media ecosystem.• IAB Australia has named the Future of Measurement a 2026 strategic focus area, launching an industry research initiative accepting participants across media owners, agencies, and brands ahead of the MeasureUp conference in Sydney on September 2.• California Attorney General Rob Bonta appeared on Scalable this week to discuss the ongoing social media addiction trial against Meta and YouTube, AI regulation, and the planned Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. A special episode filmed on location at Podcast Movement Evolutions during SXSW. To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Bryan Barletta reflects on Podcast Movement Evolutions’ first year at SXSW and what it means for the industry going forward.Podcast Movement Evolutions made its debut at SXSW in Austin, bringing the podcast industry to the center of the global creator economy conversation with keynotes from YouTube and Apple, live recordings, and top creators like Steven Bartlett, Tim Ferriss, and Hala Taha. From indie podcast awards to industry research reveals, the event proved that podcasting is driving the future of the creator industry — and Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement are the connective tissue making it all happen."Written by Bryan BarlettaEdited by Molly DeMillier and Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisLearn more about partnership with Sounds Profitable.Read the full Business of Podcasting stage session schedule for Advertising Week Europe here.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Amazon Ads and Spotify have partnered to give Australian advertisers programmatic access to Spotify's audio and video inventory through Amazon DSP, combining Amazon's shopping and streaming data with Spotify's 751 million monthly listeners for full-funnel campaign planning in a single solution.Tom Fox argues rural podcasters are positioned to fill the civic void left by shrinking public media, with local institutions like community banks, colleges, and small businesses having a genuine stake in supporting trusted local audio platforms beyond just buying ad space.Podcasting had a strong showing at SXSW 2026 with over 20 official sessions featuring voices like Kara Swisher, Scott Galloway, and Brené Brown, while highlights included Tiger Sisters explaining how they built Spotify's No. 1 business podcast from a kitchen-table show, TikTok and iHeartMedia announcing a new podcast network, and Rhett and Link discussing why they quietly ended Ear Biscuits.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Table Read, a fiction podcast featuring award-winning actors performing unproduced film and TV scripts, completed its first-ever live recording at Podcast Movement Evolutions last week. Jack Levy has a new essay reflecting on how consistency and execution can elevate something from a tool to a medium all of its own. AdsWizz's Dave Sosson makes the case that audio is the missing piece in CTV strategy, citing studies showing retail campaigns combining audio and CTV produced a 12-point lift in aided recall over CTV alone, and automotive dealership campaigns adding streaming audio to CTV saw a 21.8% average gain in local market share.Media consulting firm Madison and Wall has revised its 2026 U.S. ad spend forecast up to 8.1% growth year-over-year, with digital audio projected to grow 4%.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Apple Podcasts announced new HLS video hosting partners at Podcast Movement Evolutions, including Transistor, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com and others, and marked its first ever official appearance at a North American podcast conference with a keynote from executives Stacey Goers and Jake Shapiro.Podcast Movement confirmed Evolutions will return to SXSW in 2027, following a debut weekend that included keynotes from Apple Podcasts and YouTube, live performances from Andy Grammer, a Penn Badgley conversation, and the inaugural Indie PaC Awards hosted by Killer Mike.YouTube is launching a Top Podcasts Lineup giving advertisers bundled premium ad access across five content verticals: Sports, News, Comedy, True Crime, and Society & Culture.YMH Studios is partnering with Magellan AI to make full multi-platform attribution free for all advertisers and agencies running campaigns across its network, covering RSS audio, Spotify streaming, and YouTube without minimum spend or category restrictions.The Q1 2026 Performance Benchmark Report from Podscribe finds 79% of episodic campaigns now include a simulcast video component, with YouTube accounting for nearly two-thirds of all video podcast impressions, and national advertisers combining podcasting and streaming audio reaching 85% of U.S. adults.Click here to find links to every story covered and subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download.

This week in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions has taken over SKYBOX on 6th at SXSW 2026 through Sunday, with no badge or ticket required, featuring live tapings tonight from Table Read, Scalable Podcast, and Broken Record with special guest Maya Hawke, and tomorrow night's Companion Presents: In Good Company event with Penn Badgley and a headliner set from Andy Grammer.Sounds Profitable founder Bryan Barletta argues Apple Podcasts' HLS announcement returns control to hosting platforms and opens the door for rights holders across music, film, and other industries to adopt RSS-inspired distribution.Bumper's Jonas Woost shares data built from over 100,000 podcast episode listener retention data. He finds listeners complete 76% of an average podcast episode, with retention trending downward the longer an episode lasts.A new Acast Podcast Pulse report from Singapore finds 97% of local listeners say a podcast has changed their mind on a topic versus a global median of 84%, with podcasters rating higher on credibility than journalists, Youtubers, and social-first talent.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode of the Recap, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta argues the big picture of Apple Podcasts' HLS announcement. It's less about video podcasting and more about what happens when an open standard connects a public app to multiple distribution hubs, potentially opening the door for rights holders in other industries to consider similar RSS-inspired methods.A new Acast Podcast Pulse report from Singapore finds 97% of local listeners say a podcast has changed their mind on a topic versus a global median of 84%, with 52% rating podcasters more credible than journalists and 69% saying they've considered a brand for the first time because of a podcast.An Axios op-ed argues the impression that Americans are more divided than ever is being cast through the lens of overly-online social media users. An article that happens to be relevant to A.J. Feliciano's Companion panel at Podcast Movement Evolutions this week.Financial research firm MoffettNathanson estimates YouTube hit $62 billion in 2025 revenue, edging out Disney's $60.9 billion and making it the world's largest media company, with the platform also crossing $100 billion paid out to creators since 2021.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions kicks off this Friday at SKYBOX on 6th in Austin, a free three-day event with 400-person capacity plus overflow, featuring curated panels, live performances (inclduing live Scalable podcast recording on Friday at 7:15 p.m).Libsyn reports 2025 as a record year for creator payouts, with ad impressions up 46% year over year to 4.5 billion and monetizing creators growing more than 2.5 times after the platform removed download minimums for Automatic Podcast Ads.PAVE Studios founder Max Cutler argues Netflix should use its $2.8 billion Paramount windfall to invest in habitual, returning-audience content like video podcasts and creator licensing rather than one-time prestige releases.Publish Press announces The Hollywood Creator Summit on May 28 in Los Angeles, featuring on-stage conversations with creators and industry leaders alongside a live episode of The Colin and Samir Show.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Let’s look at what upgrading video on Apple Podcasts means for podcasting as an industry.Apple Podcasts is rolling out support for HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). Bryan Barletta breaks down what HLS actually is, how it handles video, audio, and dynamic ad delivery through HLS Interstitials, and what it means to have early buy-in from hosting platforms like  Acast, Amazon’s ART19, Triton’s Omny Studio, and SiriusXM Media. Written by Bryan BarlettaEdited by Molly DeMillier, Tom Webster, and Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podbean has pulled its dynamic ad insertion tool PodAds from the U.K., Europe, and EEA, citing evolving global privacy regulations and a shift in internal product focus.Bumper's Jonas Woost shares data from over 100,000 podcast episodes, showing audiences on Apple Podcasts and Spotify listen to 76% of a podcast episode on average. Elis James and John Robins is set to be the first BBC podcast to accept outside sponsorship now that it is no longer funded with license fees. Also, BBC Studios taps Bauer Media Audio as its exclusive podcast ad sales partner across seven European markets.Creator-first studio Companion announces its first slate of 14 audio and video podcasts, previewing the lineup at Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW on March 14 with live performances and a headlining set from Andy Grammer.Voxtopica has extended the discounted submission deadline for The Timbre Awards to March 20, with the final deadline on April 17 and winners announced June 15.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Digiday examines long-form creator content's push onto television screens, highlighting Spotter's New York upfront event and moves by Audiochuck and Universal's UCP to develop podcast IP for TV — with brands still needing convincing to shift ad budgets to match audience engagement.RSS.com co-founder Alberto Betella argues the real issue with AI in podcasting is opacity, not the tools themselves, launching an AI disclosure checkbox in RSS.com's episode uploader and the interactive resource shouldidisclose.ai to help podcasters navigate transparency.Cumulus Media filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas, with a restructuring deal that would eliminate approximately $600 million in debt by transferring ownership to lenders while CEO Mary Berner says operations and staffing will remain unaffected.Ashley Carman reports that Netflix's exclusive podcast deals include clip restrictions on third-party platforms like YouTube, with early data showing Spittin' Chiclets and 3 & Out with John Middlekauff both seeing significant year-over-year drops in subscriber growth since moving to Netflix.Variety looks at how true crime podcasts are monetizing parasocial listener relationships, with major brands like Hyundai now sponsoring legacy shows like My Favorite Murder as the genre's audience reach extends well beyond its true crime podcast roots.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW adds Penn Badgley and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin to its lineup, with Oxford Road and founding sponsor Libsyn hosting the inaugural Indie PaC Awards on Sunday, and Spotify marking its 20th birthday with keynotes and a star-studded concert hosted at Stubb's BBQ.Tom Webster argues that coverage of a new Edison Research Share of Ear data point - in which spoke-word daily consumption percentage for podcasting passes AM/FM radio for the first time since Share of Ear started - misses the caveat that Share of Ear isn't taking spoken word video podcasts primarily watched by audiences into account. Audible launches a new $8.99 Standard membership tier with a streaming-focused model, folding former Wondery+ subscriber perks into Audible Originals (such as ad-free listening, early access, and exclusive podcasts).SAG-AFTRA is expanding its podcast contract coverage to include more interview and narrative formats as video podcasting grows. Sue-Anne Morrow also addresses the notion SAG-AFTRA actors are taking a pay cut if they choose video podcasting over daytime TV. To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster pushes back on the idea podcasting has "finally" caught AM/FM radio in spoken-word listening share, arguing the milestone already passed. Share of Ear's audio-focused methodology leaves out the many hours of spoke-word consumed as podcasts people primarily watch.Frequency and Flightpath announce a partnership integrating Flightpath's predictive inventory planning into Frequency's Premium Publisher Network, aiming to replace reactive ad selling with a scalable, multi-network monetization model.Radiodays North America announces its 2026 speaker lineup ahead of its May 5–6 Toronto event, featuring CRTC Broadcasting VP Scott Shortliffe, Radiolab producer Simon Adler, and Tom Webster.Audible reveals its first major podcast slate since absorbing Wondery, bringing new seasons of Dr. Death and Over My Dead Body, a new investigative series called OnlyFantasy, and the migration of former Wondery titles like Dying for Sex and Hysterical to the platform.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting:Amazon builds on its audio strategy with a new $8.99 Audible Standard tier focused on streaming rather than ownership, folding Wondery+ into Audible Originals with ad-free content, exclusive shows, and early-access perks.Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW adds Penn Badgley and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin to next week's lineup, alongside Apple Podcasts spotlighting its new HLS-powered video podcasting upgrade.Ampere Analysis finds 20% of global internet users watched video podcasts or clips in Q3 2025, with YouTube leading engagement and the format showing momentum to pull weekly screen time away from traditional TV and mid-tier streaming.Creator talent agencies are expanding beyond deal-making into full-service multi-platform operators, with M&A in the creator economy growing 17.4% year-over-year in 2025 — a signal that diversification across podcasting, film, gaming, and consumer products is now standard strategy.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

