A weekly perspective on the business of audio, including podcasting, smart audio, streaming music, social audio, and everything else you stick in your earballs. Hosted by 20+ year audio veteran Tom Webster, SVP of Edison Research.
This week in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions has taken over SKYBOX on 6th at SXSW 2026 through Sunday, with no badge or ticket required, featuring live tapings tonight from Table Read, Scalable Podcast, and Broken Record with special guest Maya Hawke, and tomorrow night's Companion Presents: In Good Company event with Penn Badgley and a headliner set from Andy Grammer.Sounds Profitable founder Bryan Barletta argues Apple Podcasts' HLS announcement returns control to hosting platforms and opens the door for rights holders across music, film, and other industries to adopt RSS-inspired distribution.Bumper's Jonas Woost shares data built from over 100,000 podcast episode listener retention data. He finds listeners complete 76% of an average podcast episode, with retention trending downward the longer an episode lasts.A new Acast Podcast Pulse report from Singapore finds 97% of local listeners say a podcast has changed their mind on a topic versus a global median of 84%, with podcasters rating higher on credibility than journalists, Youtubers, and social-first talent.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode of the Recap, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta argues the big picture of Apple Podcasts' HLS announcement. It's less about video podcasting and more about what happens when an open standard connects a public app to multiple distribution hubs, potentially opening the door for rights holders in other industries to consider similar RSS-inspired methods.A new Acast Podcast Pulse report from Singapore finds 97% of local listeners say a podcast has changed their mind on a topic versus a global median of 84%, with 52% rating podcasters more credible than journalists and 69% saying they've considered a brand for the first time because of a podcast.An Axios op-ed argues the impression that Americans are more divided than ever is being cast through the lens of overly-online social media users. An article that happens to be relevant to A.J. Feliciano's Companion panel at Podcast Movement Evolutions this week.Financial research firm MoffettNathanson estimates YouTube hit $62 billion in 2025 revenue, edging out Disney's $60.9 billion and making it the world's largest media company, with the platform also crossing $100 billion paid out to creators since 2021.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions kicks off this Friday at SKYBOX on 6th in Austin, a free three-day event with 400-person capacity plus overflow, featuring curated panels, live performances (inclduing live Scalable podcast recording on Friday at 7:15 p.m).Libsyn reports 2025 as a record year for creator payouts, with ad impressions up 46% year over year to 4.5 billion and monetizing creators growing more than 2.5 times after the platform removed download minimums for Automatic Podcast Ads.PAVE Studios founder Max Cutler argues Netflix should use its $2.8 billion Paramount windfall to invest in habitual, returning-audience content like video podcasts and creator licensing rather than one-time prestige releases.Publish Press announces The Hollywood Creator Summit on May 28 in Los Angeles, featuring on-stage conversations with creators and industry leaders alongside a live episode of The Colin and Samir Show.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Let's look at what upgrading video on Apple Podcasts means for podcasting as an industry.Apple Podcasts is rolling out support for HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). Bryan Barletta breaks down what HLS actually is, how it handles video, audio, and dynamic ad delivery through HLS Interstitials, and what it means to have early buy-in from hosting platforms like Acast, Amazon's ART19, Triton's Omny Studio, and SiriusXM Media. Written by Bryan BarlettaEdited by Molly DeMillier, Tom Webster, and Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting:Podbean has pulled its dynamic ad insertion tool PodAds from the U.K., Europe, and EEA, citing evolving global privacy regulations and a shift in internal product focus.Bumper's Jonas Woost shares data from over 100,000 podcast episodes, showing audiences on Apple Podcasts and Spotify listen to 76% of a podcast episode on average. Elis James and John Robins is set to be the first BBC podcast to accept outside sponsorship now that it is no longer funded with license fees. Also, BBC Studios taps Bauer Media Audio as its exclusive podcast ad sales partner across seven European markets.Creator-first studio Companion announces its first slate of 14 audio and video podcasts, previewing the lineup at Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW on March 14 with live performances and a headlining set from Andy Grammer.Voxtopica has extended the discounted submission deadline for The Timbre Awards to March 20, with the final deadline on April 17 and winners announced June 15.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Digiday examines long-form creator content's push onto television screens, highlighting Spotter's New York upfront event and moves by Audiochuck and Universal's UCP to develop podcast IP for TV — with brands still needing convincing to shift ad budgets to match audience engagement.RSS.com co-founder Alberto Betella argues the real issue with AI in podcasting is opacity, not the tools themselves, launching an AI disclosure checkbox in RSS.com's episode uploader and the interactive resource shouldidisclose.ai to help podcasters navigate transparency.Cumulus Media filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas, with a restructuring deal that would eliminate approximately $600 million in debt by transferring ownership to lenders while CEO Mary Berner says operations and staffing will remain unaffected.Ashley Carman reports that Netflix's exclusive podcast deals include clip restrictions on third-party platforms like YouTube, with early data showing Spittin' Chiclets and 3 & Out with John Middlekauff both seeing significant year-over-year drops in subscriber growth since moving to Netflix.Variety looks at how true crime podcasts are monetizing parasocial listener relationships, with major brands like Hyundai now sponsoring legacy shows like My Favorite Murder as the genre's audience reach extends well beyond its true crime podcast roots.