Podnews Weekly Review

Amazon's restructuring of Wondery signals deeper issues with their podcast strategy as they distribute operations across Audible, creator services, and advertising divisions while losing approximately 110 jobs in the process.• Amazon's track record with podcast acquisitions has been underwhelming, including Art19's low market share and unfulfilled promises for high-profile shows• Dan Granger from Oxford Road suggests the reorganization represents a recalibration toward more integrated audio ecosystems• Sean King from Veritone emphasizes the importance of balancing host-read ads with other advertising forms• Patreon creators have earned over $10 billion since 2013, now receiving $2 billion annually—equal to the entire US podcast ad market• UK age verification requirements for mature content are forcing platforms like Spotify to implement face scanning or ID uploads• Riverside has quietly launched a podcast hosting service that sends video to YouTube but only audio to other platforms• New podcast technology includes Todd Cochran's GuestMatchPro for connecting content creators and specialists for interviews• True Fans is testing a new advertising option called True Ads allowing creators to purchase placement on the homepageSend James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

James Cridland and Sam Sethi explore Spotify's mixed financial results showing strong overall growth but declining ad revenue, alongside their increasing focus on video podcasts at the expense of audio-only content.• Spotify's ads business struggling despite growth in users and profit• VP of Global Advertising Lee Brown leaving Spotify "by mutual agreement"• Video consumption growing 20 times faster than audio-only on Spotify• 16:9 image formats creating problems for traditional podcast artwork• JAR Audio rebranding to JAR Podcast Solutions with focus on measurable results: Roger Nairn explains how brands now see real value in podcasts beyond CEO vanity projects• RSS.com launching PAID (Programmatic Ads Inserted Dynamically) with $1 minimum payout• YouTube CEO Neil Mohan claiming "it's all over" for audio podcasting as video dominates• Acast financial results showing US becoming their largest market despite executive departures• Apple iOS enhanced dialogue feature improving podcast listening experience• Podcast image tag offering potential solution to artwork format challenges• Secure RSS and podcast monetization models being developed for premium content• Overcast apparently working on transcript features for podcasts• Rode introducing Call Me feature for remote podcast recording• True Fans positioning as a "value exchange" between creators and listenersVisit Buzzsprout.com for the tools, support and community to make sure you keep podcasting.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

The old guard of media gatekeepers are trying to stay relevant as independent creators flourish across podcasting, video, and beyond.• Spanish broadcaster RTVE blocking Antennapod and other podcast apps while maintaining deals with commercial giants like Apple and Spotify• BBC Sounds closing for non-UK audiences due to music licensing issues• Diary of a CEO reaching 3 million people daily, surpassing major US late-night TV shows• Video podcasts becoming the new basic cable television, with 37% of Americans watching one in the last month• YouTube setting a new record with 12.8% of all TV usage in the US• Joe Budden earning over $1 million monthly on Patreon, demonstrating creators can stay independent while building sustainable businesses• UK media regulator Ofcom warning that traditional public service TV is endangered• Podcast hosts missing opportunities by not offering premium content options to compete with Patreon and other membership platformsSee if you can tell where Sam realises that he's got to go to another meeting.To support this show, visit weeklypodnews.net or stream sats. Subscribe to our newsletter at podnews.net for daily updates.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

James Burt is the co-founder of Pivot Productions Group, which helps talent maximize value, while Liam Heffernan hails from Mercury Podcast Network, recently partnering with the Student Radio Association. Will Malnati, the founder of At Will Media, explores transforming podcast IP into new realms like television. They discuss staggering growth in podcast consumption, the importance of evolving metrics focused on engagement, and spotlight strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing opportunities for budding creators in the audio space.

Giles Gere, Director for Cheerful Earful and organizer of the Golden Lobes awards, discusses the future of podcasting, emphasizing the complexity of integrating video. He highlights the inaugural Golden Lobes, celebrating humor in the industry, and shares insights on how NPR's new funding tag enhances listener engagement. The conversation reveals the rapid growth of podcasting in India and delves into the balancing act of combining audio and video content amidst technical challenges. Giles also reflects on the collaborative spirit of the podcasting community and its evolving landscape.

Jon Savage, Co-founder of Amped Studios, discusses the evolving podcast landscape from his base in Cape Town. He highlights Spotify's innovative strategies to boost video content and the significant role of Apple Podcasts over the past two decades. The challenges faced by podcast creators due to changing monetization trends and the rise of paywalls for high-quality content are also explored. Savannah emphasizes the need for funding to support emerging creators, especially in Africa, as the podcasting community adapts to new technology and audience demands.

- Podcasting is a mainstream media in Australia, the US and UK with over 50% of people listening to a podcast every month in each country. Our time and attention is limited so what other media is declining?- YouTube is the main access point for news podcasts in the US.  - Why are more users willing to pay for ad-free quality digital content (behind paywalls)? What does this mean for the future of advertising if the people who can afford to pay for ad-free content are the same people advertisers want to reach? - Why are "Downloads decreasing for many podcasts" but podcast listen/watch time is growing? - YouTube CEO Neal Mohan spoke at Cannes Lions this week and unsurprisingly he said "people don’t want to just listen”. More worryingly, he also spoke about a new form of branded commercial advertising for podcasts. Will this be more like uninterruptible TV commercials? Finally James has launched https://podnews.net/extras and Sam has submitted a native version of TrueFans to the Apple & Google stores.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net

Elena Tsakakis from the Science Museum of Minnesota studies how families engage with podcasts, especially during car rides. She shares insights on research into kids' podcasts and their educational potential in informal settings. Molly Bloom, co-creator of the popular children's science podcast Brains On, discusses the importance of interactive elements in engaging young minds. They explore how podcasts can enhance learning and foster meaningful conversations within families, revealing a fascinating shift in children's media consumption.

Join John McDermott from Caloroga Shark Media, a creator of engaging short-form podcasts like Daily Comedy News. He delves into the intriguing world of podcast production, sharing revenue strategies and insights on platforms like Patreon. The conversation highlights the ethical dilemmas of AI-generated voices in media, sparking debates on copyright. Plus, explore the evolving landscape of podcast RSS feeds and Spotify's innovations designed for better community engagement and content monetization.

We speak with John Burgess from Acast, and Gautham Raj Anand from Hubhopper, and look at the week's podcast news.Send James & Sam a messageSupport the showConnect With Us: Email: weekly@podnews.net Fediverse: @james@bne.social and @samsethi@podcastindex.social Support us: www.buzzsprout.com/1538779/support Get Podnews: podnews.net