Sounds Profitable

Essential news from this week in the business of podcasting. Word of mouth is still the best podcast promotion tool, study shows by Reem Makari Frozen's Story Will Continue In a New PodcastAudible partners with Nickelodeon to launch Are You Afraid of the Dark? companion podcastWondery, Dr. Seuss Enterprises Ink Deal for Slate of Original Kids PodcastsPBS Kids Expands Podcasting Slate With Launch of ‘Jamming on the Job’ Featuring 123 AndrésTV’s Nielsen complaints get louderNearly 3 out in 10 U.S. Households Cancel Streaming Platforms to Save MoneyAnd for Quick Hits: The Podcast You Want To Make by Tom Webster. After talking to many Podcast Movement attendees about how to grow their audience, Tom asks a hard question - should you make the podcast you want to make? 45% Of U.S., U.K. Advertisers Have Used Same Ad Approach For Past 5 Years by Laurie Sullivan. In addition to the finding in the headline, 32% of advertisers surveyed say they plan to continue using outdated strategies. 2024 global ad spend will surpass $1 trillion: report by Jasmine Sheena. A new report from marketing research firm WARC predicts spend will increase 8.2% next year and will reach $963 billion by the end of 2023.July 2023: Top spenders, movers and shakers in podcast advertising. The newest Magellan AI monthly analysis of advertising data from the top 3,000 podcasts in the US on Apple Podcasts.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Word of mouth is still the best podcast promotion tool, study shows by Reem Makari New podcast studies showing growth in ad spend, listeners suggest the bubble hasn’t burst by Sara GuaglionePBS Kids Expands Podcasting Slate With Launch of ‘Jamming on the Job’ Featuring 123 Andrés by Abbey White…as for the rest of the news: the Washington Post covers the utility of podcasts as background noise for listeners with ADHD, MarketingBrew covers a WARC report saying global ad spend will exceed $1 trillion in 2024, MediaPost covers a study showing 45% of advertisers in the US and UK haven’t changed their ad strategy in five years, and Adnews reports Q2 digital audio ad spend in Australia is up 14% year over year.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: July 2023: Top spenders, movers and shakers in podcast advertisingCan the Benefits of Digital be a Rising Tide for All Audio? By Jeff VidlerCTV ad sellers are pushing more content-related signals into the programmatic bidstream by Tim PetersonTV’s Nielsen complaints get louder by John Ourand…as for the rest of the news: Five late-night talk show hosts have launched a Spotify podcast which will use all proceeds to pay staff of their respective shows who are affected by the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike, Australians 10 and up are now listening to an average of 13 hour of commercial radio per week, and children’s financial literacy podcast Million Bazillion is launching an educational live show visiting middle schools across the US.

After talking to so many Podcast Movement attendees last week about how to grow their audience, Tom Webster asks a hard question - should you make the podcast you want to make? Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: “Share Of Ear” Q2 2023: Podcasts And AM/FM Radio Represent The Vast Majority Of Time On The “U.S. Ad-Supported Audio Clock,” Podcast Growth Surge Continues, And Spotify’s Usage Growth Does Not Benefit Advertisers by Pierre BouvardWondery, Dr. Seuss Enterprises Ink Deal for Slate of Original Kids Podcasts by Abbey WhiteStreaming’s big pain point: there’s too much stuff to watch by Kelsey SuttonThe Podcast Landscape Webinar with Tom Webster (August 30th, 3:00pm EST)

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting.As streaming wars heat up, nearly three in 10 US internet households are canceling services to save money by Jeremy Goldman Audible partners with Nickelodeon to launch Are You Afraid of the Dark? companion podcast by Reem MakariThe Floor Plan A Jolly Holiday For Retailers Previously Anticipating Q4 Recession by Corinne CasagrandeAnd for the rest of the news… ARN’s CEO speaks to the network’s digital audio success and importance of regional content, Digiday takes a look at what Q4 will look like for video ad inventory that didn’t sell during this year’s upfronts, eMarketer says attention metrics are the ‘next frontier’ for digital ad measurement, and publisher CROs tell Digiday auto, travel, and luxury advertisers are at the forefront of an ad revenue rebound this year.

