I Hear Things

This week in the business of podcasting:Apple launched its new HLS video experience for Apple Podcasts with the iOS 26.4 update, bringing full video podcast support to iPhones — with hosting platforms Podspace, Riverside, Ausha, and Firstory joining the growing list of supported services.Sounds Profitable's Tom Webster debuts new research on podcasting's "last quarter" — the 25% of American adults who have never listened to a podcast — revealing a Spanish-language opportunity, a word-of-mouth "Bubble Problem," and a case for leading promotional efforts with topics over technology on platforms like YouTube and Facebook.Spotify laid off 15 employees in its podcast group on March 23, primarily from The Ringer and Spotify Studios, with the company describing the cuts as an alignment move rather than cost-cutting.YouTube has rebranded its BrandConnect creator monetization tool as Creator Partnerships, adding a Gemini-powered suite of influencer matching and campaign management features.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: Apple Podcasts Video Launch: Apple released iOS 18.4 with HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) support for Apple Podcasts video, with 48 podcasts available at launch including 31 hosted on Acast, though macOS and Apple TV support is not yet available.FIFA World Cup 2026 Podcast Advertising Opportunity: With $10.5 billion in incremental global ad spend forecast during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter, brands are expanding beyond live match broadcasts into companion media like sports podcasts, creating a major growth opportunity for podcast advertising revenue.Audio Advertising Spend Gap Study: Audion and WPP Media released a French-market study revealing that audio accounts for 34% of media consumption time but only 6% of advertising revenue, highlighting a significant audio advertising spend gap similar to trends seen in the U.S. market.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 Audience Growth & Non-Listener Research: Tom Webster's new Podcast Landscape data reveals that the 25% of U.S. adults who have never listened to a podcast are best reached via YouTube and Facebook, and respond better to topic-driven messaging than format or technology-focused promotion.Apple Podcasts HLS Video Distribution Update: Apple's iOS 26.4 update expands HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video podcast support, adding hosting platforms Podspace, Riverside, Ausha, and Firstory to its growing list of approved Apple Podcasts distribution partners.Podcast Awards & Creator Recognition: As digital creators push for mainstream recognition alongside Hollywood talent, the podcast industry continues to build its own awards ecosystem — including The Ambies, the iHeartPodcast Awards, and the newly launched Indie Podcast and Creator Awards, debuted at Podcast Movement Evolutions during SXSW 2026.Content Strategy & Discoverability in Podcasting: Steve Raizes argues in his new Media, Built newsletter that great podcast content must be "built to travel" — integrating marketing and communication strategy from creation to distribution in order to drive audience growth and reach.Marketing Podcast Awards & Industry Recognition: The Marketing Podcast Network has launched the MPN Awards, an annual awards show celebrating top marketing podcasts available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with nominations open through April 30 and a livestream ceremony planned for June.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.

