Recent Developments in Podcasting Artwork and Trends

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• Wanting to get promoted by Apple Podcasts? Apple is now requiring specific artwork for shows it promotes in its app: its feature request form says that “submissions without Showcase Hero art will not be considered for Showcase featuring in the US”. They mean Show Hero art, as documented here. The form is also specifically asking about trailers, so we can guess what’s next there, too. Not looking for Apple Podcasts promotion? Don’t worry; nothing else changes. (h/t John McDermott)
  • If you’ve a trailer, you can also use our own New Podcasts website to promote your show there (and here).
    • (Update: Apple updated its Show Hero page to rename it as Showcase Hero within 24 hours of us publishing this).
• The Podcast Marketing Academy released its 2025 Podcast Marketing Trends Report. The survey contains a lot of quality data around what works - and doesn’t - in terms of podcasting:
  • 55% of shows saw a smaller listenership this year than last year, the study says; though 18% of shows doubled their listenership. It also shows that business shows, and shows with an interview format, grew the most. The length of a podcast grew slightly, with the median episode 5% longer than last year at 36 minutes 42 seconds.
• The APAs from AudioUK are open for entry, as the audio production awards return for the fifteenth year. The awards celebrate audio from podcasts to radio, audiobooks to sound design, production to presenting. Audible returns as sponsor; you’ve until mid September to enter.

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