Here's what you need to know this week in the business of podcasting:Three updates to Apple PodcastsAdvertiser Perceptions: Podcast Advertising Consideration and Spending Intention Grow to Nine-Year High Among Agencies and MarketersOlder Adults Make Up Just 4% Of People Featured In AdsChanges coming to Spotify for PodcastersAnd in Quick Hits: Exclusive: SXM Media partners with The Trade Desk and HUMAN by Reem Makari. SXM Media will add support for third-party audibility measurement to programmatic campaigns bought through The Trade Desk. HUMAN, a fraud sensor network accredited by the Media Rating Council to detect invalid traffic, will be a traffic validation solution for Adwizz’s marketplace inventory.Triton Digital Announces YouTube Integration with Podcast Metrics. The new integration adds YouTube views of podcast episodes into the Triton Podcast Metrics dashboard, allowing publishers to keep track of both podcast downloads and YouTube performance.PodcastOne readies public offering in September by Brad Hill. The listing of PodcastOne is based on the valuation LiveOne received in February that gave PodcastOne a market range of $230 to $274 million.weekly insights 8.23.2023 on-demand audio passes linear audio. Edison Research has found that as of Q2 2023, on-demand audio makes up 50.3% of daily time consuming audio.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting:Embracing YouTube: A Must for Today’s Podcasters by Steve Goldstein.Older Adults Make Up Just 4% Of People Featured In Ads by Karlene Lukovitz Legacy TV Faces Challenges: Maturing Streaming, Lack Of A Future Ad Vision by Wayne FriedmanAdalytics Claps Back With Evidence Of Behaviorally Targeted Ads Served In Kids Content On YouTube by Allison Shiff

Here's what you need to know today in the business of podcasting. Changes coming to Spotify for PodcastersPodcastOne readies public offering in September by Brad HillProduct placements can drive searches and purchases, research finds by Kelsey SuttonFrozen's Story Will Continue In a New Podcast by James Whitbrook

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Triton Digital Announces YouTube Integration with Podcast Metrics Westwood One - Advertiser Perceptions: Podcast Advertising Consideration and Spending Intention Grow to Nine-Year High Among Agencies and MarketersPodPod Exclusive: Nearly 90% of comedy podcast listeners have a parasocial relationship with their hosts.Stepping Into Barbie’s Heels: Is a Branded Content Renaissance Coming? by Sam Anderson

Here's what you need to know today in the business of podcasting. Three updates to Apple Podcasts Exclusive: SXM Media partners with The Trade Desk and HUMANBarry Hott on Instagram Reels over-serving adsSpotify hits record number of users worldwide but struggles to monetize growthFormer UTA Agent Launches Kids and Family Audio Company With Agency Backing And for the rest of the news… Variety covers a star-studded new podcast with ad sales handled by Gumball, publishers are seeing per-subscriber revenue increases amid ad revenue decline, and both Digiday and The New York Times covered allegations that YouTube’s adtech is serving ads specifically to children, in violation of the Child Online Privacy Protection Act.

Stories covered this week in the business of podcasting:Acast Announces Podscribe as Global Preferred Attribution Partner. Shifting Share of Ear: A nine-year comparison of radio and podcasts by Brad HillMattress Firm's Branded Podcast Drives In-Store Sales with iHeartMedia by Catherine PerloffAmazon is quietly building a publisher-focused ad product team to grow its $37 billion ad business by Lauren JohnsonQuick hits: Making a Podcast People Hate by Tom Webster - Using data from the upcoming Sounds Profitable study The Podcast Landscape in America, Tom demonstrates the power of making a podcast for a hyper-specific target audience. Descript Acquires SquadCast. Squadcast’s remote recording tech will be implemented in Descript to allow the service to offer podcast recording, editing, and publishing in one service. Previous Squadcast customers will be able to switch to Descript at no additional cost. Triton Digital Releases the July 2023 U.S. Podcast Ranker. Highlights include SXM Media at #1 in Top Seals Networks for July and NPR News Now retaining the top spot in podcast downloads. PodcastDb and Sonnant Partner to Create the First Ever Podcast Advertiser Directory. The directory will enable advertisers to find contextually-suitable podcast advertising opportunities.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Acast Announces Podscribe as Global Preferred Attribution Partner. (Read more on the subject: In Defense of Third-Party Podcast Solutions.)What former Spotify exclusives ‘Armchair Expert’ and ‘Anything Goes’ can reveal about audiences by Amrita KhalidThe FTC updated its endorsement guidelines for the first time since 2009—and some people have questions by Katie Hicks…as for the rest of the news: Edison Research’s Q2 edition of the podcast network ranker is here, and Australian broadcaster SCA’s revenue fell 3.7% but audio assets continue strong performance.