One caveat to charting spoken word podcasting against radio: spoken word isn’t confined to audio. Edison Research's Share of Ear data shows podcasting tied with AM/FM radio at 40% of spoken-word listening — but Tom Webster argues podcasting already passed radio when you account for the millions watching video podcasts on YouTube that audio-only measurement can't see. The real story isn't podcasting catching radio; it's podcasting expanding the spoken-word market entirely, drawing new audiences through video discovery rather than converting talk radio listeners.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Magellan AI integrates Nielsen DMA data into its podcast attribution platform, giving advertisers local market measurement across 210 standardized U.S. media markets.Podcast Show London 2026 has published its full speaker lineup ahead of the May 20–21 event at Islington's Business Design Centre, with Sounds Profitable returning as a stage sponsor and hosting a pre-show happy hour May 19th.IAB Australia's 2026 Audio Advertising State of the Nation report finds 69% of surveyed ad buyers plan to increase podcast ad investment, with performance advertising expected to outpace brand advertising spend this year.Lower Street's Jackie Lamport makes the case that audio podcast introduction methods don't work on YouTube, where your retention lives or dies in the first 30 seconds. She offers podcasters a free intro scorecard to optimize their shows for the platform's algorithm.Kirby Grines argues that the rise of microdramas and mobile-native viewing is redistributing audience attention in ways that reward the same cadence and consistency that drive podcast promotional growth on video platforms — particularly short-form vertical clips.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

Today in the business of podcasting: Ashley Carman's recap of the Bloomberg Podcast Business Summit finds video now essential to podcast strategy, with executives like Kara Swisher and Goalhanger's Jack Davenport treating YouTube presence as a baseline requirement for new and existing shows.IAB Australia's 2025 internet advertising report shows the country's digital ad market hit $18.4 billion AUD, with podcasting outpacing streaming audio in a segment that grew 8.2% year-over-year.Oxford Road and founding sponsor Libsyn launch the Indie Podcasters and Creator Awards, exclusively for independent podcasters, with the inaugural ceremony set for March 15th at Evolutions by Podcast Movement.Audion co-founder Arthur Larrey argues audio advertising must adopt performance marketing metrics (addressable scale, third-party measurement, in-flight optimization, and dynamic creative) to compete for budgets currently flowing to CTV and social.The Hollywood Reporter covers how SAG-AFTRA is expanding its podcast contracts to cover more interview and narrative formats as video podcast growth raises questions about whether the format constitutes daytime talk television.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.

This week in the business of podcasting: Podcast Movement officially announces New York venue and dates, Dan Misener looks at podcast ad retention, Tom Webster discusses the power of podcasting's co-consumption audience, and winners of The Ambies 2026. Click here to find every article and link discussed in today's episode post on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: the 2026 edition of the Podscape is now live, Podcast Movement is coming to New York City in mid-September, what does "two people on a couch" discoverability look like for audio podcasting, and the deadline to submit for The Podcast Show London is TOMORROW.Click here for the full newsletter on SoundsProfitable.com, including every link discussed.

Today in the business of podcasting: Digiday looks at how much of podcasting's audience exclusively consumes video, Ambies 2026 winners, podcasts finally overtake AM/FM radio in daily spoken word share of ear from Edison Research, and CMOs share their stressors when it comes to spend. Click here for the website version of today's newsletter with every link mentioned in the podcast.

The language used to describe podcast behavior matters, and some of it needs updating.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Jay Nachlis on Apple Podcasts adding video, Steven Goldstein on the mentality needed for video podcasting, Australian podcast advertising benchmarks for Q4 2025, and a look at official TV companion podcasts.Click here for the website version of today's newsletter with every link mentioned in the podcast.

Today in the business of podcasting: Bumper shows how existing podcast analytics can indicate how many people are skipping ads (not as many as you'd think), LIONS Creators is moving to the beach for this year's Cannes Lions, Magellan AI has published January's top fifteen spenders in podcast advertising, and a discussion on how generative AI affects monetization for content creators.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.

This week in the business of podcasting: Apple announces HLS video podcast streaming with select hosting platforms, a roundup of stories from Sounds Profitable partners, Triton Digital has their new U.S. Podcast Report for the year, and a Charlotte Business Journal look at podcast advertising's local success stories.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.

Today in the business of podcasting: how Apple Podcasts embracing video widens one of the biggest on-ramps for podcasting, Triton Digital releases the 2025 U.S. Podcast Report, and a pitch for new standards to make programmatic tools report faster and with more clarity.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.

Today in the business of podcasting: SiriusXM is hosting a webinar tomorrow with a stacked cast from the measurement and research side of podcasting, Adam Bowie talks about the financial nuances of video podcasting with Apple Podcasts getting into the fray, Little Dot Studios has a white paper looking at YouTube video performance over the last three years, Podcast Movement has a fun graphic tool to make a social media image announcing you're heading to SXSW, Audion launches Audion AI, and today's Partner Highlight is Gretchen Smith Dubois!Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple is bringing HLS to Apple Podcasts, Netflix sports podcasts are being pirated on YouTube, Charlotte, NC brands are making B2B podcasts, and revisiting the Future of News report two years later. Click here to visit the web version of today's issue with links to every single thing covered.

This week in the business of podcasting: the political build of podcast audiences, public media's value in Minneapolis, Q4 earnings calls, and EU countries looking to ban kids from social media. Click here to visit the web version of today's issue with links to every single thing covered.

Today in the business of podcasting: the politics of podcast listenership, podcasting spectacle vs resonance, video podcasts' utility over talk TV, the Nigerian Podcast Index shows growth, and Channel 4 expands further into Spotify video distribution. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.comType

Today in the business of podcasting: the 69th New York Emmys accept video podcasts in certain categories, Q4 earnings calls from several big podcasting names, and a look at modernized contextual targeting that could help news publishers get ads again. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

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. Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: American scripted TV consolidates around safe bets, podcast advertising benchmarks for Q4 2024 at Magellan AI, and several EU countries look into banning minors from social media. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: a look at Minneapolis Public Radio's Q4 web traffic, AudioUK is championing a survey of the UK podcast industry, Bloomberg's podcast revenue is up 36% year over year, and a look at how Hollywood audiences are souring to AI as a plot device. Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website!

This week in the business of podcasting: How to run a fulfilling conference panel, audio works on shared time, IAB releases draft of AI scraping legislation, and problems facing the middle class of podcasting. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube's TV status, Adelicious becomes Audioboom, the BBC is closer to enriching four content creation companies, and Triton Digital has upgraded their podcast metrics offerings. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Tom has hosted a lot of panels, here’s his strategy to make them valuable and engaging for all involved. Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: what Super Bowl budgets could do with podcasting, NPR on smarter media allocation, Hulu signs their first video podcast licensing deal with Headgum, Sony patents AI-generated "podcasts," and The Golden Lobes are open for entries. Click here to find every link mentioned in today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: The IAB proposes new legislation protecting publishers from AI scraping, audio is not as visible in MMM as expected, January industry performance from Podscribe, indie podcasters are headed to the Radio France app, and the CBC is taking pitches for documentary podcast series ideas. Click here to find every link mentioned in today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: Nick Cicero talks about how audio fills existing time instead of fighting other hobbies, a look at a middle-class podcaster returning after seven years away, Google has C&D'd a company trying to measure them like TV, and Voxtopica has launched The Timbre Awards. Click here to read all the stories in full and find links to every article covered.

This week in the business of podcasting: CoHost's new State of Podcast Agencies, Podcast Movement Evolutions talent announced, podcasting's surprising "age of acquisition" potential, and The Ambies voting is live until February 5th. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.

Today in the business of podcasting: why mid-tier creators are the industry's next big growth option, equity at podcast conferences, Podcast Movement SXSW talent announced, podcast growth health checks with Bumper, and the IAB has a 2026 outlook for US ad spend.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.

