Comprehensive coverage of the podcasting industry and its business ecosystem.
Venture investors Justine and Olivia Moore analyze how venture funding and exit money are balanced between tech companies and content companies in podcasting. Tech gets most of the startup funding money, while content gets most of the exit (acquisition) money. Graphics spell it out. Continue Reading
The great Luminary rollout continues. Today’s ruffle is less about publishers withdrawing from the platform, and more about technical issues. Twitter arguments in progress. And Luminary suggests that hyperlinks in show descriptions are security risks. Continue Reading
Steve Pratt of Pacific Content examines assumptions and realities of blog publishing frequency. Is daily the best setup for success? Is weekly optimal? Not necessarily in either case. Continue Reading
The Webby Awards were released this week, and the focus here is the Podcasts category. Scripps and Wondery each won a handful. Continue Reading
In what is shaping up as a daily Luminary update, today we report more podcasts which have withdrawn permission to be included in the Luminary listening app. We learn from Podnews that Barstool Sports, a top U.S. publisher according to Podtrac’s monthly ranker, has pulled its 26 shows from Luminary. Endeavor Audio, creator of Blackout and The Bellas, is also out. Continue Reading
In a tech + tech deal, podcast platform Acast has acquired podcast hosting company Pippa. Acast’s offering and marketplace are dramatically expanded. Pippa said the acquisition is important and necessary. Continue Reading
Podcasting company Cadence13 has launched a new division focused on original content. C13Originals will create new story-centered shows at an in-house production studio. Chief Content Officer Chris Corcoran will head the new unit. Zak Levitt will be in charge of production and storytelling in his role as executive vice president of production. Continue Reading
The New York Times continues to top Podtrac’s monthly chart of the leading podcasts with The Daily. The Ben Shapiro show rose to the second position, surpassing This American Life for March. The monthly ranker had three new shows. Continue Reading
As the rollout of podcatching service Luminary continues, Hot Pod reports this morning that The Joe Rogan Experience has requested to pulled from the Luminary catalog of free-listening shows. Joe Rogan’s interview show is one of the world’s most successful podcasts. Continue Reading
After a lengthy back-and-forth negotiation, Gimlet Media appears to have recognized its production staff’s efforts to unionize. On Friday, the union Twitter account posted that the union has been recognized. A Gimlet producer tweeted that the production staff has had a re-vote on the plans and that a majority was in support of the union. Continue Reading
After much speculation and apprehension, in which Luminary was fearfully criticized as a potentially ruinous force in podcasting which could blot out traditional free listening, the app is in hand. As of today, Luminary is a routine podcatcher that presents “hundreds of thousands” of shows, and offers a premium subscription for original, ad-free programs laced with celebrity names. Continue Reading
The newest podcast app adds a social layer to listening. Swoot will display the shows that a person’s friends are following, along with letting people recommend shows and episodes. The social angle is meant to offer help with podcast discovery. Continue Reading