Here's what you need to know today in the business of podcasting. Why Podcasters and Publishers Should Lean into Ad Measurement by Paul RiismandelAcast Supercharges US LeadershipThis year’s upfronts deals, broken down by Kelsey Sutton

Tom Webster shows off data from the upcoming study The Podcast Landscape in America and discusses the power of focusing a podcast to a specific audience over generic broad-reaching topics. Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know from today in the business of podcasting: Descript Acquires SquadCastTop 15 podcast advertisers in AustraliaGoogle Repays Advertisers After Report of Low-Quality Ads by Garett SloaneDentsu Reports Sequentially Lower Q2 Growth, Cites Tech And Financial Slowdowns by Joe Mandese…as for the rest of the news:And for the rest of the news… YouTube is revamping how linking off-site will work, and Brian Morrissey discusses the next wave of B2B media (which sounds like a perfect fit for podcasting).

Here's what you need to know today in the business of podcasting. Amazon is quietly building a publisher-focused ad product team to grow its $37 billion ad businessShifting Share of Ear: A nine-year comparison of radio and podcastsMattress Firm's Branded Podcast Drives In-Store Sales with iHeartMediaAnd for the rest of the news… Audacy debuts new study The Rise of the Cross-Platform Listener. Digiday breaks down key differences between Gen Z and Gen Alpha for brands, and American Public Media and Audacy have terminated their partnership a year early.

Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Connect Patreon to Spotify and Stream Your Favorite Podcasts in One PlaceQ2 Earnings Calls in PodcastingWhy some publishers are reducing their podcast slate to try to grow their audio businessesQuick Hits: The Song of the Summer, and the Joe Rogan Problem Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast Signs Exclusive Ad Partnerships with Two Leading Podcast Networks. The Podcast Academy and DPC Entertainment Launch Podcast 360.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Why Are More Than Half of Podcasters Still Not Publishing Video?Connect Patreon to Spotify and Stream Your Favorite Podcasts in One PlaceHow ad tech’s measurement titans are pivoting to attention and activationIndie agency census reveals expected areas of ad spend growthAnd for the rest of the news… Digiday has a guide for what’s in and what’s out in influencer marketing for 2023, and this week’s issue of The Rebooting reminds us all that the media business is still hard.

What you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: KQED snatches up Snap Judgment and Spooked by Amrita KhalidPodcast networks report Q2 revenue growth, with positive signs for continued improvements in 2023 by Sara GuaglioneCTV Buyers Are Still Struggling to Know Where Their Ads Ran by Catherine Perloff …as for the rest of the news: Arrow Media has been appointed Acast’s commercial partner for Queensland, Australia, and new eMarketer data suggests web publishers are ‘fighting over a pie that is barely growing.’

While podcasting has had several 'song of the summer' moments since Serial's smash success in 2014, in recent years those mainstream attention-getting moments are dominated by one polarizing figure. Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: “True potential” in Sirius XM podcast biz by Brad HillWhy concerns of influencer marketing oversaturation are overblown by Kristina MonllosWhen Podcast Apps Miss The Mark by Steve GoldsteinHow soft is the ad market, really? By Ryan Barwick…as for the rest of the news: Eric Nuzum reflects on what makes a good podcast host, Sean Howard explains yield optimization and what it means for podcasting in Flightpath, and Forbes covered a new QCODE audio drama starring Chris Pine and Troian Bellisario.