Today in the business of podcasting: Signal Hill Insights points to podcasting's next big demographic to target, a look inside Goalhanger's video strategy, and 1 in 3 podcast creators have quit over time, let's talk about why (and how to help). Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.

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. Written by Dr. Byron Green-CalischEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Show London announces open submissions for panels and speakers, Podscribe discusses incrementality in their latest PPB, about half of UK and US consumer spending is driven by Gen Alpha, and CoHost published their annual State of Podcast Agencies report.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: audio becoming more vital to programmatic buys, Netflix CEO says they compete with YouTube in "every dimension", Substack launches a streaming app for CTV, and The Ambies voting is live until February 5th.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: what would you do if you really loved podcasting, Ambies 2026 nominees announced, pushback to "Podcasting is dead" and Goalhanger crosses 250k subscriber milestone. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: what would you do if you really loved podcasting, Ambies 2026 nominees announced, Netflix is rebuilding their app for vertical video scrolling, and Oxford Road takes a look at Health & Fitness podcast advertising data. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: more added to the SXSW 2026, On Air Fest expands their February lineup, a reaction to "podcasts are dead," and Netflix doubled their ad revenue last year.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: a Congressman just pitched a "creator bill of rights," Goalhanger crossed 250k paid subscribers, podcasting's 'liquid content era,' what's ahead for streaming TV in 2026, and the CBC's submission period is coming up fast. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Chatbots are changing PR’s place in the media ecosystem, let’s talk why.  Written by Molly DeMellierEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

This week in the business of podcasting: Deloitte's 2026 predictions for podcasting, seeking syndication with content creators, and SuperAwesome acquires Starglow Media. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: The Golden Globes debuted Best Podcast as a category, Spotify is looking out for podcasters, and iHeartRadio embraces open RSS with their new video ingestion protocol using Podcasting 2.0 framework. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Experimentation is healthy, but expansion at all costs includes the cost of ignoring the audience that built everything in the first place. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

This week in the business of podcasting: Remembering what makes podcasts great, GenAI's indie podcast blindspot, Spotify updated requirements for the Partner Program, why podcasting is a must-have for sports rights holders and brands, and a look at PodcastAdBlock.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Remembering what makes podcasts great, how AI is searching for podcasts, and Netflix video podcasts are generating articles. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify has lowered the barrier to entry for Spotify Partner Program, ADOPTER Media talks listening experience with podcast ads, and iHeartMedia upgrades their video podcast capabilities in their "creators first" initiative. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Jim Salveson on sports podcasting's powers, CMOs discuss 2026 priorities, podcasts on the living room screen, podcast live shows are pulling in the big bucks (and new audiences for venues), and Meta beefs up podcast promo capabilities on Threads. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the company stripping ads from podcasts for money, why AI doesn't recommend indie podcasts, video podcast production hiccups, 700 million hours of YouTube podcasts consumed on TVs in October, and all signal/no noise with music videos. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: podcasting's creator churn problem (and how to fix it), Oxford Road has had a couple studies this week, Netflix has been making deals, and Signal Hill Insights looks back at the year in research. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Netflix signs several Barstool Sports video podcasts, graphs showing why YouTube is at the top of the media watch-time pile, and a look back at audio data for the UK in 2025.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Podcasting has a creator churn problem that needs fixing. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: three big trends in podcasting data from this year, YouTube targets TV advertisers, Oxford Road and Podscribe find YouTube podcasts can be up to 25% worse at conversion than audio podcast ads, and podcasts formally get a seat on the UK Creative Industries Council. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: 2026 ad spend expectations, indies growing as a power in audio spend, and podcasting's new liquid content phase.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Oxford Road has a new ORBIT report about "OG" podcasts, new details surface about a reported upcoming iHeartPodcasts and Netflix deal, and why companies want "Storytellers" more and more these days.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: findings from The Creators 2025, why Blue Wire Podcasts has focused athletes, Chartable has finally shut down, and Spotify Wrapped for Advertisers is here.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: coverage of The Creators 2025, TikTok launches a video podcast tonight, and AudioXi looks at digital audio ad performance in a recent campaign. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable publishes The Creators study, Spotify Wrapped for Advertisers is here, why Blue Wire Podcasts favors athletes over influencer hosts, A/B testing for video titles has launched on YouTube, and The Washington Post is demoing an AI tool to generate "personal podcasts" recapping news. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Chartable formally shuts down, WPP raises their forecast for ad growth this year, and Tink Media publishes their annual Audio Delicacies list. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Talkhouse signs Laura Mayer as Head of Podcasts, CRA members capture 33% of Australia's digital ad market, the six podcasts nominated for a Golden Globe next year, Apple Podcasts names their Show of the Year, and how startups are finding podcast advertising in a world where big brands are buying ads too. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: "creator fade" is a problem for podcasting, avoiding video super-serving, Acast and Little Dot Studios team up for YouTube managed campaigns, and iHeartMedia launches a "guarenteed human" core branding message. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: 1/3rd of creators who try making podcasts leave the medium entirely, new Global Podcast Advertising Compass study, and the advertising industry looks forward to 2026. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Gen Z has a news trust problem, video podcasters might be missing the advantages of audio, and podcast ad loads.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Sign up for How (and Why) to Budget for Podcast Awards in 2026Churn is part of podcasting, but The Creators 2025 finds some creators are quitting more than just individual podcasts.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Show returns to London in Q1 2026, Acast and Little Dot Studios launch managed campaigns for YouTube podcasters in the UK, a look at opportunities for podcasting in 2026, and how podcast ads can best take advantage of big sale dates like Cyber Monday. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the Podglomerate x Sounds Profitable webinar about budgeting for podcast awards submissions is next Wednesday, Triton Digital announces their 2025 LATAM Audio Insights report, Spotify is reportedly going to raise Premium prices next year, Patreon users can now host free open RSS podcasts, iHeartMedia makes a "guaranteed human" promise, and Derek Thompson reflects on how everything is "television" now.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: upcoming webinars from Sounds Profitable, an influencer is ending her 5-figures-a-year podcast, a Bloomberg report on the companies advertising on conservative podcasts, and GQ interviews Bill Nighy for his new advice podcast. . Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: new IAB report on the creator economy, closing the sound gap, and how journalists can maximize connection with podcasting.. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: today is the last day to submit to the Podscape winter update, Tom Webster discusses building a brand to sell with your podcast, IAB Australia announces first 2026 event dates and survey, The Podglomerate presents 22 industry leaders looking back at the year and forward to the next, tracking how loyal your podcast audience is, and Eventbrite partners with Listener.com. . Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the Podscape deadline is fast approaching, a look at Happy Dad seltzer and what it means for podcast branding, is video creating two different types of podcasting, podcasts are a highlight of Defector's annual income report, and what to do when a podcast reaches critical advertising mass. . Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Submit to the Podscape (Deadline is end-of-day November 21st)A look at what happens when the creators themselves are the brand.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Eventbrite announces new integration with Listener.com, Apple Podcasts reveals the Top Podcasts lists of 2025, Oxford Road releases the November ORBIT report, and iHeartRadio rolls out short-form video clips in their app. . Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: The deadline to submit to The Podscape is this Friday, Cloudflare outage plays havok with the internet, The Hollywood Reporter and Spotify post the hour-long roundtable with Golden Globes Best Podcast nominees, IAB Australia confirms dates for early 2026 events and survey for Audio Advertising State of Nation, Digidal looks at the growing sophisitication of influencer marketing, and Local Files Club brings a new twist to audio fiction monetization. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: audio remains the primary mode of podcast consumption, how loyal is your podcast audience?, PAVE teams up with Katheryn Nicolai for special live event, the State of Podcast Business, and CRA announces CRA Audio ID. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Podcast Movement Evolutions is going to SXSW next year, Netflix is looking to have a big library of video podcasts, the Independent Podcaster Report, how YouTube podcasts can help with AI search, and USC report finds podcasting's diversity problem at the top of the pack. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: seven headlines from across the industry as we have another special "oops all quick hits" episode. The links to all of which can be found here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: USC study finds top podcasts skew male and white, Spotify and NMPA open a portal to license audiovisual rights, Lower Street and Podcast Marketing Academy publish a report on the cost of audio podcasting vs video, Netflix wants at least 50 video podcasts when they launch, and Threads beefs up how podcast links look on the platform. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Netflix is looking to make their own video podcasts, The Podcast Host has a survey of indie podcast creators, and Eric Nuzum pitches maybe podcasts don't need vocal credits at the end of episodes.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the Podscape is taking new submissions, Netflix is shopping around for video podcast licensing, Livewire Labs has a new list of top podcast hosts by episode share, SiriusXM's Q3 report is here, and local radio is getting into podcasts.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Netflix reportedly is looking to license SirusXM Media video podcasts, Podscribe has new industry rankings, Amazon grows their relationship with iHeartMedia, and brands are expected to decrease open web display ads by 30% in response to AI search overviews increasing zero-click searches. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple has automated chapters and links for podcasts coming, Spotify reports their Q3 earnings (Video podcasts are expensive), and Fox Entertainment acquires a romantic comedy audio fiction production house. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the Podscape is now taking submissions for the Winter edition, Netflix eyes licensing iHeartMedia podcasts, Acast publishes their Podcast Pulse study, Magellan AI has their quarterly benchmark report, and Robert Tuchman discusses AudienceLift's Publisher Data Transparency feature.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the top podcast hosting companies by episode volume, advertisers push holiday spend earlier this year, City Cast recalibrates, how local radio can leverage podcasting, and SiriusXM's Q3 earnings report.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Amazon has laid off some Audible corporate staff, brands are paying more for less efficient ads, Spotify brought video to AppleTV, the trend of business folks hosting B2B podcasts, and China now requires influencers be qualified to talk about certain topics authoritatively. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Triton Digital launches AdBuilder AI, YouTube Shorts earn more than longform videos per watch-hour, new report argues top-of-funnel brand awareness influences purchase decisions more than thought, and China now requires influencers be qualified in certain fields before speaking authoritatively on several topics. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Amazon has laid off some Audible corporate staff, IAB looking to define AI transparency for ads, Acast's CEO on video podcasting, how AI search is changing brand discovery, and Nielsen's summer data on audio listenership.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: ad tech survives on floating cash, Spotify revamps Apple TV app, Oxford Road finds why advertisers are holding back spend, and Netflix's Spotify choices lack comedy.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: brands are paying more for ads that do less, the rise of c-suite podcast hosts (and why), creators are seeing brand deals later and later into Q4 than usual, how to harness audio podcast clips well on social media, and YouTube's TV presence might be plateauing. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: content creators are taking over mainstream medai, a blindingly obvious opportunity for podcast revenue growth, how collaboration makes The Hidden Third possible, how Pantheon Media and Spooler came together, and the NRF finds Americans are gearing up to spend a healthy amount this holiday season. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube sponsorships are on the rise, BBC Sounds has their Q3 report, Audacy has a new State of Audio, Solar ran ads in a theater chain, and a new report finds e-commerce sites don't see much conversion from ChatGPT referals. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Adam Bowie on the Spotify Netflix deal, how YouTube's dynamic brand insertion tool could change upfronts in 2026, Netflix's Still Watching report, and 11 lessons for podcasting from SXSW Sydney.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Podcasting's reach has grown quite a bit over the years, but several fruitful demographics still remain untapped. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spooler and Pantheon discuss their collaboration, why Netflix should buy Spotify, a look at audio's discussion during Programmatic I/O in New York, what Joining a netowk does (and does not) do for your podcast, and the IAB is moving NewFront 2026 to earlier in the year.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the collaboration that goes into making The Hidden Third, using research as your podcast creative partner, legacy media's dismissive attitude towards content creators might be their downfall, media buyers are anxious about setting 2026 budgets given 2025's volatility, and U.S. consumers expect to spend upwards of $900 on average this holiday shopping season.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify distributes video podcasts to Netflix and Samsung TV Plus, LiveRead.io and Companion discuss their collaboration, NYU students discuss AI generated podcasts, and how advertisers were advertising to advertisers at Advertising Week New York.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify launches first FAST channel, ICE ads keep appearing on incongruous content in streaming services, advertisers advertise to advertisers at AWNY, an op-ed on South African podcast advertising, and the Signal Awards winners are now live. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

