Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• The AMP Accords published what it calls "the first cross-platform measurement standard in history". The document defines a podcast, and aims to set implementation standards for attribution and exposure metrics. It argues that these standards are required to grow the industry further - and could, potentially, unlock a billion dollars in extra revenue. The document, which has been produced by twelve different companies, will now be taken to standards bodies, including the IAB.
  • The document itself is gated content, and the website requires your email address to read it. As a service to our readers (and to protect our own business) you can download the document directly here.
• "It's time that we take ourselves seriously and we create some legitimate standards that make it a little bit easier for all of us to do our jobs," Oxford Road's Dan Granger, who has been driving the agreement, tells us in the Podnews Weekly Review this week. He's interviewed with Giles Martin, who is positive about the "play" definition in the document. "Spotify and YouTube both being in that ballpark, that's very meaningful for the industry and perhaps encouraging for others in the sense that already parts of (the AMP Accords) are getting some some meaningful traction."
• Opinion: The "exposure metrics" section of the AMP document asks for podcast apps to share a large amount of data every thirty seconds of content played - including, from consenting users, a hashed email address and a mobile ad ID. As our Editor James Cridland says, it's another example of podcast app developers being asked to implement features or data collection, at their own risk, without being given any share in podcasting's success. In an opinion piece today, he argues: for better measurement, give podcast apps a cut of the revenue.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• This Simple Episode Structure Drives Sales — Grab the free case study breaking down how 3 specific episode segments drive more than $2,500/ep in client acquisition for each of my three shows... and exactly how to add them to your show.
• What Finance Podcasts Get Wrong at Launch — Skipping compliance workflows, no content buffer, missing guest release templates. This free checklist makes sure none of that happens to your show.
• Time is running out to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Audiohook, Libsyn, RedCircle, The Content Creator's Accountant, Cohost, audioBoom, PAVE Studios, Simplecast, Podscribe, Scicomm Media, Sounds Profitable, Magid, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, We Edit Podcasts, Acast, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Locked On Podcast Network, iono.fm, The Podcast Haven, Podium, Red Seat Ventures, Jonekiri, Compliance Podcast Network, Hypecast, PodAnalyst, Voxtopica, SoundStack, Podcast Movement, Companion Arts, Blubrry, Podium , Tink Media, Truefans, Frequency, Ausha, POW PR, Castbox, Health Podcast Network, Rephonic, Rhapsody Voices, Diversion Podcasts, Transistor, Lemonada Media, Jam Street Media, CreatorX, Double Elvis Productions, Headliner, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, School of Podcasting, Revolver Podcasts, Adopter Media, Podigy, Lower Street, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• Acast released its Q2/26 financial report. The company reported +28% sales growth - significantly, +34% in North America and +25% in Europe (growth this time last year in Europe was just +9%). The company made a profit of US$3.3mn. Total consumption is up +2%; total average revenue per listen-or-view is up +26%.
• The AMP Task Force paper is released later today, with a definition of a "podcast", as well as consumption metrics. Podnews will cover these on Friday, as well as reactions: if you're publishing something in response (or would like something published), [email protected]
• SpotsNow launched curated bundles - a new way for advertisers to buy premium podcast inventory in ready-made sets built around specific audiences. It's free for advertisers, and free for networks to list their shows.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• 🌱 Is Your Show Ready to Grow this Summer? — Get started with Player FM’s self-serve audience growth campaigns this Summer. Low commitment, flexible pricing, and an easy way to reach engaged listeners.
• Fast track your podcast success in one weekend. — Creators in the know will be at the Empowered Podcasting Conference this August. If podcast growth is your goal, this is the cheat code you’ve been looking for. Get 15% off with promo code PODNEWS15.
• Time is running out to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, The $100 MBA, Podbean, Cloud10, The Podglomerate, The Content Creator's Accountant, Sounds Profitable, Podscribe, Cohost, Simplecast, Scicomm Media, Libsyn, audioBoom, Audiohook, PAVE Studios, RedCircle, Magid, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Podpage websites, We Edit Podcasts, Acast