Here's what you need to know in the business of podcasting for August 7th. Why some publishers are reducing their podcast slate to try to grow their audio businessesMagnite And FreeWheel Link Up In The Name Of InteroperabilityAcast to focus on automation to ‘create value’ for advertisersTop 3 podcasts in U.S. remain the same over two yearsThe Media Rating Council is angling for better clarity in an era of compounding complexityAnd for the rest of the news… Digiday’s new Media Briefing presents the case for, and against, paid subscription trials. Digital subscriptions are a bright spot in otherwise down Q2 for Gannett. And, in a surprising turn after announcing their partnership with Spotify, ad group WPP cut their full-year growth forecast from 3 to 5% down to 1.5 to 3%, citing low spending from tech clients and delays in tech-related projects.

This week's stories: Audio Ads Outperform Video for Attention and Brand Recall, Dentsu Study Finds. The ad slowdown (or lack thereof) gives the industry reason to hopethe kids podcast listener reportQuick Hits: Introducing The Download by Bryan BarlettaThe Download is now a daily podcast, covering news important to the business of podcasting Monday through Thursday, with the usual weekly recap continuing on Fridays. NAVA posts info for SAG-AFTRA strike.The National Association of Voice Actors has released a one-sheet clarifying what types of work NAVA actors can or cannot do during the SAG-AFTRA strike. SiriusXM is betting big on its next-gen app by Amrita KhalidThe much-teased new SiriusXM app is set to debut this fall and was brought up during the recent Q2 earnings call.WPP & Spotify Announce First-of-its-Kind Global PartnershipBritish communications and advertising holding company WPP is now in a global strategic partnership with Spotify to give its clients access to Spotify’s ad products and scaling capabilities.

Here's what you need to know for Thursday, August 3rd.Inside Audio Marketing - Katz: Target Consumers With Messages That Relate To Where They Listen To Radio.RainNews - Quantifying brand marketing uncertainties and risks, Veritonic says audio is paramountSpotify - WPP & Spotify Announce First-of-its-Kind Global PartnershipMediaPost - TV 'Ad Intolerant' Viewers Still In The Minority, Study Finds

Here's what you need to know for Wednesday, August 2nd. Podcast Company Realm Acquires Kid-Focused Pinna as Industry Consolidates by Ashley CarmanSiriusXM is betting big on its next-gen app by Amrita KhalidGood Karma Brands to run operations, sales for ESPN Radio by Andrew BucholtAs strikes halt Hollywood projects, the TV ad industry is on the line by Kelsey SuttonFuture of TV Briefing: How top streamers’ ad prices have trended in this year’s upfront negotiations by Tim Peterson

