Steve Goldstein: Gen Z and Video Podcasts: The Numbers Speak Loudly
In his latest guest column, Steve Goldstein shares findings from The State of Video Podcasting 2025, a landmark study by Coleman Insights and Amplifi Media. Continue Reading
Podcasting
Comprehensive coverage of the podcasting industry and its business ecosystem.
ABC News shifts overall podcast strategy to True Crime
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
iHeartPodcast Awards bestowed; Las Culturistas is top winner
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
February podcast production drops 32% year over year (Listen Notes)
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
Wondery cuts staff: “No longer required.”
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
Connected audio leads UK listening metrics (RAJAR)
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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Hearing the News: All about news podcast consumers (Sounds Profitable & NPR)
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
Steve Goldstein: How Podcasting Reaches $5 Billion
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
Rumor (Fact)ory: YouTube to launch “premium light”; ad-free podcasts
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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Top UK podcasts (Edison Research): yearly and quarterly comparisons
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
Hearing what’s next: Netflix reportedly contemplates video podcasts
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 expands “Start Here” podcast to 7-day schedule; now also a radio show
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