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Hypecast, iono.fm, POW PR, The Podcast Haven, PodAnalyst, Blubrry, Compliance Podcast Network, Podium , Jonekiri, Locked On Podcast Network, Companion Arts, Frequency, SoundStack, Castbox, Truefans, Podium, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Ausha, Tink Media, Voxtopica, Podcast Movement, Red Seat Ventures, Health Podcast Network, Double Elvis Productions, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Diversion Podcasts, Transistor, Headliner, Lemonada Media, Jam Street Media, Rhapsody Voices, Rephonic, CreatorX, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, School of Podcasting, Adopter Media, Lower Street, Podigy, Revolver Podcasts, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: The Podcast Show London

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• In January, we reported on PodcastAdBlock, a podcast tool that removed ads from podcasts, selling ad-free copies of shows. It was written by developer, "adventurer and entrepreneur" Ben Bowler, who, by May, had pulled the tool down. Today, we discover, he's back - with Podtastic, a podcast app that skips the ads for $2.99 a month (none of which goes back to the creators, but up to 30% of that money will go to Apple or Google in app store fees).
  • This app works a little differently. In our tests, the app downloads the MP3 files directly to the phone each time, and looks in our logs like a web browser (specifically, Safari v604.1), so it's going to be hard to block without blocking every web browser out there. It correctly skipped past our sponsor's ad-read in our daily podcast: but in the description, it's very careful not to suggest that it skips ads at all - just that it can "automatically skip past the interruptions other listeners skip", and it carefully doesn't mention any podcasts by name. We're curious whether this app is within Apple's App Store terms. It's produced by Freewheel Group Ltd.
  • What does it mean for your podcast? It won't change your download numbers (they'll appear under "web browser"): it just means that the advertising will be less effective, and that advertisers will be less likely to rebook.
• First look: PAVE Studios has signed a further roster of creators who are joining the studio, including true crime creators, journalists and podcast hosts. "Creators join PAVE because we invest in them the way studios once invested in stars, with development resources, cross-format opportunities, and a team obsessed with growing their audience alongside them,” said PAVE Studios Founder and Chief Executive Max Cutler.
• Only a couple of weeks ago, Mike Pesca announced he was to stop hosting his popular podcast The Gist (which had just hit 3,000 episodes). Today, Bari Weiss has announced that he has signed with CBS News as Editorial Director of Podcasts.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Think it. Talk it. Script it. Podnami.com — Start with a conversation, not a blank page. Talk through ideas with AI co-hosts, then turn it into a structured script instantly or enter an idea and a script will be created for you.
• AudienceLift.com - YouTube Growth + Subs 🌟 — 🌟 AudienceLift.com – YouTube Growth + Subs Get real subscribers, more views, and lasting channel growth. Your shortcut to YouTube success. Book Now!
• Grow your podcast for $49 a month — Lucid creates your 30-second promo, places it inside relevant podcasts and delivers 3,000 guaranteed ad listens every month. No minimum downloads. Cancel anytime.
• Time is running out to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, Cloud10, The Podglomerate, RedCircle, Simplecast, Audiohook, Scicomm Media, Libsyn, The Content Creator's Accountant, Podscribe, audioBoom, Cohost, Magid, PAVE Studios, Sounds Profitable, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, We Edit Podcasts, Acast, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Hypecast, iono.fm, Podcast Movement, Tink Media, SoundStack, Podium , Voxtopica, POW PR, Locked On Podcast Network, PodAnalyst, Companion Arts, Jonekiri, Frequency, The Podcast Haven, Podium, Red Seat Ventures, Ausha, Blubrry, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Compliance Podcast Network, Truefans, Castbox, Health Podcast Network, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Headliner, Lemonada Media, Double Elvis Productions, Diversion Podcasts, Jam Street Media, Transistor, Rhapsody Voices, Rephonic, CreatorX, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, School of Podcasting, Lower Street, Revolver Podcasts, Adopter Media, Podigy, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Igor Omilaev