Bryan announces the newest evolution of The Download: a daily newsletter covering the essential news for the business of podcasting.Credits: Written by Bryan Barletta Edited by Tom Webster Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This is The Download from Sounds Profitable, your daily source for the essential news of the business of podcasting, brought to you by Spreaker from iHeart. Here’s what you need to know for today, Tuesday August 1st. AdAge - Audio Ads Outperform Video for Attention and Brand Recall, Dentsu Study Finds. The study was conducted by Lumen and commissioned by Dentsu, with Amazon Ads, Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, Spotify, and SXM Media participating. 41% of audio ads generated correct brand recall in follow-up surveys, a 3% increase over the norm for other forms of advertising Dentsu keeps track of. Compared to digital, social, and TV benchmarks, podcasts held listeners’ attention for more seconds per thousand impressions.Inside Audio Marketing - Podcast Listeners Spending More Time With Medium As Digital Audio Usage Rises.New eMarketer graphs show daily time spent with podcasts by adult podcast listeners has increased from 44 minutes in 2021 to 51 minutes this year. eMarketer’s forecast predicts that number will grow at slower percentage rates in coming years, but will still hit 56 minutes by 2025. The overall average daily digital audio consumption is one hour and 52 minutes. LibSyn - Podcast Advertising RatesAdvertiseCast has updated their monthly tracker of podcast CPM rates. July’s average between all three tracked audience sizes is $22.24 for a 60 second spot, a 3.6% decrease from June and continuing a downward trend since May’s price of $23.50. Still, it’s holding above the lowest point from the doldrums of Q1 when February’s average hit $21.99.Digiday - Fortune cookies, the Sphere and more: How advertisers are taking OOH beyond billboardsOut of home advertising is evolving, including digital taxi toppers, ad-supported fortune cookie messages, and the $2.3 billion Sphere in Las Vegas. Some agencies have leaned into intentionally outlandish/evocative OOH campaigns to generate online buzz and have found success. Podcasting has had some success with similar OOH campaigns, including billboards for Slow Burn’s season on an abortion rights case that specifically run in states proposing abortion rights rollbacks. eMarketer - YouTube CTV spending jumped 31% last quarter, outpacing streamersAccording to agency Tinuiti, spending on YouTube’s connected TV ads jumped 31% in Q1 while services like Max and Netflix only experienced 6% growth. Hulu charts in the lead on CTV ad revenue on eMarketer’s 2023 chart with 3.63 billion, followed by YouTube at 2.89 billion and Roku at 2.19 billion. The fastest-growing CTV presence is now also the most popular location for audiences to consume podcasts.Be sure to check out the links to every article mentioned right in your podcast listening app, or at SoundsProfitable.com, where you can also subscribe to the newsletter version.The Download is written and produced by Bryan Barletta, Gavin Gaddis, and Tom Webster. It’s assembled in Spooler and hosted on Art19. For Sounds Profitable, I’m Tom Webster - Download us again tomorrow!

Stories covered: The Fully-Produced Podcast Ad: Are we leaving attention on the table?Spotify's Q2 Earnings CallYour favorite TV rewatch podcast is here to stay - but don’t expect any new ones. Quick Hits: Only Be Kind by Tom WebsterThis week, Tom writes about the legacy of Frank Cody and a life philosophy he brought to radio that podcasting would do well to implement: Only be kind.NewsGuard Launches 'Made-For-Advertising' Service In Response To ANA Study by Joe MandeseTo combat the rising issue of made-for-advertising sites siphoning programmatic ads, NewsGuard has introduced the ability to create whitelists of non-MFA sites and blacklists to exclude known MFA content.Audio Amplified: Harnessing the Power of Branded PodcastsThe new white paper from Quill focuses on the utility of branded podcasts as high-value content that resonates with audiences, establishes trust, and positions creators as industry leaders.Veritonic and Acast Partner to Highlight What Success Sounds Like Around the World for Podcast Ads Bought ProgrammaticallyNew research from the two companies compares and contrasts of audio creatives from programmatic campaigns around the world.

Tom Webster reflects on the life of someone important to both him and audio in general, as well as a valuable lesson we can learn from how he thought about life. Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Stories covered: U.S. podcasters are attracting more international listenersWhy a ‘podcast election’ is unlikelyAd overexposure on CTV hurts streamers as much as brands.Quick Hits: Will Podcast Ad Revenues Double by 2025? Not Without These Five Things by Tom Webster.Podcasts draw devoted audiences, but ad spending lags by Catherine Wolf. The Rumors of Podcasting’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated...Redux by Eric Nuzum. Why Podcast Ad Creative is Pivotal, Now More than Ever by Paul Riismandel. Cracking the Code: Gen Z Engagement through Audio Advertising by Mariam Ahmad

Tom Webster looks at our most recent study, The Podcast Opportunity, and provides five key findings that point the way towards making podcasts a more vital part of ad spending.Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Articles covered: Breakdown of FTC Endorsement GuidelinesYouTube Tests Crackdown On Ad BlockersThis LinkedIn article could have been a video podcast.Quick Hits: Spotify hits the 100,000 mark for video podcasts MediaMath Files For Bankruptcy, Owes Hundreds Of Millions.mowPod Supercharges Self-Serve Platform with AI-Powered Ad Copy and Precision Targeting

