Industry News 📰
Meghan and Harry’s Multi-million Pound Spotify Deal Ends
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's podcast deal with Spotify has ended reportedly due to not meeting productivity targets. The Archetypes podcast, hosted by Meghan and featuring guests like Serena Williams and Mariah Carey, ran for 12 episodes and focused on discrimination and sexism faced by women. Despite the initial £18 million deal, the couple won't receive the full amount as the show didn't hit internal targets. This comes as Spotify announced layoffs in their podcast teams due to profitability challenges. Despite the setback, Meghan plans to continue creating podcasts and find a new platform for her series. The couple's move to Spotify followed their decision to step back as senior working royals in 2020.
Pineapple Street Studios Finds New Leaders as Co-Founders Step Aside
Pineapple Street Studios, known for podcasts like "Will Be Wild" and the official "Succession" companion podcast, has announced new leadership. Longtime staffers Bari Finkel and Je-Anne Berry will take over as co-heads of the studio. The move comes as co-founders Jenna Weiss-Berman and Max Linsky transition to different roles at parent company Audacy. Finkel and Berry have been praised for their work in managing major studio and brand partnerships, contributing to Pineapple Street's consistent revenue growth since its acquisition by Audacy in 2019.
PRX and Sonic Union Form Partnership
Audio production company Sonic Union and podcast distributor PRX have announced a strategic partnership to provide podcast creation and production services to brands. Sonic Union, a nationwide creative services and audio production house, and PRX, known for its high-quality audio production and storytelling, will jointly cater to brands looking to create original podcasts. PRX also operates Dovetail, a podcast distribution platform trusted by major producers. The collaboration aims to leverage their shared expertise and commitment to quality, serving as close audio partners to brands and advertising agencies.
Global Podcast Hosting Software Market Size and Forecast
The global podcast hosting software market is set for significant growth, according to a report by Verified Market Research. The report provides an in-depth analysis of key trends, strategies, and potential growth opportunities in the market. It highlights the major players in the industry, including Audioboom, Blubrry , Buzzsprout, Castos, Fireside Labs, Libsyn, Podbean, Simplecast, Spreaker and Zencastr. The research also segments the market by genre and format, providing a comprehensive view of the current and future market scenarios. The report is a valuable resource for new entrants and existing players looking to expand their market share.
Peppa Pig Heading to Amazon's Audible Under New Podcasting Deal With Hasbro
Peppa Pig, the beloved British cartoon character, is set to have her own podcast on Audible. The move is part of a new deal with Hasbro and aims to fill a gap in the market for preschooler-oriented podcasts. The podcast is expected to extend Peppa Pig's nearly two-decade legacy of family-friendly storytelling into the audio space. Further details about the podcast will be announced later in 2023. This development is part of Hasbro's Blueprint 2.0 strategy, which seeks to deliver heartwarming and humorous storytelling to a multi-generational audience.
A Profile of the Top-Ranked Podcasts in the U.S.
A new study by Pew Research Center has analyzed 451 of the top-ranked podcasts in the United States, revealing a diverse range of subjects. True crime is the most common topic, accounting for 24% of these top-ranked podcasts. Politics and government (10%), entertainment, pop culture, and the arts (9%), and self-help and relationships (8%) are the next most common topics. The study also found that 15% of the podcasts are primarily focused on news and current events. Interestingly, 51% of top podcasts produce a video to accompany most episodes, providing a more engaging experience for viewers. The study provides valuable insights into the podcast landscape and the interests of U.S. listeners.
PodLog
RSS.com Launches Chapter-aware YouTube Uploads
RSS.com has introduced PodViz, a tool that converts audio podcast episodes into videos for platforms like YouTube. Unique to PodViz is its support for Podcasting 2.0 chapters, retaining elements like chapter art, title, and metadata in the conversion. This free tool is part of a growing trend among podcasters to use video platforms to expand their audience and increase their shows' discoverability. RSS.com plans to extend its support to other video platforms like Vimeo, PeerTube, and TikTok.
Communities We Love ❤️🧑🏿🤝🧑🏽
r/AdobeAudition
The Adobe Audition subreddit is a community where users of Adobe Audition, a professional audio workstation, can share tips, ask questions, and discuss various topics related to the software.This subreddit is a valuable resource for both new and experienced Adobe Audition users, offering a platform to learn, share, and engage with others in the field.