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• This morning, the IAB Tech Lab will release v2.3 of the Podcast Measurement Guidelines for public comment - updated for the first time since Feb 2024. The updates add "guidance around URL prefix measurement and RSS enclosure URL changes" among other things, although we will have to wait until 2027 for a version of these guidelines that focus on HLS streaming video podcasts. You've until Aug 19 to submit comments.
  • Recognising podcast video, one change updates terminology from "listener" to "consumer" - inaccurately, in our opinion, since the existing guidelines measure neither "listeners" nor "consumers", just a combination of devices and IP addresses.
  • It's curious timing: it comes two days before the release of the AMP guidelines, which will include a definition of "podcast", as well as measurement suggestions for actual podcast consumption, rather than downloads.
  • The IAB's new documents will be visible from 8.30am ET today: we'll come back to this story tomorrow.
• Six million vehicles are now reporting live radio listening data, direct from the car radio. Radio is still listened-to by many more people than podcasting (for much longer, too), and this data may help the industry fight back against the more granular data that podcasting already offers.
• Getty Images has expanded a relationship with Goalhanger for visual content for its shows. The companies had already been working together for The Rest is Football's World Cup coverage.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• 📈 Effective Audience Growth — Drive more plays and subscribers with campaigns tailored to your goals. Explore Player FM’s self-serve campaigns that help podcasters of all sizes grow faster.
• The Finance Podcast Pre-Flight List — Most finance podcasts stall before launch, not from lack of ideas but from lack of process. This checklist covers all seven phases from strategy to ongoing operations. Free.
• Turn one podcast into *curated* social clips — Upload an episode, describe the answer, story, or exchange you need, and review the complete passage before rendering a captioned vertical, square, or widescreen clip. Start with 60 free minutes.
• Time is running out to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Cohost, Simplecast, Libsyn, Scicomm Media, Audiohook, RedCircle, PAVE Studios, Magid, Sounds Profitable, Podscribe, The Content Creator's Accountant, audioBoom, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Acast, We Edit Podcasts, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Nomono, Magellan AI, Voxtopica, Locked On Podcast Network, Podium, Compliance Podcast Network, The Podcast Haven, Frequency, Blubrry, Jonekiri, SoundStack, PodAnalyst, Hypecast, Truefans, Ausha, Podcast Movement, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, POW PR, Podium , iono.fm, Red Seat Ventures, Castbox, Companion Arts, Tink Media, Health Podcast Network, Transistor, Lemonada Media, Jam Street Media, Diversion Podcasts, Headliner, Rhapsody Voices, Rephonic, Double Elvis Productions, Sonic Influencer Marketing, CreatorX, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Cleanfeed, Podigy, School of Podcasting, Lower Street, Adopter Media, Revolver Podcasts, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Kankan

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• Edison Research at SSRS released the top 50 podcasts in the US for Q2 2026. The Bill Simmons Podcast, which is now visible on Netflix, has jumped 17 positions to make it into the top 25 for the first time. British podcast The Rest Is History has entered the top 50 for the first time. (Simplecast hosts 17, Megaphone hosts 16, Omny Studio 4, ART19 and Audioboom 3, FlightCast, Acast, Blubrry, Libsyn, WNYC and WideOrbit 1)
• Even if Netflix won't say how well its podcasts have done, one's clearly done well: The Rest is Football has been renewed by Netflix for the next Premier League season.
• "No categories for video. Or ads. Or AI." That's the headline for the NYC Podcast Awards, which is now open for entries. The second season for the awards, entries start at just $75.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• 📈 🚀 FREE 3 day podcast SEO challenge — Join us inside of the FREE Podcasting Business School community on Skool July 28-30th. Get 3 days of podcast growth training to optimize your podcast name/art, host description, and episode titles.
• Good Podcasts Grow. Great Ones Scale — Even chart-toppers need smarter growth. AudienceLift.com drives measurable expansion across Major Audio and Video Platforms. 🌟 For creators who want more than “good enough. Try it Now!
• Cited Media is Hiring — The award-winning podcast production house is seeking an experienced producer and production manager. Fully remote, with a Canadian-based team. Deadline August 3rd.
• Top NYC Finance Podcast Seeks Ops & On-Set Help — Not your average assistant role. Help run Paula Pant's Afford Anything podcast—from inboxes and scheduling to in-person studio days and podcast production. If variety energizes you, apply now.
• Time is running out to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, The $100 MBA, Podbean, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, RedCircle, Cohost, Podscribe, Scicomm Media, Magid, Sounds Profitable, The Content Creator's Accountant, Libsyn, Simplecast, Audiohook, PAVE Studios, audioBoom, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Podpage websites, We Edit Podcasts, Acast