A breakdown of the simple psychology behind Dax Shepard’s interview style.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Measurement is having a moment at IAB Upfronts, MrBeast launches clipping company, the divide with content creators and AI, Netflix's $1,600 subscribers, SSRS acquires Edison Research. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify to air video podcasts on Netflix, LiveRead.io and Companion talk collaboration, students discuss AI generated podcasts, new EU law on political advertisements, and YouTube introduces AI powered multimodal measurement.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: what happened at Advertising Week New York, Tom Webster talks parasocial relationships with podcast AI ads, Spotify is now integrated into ChatGPT queries, and an interview with Greg Glenday. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Amazon is taking over Microsoft's DSP, Tom Webster on how AI could be used to leverage existing parasocial relationships, a conversation with Acast CEO Greg Glenday, why Poppies Studios is opening a creator studio near Burbank, and podcasts seem to be a popular lunch activity given listen-time trends. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: how creators are becoming power brokers at events like Advertising Week New York, Spotify talks the power of fandom, Twitch could be video podcasting's training ground, and iHeart might be making a play for Audioboom. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: ChatGPT debuts Spotify integration, Alex Cooper's new creative agency lands Google as first client, and reflections on what new generative AI video tools mean for content advertising.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Flightcast debuts, ICE ads appearing more places that one wouldn't expect, PodcastOne's fiscal Q2 report is live, 8 out of 10 people in Spain listen to podcasts regularly, and what videos AI search engines seem to flock to. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: the Podcast Movement Archive is now live, Spotify names co-CEOs as Ek steps down, how to block bad ads, IAB Podcast Upfront developments, rise of the creator conglomerates.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: Podcast Movement 2025 panels are now live for free on YouTube, the 83rd Golden Globes eligibility only includes the top 25 podcasts for Best Podcast, shifting ad dollars to podcasting increases reach without increasing cost, and Prebid has HTTP GET integration and server requirements up for public comment.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: PRX has acquired Soundrise, Spotify has a lot of new news, Rooster Teeth joins the growing community of creator-owned publishers, SoundStack launches HLS streaming capabilities, and coverage of Podcast Upfront influencer discussion.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Daniel Ek is stepping down from CEO of Spotify, YouTube creator conglomerate executives share intel, a tease of today's Podcast Upfront, what podcasts and milkshakes have in common, and a new podcast category comes to Tribeca Festival. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: tariffs are causing brands to back away from the US (something podcasting could leverage), a defense of journalism in podcasting, how press-shy stars are finding their way to podcasts, the IAB upgrades their podcast ad revenue outlook for podcasting, and Pew Research has new podcast audience data. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: podcasting is maturing and changing landscape, Canada's growing podcast audience (including new Canadians), how short-form clips might be cannibalizing podcast audiences, Amazon signs SiriusXM to AmazonDSP, and YouTube is soon to test out their own version of dynamic ad insertion for video. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: podcasting's maturation and what comes next, Canadian podcast listening continues to grow, and Heavyweights is back with a new season from Pushkin.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube is soon to demo their own version of DAI, the top 10% of Americans are doing almost half the spending, and the untapped potential of serial shortform dramas. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Amazon's DSP signs with SiriusXM for audio, explaining the SlopAds fraud scheme, and industry execs discuss the communication needs of premium content.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: social media clips pose potential cannibalization issue, Morrissey on saving the open web, podcasting exempt from UK "less healthy foods" advertising restrictions, marketers are squeamish about Q4, and how Nairobi is a Gen Z hotspot for Kenya's podcasting scene.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: the industry mourns Todd Cochrane, what's happening at IAB Podcast Upfront, what Amazon's Wondery downscaling means for creative value, and how creatives are using CTV deals to increase sponsorship rates.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of pdocasting: remembering Todd Cochrane, what creatives don't get about executives, Google's court filing suggests open web is in "rapid decline", what Amazon's turn away from narrative podcasting opens for the wider industry, and Locked On grows advertiser partnerships with Magellan AI.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: how Gen Z is shaping sports media, a look at YouTube's new culture and trends report, how transparency is influencing influencer sponsor pay, and On Air Fest/Work x Work announce a rebrand. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Let's take a moment to reflect.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: the industry mourns the loss of Todd Cochrane, IAB announces Podcast Upfront plans, and a reflection on how gen-AI might impact media's profit capabilities. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: creators are leveraging their CTV channels for higher-value sponsorships, Washington State's new digital ad sales tax isn't fully formed yet, NYT is shutting down their Audio app and moving everything over to News, Brazil's podcasting "sleeping giant" is no longer asleep, and AdImpact's predictions for 2026 midterm election ad spend. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Landscape 2025 report is here, big-name podcast live events prove lucrative, YouTube is at the top of the streaming pile for Nielsen's July version of the Media Distributor Gauge, and a look at podcasting's presence at Advertising Week NYC.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: a look at podcasting's presence at Advertising Week NYC, The Podcast Landscape 2025 is here, streaming investments are up but buyers drive a hard bagain, and the hidden costs of launching a YouTube presence. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: a lot of money is going to into creator marketing but not as much is making it to the creators, mainstream media is hungry for star podcast talent, and key findings from industry conversations at Podcast Movement Dallas. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Podcast live shows are a real money-maker, the creator economy has some measurement roadbumps to clear, talent managers are finding they can't redline contracts for influencers as much, Edison's top 25 podcasts quarterly report is here, and YouTube tops TV watch chart for sixth month running on Nielsen Media Distributior Gauge. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: The Emmys recognizing YouTube video podcasts as talk shows might save the Talk Show category, Tom Webster debuts data from The Podcast Landscape 2025, Chartable has an official death-date, and Spotify has a new messaging service in its app. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Chartable has a death-date, two surprising facts about platform consumption, Australia has a new advertising benchmark study, YouTube takes Hype global, and a look at a kids' podcast that got demonetized. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Trade Desk redefines SSPs as resellers, an interview with Ozen.fm co-founder Rodrigo Tigre, Taylor Swift set a Guinness World Record with her podcast album debut, and an interview with Casuals host Katie Nolan.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Essential news for today in the business of podcasting: YouTube has been quietly sharpening contrast on random YouTube Shorts, Spotify launches an in-app messaging feature, Acast launches Ads Academy, and a roundup of some webinars happening this week. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify's increasing Premium rate, the changing landscape of paid search placement, YouTube podcast elegibility would be a ticket to rejuvinating talk show award categories, and what Black culture means to modern brands. SiriusXM's survey.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable merges with Podcast Movement, podcast audiences want choice, a look at news podcast listener demographic changes, YouTube is making it easier for collaborator brand deals to give credit to everyone, and what podcasting left on the table during the Taylor Swift album announcement. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Standards Project shows how video can easily become a part of open RSS podcasting, Tom Webster debuts new audience data at Podcast Movement, and Signal Hill Insights has a new report on News podcast audiences. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: What likely depressed Spotify's ad business this past quarter, YouTube adds a collaborator-focused update to Shorts ads, and Wondercraft has a new conversation-based AI to quickly produce content. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement merge, Dentsu is opening a podcast network in India, and Billboard looks at the numbers for Taylor Swift's last podcast appearance. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: Taylor Swift debuted her new album's name and artwork on a podcast, a look at the resiliency of audio storytelling, Tom Webster reflects on the "video is everything" media narrative, an update to The Podscape is here, and Oxford Road has a new report on the lift provided by running ads on YouTube podcasts.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: the new Podscape is now here, Jen Moss writes about the decline of audio storytelling being exaggerated, Tom Webster reflects on podcasting's flexibility in the video age, and The Hollywood Reporter has a special issue just for podcasting.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Oxford Road has a new study on YouTube podcast ad lift, Taylor Swift's album announcement on a podcast is about to happen, marketers are finding podcasts ads rock (because they do), and the ad industry has an entry-level problem for college grads. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Despite what scary headlines may say, video and audio podcasting have a more symbiotic relationship than one might think.  Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: sports podcasting has grown so much video podcasts are starting to look like independent TV studios, podcasting remains a bright spot of iHeartMedia's earnings calls, Taylor Swift uses a podcast to announce her new album, and Procter & Gamble uses an audio fiction podcast to promote a new version of Downy. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Age of Audio to be screened in the Sounds Profitable lounge @ Podcast Movement, how B2B startups are using podcast ads to grow, regulatory bodies in the UK argue YouTube is so big its advertising should be regulated like a broadcaster, Seattle's audio drama scene is booming, and The Hill publishes an op-ed about how MeidasTouch Podcast is outpacing The Joe Rogan Experience. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: Amazon announces restructuring of Wondery, Spotify adds Audiobooks Plus add-on to US market, a look at podcasting's ability to plus-up social media ad buys, and a look back at what might have went wrong with Meghan Markle's podcasting efforts. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster on how podcasts compliment social media marketing campaigns, video podcasting grows at Audioboom, and industry responses to Wondery's restructuring. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: a reminder of the Sounds Profitable job board, Spotify launches Audiobooks Plus in the US, Theo Von interviews Hank Hill, and podcast advertising's ability to drive fans to action. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

