

Sounds Profitable
Bryan Barletta
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2024 • 4min
Podcast Socials Drive Watch Time, Consumer Election Anticipation, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: a report on podcast watch time, how to get your podcast on platform lists, and election anxieties drive consumer purchasing.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 25, 2024 • 34min
[Feed Drop] From Competitors to Partners: The Story Behind the Industry's Biggest Union
This week Bryan Barletta guested on the Media Roundtable podcast, here's the episode! Original description for the episode is as follows: The Media Roundtable is back! This week, we're making waves in the podcasting world with a groundbreaking announcement that's set to reshape the industry.If you haven’t heard, Oxford Road and Veritone One, under Insignia Capital Group, plan to join forces to form the world's largest podcast and creator-based video agency. Starting immediately, Oxford Road’s CEO & Founder, Dan Granger, will lead both organizations.So with an eye to the future, Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) sat down with Conor Doyle, (President, Veritone One) and Bryan Barletta (Founder & Partner, Sound Profitable) to talk through the big deal and why it’s such a big deal.The excitement in the room is palpable as Conor and Dan go from competitors to collaborators. They’re talking value-alignment, industry impact, and how it’ll help CAOs. Let’s dig in."Brands haven't really had a collective voice. And they're the ones paying everybody's bills. They should be at the top of the food chain." Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One)Values are Everything 💯- In early conversations, it was clear that Insignia was not your typical private equity group. Their alignment of values (transparency, not being defensive) and a proven agency track record showed the Oxford Road and Veritone One teams that a deal wasn’t just possible, it made all the sense in the world.Empowering Brands with a Collective Voice 📣 – One of the most significant benefits is giving brands a stronger voice in the industry. Bryan notes, "There's an opportunity for brands to have a bigger voice... Now being in a situation where we can challenge that and have that conversation with just the buyers." This forthcoming merger positions the newly combined agency to advocate more effectively for advertisers, shaping industry standards to better meet their needs.Unmatched Expertise and Resources 🚀 – Integrating Oxford Road's innovation and international traction with Veritone One's advanced technology and data capabilities, creates a powerhouse of expertise. Conor highlights the excitement of "setting the laser pointer" on new industry challenges, leveraging their combined strengths to drive growth and efficiency for clients.Strengthening Industry Partnerships 🤗 – Addressing concerns about consolidation, both Dan and Conor reassure that relationships with advertisers and media partners remain top priority. As Conor says, "We do not exist without either of those relationships... We're joined at the hip to make this work." The combined entity will aim to enhance collaborations that benefit publishers, creators, and brands alike.

Oct 25, 2024 • 9min
Spotify's Ad Exchange, Insignia Buys Veritone One + Oxford Road, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: video's role in podcast discovery, new acquisitions in podcast tech, and spotify's new SAX.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 24, 2024 • 6min
UK Digital Listening Up, Spotify Launches Podcast Auto-Mod, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: does video drive discovery, digital listening continues to grow, and the MMM debate.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 23, 2024 • 4min
Spotify Launches 🎷, Podcast Live Show Promotes Literacy, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Spotify Ad Exchange, how agencies are using GenAi, and why streaming services are being bundled with your groceries.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 23, 2024 • 8min
Does Video Drive Discovery? Audio and Video Podcast Consumers in 2024, Part Two
Even when looking at audiences who are ride-or-die for audio podcasts, video plays a key role in the modern podcast discovery process.Written and narrated by Tom WebsterAudio edited by Newton SchottelkotteHosted by SpreakerSounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.

Oct 22, 2024 • 5min
Insignia Buys Veritone One/Oxford Road, Top Sept. Podcast Spenders, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: new acquisitions, Americans warm up to advertising, and the top spenders in podcast advertising.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 21, 2024 • 4min
Amazon's Audio Generator, DoubleVerify ✔️ Spotify Video Ads, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: audio is popular in Germany, Spotify video ads get verified, and Amazon launches generated ads.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 18, 2024 • 9min
Kids & Family Ad Opportunity, Music Debuted on Podcast, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: a look at video and audio-focused podcast audiences, opportunities in Kids and Family, and podcasting grows up.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.

Oct 17, 2024 • 6min
Spotify 💸 Audiobook Publishers, Podcast Protests Airline, & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: audiobook growth, This American Life gets premium, and Southwest under pressure.Find links to every article mentioned and the full write-up here on Sounds Profitable.