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Jonekiri, Ausha, The Podcast Haven, Podcast Movement, Voxtopica, Compliance Podcast Network, Tink Media, Podium , Hypecast, Podium, POW PR, PodAnalyst, iono.fm, Blubrry, SoundStack, Frequency, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Companion Arts, Locked On Podcast Network, Red Seat Ventures, Truefans, Castbox, Health Podcast Network, Diversion Podcasts, Lemonada Media, Headliner, CreatorX, Double Elvis Productions, Jam Street Media, Transistor, Rhapsody Voices, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Rephonic, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, Podigy, Lower Street, School of Podcasting, Revolver Podcasts, Adopter Media, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• Audio remains the bedrock of podcasting, says a new report from Nielsen. 90% of monthly podcast consumers choose to listen, the data suggests, and most of podcast consumption is still audio, by a large margin. It quotes Edison Research's Share of Ear for Q1, which sys that 20% of time spent with ad-supported audio is podcasting: radio is more than three-times larger.
• Podcasting is continuing to grow in the UK; though Brits are disapproving of AI hosts - The UK Podcast Consumer 2026 was released yesterday by Edison Research at SSRS. UK shows are also reaching a considerable amount of Americans, the study shows. The podcast landscape in the country is very top-heavy, with the top 10 titles reaching a third of all weekly podcast consumers.
• The podcaster behind The Pragmatic Engineer has pulled his video from Spotify, writing a long piece on LinkedIn detailing the issues he's had, and suggesting that the company doesn't care about reliability or execution.
  • Meanwhile, co-founder of podcast production company Podmasters, Martin Bojtos, tells the Podnews Weekly Review this week that, for a while, the #1 source of revenue for the company was video income from Spotify's partner program. The company is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
  • The company's changes at Megaphone - to use a new ad server - take place today.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Not another chatbot. A conversation engine. — Podnami gives you AI co-hosts that talk with you, challenge ideas, and help turn conversations into podcast-ready content.Improvise or let Podnami guide you. Entire scripts and visual content too!
• Audiencelift - YouTube Channel Growth for Podcasts — Ready to grow your podcast on YouTube? With targeted strategies, you can increase visibility, attract listeners, and turn views into subscribers. Start growing your YouTube Channel Today!
• Cited Media is Hiring — The award-winning podcast production house is seeking an experienced producer and production manager. Fully remote, with a Canadian-based team. Deadline August 3rd.
• Only two weeks left to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Audiohook, Libsyn, RedCircle, Simplecast, Cohost, Sounds Profitable, PAVE Studios, The Content Creator's Accountant, Podscribe, Scicomm Media, audioBoom, Magid, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, We Edit Podcasts, Podpage websites, Acast

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Nomono, Magellan AI, Ausha, Castbox, POW PR, The Podcast Haven, Hypecast, PodAnalyst, Voxtopica, Jonekiri, Podium, Companion Arts, Truefans, Tink Media, Red Seat Ventures, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, iono.fm, Compliance Podcast Network, Podcast Movement, Frequency, Blubrry, SoundStack, Locked On Podcast Network, Podium , Health Podcast Network, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Jam Street Media, Rhapsody Voices, Transistor, Double Elvis Productions, Rephonic, Headliner, Diversion Podcasts, CreatorX, Lemonada Media, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Cleanfeed, Podigy, Lower Street, Adopter Media, School of Podcasting, Revolver Podcasts, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Dagny Reese