New data from Sounds Profitable about how podcasts influence action could also suggest a symbiotic relationship with social media. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Ofcom has new UK listenership numbers, Spotify is raising its price in overseas markets, reactions to Bloomberg's Wondery closure article, and Xiaomi unveils new open source AI voice model for cars and appliances. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Wondery podcast studio is shutting down, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down, SiriusXM reports healthy podcast growth in Q2, and why most Americans were never particularly interested in Meghan Markle's podcasting efforts.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

This week in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable has a new study focusing on how podcast audiences drive action, Magellan AI has a chart of their top movers and shakers in the podcast ad world, Spotify wants fans to "Read like they Listen", audio fiction is becoming a strategic IP play for Hollywood talent, and Astronomer hired Maximum Effort to address the Coldplay situation.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Magellan AI has their June top spenders report, how influencer marketing has evolved over H1, TikTok to track audiences after they click out of the app, and podcasts are becoming more of a strategic IP play for actors.Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable has published a new report called Driving to Action, Andreessen Horowitz is looking to pay $400k to build out a podcast network, how broadcasters are adapting to young sports fans' desire for instant clips and highlights, and a Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids is the latest Scripps TV station to assign designated neighborhood reporters. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify promotes audiobook listening with music language, a Reddit thread on /r/podcasts strikes up conversations about egregious pre-rolls, why settle for likes when brands can foster love, and Google rebuffs Pew report claiming AI summary search results are causing a decrease in clicks to webpages. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment.

Today in the business of podcasting: Acast crosses milestone with the U.S. becoming their highest-contributing single podcast market, Maximum Effort produces a satirical comedy ad for Astronomer, and Adweek looks at the growth and hiring spree happening with smaller, indie ad agencies.Register now for our upcoming webinar!Find links to every article mentioned by going to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or click here to go direct to today's issue.

This week in the business of podcasting: Why Sharon Taylor argues podcasting is losing sight of its audio roots, what Tom Webster learned from the longest-running one-person show in Vegas, an interview with OpusClip's Louis Roberts, and what the death of TheLate Show means for podcasting. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's entry.

Today in the business of podcasting: a look at Spotify's "super-listeners", what Tom Webster learned from a magician that applies to podcasting, and the Just for Laughs festival is awarding a Podcast of the Year during this year's festival. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's entry.

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple details how they protect listener privacy in listening reports, Steve Goldsten writes on how podcasting has largely usurped the classic late-night talk show, Sharon Taylor argues why video podcasting narratives leave audio behind, and an interview with OpusClip's Louis Roberts. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to head straight to today's entry.

Audience engagement is the true magic that makes shows stick, who better to learn from than actual magicians?  Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Register for Sounds Profitable's next research webinar.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: what the death of The Late Show might say about linear TV in general, a look at Joe Budden's income streams, advertising awards race to tighten up generative AI guidelines after Cannes Lions, Spotify launches Audiobooks+ in European markets and Canada, and 6AM City seeks to automate local newsletter production with Good Daily's AI. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here for today's episode post.

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple Podcasts have new listener reports (and Dan Misener has a suggestion for a future one), The New York Times looks at the audience of multi-hour chat podcasts, an overlook at how public broadcasting is impacted by the Senate rescinding $1b in funding, Nicolle Wallce's MSNBC podcast now is aired on MSNBC proper, and Sounds Profitable won the 2025 Content Marketing Institute award for Best Data Storytelling.Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here for today's specific post.

This week in the business of podcasting. Audioboom has acquired Adelicious Selling the health & fitness podcast mindset Content creators shut out of the Emmys for a second year running The power of podcast search optimization Google is indexing Instagram Video podcasting and YouTube production is creating jobs in an otherwise hurting Hollywood. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: SiriusXM launches an ad-supported tier, Audioboom acquires Adelicious, how Kids & Family podcasts are perfect for the "nag factor", content creators once again left out of the Emmys, and Acast reports on a podcast campaign run for KFC in Australia. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: Google is now indexing Instagram, Ausha's Jennfer Han talks about a recent BBC Studios case study, Digiday looks at the creator industrial complex, and IAB Tech Lab is working on an intiative to monetize LLMs scraping content and give control back to publishers. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: Audioboom posts profit in Q2, CMOs seek stability and cutting out the middleman with content creator marketing, and the LA Times covers the burgeoning video production job market caused by the rise of YouTubers and video podcasting. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode.

This week in the business of podcasting:  There's preservationists who want to save the soul of podcasting, there's growth advocates that welcome the YouTubeifiaction of podcasts. Tom Webster argues both are right, and that binary might be hurting podcasting's ability to preserve its "soul."  The Podcast Host and Alitu CEO Colin Gray talks about the sort-of surprise that was seeing Alitu on stream during Apple's WWDC presentation, as well as his experiences over 15 years of working in podcasting.  YouTube is preparing a crackdown on mass-produced and repetitive video content with some wording updates to the guidelines that run their monetization program.  Spotify has ensured pod.link's future by giving the company back to Nathan Gathright, the original developer.  Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode.

Today in the business of podcasting: how podcasting can preserve its spark whiel growing into video, how Alityu ended up on screen at WWDC, YouTube's preparing to crack down on reuploaded/generated content, Jasmine Crockett addresses the need for media-savvy politicians for podcast appearances, and two major AI players working on their own browsers to challenge Google's search engine dominance. Find links to every article mentioned in the newsletter version of today's episode, which you can find right here in The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: The Streaming Wars looks at how "watch hours" can be turned into a valuable metric, The Podcast Exchange announces it is filing a Notion of Intention in Canadian bankruptcy court, Signal Hill Insights looks at three common reasons host-read ads fall short, and WPP issues profit warning as Q2 perfomance falls below expectations. Links to every article covered can be found in today's issue of the newsletter, available here on SoundsProfitable.com

Preservationists fear video stealing podcasting’s soul, growth advocates celebrate YouTube driving more to the medium. Thing is, they’re both right. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: podcasting is booming in India, Moonbug has a study into how parents consume ad-supported media, Spotify is giving pod.link back to its original developer, an explanation of the Spotify-approved generative AI "band" Velvet Sundown, and Triton Digital has a new annual study on Canadian podcast listner behavior. Find links to every article mentioned in today's episode post on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Amazon's DSP is selling Roku inventory, a case study of a podcast that lowered downloads but upped audience engagement, Spotify Jam has been updated in Android Auto, and YouTube calls for UK government to embrace content creators. Find links to every article mentioned in today's episode in this post on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: the power of Health & Wellness and Self-Improvement podcast consumers, how podcasting can cover demographic blind spots, lessons from Cannes Lions, and YouTube content coming to Spotify video. Links to every article mentioned can be found here on SoundsProfitable.com.

