Audacy reported its fourth quarter earnings, and while earnings were up three percent for the year, expenses grew by twice that, pulling down the company’s EBITDA down six percent — “a far cry from what we had anticipated,” said Chairman and CEO David Field. Click through for lots of podcast-specific metrics. Continue Reading
Acast completed an interesting survey of podcasters and listeners to gauge sentiment regarding using ChatGPT in podcasting. The survey is a broad gauge of feeling about using AI in a podcast — podcasters and listeners are clearly of different sentiments, but there is a clear takeaway. Continue Reading
by Steve Goldstein
In this latest installment of the Amplifi Media blog, Steve Goldstein summarizes the Podcast Movement discussion panel which he moderated, with plenty of quotes from the panel: James Cridland, Jeanine Wright, Daniel Albright, and Mayowa Ajayi. Under discussion: Is the bloom off the rose in podcasting? Continue Reading
NPR was the first, and continually a vigorous advocate for smart speakers. The public radio network helped launch the breakthrough Alexa OS by providing the primary daily news program for smart speakers, Up First. It was with amusement that we noticed that program’s host exclaiming, “What’s a radio?” during his sign-off. Click for audio. Continue Reading
The annual iHeartPodcast Awards ceremony took place yesterday in a livestream online ceremony. Winners were selected in 28 categories, plus a grand prize Podcast of the Year winner — Las Culturistas produced by Big Money Players and iHeartPodcasts Network. We trolled the complete competition results to discover which producers earned the most nominations. Continue Reading
Edison Research has launched an informative series of blog posts in which top podcasts in different topical categories are identified, according to reach. This project skims the top layer of Edison Podcast Metrics, a subscription product. “The Monday after the Academy Awards seems like the perfect time to look at podcasts in some entertainment genres,” Edison observes. Continue Reading
Adam Sachs, a pioneering podcast executive, has been promoted by SiriusXM to the role of Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Comedy and Podcasts Programming. was head of Team Coco, Conan O’Brien’s podcast company, and was CEO of Midroll Media (parent company of Stitcher) when it was acquired by SiriusXM in 2020. Continue Reading
Results of the Podnews Report Card survey have been released, following a first view at Podcast Movement Evolutions. In that entertaining keynote session performed by Podnews editor James Cridland (amusingly interrupted by a faux DAI-inserted commercial), we learned how Podnews-reading podcasters rate distribution apps, directories, and monetization platforms. Click through for results. Continue Reading
In an announcement timed to coincide with last week’s Podcast Movement Evolutions conference, NPR has joined the Spotify Audience Network (SPAN), adding one of the world’s most listened-to catalogs to the streaming giant’s podcast monetization platform. It is the first time NPR has gone beyond its direct-sold advertising to work with a partner. Spotify will monetize unsold inventory, NPR told RAIN, and retain NPR’s trademark sponsorship sound. Click for more detail. Continue Reading
Podcast Movement Evolutions, the business-oriented variation of the creator-focused Podcast Movement conferences, was held at the Westgate Conference Center in Las Vegas this week. A somewhat more intimate experience than Podcast Movement, Evolutions offered several knowledge tracks featuring keynotes, interviews, and panel discussions along with numerous networking opportunities during three and a half days. There were announcements, too. Continue Reading
SoundStack, the multi-faceted audio platform which fashions itself as audio-as-a-service (Aaas), has landed major indie podcast network Kast Media as a new client. SoundStack will handle hosting Kast podcasts, content management, and programmatic advertising. SoundStack is also promoting “enhanced workflow with direct access to SoundStack’s product team.” Continue Reading