Bingeworthy 📺📚
This Podcast Network Is Amplifying African Voices
If you're interested in the burgeoning podcast scene in Africa, this insightful article on IJNet is a must-read. It delves into the rise of podcasting in Africa, with a particular focus on Afripods, a Nairobi-based podcast hosting platform that's making waves. Afripods is not just a hosting platform; it's a hub for pan-African content, offering podcasts in up to 50 languages. The platform is gaining traction, even against big players like Spotify and Apple, and is part of a broader movement to amplify African voices.
Pods We Love ❤️🎧
Important, Not Important
Important, Not Important is a science podcast for those who are passionate about making a difference. The 6-time Webby nominee offers deep conversations with the world's smartest people, including scientists, doctors, CEOs, farmers, and more. The podcast delivers digestible news updates every week, loaded with actionable tips to help fix the world. Topics range from clean energy and coral reefs, to COVID vaccines, pediatric cancer research, clean water, and AI ethics. Hosted by Quinn Emmett, the podcast has been praised as a "vital service in an era where important truths, outright fiction, and mere trivia all compete for your attention." Whether you're interested in asteroid deflection or the rise of solar power, this podcast has you covered.
Building Better CMOS
Building Better CMOs is a podcast brought to you by the nonprofit think tank MMA Global, hosted by CEO Greg Stuart. This series delves into the future of marketing, exploring the challenges faced by marketing leaders and the lessons they've learned from the industry's most successful Chief Marketing Officers. In today's hyperconnected world, marketers face numerous new challenges, including the pressure to justify their existence. With this podcast, you'll gain insights into the evolving role of marketing leaders, as well as actionable strategies to overcome obstacles.
Baggage Drop
Baggage Drop is a podcast that merges healthy habits, mindset adjustments, and busy schedules to deliver powerful mental fitness tools. Hosted by experts from Wondermind’s Advisory Committee, the podcast aims to help rewire your mindset for personal impact. The podcast covers various topics, from measuring personal growth to self-care and overcoming setbacks. It's part of Wondermind's mental health ecosystem, which provides easy-to-understand articles and proven techniques for healthier habits.
Apps & Tools 🧰
Syft - Repurpose Podcasts Into Shorts Automatically
Syft is an AI-powered tool designed to transform long-form videos into short-form content, perfect for platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. With Syft, you can say goodbye to spending excessive hours editing a video or hiring an expensive editor. The platform offers a range of powerful tools including auto clipping, auto resizing, auto captioning, and a customized brand kit. It also provides free 1080p resolution and unlimited high-definition exports.
Disco by Headliner - Convert Your Web Traffic Into Podcast Listens
Disco by Headliner is a tool designed to convert web traffic into podcast listeners. It uses AI to serve contextually relevant podcasts based on what your audience is reading on your website. The tool intelligently integrates your podcast and your website using your RSS feed and optimizes widget placement to capture your readers' attention at the right time and place, converting them into listeners. The Headliner Dashboard allows you to analyze page engagement and track performance.
Podcast to Ebook - Make Podcasts Universally Readable
Podcast to eBook wants to try making podcasts readable and translating them into your familiar language, breaking down information barriers so that you can easily absorb podcasts from around the world.
Looking for more Apps & Tools? check out the IndiePodcaster's Resource List, a comprehensive list of great awesome podcasting resources.
Nuggets 🤓
A Quick Guide To Podcast Interviews & Preparations
Looking to ace your podcast interviews? this comprehensive guide offers valuable insights into conducting successful podcast interviews. It emphasizes the importance of meticulous preparation, from selecting a relevant guest to brainstorming resonant topics and questions.
When Should You Refresh Your Podcast Branding?
Check out this article by The Audacity to Podcast. It offers valuable suggestions for determining when to refresh your podcast branding. It advises doing so during significant changes or when your current branding no longer aligns with your growth.
Events 🎫
Pulse of Podcasts: Understanding The State of Podcasting in The U.S (June 21)
Are you a podcast enthusiast looking to stay updated with the latest trends, insights, and success stories from the podcasting industry? Pew Research Center is hosting a free virtual event on the state of podcasting in the U.S. The event will feature an engaging panel discussion with Lizzie Breyer Bowman from Lemonada Media, Elahe Izadi from Post Reports, Michael Harriot from theGrio Daily and Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History, Katerina Eva Matsa from Pew Research Center, and Bridget Todd from There Are No Girls on the Internet.
Let's Get Connected 🔗
Curated with ❤️ by Riva Puati
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