The pace of change the podcast industry is undergoing is staggering. The implications for podcasters, hosting providers, podcast listening app developers, and advertisers and agencies are enormous. And so is the growth potential. Presented as a companion to the weekly newsletter of the same name, our podcast provides you with direct access to our narrated articles, interviews with industry experts, bleeding-edge research, and can't miss industry news recaps. That Sounds Profitable, right? Assumptions and conventional wisdom will be challenged. Easy answers with no proof of efficacy will be exposed. Because the thinking that got podcast advertising close to a billion dollars annually will need to be drastically overhauled to bring in the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars podcast advertising deserves.
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This week in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable merges with Podcast Movement, podcast audiences want choice, a look at news podcast listener demographic changes, YouTube is making it easier for collaborator brand deals to give credit to everyone, and what podcasting left on the table during the Taylor Swift album announcement. 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....
Today in the business of podcasting: The Podcast Standards Project shows how video can easily become a part of open RSS podcasting, Tom Webster debuts new audience data at Podcast Movement, and Signal Hill Insights has a new report on News podcast audiences. 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....
Today in the business of podcasting: What likely depressed Spotify's ad business this past quarter, YouTube adds a collaborator-focused update to Shorts ads, and Wondercraft has a new conversation-based AI to quickly produce content. 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.
Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable and Podcast Movement merge, Dentsu is opening a podcast network in India, and Billboard looks at the numbers for Taylor Swift's last podcast appearance. 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: Taylor Swift debuted her new album's name and artwork on a podcast, a look at the resiliency of audio storytelling, Tom Webster reflects on the "video is everything" media narrative, an update to The Podscape is here, and Oxford Road has a new report on the lift provided by running ads on YouTube podcasts. 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 installme...
Today in the business of podcasting: the new Podscape is now here, Jen Moss writes about the decline of audio storytelling being exaggerated, Tom Webster reflects on podcasting's flexibility in the video age, and The Hollywood Reporter has a special issue just for podcasting. 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....
Today in the business of podcasting: Oxford Road has a new study on YouTube podcast ad lift, Taylor Swift's album announcement on a podcast is about to happen, marketers are finding podcasts ads rock (because they do), and the ad industry has an entry-level problem for college grads. 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....
Despite what scary headlines may say, video and audio podcasting have a more symbiotic relationship than one might think. Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable.
Today in the business of podcasting: sports podcasting has grown so much video podcasts are starting to look like independent TV studios, podcasting remains a bright spot of iHeartMedia's earnings calls, Taylor Swift uses a podcast to announce her new album, and Procter & Gamble uses an audio fiction podcast to promote a new version of Downy. 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 installme...
Today in the business of podcasting: Age of Audio to be screened in the Sounds Profitable lounge @ Podcast Movement, how B2B startups are using podcast ads to grow, regulatory bodies in the UK argue YouTube is so big its advertising should be regulated like a broadcaster, Seattle's audio drama scene is booming, and The Hill publishes an op-ed about how MeidasTouch Podcast is outpacing The Joe Rogan Experience . Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfi...
This week in the business of podcasting: Amazon announces restructuring of Wondery, Spotify adds Audiobooks Plus add-on to US market, a look at podcasting's ability to plus-up social media ad buys, and a look back at what might have went wrong with Meghan Markle's podcasting efforts. 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....
Today in the business of podcasting: Tom Webster on how podcasts compliment social media marketing campaigns, video podcasting grows at Audioboom, and industry responses to Wondery's restructuring. 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.
Today in the business of podcasting: a reminder of the Sounds Profitable job board, Spotify launches Audiobooks Plus in the US, Theo Von interviews Hank Hill, and podcast advertising's ability to drive fans to action. 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.
New Sounds Profitable data shows podcasts are powerful drivers of consumer action, often complemented by social media like Instagram. The episode delves into why this synergy works, highlighting the deep trust audiences place in podcast hosts and the unique 'parasocial proof' this provides for advertisers. It argues that combining social media (for initial exposure) with podcasts (for deeper engagement and trust-building) creates a highly effective, multi-channel campaign.
Today in the business of podcasting: Ofcom has new UK listenership numbers, Spotify is raising its price in overseas markets, reactions to Bloomberg's Wondery closure article, and Xiaomi unveils new open source AI voice model for cars and appliances. 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....