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• WARC Media released a report on YouTube - which, it says, is worth $40bn to advertisers, but revenue growth is slowing down. TikTok is set to grow bigger than YouTube by the end of the decade; but Netflix is expected to pull ahead in the next eighteen months. Users spend 58 minutes a day on the platform.
• Podcast and video production agency The Podcast Guys is officially a Great Place to Work, after gaining certification from the workplace culture company. Certification is based entirely on anonymous survey feedback from employees. The company has offices in London and New York, with teams across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
• In the UK, the Future of Media Awards shared its shortlist. There are two podcast awards.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• 🔊 Get Discovered this Summer — Grow your audience with Player FM's self-serve promotional campaigns. Reach active podcast listeners, boost plays, and gain subscribers with campaigns tailored to your goals. Start today!
• The Finance Podcast Your Clients Listen To — Listeners decide whether to trust you before they ever book a call. This guide shows how financial services firms turn podcasting into a client acquisition tool. Free.
• Only two weeks left to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, The $100 MBA, Podbean, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Audiohook, PAVE Studios, Sounds Profitable, audioBoom, Libsyn, Simplecast, Cohost, Scicomm Media, The Content Creator's Accountant, RedCircle, Magid, Podscribe, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Acast, We Edit Podcasts, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Podium , Podcast Movement, Companion Arts, Voxtopica, Locked On Podcast Network, POW PR, Red Seat Ventures, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Compliance Podcast Network, Frequency, The Podcast Haven, Castbox, Ausha, Blubrry, Jonekiri, PodAnalyst, Hypecast, Podium, iono.fm, Tink Media, Truefans, SoundStack, Health Podcast Network, Diversion Podcasts, Rephonic, CreatorX, Lemonada Media, Rhapsody Voices, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Double Elvis Productions, Transistor, Jam Street Media, Headliner, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Cleanfeed, Adopter Media, School of Podcasting, Podigy, Lower Street, Revolver Podcasts, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Rashidul Islam

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• A new study seems to show that audiobook listeners prefer some AI narrators over human voices. The study, conducted by Edison Research at SSRS, blind-tested Spoken Multi-Cast narration, and discovered that, while 31% of listeners said they'd be likely to listen to AI, after listening, that number had risen to 65%. (61% thought that the AI was human). You can hear the clips here.
• A separate study by Differentology, conducted for Azerion, also claims that AI-generated voices can be good for brands - especially if the accents match the part of the country where you're from. Recommendations rose 3x when people heard voices with a regional accent matched to where the listener was, like Scotland, Wales or Yorkshire.
• Audioboom released its H1/26 financial results. The company made a gross profit of $9.9mn, up +33% year-on-year. Revenue was up 30%; for Q2/26 they report 183 million downloads and video views, up 84% year-on-year.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Book Time with Podcast Veteran John Wordock — Has your podcast stalled? Is your YouTube channel no longer growing? Need a video plan? Network exec John Wordock helps podcasters adapt to all the changes impacting our industry. Contact him today.
• AudienceLift: AI Podcast Growth – 12% Off Now! — AudienceLift.com: Your AI-Powered Podcast Growth Partner Trusted by industry leaders to grow audiences and build subscriber databases. Start your first campaign today with code Podnews12 for 12% off!
• Only two weeks left to enter The SONARR Awards — Australia's new awards for podcast, radio, audiobook & voice-over. 34 categories, one SONARR of the Year, a $10,000AUD cash prize pool, indie entries $75AUD. Submissions close 31 July.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, The $100 MBA, Podbean, The Podglomerate, Cloud10, Audiohook, Simplecast, RedCircle, The Content Creator's Accountant, Libsyn, Sounds Profitable, PAVE Studios, audioBoom, Scicomm Media, Magid, Podscribe, Cohost, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, We Edit Podcasts, Acast, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Podium, POW PR, PodAnalyst, Podcast Movement, Locked On Podcast Network, Castbox, Blubrry, Companion Arts, SoundStack, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Ausha, Podium , Tink Media, Hypecast, Frequency, Red Seat Ventures, Truefans, Compliance Podcast Network, Jonekiri, iono.fm, The Podcast Haven, Voxtopica, Health Podcast Network, Rephonic, Jam Street Media, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Diversion Podcasts, Lemonada Media, Headliner, Double Elvis Productions, Rhapsody Voices, CreatorX, Transistor, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, Revolver Podcasts, Podigy, Lower Street, School of Podcasting, Adopter Media, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Andy Kelly

Sponsored by SpotsNow Search. Try Advanced Search for Podcast Advertisers. SpotsNow's new AI Search ranks all shows on audience fit and targeting, then allows you to see the performance potential in one click so you isolate the best shows quickly. Try SpotsNow Search Free

