Thought Leaders

Interviews with, and contributions from, the most perceptive voices in the online audio industry.

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Steve Goldstein:The SEO Collapse: Did Podcasts Replace Late Night?

Posted on by Brad Hill

by Steve Goldstein

In Steve’s latest column, a detailed and interesting analysis of an historical moment. “Stephen Colbert’s exit from The Late Show is more than a changing of the guard. It’s a flashing red signal that the entire late-night ecosystem is being upended. The space late-night TV once owned has changed rapidly, with podcasts playing a central role in that transformation.” “Podcasts aren’t just taking the mic. They’re taking the moment.” Continue Reading →

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James Cridland’s Radioland – The biggest radio stations in the US

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In this week’s exceptionally deep and thoughtful guest column, James puts a focus on the BBC Sounds media and radio app, which is scheduled to be discontinued outside of the UK today. Also covered: how BBC Sounds is performing inside the UK. (Preview: Slight gain; older listeners.) Moving on from the BBC, James reports on the biggest radio stations in the U.S., one great YouTube video, a retroactive look at “AI Ashley,” census data about radio listenership, visual advertising in radio, and James’ “universal radio” idea. Buckle in. Continue Reading →

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James Cridland’s Radioland – BBC Radio overseas: a new plan after BBC Sounds closes

Posted on by Brad Hill

by James Cridland

As James’s regular readers know, he has been interested in the availability of BBC Radio outside the UK. And there’s been some movement. The BBC Sounds app will be turned off for listeners outside the UK on 21 July 2025 — but there’s more to it than that. And a lot more news. Continue Reading →

Steve Goldstein:The SEO Collapse: What Podcasters Need to Do Right Now

Posted on by Brad Hill

by Steve Goldstein

The word “essential” has been assigned to Steve Goldstein’s column more than once. Not meaning to be hyperbolic, we think this piece is super-essential. Identifying a key change in internet usability — today’s AI-enriched search results — Steve applies consequences to podcast search and discovery, which is undergoing momentous format changes and shifting results. It is a risky sea change for podcasters. Steve provides five essential best practices from structuring the show to formatting the transcript. Did we mention the word “essential”? Continue Reading →

Mark Mulligan: Streaming is both retail and radio. It shouldn’t be

Posted on by Brad Hill

by Mark Mulligan

“The recorded music industry had two lanes: retail and radio. Piracy killed retail. Streaming killed piracy, then went on to, if not kill, then seriously maim radio. The two lanes converged into one – reverse bifurcation.” In his latest column, Mark Mulligan asks whether streaming (more exactly, supremium) can monetize fandom. Continue Reading →

Mark Mulligan: Unintended consequences – the year ahead for streaming

Posted on by Mark Mulligan

by Mark Mulligan

“Streaming may be maturing from a revenue perspective but with two-tier (‘artist centric’) licensing and supremium, 2025 is set to be a year of transformative change in both product and business terms. While each of these initiatives were designed with clear objectives, it is not so much the immediate consequences but the second order consequences that warrant most attention. As is so often the case, it is the unintended knock-on effects of actions that will likely prove to be most impactful, for both the business and culture of music. Here is what some of these may be for two-tier licensing and supremium.” Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio in the car: and bad software

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James Cridland buys a new car and reports on its audio features — especially the radio tuner. DAB is there, and FM, but no AM at all. Not a crisis, he observes, because AM is simulcast on DAB. But there is unfavorable UX in other ways, and the screen fail one usability test after another. All this while James is at the 14th Atelier Radiophonique Romand in Switzerland, listening to Tomas Granryd discuss the EBU’s Connected Car Playbook. Swinging over to a review of that document, James finds a mix of great ideas and self-serving ones. As always, an interesting read. Continue Reading →

James Cridland’s International Radio Trends – Radio advertising: your winners and duds

Posted on by James Cridland

by James Cridland

In his latest column, James unearths an old print ad for two Australian radio stations, and puzzles over a few conundrums. “There’s a lot to unpack from this press ad over thirty years later.” ALSO: A study from Audacy, an amazing face\t about Star Wars, the BBC applying for funds, James’ visit to the Pacific island of Niue, and more. Continue Reading →