Today in the business of podcasting: Wondery podcast studio is shutting down, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is shutting down, SiriusXM reports healthy podcast growth in Q2, and why most Americans were never particularly interested in Meghan Markle's podcasting efforts. 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: Sounds Profitable has a new study focusing on how podcast audiences drive action, Magellan AI has a chart of their top movers and shakers in the podcast ad world, Spotify wants fans to "Read like they Listen", audio fiction is becoming a strategic IP play for Hollywood talent, and Astronomer hired Maximum Effort to address the Coldplay situation. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking...
Today in the business of podcasting: Magellan AI has their June top spenders report, how influencer marketing has evolved over H1, TikTok to track audiences after they click out of the app, and podcasts are becoming more of a strategic IP play for actors. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment.
Today in the business of podcasting: Sounds Profitable has published a new report called Driving to Action, Andreessen Horowitz is looking to pay $400k to build out a podcast network, how broadcasters are adapting to young sports fans' desire for instant clips and highlights, and a Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids is the latest Scripps TV station to assign designated neighborhood reporters. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicki...
Today in the business of podcasting: Spotify promotes audiobook listening with music language, a Reddit thread on /r/podcasts strikes up conversations about egregious pre-rolls, why settle for likes when brands can foster love, and Google rebuffs Pew report claiming AI summary search results are causing a decrease in clicks to webpages. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's installment....
Today in the business of podcasting: Acast crosses milestone with the U.S. becoming their highest-contributing single podcast market, Maximum Effort produces a satirical comedy ad for Astronomer, and Adweek looks at the growth and hiring spree happening with smaller, indie ad agencies. Register now for our upcoming webinar! Find links to every article mentioned by going to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or click here to go direct to today's issue....
This week in the business of podcasting: Why Sharon Taylor argues podcasting is losing sight of its audio roots, what Tom Webster learned from the longest-running one-person show in Vegas, an interview with OpusClip's Louis Roberts, and what the death of TheLate Show means for podcasting. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's entry....
Today in the business of podcasting: a look at Spotify's "super-listeners", what Tom Webster learned from a magician that applies to podcasting, and the Just for Laughs festival is awarding a Podcast of the Year during this year's festival. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to go straight to today's entry.
Today in the business of podcasting: Apple details how they protect listener privacy in listening reports, Steve Goldsten writes on how podcasting has largely usurped the classic late-night talk show, Sharon Taylor argues why video podcasting narratives leave audio behind, and an interview with OpusClip's Louis Roberts. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to head straight to today's entry....
Audience engagement is the true magic that makes shows stick, who better to learn from than actual magicians? Written and narrated by Tom Webster Edited by Bryan Barletta and Gavin Gaddis Audio editing by Gavin Gaddis Register for Sounds Profitable's next research webinar. Find the full article here on Sounds Profitable....
Today in the business of podcasting: what the death of The Late Show might say about linear TV in general, a look at Joe Budden's income streams, advertising awards race to tighten up generative AI guidelines after Cannes Lions, Spotify launches Audiobooks+ in European markets and Canada, and 6AM City seeks to automate local newsletter production with Good Daily's AI. Find links to every article mentioned by heading to The Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here for today's...
Today in the business of podcasting: Apple Podcasts have new listener reports (and Dan Misener has a suggestion for a future one), The New York Times looks at the audience of multi-hour chat podcasts, an overlook at how public broadcasting is impacted by the Senate rescinding $1b in funding, Nicolle Wallce's MSNBC podcast now is aired on MSNBC proper, and Sounds Profitable won the 2025 Content Marketing Institute award for Best Data Storytelling. Find links to every article mentioned by heading ...
This week in the business of podcasting. Audioboom has acquired Adelicious Selling the health & fitness podcast mindset Content creators shut out of the Emmys for a second year running The power of podcast search optimization Google is indexing Instagram Video podcasting and YouTube production is creating jobs in an otherwise hurting Hollywood. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for...
Today in the business of podcasting: SiriusXM launches an ad-supported tier, Audioboom acquires Adelicious, how Kids & Family podcasts are perfect for the "nag factor", content creators once again left out of the Emmys, and Acast reports on a podcast campaign run for KFC in Australia. Find links to every article discussed by heading to the Download's section of SoundsProfitable.com, or clicking here to head straight to the post for today's episode....
Today's podcast business news includes Google's new indexing of Instagram content, potentially boosting podcast discoverability and advertising, alongside an interview highlighting the power of podcast search optimization (PSO). The episode also delves into the maturing creator economy, noting its challenges like creator burnout and its shift towards traditional media structures. Finally, it discusses the IAB Tech Lab's initiative to formalize content usage for LLMs, aiming to give publishers more control and revenue from AI scraping, along with other industry updates.
