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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Today in the business of podcasting: Daniel Ek is stepping down from CEO of Spotify, YouTube creator conglomerate executives share intel, a tease of today's Podcast Upfront, what podcasts and milkshakes have in common, and a new podcast category comes to Tribeca Festival. 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: tariffs are causing brands to back away from the US (something podcasting could leverage), a defense of journalism in podcasting, how press-shy stars are finding their way to podcasts, the IAB upgrades their podcast ad revenue outlook for podcasting, and Pew Research has new podcast audience data. 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: podcasting is maturing and changing landscape, Canada's growing podcast audience (including new Canadians), how short-form clips might be cannibalizing podcast audiences, Amazon signs SiriusXM to AmazonDSP, and YouTube is soon to test out their own version of dynamic ad insertion for video. 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: podcasting's maturation and what comes next, Canadian podcast listening continues to grow, and Heavyweights is back with a new season from Pushkin. 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: YouTube is soon to demo their own version of DAI, the top 10% of Americans are doing almost half the spending, and the untapped potential of serial shortform dramas. 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: Amazon's DSP signs with SiriusXM for audio, explaining the SlopAds fraud scheme, and industry execs discuss the communication needs of premium 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: social media clips pose potential cannibalization issue, Morrissey on saving the open web, podcasting exempt from UK "less healthy foods" advertising restrictions, marketers are squeamish about Q4, and how Nairobi is a Gen Z hotspot for Kenya's podcasting scene. 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 episode pays tribute to Todd Cochrane, the influential founder of Raw Voice and Blueberry, reflecting on his profound impact on the podcasting industry. It then explores how content creators are strategically using CTV deals to enhance sponsorship rates and expand their reach. The discussion also covers Amazon's Wondery retooling, examining its implications for narrative podcasting's creative value and monetization challenges. Additionally, the podcast previews the IAB Podcast Upfront, focusing on measurement and industry changes, alongside other key news.
Today in the business of pdocasting: remembering Todd Cochrane, what creatives don't get about executives, Google's court filing suggests open web is in "rapid decline", what Amazon's turn away from narrative podcasting opens for the wider industry, and Locked On grows advertiser partnerships with Magellan AI. 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: how Gen Z is shaping sports media, a look at YouTube's new culture and trends report, how transparency is influencing influencer sponsor pay, and On Air Fest/Work x Work announce a rebrand. 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.
Tom Webster shares a personal remembrance of Todd Cochrane, a friend and podcasting pioneer. He reflects on Todd's early influence through Geek News Central, his commitment to building a sustainable business for creators, and his unique ability to foster a community. The episode highlights Todd's passion, candor, and unwavering belief in podcasting's life-changing power, concluding with a tribute to his enduring legacy.
Today in the business of podcasting: the industry mourns the loss of Todd Cochrane, IAB announces Podcast Upfront plans, and a reflection on how gen-AI might impact media's profit capabilities. 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's podcast business news highlights how creators are using Connected TV (CTV) channels to secure higher-value sponsorship deals. The episode also discusses Washington State's controversial new digital ad sales tax, the New York Times' decision to sunset its dedicated audio app, and the significant growth of Brazil's podcast market. Finally, AdImpact's predictions for record-breaking ad spending in the 2026 midterm elections are examined, along with various other podcast industry updates.
The episode delves into the "Podcast Landscape 2025" report, revealing evolving audience preferences between audio and video, the growing impact of multicultural listeners, and a shift in top podcast popularity. It also highlights the significant financial success of live podcasting events at major venues and YouTube's consistent lead in media distribution, alongside previews of upcoming industry events.
Today in the business of podcasting: a look at podcasting's presence at Advertising Week NYC, The Podcast Landscape 2025 is here, streaming investments are up but buyers drive a hard bagain, and the hidden costs of launching a YouTube presence. 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 lot of money is going to into creator marketing but not as much is making it to the creators, mainstream media is hungry for star podcast talent, and key findings from industry conversations at Podcast Movement Dallas. 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: Podcast live shows are a real money-maker, the creator economy has some measurement roadbumps to clear, talent managers are finding they can't redline contracts for influencers as much, Edison's top 25 podcasts quarterly report is here, and YouTube tops TV watch chart for sixth month running on Nielsen Media Distributior Gauge. Find links to every article covered by heading to the Download section of SoundsProfitable.com, or by clicking here to go directly to...
This week in the business of podcasting: The Emmys recognizing YouTube video podcasts as talk shows might save the Talk Show category, Tom Webster debuts data from The Podcast Landscape 2025, Chartable has an official death-date, and Spotify has a new messaging service in its app. 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: Chartable has a death-date, two surprising facts about platform consumption, Australia has a new advertising benchmark study, YouTube takes Hype global, and a look at a kids' podcast that got demonetized. 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 episode of Sounds Profitable discusses The Trade Desk's controversial reclassification of SSPs as resellers, impacting ad tech supply paths. It also features interviews with Ozen.fm's Rodrigo Tigre on global podcast growth and Katie Nolan on her new show "Casuals," focusing on authentic conversations. The episode highlights Taylor Swift's record-breaking podcast appearance and rounds up other industry news, including a new creator caucus and Podstock's Episode 360 feature.
Essential news for today in the business of podcasting: YouTube has been quietly sharpening contrast on random YouTube Shorts, Spotify launches an in-app messaging feature, Acast launches Ads Academy, and a roundup of some webinars happening this week. 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: Spotify's increasing Premium rate, the changing landscape of paid search placement, YouTube podcast elegibility would be a ticket to rejuvinating talk show award categories, and what Black culture means to modern brands. SiriusXM's survey. 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 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.