Today in the business of podcasting: unlocking the power of purpose-driven podcasting, how podcasting can cover demographic blind spots, non-podcast video on Spotify, and how indie agencies are competing with holding companies for creatoe measurement and ad tech. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube is a great place for podcasters to get visibility but not necessarily the perfect fit for every podcast, companies weigh in on the Spotify Partner Program after six months of operation, how under-represented sports are using advancements in tech to build their own streaming stack, what demographics are thriving in Germany's podcasting scene, and YouTube gives a peek behind the recommendation algorithm curtain. Find links to every article mentioned, including signup for tomorrow's webinar, right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: what podcasting gets right about attention, smart TVs rise the second-most-used device to consume podcasts, Crunchyroll has a new companion podcast produced with Sony, why there's a CPM slump growing in the CTV market, and AudioUK calls for UK government to enshrine podcasts. Find links to every article mentioned - and our webinar signup, here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: Influencers grab some spotlight at Cannes Lions, how news podcasts covered the breaking news of the U.S. bombing Iran over the weekend, two senators allege Spotify is using a loophole to pay lower music royalty rates, a coalition of Canadian podcasting companies band together to ask the government to consider podcasts CanCon, and Tubi is adding hundreds of episodes from YouTube creators under their Tubi for Creators project. Find links to every article mentioned, including the webinar signup, right here on SoundsProftiable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster looks at the power of live events hold for podcasting, we look at news coming out of Cannes Lions, and things are looking up for digital audio going forward in 2025.Register for the next Sounds Profitable webinar here. For links to every article I mentioned, visit the episodes' page on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: the under-utilized benefits of podcast live events, creators are in the conversation at Cannes, reducing risk as download popularity drops, Amazon has doubled their Prime Video ad over 18 months, and researched-back strategies for high-impact marketing as a nonprofit.Registration for the upcoming webinar can be found here. All of the links mentioned in today's episode can be found here on this episodes' page at SoundsProfitable.com.

Today in the business of podcasting: Audion and xpln.ai's report shows blending digital audio with in-video audio increrease brand recall and message recall, Reuters and the University of Oxford have  new study about news content, SiriusXM is partnering with Innovid for better MMM, CNN is rebranding CNN Audio to CNN Podcasts, and WhatsApp is adding ads for the first time.Catch every link mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks tracking pixels, Paul Riismandel talks YouTube's place in podcasting, Amazon adds private auctions to Prime Video, and Apple adds some new features to Apple Podcasts during WWDC. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

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.  Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in a special episode of The Download we're covering nine stories rapid-fire in an "Oops, all Quick Hits" spectactular. As a result, you can find links to every piece mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: a more nuanced look at YouTube's place in podcasting, Australia's ad market, the global ad forecast, and how Google AI is impacting search traffic. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Apple's announcements from WWDC, YouTube has backed off of removing videos via moderation, Acast boosted interestin EuroMillions with a podcast, and what the Creator's Caucus intends to do. Find links to everything mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable will be at Cannes Lions, Wondercraft co-founder Oskar Serrander explains Convo Mode using Convo Mode, Amazon adds private auctions to Prime Video, a look at how podcasting is doing on Patreon, coverage of Sounds Profitable's latest study, and Spotify lays off 15 podcasting positions at The Ringer and Spotify Studios.Find links to everything mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: Sound Profitable's latest study shows podcasting trust is at an all-time high, HLS could be the future of RSS, and NPR's CEO writes an open letter to Congress about funding for public media. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Why podcasting's advertising advantage is bigger than we thought, The Trade Desk looks at audio's effectiveness in Australia, and Gartner has a new annual CMO survey.Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

The latest edition of The Advertising Landscape shows podcasting's biggest fans are also paying a lot of attention. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Digiday covers Sounds Profitable's latest study, Spotify is prepping to add podcast inventory to their ad exchange, and NPR's CEO writes an open letter to Congress about public media funding. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

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. Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Standards Project pitches HLS streaming as the future of RSS, MarketingBrew looks at advertisers' hesitance to book True Crime, and Kast Media emergeces from bankruptcy proceedings at an operating profit. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: American Public Media puts successful Brains On! Universe podcasts up for sale, RadioInk covers Sounds Profitable reserch, IAB Australia finds podcast advertising continued growing in Q1, and JAR Audio explains how they sell podcast productions to decision-makers.Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: insights from Podcast Show London, Tom Webster looks at podcast advertising's (lack of) gender gap when it comes to recall, a roundup of upcoming webinars, and Ofcom has a new podcast survey for UK listenership. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks about the lack of a gender gap in podcast advertising recall, Spotify adds new discovery features for podcasts, Nielsen has their new annual marketing report, Horizon Media is opening up a public RFP, and Netflix has teamed up with BBC Studios for a new comedy podcast hosted by Jimmy Carr.Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: I've got a rundown of a ton of upcoming webinars, making the case for making the case for spoken word audio, and CMOs' outlook for the year after Q2. Find links to every article (and webinar) mentioned by heading here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: reflections from Podcast Show London, Spotify experienced a short outage, Adam Bowie looks at the new Ofcom podcast listener report, and Shopify tops the Q1 2025 top podcast ad spender chart for Australia. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

From an undisclosed hotel room in Islington, Bryan Barletta debuts the Ad-Sales Partner Ecosystem and shares how you can get your company involved.Find the full article, infographic, and submission link here on SoundsProfitable.com Written by Bryan Barletta Edited and Narrated by Gavin Gaddis

This week in the business of podcasting: a slew of international podcast listenership data, Spotify iOS users can now buy audiobooks direct, Amazon joins the Prebid party, and Sounds Profitable has a webinar coming up in a couple weeks. Find links to everything mentioned at the newsletter page, available here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Australian digital audio ad revenue is climbing, multiple new reports show UK podcast listenership continues to grow, and Amazon has officially enabled access to Prebid.Find links to every article mentioned right here with today's newsletter post on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: the IAB has open comments for their new Digital Advertising Agreements, Digiday covers the growing popularity of video podcasting with advertisers, Channel 4 is bringing their content to Spotify video podcasting, and Edison Research drops their quarterly UK top 25 podcast chart.You can find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify can now sell audiobooks directly in the iOS app, what the business of podcasting can learn from the New York Times' profile of Kara Swisher's podcast deal, and Apple Podcasts has new templates and a Canva partnership to help podcasters present their shows well. Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: a roundup of Podcast Show London resources, an interview about Amazon Music putting podcasts on a billboard in Times Square, Spotify is changing how they'll display view counts on podcasts, and agency executives expect sports to be a big player in this years' upfronts. For links to every article mentioned, please visit here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: we're prepping for The Podcast Show London, Tom Webster talks how to make your podcast events Events, Bumper talks about podcasting's need for a metric more inclusive than the download, and YouTube has launched a new weekly podcast chart. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: what Bryan Barletta is doing at Podcast Show London, how to make Podcast Events special, YouTube now has a weekly podcast chart, how creator platforms are building out tech infrastrucutre to appeal to agencies, Toyota's branded podcast play with Latino audiences, and Acast introduces talent-voiced ads. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

A look at the power of doing live events for podcasting as an industry, as well as individual podcasts. Written by Tom Webster Edited by Gavin Gaddis Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster looks at what we can learn from podcasting biggest (and smallest) fans, Owl & Co estimates the podcasting industry made $7b last year, Patreon is changing their iOS app to work with new legal ruling, a caution against podcasting with intent to be on TV, and a roundup of Q1 financial reports.For links to every article mentioned, visit here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks about the great podcast divide, Jerry Kolber talks about the folly of podcasting with aims to end up on TV, and Paramount has no intentions of going back to old-school Upfront plans. Find links to very article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

A look at the demographics of podcast audiences who are the medium’s fans… as well as the opposite.Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Gavin Gaddis and Bryan Barletta Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Today in the business of podcasting: Digidayl ooks at the rise of CTV podcast consumption, Owl & Co. estimates the 2024 global podcast revenue total is double previous estimates, and Andrew Goldsmith talks comedy and why it's one of the best options for brands looking into podcasting. For links to every article mentioned please visit here on Sounds Profitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: PodX makes their first U.S. acquisition with Lemonada Media, Patreon will update its iOS app to allow non-Apple payment methods after recent court ruling, Spotify now will publicly display play count on podcast episodes, and a roundup of Q1 financial reports from the past week. Find links to every article mentioned here on SoundsProfitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify is adding podcasts to SAX this quarter, WARC report looks at how brands are gaining ground with audio advertising, a look at just how sturdy Rogan's grip on podcasting charts is, and Mark Zuckerberg teases a potential future Meta product that'd cause some big waves for the advertising industry at large if it was adopted.Find links to every article mentioned right here on SoundsProfitable.com

This week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks podcasting's Smart TV consumers and what they can teach us about cross-platform consumption, Edward Fuller details how podcasting can better entice games marketers, Ben Robins recaps the Power of Podcasting Showcase hosted by AudioUK, and Paul Riismandel discusses a distinct lack of discussion of branded podcasts outside of podcasting spaces. Find links to every article mentioned right here at Sounds Profitable.com

Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster writes about the intricacies of smart TV podcast consumers, US ad spend jumps nearly 8% in March, LinkedIn is courting content creators for video series, and SAG-AFTRA is making moves to bring content creators into the fold. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Digiday reports from the first day of Possible in Miami, Deloitte charts media trends for this year, Paul Riismandel talks branded podcast content possibilities, and British + European marketers are hedging their ad spend in the face of new U.S. tariffs. For links to every article mentioned, visit here on Sounds Profitable.

Smart TVs are increasingly popular tools for accessing podcasts, but what does that actually mean for the medium? Written by Tom Webster Edited by Gavin Gaddis Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sound Insights founder Ben Robins reports from the Power of Podcasting Showcase, Spotify's Q1 earnings report is here, and the IAB has a new report on ad spend's growth for digital video. Links to every article mentioned are available here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: how podcasting can get game marketing on board, Spotify's partner program payouts so far, and YouTube upped their Q1 ad revenue 10% year over year. For links to every article mentioned, visit here on Sounds Profitable.

Essential news for this week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks about stickier podcasting, podcast industry growth last year, Chrome's cancelled third-party cookie prompt, and video podcasts could be coming to Netflix soon.Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: building a full theater instead of just a stage, YouGov's data on global podcast listenership, Omny Studio's new benchmarks for 2024 podcast downloads, and Cumulus Media is leaving NASDAQ early next month. All articles mentioned can be found here on Sounds Profitable.