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW adds Penn Badgley and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin to its lineup, with Oxford Road and founding sponsor Libsyn hosting the inaugural Indie PaC Awards on Sunday, and Spotify marking its 20th birthday with keynotes and a star-studded concert hosted at Stubb's BBQ.Tom Webster argues that coverage of a new Edison Research Share of Ear data point - in which spoke-word daily consumption percentage for podcasting passes AM/FM radio for the first time since Share of Ear started - misses the caveat that Share of Ear isn't taking spoken word video podcasts primarily watched by audiences into account. Audible launches a new $8.99 Standard membership tier with a streaming-focused model, folding former Wondery+ subscriber perks into Audible Originals (such as ad-free listening, early access, and exclusive podcasts).SAG-AFTRA is expanding its podcast contract coverage to include more interview and narrative formats as video podcasting grows. Sue-Anne Morrow also addresses the notion SAG-AFTRA actors are taking a pay cut if they choose video podcasting over daytime TV. To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster pushes back on the idea podcasting has "finally" caught AM/FM radio in spoken-word listening share, arguing the milestone already passed. Share of Ear's audio-focused methodology leaves out the many hours of spoke-word consumed as podcasts people primarily watch.Frequency and Flightpath announce a partnership integrating Flightpath's predictive inventory planning into Frequency's Premium Publisher Network, aiming to replace reactive ad selling with a scalable, multi-network monetization model.Radiodays North America announces its 2026 speaker lineup ahead of its May 5–6 Toronto event, featuring CRTC Broadcasting VP Scott Shortliffe, Radiolab producer Simon Adler, and Tom Webster.Audible reveals its first major podcast slate since absorbing Wondery, bringing new seasons of Dr. Death and Over My Dead Body, a new investigative series called OnlyFantasy, and the migration of former Wondery titles like Dying for Sex and Hysterical to the platform.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting:Amazon builds on its audio strategy with a new $8.99 Audible Standard tier focused on streaming rather than ownership, folding Wondery+ into Audible Originals with ad-free content, exclusive shows, and early-access perks.Podcast Movement Evolutions at SXSW adds Penn Badgley and SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin to next week's lineup, alongside Apple Podcasts spotlighting its new HLS-powered video podcasting upgrade.Ampere Analysis finds 20% of global internet users watched video podcasts or clips in Q3 2025, with YouTube leading engagement and the format showing momentum to pull weekly screen time away from traditional TV and mid-tier streaming.Creator talent agencies are expanding beyond deal-making into full-service multi-platform operators, with M&A in the creator economy growing 17.4% year-over-year in 2025 — a signal that diversification across podcasting, film, gaming, and consumer products is now standard strategy.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
One caveat to charting spoken word podcasting against radio: spoken word isn't confined to audio. Edison Research's Share of Ear data shows podcasting tied with AM/FM radio at 40% of spoken-word listening — but Tom Webster argues podcasting already passed radio when you account for the millions watching video podcasts on YouTube that audio-only measurement can't see. The real story isn't podcasting catching radio; it's podcasting expanding the spoken-word market entirely, drawing new audiences through video discovery rather than converting talk radio listeners.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting:Magellan AI integrates Nielsen DMA data into its podcast attribution platform, giving advertisers local market measurement across 210 standardized U.S. media markets.Podcast Show London 2026 has published its full speaker lineup ahead of the May 20–21 event at Islington's Business Design Centre, with Sounds Profitable returning as a stage sponsor and hosting a pre-show happy hour May 19th.IAB Australia's 2026 Audio Advertising State of the Nation report finds 69% of surveyed ad buyers plan to increase podcast ad investment, with performance advertising expected to outpace brand advertising spend this year.Lower Street's Jackie Lamport makes the case that audio podcast introduction methods don't work on YouTube, where your retention lives or dies in the first 30 seconds. She offers podcasters a free intro scorecard to optimize their shows for the platform's algorithm.Kirby Grines argues that the rise of microdramas and mobile-native viewing is redistributing audience attention in ways that reward the same cadence and consistency that drive podcast promotional growth on video platforms — particularly short-form vertical clips.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Today in the business of podcasting: Ashley Carman's recap of the Bloomberg Podcast Business Summit finds video now essential to podcast strategy, with executives like Kara Swisher and Goalhanger's Jack Davenport treating YouTube presence as a baseline requirement for new and existing shows.IAB Australia's 2025 internet advertising report shows the country's digital ad market hit $18.4 billion AUD, with podcasting outpacing streaming audio in a segment that grew 8.2% year-over-year.Oxford Road and founding sponsor Libsyn launch the Indie Podcasters and Creator Awards, exclusively for independent podcasters, with the inaugural ceremony set for March 15th at Evolutions by Podcast Movement.Audion co-founder Arthur Larrey argues audio advertising must adopt performance marketing metrics (addressable scale, third-party measurement, in-flight optimization, and dynamic creative) to compete for budgets currently flowing to CTV and social.The Hollywood Reporter covers how SAG-AFTRA is expanding its podcast contracts to cover more interview and narrative formats as video podcast growth raises questions about whether the format constitutes daytime talk television.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