Articles covered: The Podcast OpportunitySXM Shuts down StitcherFilm and TV have collapsed over the last decade.Quick HitsLong Read- Podcasts, a hot advertising medium by Ruby Derrick ThePodcastHost.com Publishes ‘IndiePod Manifesto’ Off the Back of Independent Podcaster Census DataAcast Unlocks Largest Self-Serve Marketplace of Podcast Influencers For Media Buyers

With the upcoming release of Sounds Profitable’s study The Podcast Opportunity, Tom reflects on the idea of podcasting being considered ‘neither fish nor fowl’ in the advertising world. Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Articles covered: Quick Hits: Registration is open for next week’s Sounds Profitable webinar for the upcoming study The Podcast Opportunity: Buyer Perceptions of Podcast Advertising. The presentation is on June 28th at 3p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The new study uncovers the latest thinking from buyers on the current state of podcasts advertising, and the strengths and weaknesses of buying the medium. In a bonus video from this week’s Product Deepdive, Podscibe’s Amelia Coomber demonstrates a new tool in the platform that uses ChatGPT, trained with the GARM framework, to generate a risk assessment for the podcast. The content rating system generates a visualization that shows what content is flagged, an automatic summary of what was said, and timestamps to check out the offending content directly. Streaming Audio and YouTube Measurement now offered in Magellan AI. As of last week, Magellan AI supports the measurement of streaming audio campaigns, as well as podcasts. Advertisers can now confirm impression delivery by channel and measure ad performance through custom KPIs. Magellan also launched the ability to measure YouTube impact. Acast launches new tech integrating publishers’ paywalls with podcast platforms. The tech, dubbed Acast+ Access, will enable paywalled news outlets to produce podcasts that are siloed and only accessible to those who pay for the site’s premium subscription. Ausha Launches Ausha PRO, a new sub-brand dedicated for Branded Podcasts. Ausha PRO includes the features of Ausha with the added benefits of enhanced support, advanced customization of promotional materials, multi-user access for collaborative management, and platform configuration performed in-house by Ausha staff.

This week, Tom looks at some recent data on popular podcast genres from Pew in light of Spotify parting ways with Meghan and Harry and their podcast Archetypes. What can we learn from the past about the future of celebrity podcasting? Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week's stories: Podcast listeners well disposed to political ads (Veritonic)Let’s Think about Podcast Consumers, Not Just ListenersCan A Million Ads Simplify Hyperlocal Audio Ads By Creating Even More Of Them?Partner Events: “Demystifying Brand Lift: Measuring How Audio Ad Campaigns Resonate with Listeners.” “How Creative Testing Drives Success in Audio.”“The Podcast Opportunity: Buyer Perceptions of Podcast Advertising”Quick Hits: What AI Will Never be Able to Do That People Can by Scott Klass. With AI discourse focusing on the hypotheticals of replacing on-air talent, SoundStack CMO Klass addresses the need for a human experience in the customer service side of advertising. Is the podcast bubble starting to burst? by Nick Bonyhady. A look at podcasting’s listener growth (and recent lack thereof) in Australia, showing there’s less of a balloon and more of a new normal catching up to the statistical anomaly of the surge in new podcasts spurred by pandemic. Podsights goes free-to-use and rebrands as Spotify Ad Analytics by Reem Makari. Rebranded to Spotify Ad Analytics, the platform offers free pixel tracking and has expanded to more countries. Brand lift studies are still Spotify app only, but are included for free with campaigns that meet a minimum spend and reach threshold. Podscribe Launches Automated Ad Scoring The new tool, powered by ChatGPT, automatically grades the quality of ad reads on a scale of 1 to 10 using criteria like how clearly the product was endorsed, and how personalized the recommendation was. Narrativ Launches Mobile App Open Beta. Generative AI startup Narrativ generates audio versions of news articles and monetizes via audio ads. The mobile app currently hosts content from several collegiate newspapers and will soon incorporate national news and Associated Press articles.