• Podcasting has never been more interesting to advertising agencies and marketers, according to new research released by Westwood One. The study reveals that 76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts - a x5 increase in the last twelve years.
• SpotsNow has launched a new AI Search for podcast ad buyers. The tool helps buyers discover more shows that fit their target, and helps them focus on audience fit and performance. Each search also returns available last-minute inventory matched to the advertiser's audience and criteria, to help sellers fill sports that would otherwise go unsold.
• Podtrac has launched Podcast Promo Trades, a new free service to allow podcasters to grow shows by trading promos in other podcasts. Podtrac's Promo Platform has been used by a number of large podcasters to expand their audience and accelerate growth, the company says.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Where thinking becomes performance. — Start with a live AI conversation, shape it into a script, and turn it into content worth sharing.
• Podcasting builds trust. Email unlocks sales. — This case study breaks down how a show with 350 plays/ep drives $20k/mo in coaching client acquisition based on a simple podcast + email marketing system.
• 🚨 TICKET PRICES GO UP TONIGHT @ MIDNIGHT!! — Creators in the know will be at the Empowered Podcasting Conference this August. If podcast growth is goal, this is the cheat code you’ve been looking for. Get 15% off with promo code PODNEWS15

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, Cloud10, The Podglomerate, Simplecast, The Content Creator's Accountant, Audiohook, audioBoom, Podscribe, Sounds Profitable, Libsyn, Scicomm Media, Cohost, RedCircle, PAVE Studios, Magid, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Podpage websites, We Edit Podcasts, Acast

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Voxtopica, Castbox, Hypecast, POW PR, Red Seat Ventures, Podium , Ausha, Compliance Podcast Network, SoundStack, The Podcast Haven, iono.fm, Truefans, Companion Arts, PodAnalyst, Podcast Movement, Jonekiri, Locked On Podcast Network, Frequency, Tink Media, Blubrry, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Podium, Health Podcast Network, Diversion Podcasts, Rhapsody Voices, CreatorX, Lemonada Media, Rephonic, Transistor, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Double Elvis Productions, Headliner, Jam Street Media, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Cleanfeed, School of Podcasting, Podigy, Adopter Media, Revolver Podcasts, Lower Street, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Joshua Earle

Sponsored by SpotsNow. Ask any podcast advertising question inside Claude or ChatGPT. The SpotsNow connector brings competitor analysis, campaign planning intelligence, competitor conflict vetting and new-client opportunities into the AI tools your team already uses. Try it free until July 22. Connect your AI to SpotsNow

• Exclusive: Daylight Media has signed Bill Maher's Club Random - it becomes the latest show to join the network in a period of fast growth. Daylight will work with Club Random on sales and distribution; nine other shows have recently joined the platform.
• "Consumers simply don't have the attention span they once had." Writing for Podnews today, DAX US's Brian Conlan suggests this is a myth waiting to trip up the unwary marketer: and, in fact, the data points to consumers just making choices on where to direct their attention.
• A podcast app that removes advertising, ZeroAds, has measured the ads in 60,000 episodes submitted by their users. The median, the company says, is 4.3 minutes of ads per episode - 10.2% ads. But some shows are significantly more. All measured using at least 25 different episodes, iHeart's Handel On The Law is 44% ads; iHeart's Covino & Rich is 36.7% ads; iHeart's Dear Chelsea is 36.6% ads; and iHeart's The Ben Maller Show is 35.1% ads. (There's something linking all four of those and we can't think what it is.)
  • Data in Podscribe - and our own tests - suggests that ZeroAds is significantly over-estimating the number of ads in podcasts. That's unsurprising, given it's trying to promote its product: but even Podscribe suggests that these four shows consist of more than 20% ads.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• 📈 FREE Skool community for podcast growth. — Podcasting Business School is now on Skool! This FREE community is for podcasters who have goals like hitting 1,000+ downloads per episode & earning meaningful income. Live training, tools, & support!
• Why Finance Podcasts Outlast the Rest — Clarity of audience, consistent quality, long-term commitment, and guest strategy. This guide covers what separates finance shows that keep growing from ones that disappear. Free.
• 📈 Effective Campaigns That Fit Your Budget — Player FM’s self-serve campaigns help podcasters of all sizes grow faster. Drive more plays and subscribers with campaigns tailored to your goals & budget.
• Subscribe to David Senra — Conversations with the greatest living founders.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, Cloud10, The Podglomerate, Scicomm Media, RedCircle, Libsyn, Cohost, PAVE Studios, Audiohook, Magid, Simplecast, Podscribe, The Content Creator's Accountant, Sounds Profitable, audioBoom, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Podpage websites, Acast, We Edit Podcasts