Click here to read the report. A look at who makes up the 25% of U.S. adults who have never consumed a podcast. Tom Webster examines the 25% of U.S. adults who have never listened to a podcast, drawing on data from a 5,000-person Podcast Landscape study. The holdouts skew older, female, and lower-income, with key barriers including lack of awareness, format misperceptions, and limited word-of-mouth in homogeneous communities. Webster identifies actionable strategies for podcast discovery and audience growth, including YouTube outreach, Facebook marketing, radio advertising, and Spanish-language content development.Written by Tom WebsterEdited by Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting...Spotify Layoffs Hit Podcast Division: Spotify cut 15 employees from its podcasting sector this week, with The Ringer and Spotify Studios bearing the brunt of the reductions — and New York, New York With John Jastremski being canceled. If the news has you thinking about your next move, the Sounds Profitable job board is free to use and updated daily with new podcast industry opportunities.Barometer and AdsWizz Bring Episode-Level Brand Suitability to Podcast Advertising: SiriusXM Media has expanded its partnership with Barometer and AdsWizz to deliver episode-level brand suitability targeting across the SiriusXM Podcast Network. Unlike keyword-blocking tools built for text, Barometer's technology analyzes tone, sentiment, and contextual intent in spoken-word audio — giving advertisers more precise, nuanced brand safety controls across AudioServe, AudioMatic, and AudioMax.YouTube Launches AI-Powered Creator Partnerships Suite Ahead of IAB NewFronts: YouTube has unveiled Creator Partnerships, a Gemini-powered toolkit designed to help brands discover creators and automate campaign management from matchmaking through execution. Influencer marketing experts say the platform will be a particular boon for mid-funnel creators looking to grow brand deal revenue and expand their audience reach.Veteran Podcasters Are Calling It Quits as the Industry Matures: A wave of established podcasters — including The Try Guys, Barstool's KFC Radio, and Celebrity Memoir Book Club — have shut down their shows in the past year, citing everything from video podcast production burnout to intensifying competition with celebrity-hosted shows. 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: Podcasting Outperforms Other Media for Brand Reach and Attention – A new Acast and Nielsen survey of 3,500 UK adults found that adding podcast advertising to a media mix boosts brand consideration 33% more than radio alone, with podcast ads also outperforming live TV, BVOD, and streaming video in both campaign reach and audience credibility.Goalhanger Launches Creator Fund to Grow UK Podcast Talent – Gary Lineker's podcast production company Goalhanger is launching The Accelerator, a content creator fund offering select UK podcasters up to £10,000 in funding plus mentorship and production support, as the company continues scaling its hybrid revenue model of podcast advertising and premium subscriptions.Why Attention-Based Advertising Could Be Podcasting's Next Big Opportunity – Media strategist Kirby Grines argues that traditional reach-and-frequency advertising fails to account for audience attention quality, pointing to the rise of branded narrative content like microdramas as a model that podcast producers could adapt through affordable branded audio fiction to drive deeper listener engagement.4 Million Books Published in 2025 — So Why Do People Say There Are Too Many Podcasts? – New Bowker data shows book publishing surged 32.5% year-over-year in 2025, topping four million titles with zero cultural controversy, prompting podcast industry observers to push back on the tired "too many podcasts" narrative given that fewer than 208,000 new podcast feeds launched globally that same year.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:Apple Podcasts announced new HLS video hosting partners at Podcast Movement Evolutions, including Transistor, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com and others. John Spurlock estimates the full iOS 26.4, including HLS video support, rollout should land between March 25 and March 30.Sounds Profitable Partner and Podcast Movement President Bryan Barletta recaps Evolutions' debut as a fully integrated SXSW event, highlighted by keynotes from Apple and YouTube, live recordings from Table Read, Scalable, and Broken Record, the inaugural Indie PaC Awards hosted by Killer Mike, and the iHeartPodcast Awards at ACL Live — with Podcast Movement already confirming a 2027 return to SXSW.YMH Studios is partnering with Magellan AI to make full multi-platform attribution free for all advertisers and agencies across its network. This includes audio, Spotify streaming, and YouTube video without minimum spend or category restrictions.Amazon Ads and Spotify have partnered to give Australian advertisers programmatic access to Spotify's audio and video inventory through Amazon DSP. IAB Australia has named the Future of Measurement a 2026 strategic priority, with intentions to announce findings at the MeasureUp conference in Sydney on September 2.A new Australian Communications and Media Authority report finds 52% of Australian adults consumed podcasts or non-music audio weekly via online services in 2025, up from 49% in 2022.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode of the Recap, click here. You can also subscribe to Sounds Profitable's newsletters, including the daily edition of The Download to get news straight to your inbox Monday through Thursday.

Today in the business of podcasting:• Podnews reports Apple Podcasts' HLS video update is expected to arrive with iOS 26.4, with a release candidate already posted. John Spurlock estimates a launch window of March 25 to March 30, greeting users with a splash screen highlighting the new video podcasting features.• A new Nielsen Audio Today report finds podcasts add 5.6% incremental reach on top of radio's 88.8% among 18- to 34-year-olds, yet Nielsen says marketers are still undervaluing podcast ROI despite performance comparable to TV and digital display.• Sounds Profitable Partner and Podcast Movement President Bryan Barletta reflects on Evolutions' debut as a fully integrated SXSW event, framing Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable as connective tissue providing the podcast industry with opportunity, research, and visibility within the wider media ecosystem.• IAB Australia has named the Future of Measurement a 2026 strategic focus area, launching an industry research initiative accepting participants across media owners, agencies, and brands ahead of the MeasureUp conference in Sydney on September 2.• California Attorney General Rob Bonta appeared on Scalable this week to discuss the ongoing social media addiction trial against Meta and YouTube, AI regulation, and the planned Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. A special episode filmed on location at Podcast Movement Evolutions during SXSW. 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.

