Female-founded video podcast network launches

In the UK, a new, female-founded video podcast network has been launched by former Google, YouTube, and BBC & Freemantle execs. HERA is founded by Rosie Allimonos, Nishma Patel Robb and Kirsty Hunter, and aims “to unlock the most underserved audience in media history: women”.

Daniel Ek is to step down as CEO of Spotify. From Jan 1, Gustav Söderström, co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, co-President and Chief Business Officer, will become co-CEOs. Ek will become Executive Chairman, to “spend more time on the long-term strategic decisions that will define Spotify [in the] next decade”.

Spotify has announced changes ahead for Megaphone-hosted publishers. “Beginning midyear 2026”, Megaphone publishers will gain access to Spotify's ad technology, including the Spotify Ad Exchange, enabling them to book private marketplace deals (PMPs) and unlock new features like video ads, clickable ads, and improved forecasting. Targeting will also be enhanced by introducing Spotify first-party data.

For International Podcast Day, which was yesterday, Spotify also published a piece on “where podcasting is now” written by Spotify podcast editorial staff. It also shared a number of videos to Instagram with advice for podcasters.
Spotify also announced an inaugural podcaster roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter, which will air in November, featuring top contenders for the newly introduced ‘Best Podcast' category at the Golden Globes.