Comprehensive coverage of the podcasting industry and its business ecosystem.
ABC News, known in podcasting for its morning show Start Here and others, is reported to shift its overall podcast strategy to the TrueCrime genre. ABC’s current flagship morning news podcast, Start Here, hosted by Brad Mielke, is an important lynchpin in the new endeavor. RAIN News has confirmed that Mielke will continue with Start Here, while also expanding to a weekend edition called Start Here Weekend. Continue Reading
The annual iHeartPodcast Awards celebration happened las night (March 10) at SXSW in Austin. The recorded ceremony will be broadcast tonight (March 11) on AXS TV at 8pm ET. SPOILER ALERT: This post contains complete winner information. Continue Reading
New podcast production took a substantial step downward in February, compared to the same month a year ago. And in the month-over-month view, January-February represents the biggest single-month drop of the 12-month period. A macro view of new podcasts per year shows the Covid-era surge followed by a return to normal. Continue Reading
Prominent podcast studio Wondery is trimming staff, but details are not in focus. The story broke in Reuters, which quotes an unnamed source estimating the scope of the action as “dozens and dozens.” Amazon’s public remarks refer to a small number of jobs. Continue Reading
RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research), the radio/audio measurement organization of the UK, released its Winter 2024 MIDAS report. It is designed to “provide context and insight into how, when, and where audio content is being consumed.” The mission is to show and quantify how listeners are embracing the multi-platform and multi-device offering, as well as how on-demand audio is contributing to listening behaviour. The report also reveals consumer location and behavior while listening, how listening happens in groups, and how audio makes listeners feel. Click for detailed coverage and download link.
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In a new data release from Sounds Profitable, a meticulous analysis of self-described listener behavior seeks to understand the listening habits and preferences of people who listen to News podcasts. Called The News Podcast Consumer, it is part of an ongoing study. Click for details and source link. Continue Reading
In his latest guest column, Steve Goldstein interviews Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer of Cumulus Media. It is a deeply detailed conversation, the thrust of which is how to grow the podcast category to its next major revenue level, 2.5 times more lucrative than its current position in the online audio advertising realm. The questions ask for details, and Bouvard is a fount of expertise. Continue Reading
YouTube is reportedly planning a new subscripion plan, to be wedged between the current $13.99 Premium plan (all podcast ads removed) and zero-cost ad-supported video watching.
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Edison Research is out today with its Top 25 Podcasts in the UK ranker. Edison’s research is derived from listener surveys, not download counts, and therefore includes podcasts which do not appear on other rankers which lack access to some hosting platforms. Click for the list, and RAIN’s year-over-year and month-over-month comparisons. Continue Reading
If rumors are to be believed, Netflix is contemplating adding video podcasts to its programming slate. As we learn from Business Insider his information comes from research company Bernstein, and is saturating Netflix news today. Continue Reading
ABC’s morning News podcast Start Here will expand its weekday schedule into the weekend. In the second part of a double announcement, the show will be syndicated to the ABC News Radio syndicates. Click for details. Continue Reading
Measurability of podcast advertising has been a hurdle for buyers and sellers across the entire life of the category. Despite many meaningful advances in campaign measurement across the decades of audience growth, efforts to educate and reassure buyers are often part of agency promotions. A new study from podcast advertising agency Ad Results Media is both informational and tutorial, per that company’s defining style. Click for details and the download link. Continue Reading