RAIN Notes: October 24, 2025
— A line erased / Chris Grosso
— All for one Adelicious
— Rising again / Napster
— A line erased / Chris Grosso
— All for one Adelicious
— Rising again / Napster
“The emotional DNA of podcasting” — that’s what Seve Goldstein’s latest guest column is about. He invited Tom Webster (partner, Sounds Profitable) into Steve’s NYU course, The Business of Podcasting. The class topic: Where the next generation of podcast listeners will come from. That evolved into a discussion of AI podcasts. After listening to some, student reactions were fascinating. Continue Reading
The top-spending podcast advertiser in September was Washable sofas, which invested $7.3-million in the month. That info from stalwart measurement company Podtrac in the September edition of its Top Spenders. Click for numbers, a separate “Movers and Shakers” list, and the source link. Continue Reading
From Paris and London we learn that a global collaboration of podcast/audio producers, businesses, and publishers has opened the International Podcast Alliance (IPA). The aim is to strengthen dialog across formats and geographies, share market data and support market development, and promote best practices. Click for details. Continue Reading
London-based media and entertainment group Global has splashed a double announcement. First, the creation of Global Studios, described as a “new creative powerhouse for video-first podcast brands. Also, a new unit called Sport by Global. Click for details and quotes. Continue Reading
In the thin upper atmosphere of podcast rankings, change over time is small and rare. Edison Research has released its Top 50 Podcasts in the U.S. based on reach for Q3 2025 among weekly podcast consumers ages 13+. Continue Reading
— Dashboard AM, one way or another / Tesla
— Unchangingness / Eric Nuzum
— After 17 years / Spotify
— Walled garden + open platform: A speculative merger / Hernan Lopez
Edison releases its Q3 accounting of the top podcasts in U.S. listening. We view it as a demonstration of success stability. Continue Reading
Edison Research has been acquired by market research company SSRS. The company assures that the transition will be smooth sailing for Edison clients. Click for details. Continue Reading
The Signal Awards has released its 2025 slate of winners. This program’s goal is to recognize “podcasts that define culture.” One might conclude a secondary goal: to overwhelm us with an enormous trove of excellence … and a prodigious range of podcast discovery. Continue Reading
New podcast production took a step upward in September compared to August, nudging about two percent to the gain. The most startling metric in this month’s statistical roundup is in the “AI Fake Podcasts Removed” chart. Click for details. Continue Reading