Essential news for today in the business of podcasting: Hernan Lopez discusses podcasting's global income, Google is not launching third party cookie permission promps, and a look at YouTube's cross-platform strategy.For links to every article discussed, visit here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: branded content rebounds as a top source of publisher revenue, a look into why ad creative is in decline, and Magellan AI's 2024 review + 2025 preview.Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: IAB's Internet Advertising Revenue Report shows strong growth, coverage of The Advertising Landscape, The New York Times looks at the contendors for "The Oscars of Podcasting", video podcasts are likely to appear on Netflix in the near future, and Spotify + video feature heavily in Coleman Insights + Amplifi Media report on the state of video podcasting. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

This week in the business of podcasting: Surveying the Podcast Advertising Landscape, Podcasters Caught in Copyright Crossfire. The IAB Podcast Upfront Up and Moved, and “Live” is thriving in television. For every article mentioned, visit here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Podcast advertising's multimedia multitool functionality, CTV transparency a growing concern, and the rise of "link in bio" affiliate marketing. Find links to all articles mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

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.  Written by Tom Webster Edited by Gavin Gaddis Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Advertiser Landscape is now here, Spotify experienced a global outage today, why YouTube podcast ads matter, 77% of companies have increased ther influencer spending this year, and Nielsen provides a look at TV's growth last month. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: An interview with The Fantasy Footballers, creators rethink their revenue mix, the IAB has moved this year's Podcast Upfront, a look at parasocial relationship-courting "podcast girlies", and a Coworking interview with Christian Swain. Find links to every aritcle mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Podcasts caught in the crossfire of a legal spat with Spotify, publishers are relying less on total ad revenue as a measuring stick, tweens are hosting podcasts, young Americans follow partisan lines when it comes to podcast listening, and your audience doesn't need you anymore. 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 slides directly once the presentation is over, by registering now!  Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

From this week in the business of podcasting: The Impact Spotify's Video Has on Publishers, Podscape Biannual Update is Coming and Submissions are Open, Why Podcasts Should Think Like a Network, and Nickelodeon x Starglow.Links to every article mentioned can be found here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: A look at the downsides to how Spotify handles video, Wondery looks at podcasting fandom power, and Libsyn looks back at themes throughout Evolutions by Podcast Movement.Find links to every article mentioned right here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: The Podscape is accepting submissions for the summer update, Audioboom posted their Q1 earnings, a clip from The Ramsey Show podcast made the top three branded Shorts of last week, and nominations are now open for the Quill podcast awards. Find links to everything mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable launcehes Coworking segment, new Veritonic and Audiomob study looks at the efficacy of audio ads in mobile games, podcasting is asking the wrong questions about vidoe, and Gen Alpha's propensity for luxury items. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

This week in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster talks about a popular data point being mis-represented, Dan granger debuts a new defintiion for "a podcast," Podnews publishes the results of their annual report card, and SPotify has an ad exchange. Find links to every article mentioned right here on Sounds Profitable.

Today's essential news in the business of podcasting: Podnews published their annual report card for podcast hosts, IAB Australia notes the growth of affliate and partnership marketing, subscriptions and live events are now in the top five revenue generators for publishers, why podcasts are playing a bigger role in brands' creator strategies, and Spotify debuts their own ad exchange and AI ad generator. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Oxford Road publishes a new defintion for podcasting, Jeff Ulster looks at why Canadian podcast consumers gave podcasts a try in the first place, industry leaders discuss growing a podcast audience, and Sound Insights rounds up March's podcacst research. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster debuts findings from the biggest study in podcast advertising efficacy in the U.S., Digiday looks at the potential of advertising downturn caused by hype, Radiocentre gives a look at podcast growth in the UK, YouTube is on track to outpace Disney in revenue estimates, and the winners of the 2025 Ambies. Links to every article mentioned, as well as signup links to the Sounds Profitable event in May and Tom Webster's upcoming webinar, can be found here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: video podcasting on Spotify, brands go Switzerland, and big moves in sports podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the Business of Video Podcasting LA Summit, a new user experience for audio and video, and gaming looks at podcasts.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: YouTube updates view counts, Spotify's Partner Program expands its reach, and why Gen Z is moving away from TV.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: a new podcasting report from Japan, Acast invests in Australia, and RSS is updating its distribution.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: India is investing in influencers, open ad auctions bleed money, and the 4th annual Signal awards are open.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: how audio and video data gets combined, gen Z and video podcasts, and YouTube's new ad test.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: how podcasting can stay special, getting the full picture with podcast data, and how super fans spend.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: ten years of Amplifi, the growth of podcast fandom, and creators lift all ships.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the debate around ads on streaming, YouTube ads a Podcast tab, and the house of insights.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

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.. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: ad forecast revisions, no escape from AI, and behind the YouTube curtain.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: super fans are super spenders, podcasters vs influencers, and YouTube shorts grow further.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: how brand fans listen, making podcasts stickier, and the creator economy at SXSW.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

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. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: commercial audio reaches critical mass, the power of branded podcasts, and ad supported streaming.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the left's rise in political podcasting, audiobook publishing from Spotify, and YouTube usage drops.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the creator economy at SXSW, Crime Junkie's controversy, and audio layoffs.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: free session audio from SXSW, podcast ads are safe from tariffs, and where the left and right are going in podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: podcasting takes Texas, diving into the News podcast listener, and what to do with your audience data.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: podcasting takes Texas, diving into the News podcast listener, and what to do with your audience data.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: grading Spotify's pivot to video, highlighting AdOps in a new podcast, and building from the influencer playbook.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Tom Webster highlights actionable takeaways from Sounds Profitable’s latest research. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Joe Rogan's decline, inside news podcast listeners, and new developments in immersive audio.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a MIDAS report, cost-cutting in podcasting, and advertisers block the Oscars.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: a look at the News podcast listener, reviewing On Air Fest 2025, and solving subscriber churn. Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Aussie audio roundup, YouTube tweaks midroll, and indie agencies bet on tech.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: solving subscriber churn, ad click efficiency, and industry opportunities.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Gavin Gaddis recaps their On Air Fest experience and reflects on the importance of carrying the flame for podcasting. Written and narrated by Gavin Gaddis Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the new Shorts ecosystem, the rise of alt measurement, and the evolution of brand partnerships.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: YouTube's new tier, brand safety relevance, and big moves from the BBC.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: examining podcasting by zip codes, branded podcast performance and measuring that performance, and on Wondery and SirirusXM opting out of rankers.Sign up for the webinar here.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: podcasts not prepping for video, what you listen to, and new Edison research.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: behind the branded podcast, opting out of podcast rankers, and podcast syndication.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Spotify struggles with ads but might be winning with video, and the new slow creator fund.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know from this week in the business of podcasting: On Air Fest is coming next week, SXSW is on the horizon with the biggest podcasting footprint yet, another earnings call roundup, and YouTube just hit the milestone of TV watch-hours beating out both Desktop and Mobile. To that note: 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.Catch all the articles mentioned on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Bryan Barletta interviewed the minds behind On Air Fest, Acast reports its first profitable year, YouTube viewing on TV passed mobile and desktop, Mediavision finds podcasting is growing healthily in Sweden, and a look at ad buyers maturing how they use podcast advertising in multi-channel campaigns. Find links to every article mentioned here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: audio's growth in Australia, how to measure video's growth, and why campaigns should go omnichannel.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: what the push to video is missing, Fox gets into true crime, and new moves from Wondery.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: cost-effective advertising, why your business needs DEI, and learning lessons from the golden arches.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Spotify struggles to win with video, why brands are going regional for the big game, and how DEI makes a better business.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Spotify's earnings call, takedowns on the platform, and the future of signal noise.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

In a two-part one-part article, Tom breaks down the business podcast consumer and looks atpodcasting’s cost-effective reach.The Business Podcast Consumer Study Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Youtubers reinventing with podcasts, Triton Digital's 2024 Australia report, and the market's race for flexibility.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: podcasting in Türkiye, can podcasts be found without TikTok, and ad spend on the rise.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: listening grows, targeting the niche, and how Americans are using phones at work.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Google goes open source, why podcasting is set to grow, and power in the niche.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Is audio consumption on the decline? Certainly not for podcasts. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: podcasters could join the White House press, how podcasting drives commutes, and why audio podcasts reign supreme.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Alex Cooper moves to YouTube, brand safety shakeups, and what Americans use their phones at work for.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: how podcasts won the election, Sundance's place in the market, and innovations in audio investment.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: tracking the podcast election, business podcast buyers, and meeting buyers where they are.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: video doesn't equal audio, buyers are listeners too, and pre-pandemic listening patterns.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the election podcast circuit, Netflix raises prices, and why diverse audiences are a gold mine for podcasts.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

If you bring buyers into your medium’s audience and tell them how good your medium is, they’ll buy it.Video link. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable.For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: ad spend snapshots, on demand audio on the rise, and more podcast elections.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: cracking the case of true crime listeners, the business podcast consumer, and what's new for On Air Fest.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: another edition of Oops, All Quick Hits.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Welcome to the Sounds Profitable podcast, where you'll find audio versions of our weekly thought leadership articles, daily summaries of vitla news for those in the business of podcasting, and a Friday roundup of important stories you might have missed (along with why they matter to podcasting).