This week in the business of podcasting: Podcast Movement officially announces New York venue and dates, Dan Misener looks at podcast ad retention, Tom Webster discusses the power of podcasting's co-consumption audience, and winners of The Ambies 2026. Click here to find every article and link discussed in today's episode post on SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: the 2026 edition of the Podscape is now live, Podcast Movement is coming to New York City in mid-September, what does "two people on a couch" discoverability look like for audio podcasting, and the deadline to submit for The Podcast Show London is TOMORROW.Click here for the full newsletter on SoundsProfitable.com, including every link discussed.
Today in the business of podcasting: Digiday looks at how much of podcasting's audience exclusively consumes video, Ambies 2026 winners, podcasts finally overtake AM/FM radio in daily spoken word share of ear from Edison Research, and CMOs share their stressors when it comes to spend. Click here for the website version of today's newsletter with every link mentioned in the podcast.
The language used to describe podcast behavior matters, and some of it needs updating.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: Jay Nachlis on Apple Podcasts adding video, Steven Goldstein on the mentality needed for video podcasting, Australian podcast advertising benchmarks for Q4 2025, and a look at official TV companion podcasts.Click here for the website version of today's newsletter with every link mentioned in the podcast.
Today in the business of podcasting: Bumper shows how existing podcast analytics can indicate how many people are skipping ads (not as many as you'd think), LIONS Creators is moving to the beach for this year's Cannes Lions, Magellan AI has published January's top fifteen spenders in podcast advertising, and a discussion on how generative AI affects monetization for content creators.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.
This week in the business of podcasting: Apple announces HLS video podcast streaming with select hosting platforms, a roundup of stories from Sounds Profitable partners, Triton Digital has their new U.S. Podcast Report for the year, and a Charlotte Business Journal look at podcast advertising's local success stories.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.
Today in the business of podcasting: how Apple Podcasts embracing video widens one of the biggest on-ramps for podcasting, Triton Digital releases the 2025 U.S. Podcast Report, and a pitch for new standards to make programmatic tools report faster and with more clarity.Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.
Today in the business of podcasting: SiriusXM is hosting a webinar tomorrow with a stacked cast from the measurement and research side of podcasting, Adam Bowie talks about the financial nuances of video podcasting with Apple Podcasts getting into the fray, Little Dot Studios has a white paper looking at YouTube video performance over the last three years, Podcast Movement has a fun graphic tool to make a social media image announcing you're heading to SXSW, Audion launches Audion AI, and today's Partner Highlight is Gretchen Smith Dubois!Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website.
Today in the business of podcasting: Apple is bringing HLS to Apple Podcasts, Netflix sports podcasts are being pirated on YouTube, Charlotte, NC brands are making B2B podcasts, and revisiting the Future of News report two years later. Click here to visit the web version of today's issue with links to every single thing covered.
This week in the business of podcasting: the political build of podcast audiences, public media's value in Minneapolis, Q4 earnings calls, and EU countries looking to ban kids from social media. Click here to visit the web version of today's issue with links to every single thing covered.
Today in the business of podcasting: the politics of podcast listenership, podcasting spectacle vs resonance, video podcasts' utility over talk TV, the Nigerian Podcast Index shows growth, and Channel 4 expands further into Spotify video distribution. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.comType
Today in the business of podcasting: the 69th New York Emmys accept video podcasts in certain categories, Q4 earnings calls from several big podcasting names, and a look at modernized contextual targeting that could help news publishers get ads again. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
This week, Tom Webster looks at the political composition of podcast genre audiences and finds that the data may not match the narratives we've been telling ourselves. Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisRegister for Evolutions by Podcast Movement @ SXSWFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: American scripted TV consolidates around safe bets, podcast advertising benchmarks for Q4 2024 at Magellan AI, and several EU countries look into banning minors from social media. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: a look at Minneapolis Public Radio's Q4 web traffic, AudioUK is championing a survey of the UK podcast industry, Bloomberg's podcast revenue is up 36% year over year, and a look at how Hollywood audiences are souring to AI as a plot device. Click here to find the links to every article mentioned on Sounds Profitable's website!