Bryan Barletta reflects on Podcast Movement Evolutions' first year at SXSW and what it means for the industry going forward.Podcast Movement Evolutions made its debut at SXSW in Austin, bringing the podcast industry to the center of the global creator economy conversation with keynotes from YouTube and Apple, live recordings, and top creators like Steven Bartlett, Tim Ferriss, and Hala Taha. From indie podcast awards to industry research reveals, the event proved that podcasting is driving the future of the creator industry — and Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement are the connective tissue making it all happen."Written by Bryan BarlettaEdited by Molly DeMillier and Gavin GaddisText and audio edited by Gavin GaddisLearn more about partnership with Sounds Profitable.Read the full Business of Podcasting stage session schedule for Advertising Week Europe here.Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Today in the business of podcasting:Amazon Ads and Spotify have partnered to give Australian advertisers programmatic access to Spotify's audio and video inventory through Amazon DSP, combining Amazon's shopping and streaming data with Spotify's 751 million monthly listeners for full-funnel campaign planning in a single solution.Tom Fox argues rural podcasters are positioned to fill the civic void left by shrinking public media, with local institutions like community banks, colleges, and small businesses having a genuine stake in supporting trusted local audio platforms beyond just buying ad space.Podcasting had a strong showing at SXSW 2026 with over 20 official sessions featuring voices like Kara Swisher, Scott Galloway, and Brené Brown, while highlights included Tiger Sisters explaining how they built Spotify's No. 1 business podcast from a kitchen-table show, TikTok and iHeartMedia announcing a new podcast network, and Rhett and Link discussing why they quietly ended Ear Biscuits.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:Table Read, a fiction podcast featuring award-winning actors performing unproduced film and TV scripts, completed its first-ever live recording at Podcast Movement Evolutions last week. Jack Levy has a new essay reflecting on how consistency and execution can elevate something from a tool to a medium all of its own. AdsWizz's Dave Sosson makes the case that audio is the missing piece in CTV strategy, citing studies showing retail campaigns combining audio and CTV produced a 12-point lift in aided recall over CTV alone, and automotive dealership campaigns adding streaming audio to CTV saw a 21.8% average gain in local market share.Media consulting firm Madison and Wall has revised its 2026 U.S. ad spend forecast up to 8.1% growth year-over-year, with digital audio projected to grow 4%.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:Apple Podcasts announced new HLS video hosting partners at Podcast Movement Evolutions, including Transistor, PodBean, Captivate, RSS.com and others, and marked its first ever official appearance at a North American podcast conference with a keynote from executives Stacey Goers and Jake Shapiro.Podcast Movement confirmed Evolutions will return to SXSW in 2027, following a debut weekend that included keynotes from Apple Podcasts and YouTube, live performances from Andy Grammer, a Penn Badgley conversation, and the inaugural Indie PaC Awards hosted by Killer Mike.YouTube is launching a Top Podcasts Lineup giving advertisers bundled premium ad access across five content verticals: Sports, News, Comedy, True Crime, and Society & Culture.YMH Studios is partnering with Magellan AI to make full multi-platform attribution free for all advertisers and agencies running campaigns across its network, covering RSS audio, Spotify streaming, and YouTube without minimum spend or category restrictions.The Q1 2026 Performance Benchmark Report from Podscribe finds 79% of episodic campaigns now include a simulcast video component, with YouTube accounting for nearly two-thirds of all video podcast impressions, and national advertisers combining podcasting and streaming audio reaching 85% of U.S. adults.Click here to find links to every story covered and subscribe to the newsletter version of The Download.

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