Programmatic ad placement has been stuck on the waterfall for long enough. It’s time to lay the foundation for Header Bidding in podcasting. Written by Bryan Barletta Edited by Tom Webster Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Articles covered: Spotify to Slash Podcast Workforce, Combine Parcast and Gimlet Studios in New Round of Cuts“How Do We Pivot?”: Podcasting Turns to M&A and Cost-CuttingWhy advertisers are reconsidering keyword blocklists as brand safety approaches to hard newsGrowing Up with Podcasts: The Gen Z Podcast Listener ReportThe State of Audio Technology ReportIs YouTube Eating Podcasts? Cumulus Media And Signal Hill Insights’ Podcast Download – Spring 2023 ReportHot Pod coverage of audiobook surveys.Quick Hits iOS 17: What’s new for Apple Podcasts. During the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced upcoming changes in iOS 17 that will impact Apple Podcasts. Search filters, episode art, and a new listening experience are among the new features. Developers currently have access to a beta, while public beta testing is slated for later this month. Podcasting’s Biggest Opportunity by Tom Webster. Podcasting is becoming more competitive and less collegial every year. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or just inevitable? Tom Webster suggests there is still an important job we all need to collaborate on first. Triton Audio Marketplace Expands Basis Technologies Partnership to Support Advertising Across Digital and Broadcast Radio Segments. The new arrangement aims to enable marketers to streamline and consolidate content across all audio segments (podcasting, streaming, and terrestrial broadcast radio) via the Triton Audio Marketplace. Canadian Branded Podcast Agency Seeks Bad Reviews for its New Show. JAR Audio’s new ‘tell all’ about the branded podcast industry, pitched as part advice column and part sketch comedy, is asking be ruthlessly critical of the show during its upcoming launch window. Finally: the Sounds Profitable press release portal is now open! You can now submit your press releases directly to Sounds Profitable via the new portal at SoundsProfitable.com/press. In fact, the last two Quick Hits are pulled directly from our press release section. Head over now and amplify your podcast industry-related news and announcements.

Podcasting is becoming more competitive and less collegial every year. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or just inevitable? Tom Webster suggests there is still an important job we all need to collaborate on first. Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable theme written by Tim Cameron Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week on the Download: Why podcasters are selling subscriptions through third-party vendorsFuture of TV Briefing: CTV continues to be a black box to programmatic marketersPublishers large and small put their resources into first-party data - Digiday ResearchAustralian digital audio ad spend climbs to $51.9 millionQuick Hits: The Podscape, a collaborative effort between Magellan AI and Sounds Profitable, will be publishing a new edition this summer! In the interest of making this snapshot of the podcasting industry as accurate as possible the Podscape is putting out an open call: Is your company missing from the current edition? Notice something we omitted? Submit Updates HerePeabody-Nominated Content Studio Project Brazen Launches Platform for “Fearless Storytelling” by Alex Ritman. The new content platform features a special focus on journalism “that reveals hidden aspects of the world around us.”

There has been much concern over how podcasting will implement AI. Tom breaks down the current landscape, as well as future symbiotic relationships.Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable theme written by Tim Cameron Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week on The Download: Advertisers and audiences refute the idea that podcasts are on the wane. NewsGuard: Programmatically-placed ads for major nonprofits and government orgs on dozens of misinformation websitesWhy Black creators say brands are ‘quiet as a mouse’ on Black History Month and Juneteenth this year. Quick Hits: Podscribe Launches YouTube Conversation Modeling. The new dashboard unifies RSS and YouTube metrics into one location. ARN and Magellan AI announce Top 15 Podcast Advertisers in Australia for Q1. The list includes familiar faces like Apple, Amazon, and McDonald’s. ‘The Turning’ Podcast Studio Rococo Punch to Merge With Audily by J. Clara Chan. From the article: “When two independents come together, we can do much bigger things.” ARN uses geo-location to deliver headlines on Your News Now podcast. The new podcast uses geotargeting to create a sub-three-minute episode covering local news, sports, and weather forecast. Missing the Sounds Profitable Podcast this week? Check out the latest episode of the ANA’s podcast Champions of Growth. The episode, titled Is Podcasting the Future of Branded Advertising, features both Bryan Barletta and Tom Webster talking with Matthew Schwartz