This week in the business of podcasting: How to run a fulfilling conference panel, audio works on shared time, IAB releases draft of AI scraping legislation, and problems facing the middle class of podcasting. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: YouTube's TV status, Adelicious becomes Audioboom, the BBC is closer to enriching four content creation companies, and Triton Digital has upgraded their podcast metrics offerings. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Tom has hosted a lot of panels, here's his strategy to make them valuable and engaging for all involved. Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: what Super Bowl budgets could do with podcasting, NPR on smarter media allocation, Hulu signs their first video podcast licensing deal with Headgum, Sony patents AI-generated "podcasts," and The Golden Lobes are open for entries. Click here to find every link mentioned in today's episode.
Today in the business of podcasting: The IAB proposes new legislation protecting publishers from AI scraping, audio is not as visible in MMM as expected, January industry performance from Podscribe, indie podcasters are headed to the Radio France app, and the CBC is taking pitches for documentary podcast series ideas. Click here to find every link mentioned in today's episode.
Today in the business of podcasting: Nick Cicero talks about how audio fills existing time instead of fighting other hobbies, a look at a middle-class podcaster returning after seven years away, Google has C&D'd a company trying to measure them like TV, and Voxtopica has launched The Timbre Awards. Click here to read all the stories in full and find links to every article covered.
This week in the business of podcasting: CoHost's new State of Podcast Agencies, Podcast Movement Evolutions talent announced, podcasting's surprising "age of acquisition" potential, and The Ambies voting is live until February 5th. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.
Today in the business of podcasting: why mid-tier creators are the industry's next big growth option, equity at podcast conferences, Podcast Movement SXSW talent announced, podcast growth health checks with Bumper, and the IAB has a 2026 outlook for US ad spend.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.
Today in the business of podcasting: Signal Hill Insights points to podcasting's next big demographic to target, a look inside Goalhanger's video strategy, and 1 in 3 podcast creators have quit over time, let's talk about why (and how to help). Click here for all the links covered today! You can also subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download on the front page of SoundsProfitable.com and get every link sent to directly each publication.
Dr. Byron Green-Calisch gives and overview of changes being made behind the scenes at Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable to build equity in the industry event space. Written by Dr. Byron Green-CalischEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Show London announces open submissions for panels and speakers, Podscribe discusses incrementality in their latest PPB, about half of UK and US consumer spending is driven by Gen Alpha, and CoHost published their annual State of Podcast Agencies report.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: audio becoming more vital to programmatic buys, Netflix CEO says they compete with YouTube in "every dimension", Substack launches a streaming app for CTV, and The Ambies voting is live until February 5th.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: what would you do if you really loved podcasting, Ambies 2026 nominees announced, pushback to "Podcasting is dead" and Goalhanger crosses 250k subscriber milestone. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: what would you do if you really loved podcasting, Ambies 2026 nominees announced, Netflix is rebuilding their app for vertical video scrolling, and Oxford Road takes a look at Health & Fitness podcast advertising data. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
Today in the business of podcasting: more added to the SXSW 2026, On Air Fest expands their February lineup, a reaction to "podcasts are dead," and Netflix doubled their ad revenue last year.Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: a Congressman just pitched a "creator bill of rights," Goalhanger crossed 250k paid subscribers, podcasting's 'liquid content era,' what's ahead for streaming TV in 2026, and the CBC's submission period is coming up fast. Click here for all the links covered today! You can also find an archive of everything covered on this show by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com
This week in the business of podcasting: the Canadian Podcast Listener 2025 is here, authenticity stands out in feeds dominated by slop, and live events become even more accessible for individual creators. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.
Chatbots are changing PR's place in the media ecosystem, let's talk why. Written by Molly DeMellierEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
This week in the business of podcasting: Deloitte's 2026 predictions for podcasting, seeking syndication with content creators, and SuperAwesome acquires Starglow Media. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.
This week in the business of podcasting: The Golden Globes debuted Best Podcast as a category, Spotify is looking out for podcasters, and iHeartRadio embraces open RSS with their new video ingestion protocol using Podcasting 2.0 framework. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.
Experimentation is healthy, but expansion at all costs includes the cost of ignoring the audience that built everything in the first place. Written and narrated by Tom WebsterEdited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin GaddisAudio editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
This week in the business of podcasting: Remembering what makes podcasts great, GenAI's indie podcast blindspot, Spotify updated requirements for the Partner Program, why podcasting is a must-have for sports rights holders and brands, and a look at PodcastAdBlock.Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to today's installment.
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