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: On Air Fest aims high, Audioboom's 2024 trading update, and YouTube's new Shorts.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the myth of ad-free podcasting, a new campaign at LAX, and predictions for 2025 influencer marketing.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: prioritizing podcast ads, a Capital one lawsuit, and 2025 goals for podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: an affiliate code scandal rocks creators, the rise of the small influencer, and the business of business podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the business of business podcasting, new show renewals, and meta ad changes.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the Podcast Promotion Landscape, podcasts take over TV, and an M&A surge set for 2025.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: an influencer marketing scandal, how audio fuels research, and the pivot to video continues.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: predictions for 2025, elections results could shape brand activism, and the future of TikTok.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting:  The Case for Making a Case for Spoken Word in 2025, Italian Podcast Licensing Invoices, and Industry Experts Predict Podcasting in The New Year. Find links to every article mentioned at Sounds Profitable.

For the final Download daily upload of 2024, here's what you need to know: Tom Webster talks the most important thing podcasting should talk about next year, more brands are using influencer creative in programmatic ads, Right Side Up has predictions for next year, a look back at this year's big ticket podcast deals, and Triton Digital's Canadian podcast ranker. Find links to every article mentioned today at Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: On Air Fest grows ever-larger for 2025, James Cridland examines TuneIn's layoffs and cost-cutting, the IAB collects examples of best practices in podcasting, AdExchanger talks tired trends of 2024 advertising, and principal-based media buying is growing more popular. Here's something different: a podcast *campaign* to keep people home for the holidays! So many people are one crisis away from becoming unhoused, like Keoni Washington, a young boxer who lost his mom to COVID and had to provide for his brothers. The podcast Sharing Stories gives a window into their lives and how one-time rental assistance helped them through a tough stretch. They're encouraging other podcasts (like yours!) to spread the word about rental assistance this season -- like by running a “PSA” in place of an ad. More info here!For links to every article covered, catch the newsletter version of the episode here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: YouTube's opt-in AI training feature, Italian company sends spurious invoices for podcast listings, and influencer agencies are dipping their toes into talent management. Here's something different: a podcast *campaign* to keep people home for the holidays! So many people are one crisis away from becoming unhoused, like Keoni Washington, a young boxer who lost his mom to COVID and had to provide for his brothers. The podcast Sharing Stories gives a window into their lives and how one-time rental assistance helped them through a tough stretch. They're encouraging other podcasts (like yours!) to spread the word about rental assistance this season -- like by running a “PSA” in place of an ad. More info here!Find links to every article mentioned and subscribe for the newsletter version at Sounds Proftiable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: CoHost has 28 podcasting experts' thoughts on 2025, Buzzfeed has sold First We Feast and what that means for M&A, IAB Tech Lab rebrands Seller Defined Audiences, the ANA finds programmatic sinks are slowly being fixed, and EV TV spend is down and it's because of Gen Z preferring digital. Find links to every article mentioned and full coverage here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: true crime listeners, online car shopping's podcast potential, and a history of Kiwi podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: true crime listeners, new features in iOS 18, and streaming plans for 2025.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: an online car dealership from Amazon, the history of podcasting in New Zealand, and the shrinking podcast middle class.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Tom Webster shares some pearls of wisdom from twenty years in the oyster of podcasting.  Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: 2025 podcasting predictions from Joni Deutsch, Alex Cooper's getting into hydration, and BetterHelp holds their spot as top podcast advertiser in Australia.Register now for The 2024 True Crime Podcast Listener Landscape Report from Libsyn and Sounds Profitable!Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: true crime can win advertisers, the trillion dollar year, and health and wellness ad restrictions.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: podcasting on rented airwaves, walled gardens going up, and fostering podcast growth.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: some more super quick hits plus a special offer.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: paywalling podcast journalism, breaking down audio barriers, and Spotify wrapped.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: YouTube leads in podcast discovery, global ad spend tops 1 trillion, and the DOJ takes on tech again.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Spotify's video policy, mobile shopping trends, and podcasting's global promise.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: some Thanksgiving-friendly quick hits from podcast news.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: podcasting growth in Australia, new M&R, and more SEO spend to come in 2025.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: implications of Spotify for Creators, a report on video's rise in podcasting, and how brands are getting creative with podcast ads.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Spotify for creators, AI sludge, and the rise of video podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: layoffs in sports podcasting, redefining creativity in podcast ads, and Apple's top podcasts in 2024.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Amazon music has added Audible, a YouTube liaison opens up about the algorithm, and top podcast advertisers.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Spotify pushes for more video, Facebook switches to views, and new FDA advertising standards.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the new home of podcasting on Spotify, getting outside for podcasting, and an increase in mergers and acquisitions in Q3.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the new home of podcasting on Spotify, the effectiveness of podcast advertising, and Amazon slashes its U.S. spending.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

This week, Tom offers a section of his new book, The Audience Is Listening, on marketing in the “real world” Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Spotify's Q3 earnings report, infleuncer spending blocks from the election are over, M&A is up, and subscriptions are looking to be an area of focus for publishers in 2025. Register now for the live webinar on Wednesday, November 20th, at 2:00 p.m. EST.Catch the full write-up of today's episode on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: iHeart's third quarter, new media moves on, and Podpage's new listener survey.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: tracking podcast tracking, audio and video prime, and The Podscape is back.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the ad industry redefines influencing, big questions in brand safety, and The Podscape opens submissions.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the Super Bowl sells out, tracking podcast tracking, and lessons from advertising week.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a new UK podcast ranker, Q3 earnings from SXM, and how marketing executives are prepping influencers for the election.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: new FTC crackdowns on false advertising, better podcast marketing, and shoppers are starting holiday prep earlier.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: the curiosity gap and now to cross it, getting audio and podcasting on your brand's media plan, and what emotion AI can do for advertising as we know it.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

It’s one thing to use generic descriptions to explain a song or podcast, but there’s power in creating curiosity with a recommendation. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a new FTC law cracks down, podcasting advertising transcends audio, and why Prime Day could be different this year.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a report card on beauty brands, why influencer marketing has gotten risky, and new partnerships.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a report on podcast watch time, how to get your podcast on platform lists, and election anxieties drive consumer purchasing.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

This week Bryan Barletta guested on the Media Roundtable podcast, here's the episode! Original description for the episode is as follows: The Media Roundtable is back! This week, we're making waves in the podcasting world with a groundbreaking announcement that's set to reshape the industry.If you haven’t heard, Oxford Road and Veritone One, under Insignia Capital Group, plan to join forces to form the world's largest podcast and creator-based video agency. Starting immediately, Oxford Road’s CEO & Founder, Dan Granger, will lead both organizations.So with an eye to the future, Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) sat down with Conor Doyle, (President, Veritone One) and Bryan Barletta (Founder & Partner, Sound Profitable) to talk through the big deal and why it’s such a big deal.The excitement in the room is palpable as Conor and Dan go from competitors to collaborators. They’re talking value-alignment, industry impact, and how it’ll help CAOs. Let’s dig in."Brands haven't really had a collective voice. And they're the ones paying everybody's bills. They should be at the top of the food chain." Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One)Values are Everything 💯- In early conversations, it was clear that Insignia was not your typical private equity group. Their alignment of values (transparency, not being defensive) and a proven agency track record showed the Oxford Road and Veritone One teams that a deal wasn’t just possible, it made all the sense in the world.Empowering Brands with a Collective Voice 📣 – One of the most significant benefits is giving brands a stronger voice in the industry. Bryan notes, "There's an opportunity for brands to have a bigger voice... Now being in a situation where we can challenge that and have that conversation with just the buyers." This forthcoming merger positions the newly combined agency to advocate more effectively for advertisers, shaping industry standards to better meet their needs.Unmatched Expertise and Resources 🚀 – Integrating Oxford Road's innovation and international traction with Veritone One's advanced technology and data capabilities, creates a powerhouse of expertise. Conor highlights the excitement of "setting the laser pointer" on new industry challenges, leveraging their combined strengths to drive growth and efficiency for clients.Strengthening Industry Partnerships 🤗 – Addressing concerns about consolidation, both Dan and Conor reassure that relationships with advertisers and media partners remain top priority. As Conor says, "We do not exist without either of those relationships... We're joined at the hip to make this work." The combined entity will aim to enhance collaborations that benefit publishers, creators, and brands alike.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: video's role in podcast discovery, new acquisitions in podcast tech, and spotify's new SAX.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: does video drive discovery, digital listening continues to grow, and the MMM debate.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Spotify Ad Exchange, how agencies are using GenAi, and why streaming services are being bundled with your groceries.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Even when looking at audiences who are ride-or-die for audio podcasts, video plays a key role in the modern podcast discovery process. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: new acquisitions, Americans warm up to advertising, and the top spenders in podcast advertising.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: audio is popular in Germany, Spotify video ads get verified, and Amazon launches generated ads.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: a look at video and audio-focused podcast audiences, opportunities in Kids and Family, and podcasting grows up.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: audiobook growth, This American Life gets premium, and Southwest under pressure.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: the first single debuted on a podcast, more "Questions To...", and breaking into the Gen Z sphere.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

The first of a two-part exploration of how audio-first and video-first podcast audiences consume their favorite content. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: podcasting grows up, kids and family opportunities for advertisers, and Spotify expands its audiobook reach.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Wondery moves to merch, candidates go on a podcast tour, and why we need to promote podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: a call to promote podcasting, presidential candidates take on podcasts, and a new Wondery collab.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: influencer relationships in athletes, more dispatches from Advertising Week, and podcasters on tour.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

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. Written by Tom Webster Narrated by Gavin Gaddis Audio edited by Newton Schottelkotte Hosted by Spreaker Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: more coverage of the presidential podcast tour, Audible's Spanish anniversary, and how Walmart is utilizing podcasting.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.