Like a kid taking a bite of his dessert before his meal is finished, I think it’s time we enter the next phase of podcast adtech even before we finish the last.Credits: Written by Bryan Barletta Edited by Gavin Gaddis Read by Gavin Gaddis Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week: Lessons from the Podcast Upfront, the Spring 2023 MIDAS report is here, and SXM Media leaders see podcast advertising maturing.| Podcasters focus on expansion and reach despite slower ad revenue growth at upfronts Podcast Advertising Sees Slowdown in 2022, Even as Growth Rate Outpaces Other Digital Mediums Despite Layoffs and Canceled Podcasts, Podcasting Is Optimistic About AI And First-Party Data RAJAR Spring 2023 MIDAS Report Hot Pod: SXM Media Leaders talk about how podcast ads are still maturing And for our Quick Hits: New from Recordical: Audio Currents, a twice-weekly audio industry newsletter written by Shreya Sharma. Tuesday issues will focus on audio news, industry expert interviews, and resources for brands, while Friday episodes will feature creator spotlights. Barometer and ArtsAI have partnered to “bring new solutions to market delivering unprecedented in-flight transparency of brand safety and suitability for podcast advertising.” Podcasting gets a new magazine with Good Tape. The new print magazine aims to capture the conversations happening in the audio industry. The first issue is available for pre-order and slated for Fall 2023 release, with an open call for writers to pitch content. For a full transcript and links to all articles mentioned, please visit SoundsProftiable.com/Podcast

In this episode, Arielle Nissenblatt and Bryan Barletta interview Tom Webster about his recent reporting: an article he wrote for Sounds Profitable called “How To Murder a Podcast” and a YouTube video called “Research Collection Methods.” We talk about Sounds Profitable’s approach when it comes to education for the industry and how understanding research collection methods fits into our mission. We also discuss our upcoming research projects and where you can go to learn about them.Listen to learn about: Probability sampling Convenience sampling “Crap” sampling Why understanding research methodology is important How to understand and take action on industry studies What we’re presenting at The Podcast Show in London for SP partners Links: Ashley Reese’s tweet about Robert DeNiro / Al Pacino How To Murder a Podcast Sounds Profitable’s YouTube channel Credits: Hosted by Bryan Barletta, Arielle Nissenblatt, Tom Webster Produced by Spooler Media Hosted on Art19 Recorded on SquadCast.fm Edited by Gavin Gaddis

This week, we have a special guest post from Newton Schottelkotte! Newt recently graduated from college this year, but do not let their age fool you - they’ve been in podcasting for seven years now, and seven significant years at that. We asked Newt to share some perspective on how podcasting has changed, and how it can continue to grow as a viable career. Written by Newton Schottelkotte Edited by Tom Webster Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

This week's stories: DISQO: Proving the Power of Podcast Ads Elite podcasts struggle while the podcast masses thrive. Pluto TV has an ad frequency problem. Quick Hits: Newsguard Launches World’s First Journalist-Vetted Podcast Credibility Ratings. In addition to this announcement, Newsguard has also announced a partnership with Barometer to provide episode-level misinformation detection for podcasts. Dovetail from PRX is now IAB Podcast Measurement 2.1 Certified. Spotify launches the Spotify Audience Network in France, Spain, and Italy. Continuing podcast’s global growth, advertisers will now have access to the network in more European countries. This week on Data Decoded, Tom Webster brings a special extra-long episode in the form of his IAB Upfront talk. Join Tom as he breaks down the data to look at the anatomy of podcasting’s audience, and how it has grown.

The Edison Research Share of Ear shows podcasting’s share of daily audio listening for Americans 13+ has doubled over the last nine years. This week, Tom highlights a related statistic that shows a promising ratio for podcasting’s core.Credits: Written by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta Assembled with Spooler.fm Hosted by ART19 Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.