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Magellan AI, Nomono, Podium , Compliance Podcast Network, Jonekiri, Voxtopica, Castbox, Truefans, Podium, Tink Media, PodAnalyst, Companion Arts, Red Seat Ventures, Hypecast, The Podcast Haven, Locked On Podcast Network, Ausha, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Frequency, iono.fm, Blubrry, SoundStack, POW PR, Podcast Movement, Health Podcast Network, Rhapsody Voices, Jam Street Media, Headliner, Diversion Podcasts, Double Elvis Productions, Sonic Influencer Marketing, CreatorX, Transistor, Rephonic, Lemonada Media, Content10x, Podcast Partnership, Cleanfeed, Podigy, School of Podcasting, Revolver Podcasts, Adopter Media, Lower Street, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: Club Random

Sponsored by SpotsNow. Ask any podcast advertising question inside Claude or ChatGPT. The SpotsNow connector brings competitor analysis, campaign planning intelligence, competitor conflict vetting and new-client opportunities into the AI tools your team already uses. Try it free until July 22. Connect your AI to SpotsNow

• Triton Digital has released data from its Demos+ platform, highlighting a missed opportunity between podcast audiences and ad-buyers. Its data shows that Black/African American listeners are significantly more likely than most to purchase life insurance, or to switch wireless providers. However, in spite of offering significantly better ROI for advertisers in those categories, investment in shows that attract those listeners continues to lag. Correction: We misread "Black/AA" as "Black/Asian American". This data means "Black/African American", we're told. Apologies for the error.
• The Webby Awards is looking for people to serve on this year's jury. They are particularly looking at expanding their expertise in podcasts (and they have plenty of podcast categories to judge every year). You can join here - there's a slot for "who recommended you", and the answer there is probably "James Cridland", Podnews's Editor. (He's an Associate Member of IADAS).
• A podcast studio probably isn't what you expect in a luxury resort in the Bahamas. Podnews sent Arielle Nissenblatt to take a look at Baha Mar in the Bahamas, which has worked with iHeartRadio to produce a professional podcast studio - and as she reports for us, it's an encouraging sign that podcasting is part of the guest experience at resorts like this one.

> > > Read more of today’s podcast industry news stories on the Podnews website: and get our free daily newsletter.

Classifieds - your job or ad here

• Is Gender All Made Up? — The new season of Seemingly Unrelated is out now exploring the unexpected places our most basic concepts of gender came from including: fish tacos, mini-golf, and medieval poor laws
• Audiencelift Grow Your Podcast, Grow Your Income! — Audiencelift delivers real human, verified listeners and IAB-compliant downloads, so you can earn meaningful revenue from your podcast. Start growing your audience and income today!
• Are You Missing These Essentials? — Grow your podcast with confidence. Join Gordon Firemark, The Podcast Lawyer™ for a free live workshop on the business and legal fundamentals that support podcast growth, influence, and income.

Gold supporters: Buzzsprout, Mowpod, Podbean, The $100 MBA, Cloud10, The Podglomerate, Scicomm Media, PAVE Studios, Podscribe, Cohost, Libsyn, Simplecast, The Content Creator's Accountant, audioBoom, Sounds Profitable, Audiohook, RedCircle, Magid, Jar Podcast Solutions, Awesound, Acast, We Edit Podcasts, Podpage websites

Silver supporters: Audacia Audio, Gamut Podcast Network, Bumper, Goalhanger, Sounds Debatable, True Native Media, Nomono, Magellan AI, Locked On Podcast Network, SoundStack, Hypecast, Compliance Podcast Network, Castbox, Tink Media, Podium, Companion Arts, iono.fm, Jonekiri, Frequency, The Podcast Haven, PodAnalyst, POW PR, Podium , Podcast Movement, ARN's iHeartPodcast Network Aust, Blubrry, Ausha, Red Seat Ventures, Truefans, Voxtopica, Health Podcast Network, Transistor, Diversion Podcasts, CreatorX, Double Elvis Productions, Rhapsody Voices, Rephonic, Jam Street Media, Headliner, Lemonada Media, Sonic Influencer Marketing, Podcast Partnership, Content10x, Cleanfeed, School of Podcasting, Lower Street, Adopter Media, Podigy, Revolver Podcasts, Signal Hill Insights

Our supporters pay for Podnews, so everyone can read it. Join them today.

Image: User_Pascal