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Podcasting, once primarily a haven for niche culture and true crime, has come a long way. Today, there are nearly 450k active shows and big names are raking in millions from the likes of Spotify and Amazon. This is because the top 25 podcasts reach roughly half of all listeners in the US. With nearly 100 million Americans age 12 and older listening to a podcast each week – that’s a lot of reach. But with the advertising revenue in the space representing about $2B/year which is under 1% of total domestic ad spend, we’re seeing podcasts move into new areas to pick up the slack like live events, merchandise, and videos of their shows which can then be posted to YouTube and monetized. To contextualize how big video has gotten, Spotify introduced the capability in 2020 and today, a quarter million podcasters upload video to its service.   Matt’s Hot Take™ - Podcasting has been an interesting medium for brands given the high level of consumer engagement, especially on the biggest pods, but the advertising capabilities have historically been playing catch up. While there are much better tools today for brands to tap into, the perhaps more interesting opportunities lie with the broader universe these shows are creating for their fans. From different content formats, to live events, podcasts have grown into complex entities that allow for brands to do more than simply pay for host reads. Podcasts have gotten too big to ignore - but remember to get creative! #mattshottake #media #podcasts Check out this week's newsletter where we also cover Big Tech's antitrust troubles: https://bit.ly/3LZvJio Subscribe inside the newsletter link for more!

Missed some of our 2024 events? You can catch up on past IPR lectures and discussions on our YouTube channel or listen on SoundCloud. Explore a range of thought-provoking talks and insights from leading experts on today’s most pressing policy issues. There's plenty to discover! 📺https://buff.ly/3oB1YqE 🎙️https://buff.ly/2PUpfCR #PolicyTalks #PublicPolicy #ExpertInsights #LecturesOnDemand #PolicyDiscussions #YouTubeLectures #SoundCloudPodcasts #CatchUpNow #PolicyMatters

If you're a beginner to mid-level podcaster, the Shure MV7 is a great choice to keep within a budget, but will also grow with you as your needs or recording setup improve. Even though we all see the SM7B used by all the fancy podcasters, I personally don't rate it highly on my list of "go-to" microphones for podcasters. Might be an unpopular opinion, but I think the "status" of that mic often leads podcasters to believe that they need the SM7B, and it's a lot of money to be spending when there are certainly cheaper alternatives that will give you what you need.

The podcasting landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with a small group of blockbuster shows dominating the industry's revenue and audience. Top podcasters like Alex Cooper, Trevor Noah, and Joe Rogan are securing lucrative deals with major platforms like Spotify, Sirius, and Amazon, and expanding their brands through video, merchandise, and live tours. This shift towards a megastar-driven industry raises questions about the future of niche voices and independent creators. As the podcasting market continues to evolve, it's essential for professionals to understand the changing dynamics and opportunities. #PodcastingIndustry #MegastarEconomy #AudioContent #EntertainmentBusiness #DigitalMediaTrends https://lnkd.in/e4WHfs4S

Support the underdog! They say you're judged by the company you keep. Well, today is a banner day for Second Act Stories. Defying all the odds, Second Act Stories became the only independent podcast to earn an official The Webby Awards podcast nomination, in the Advice & How-to category. Our fellow nominees include: 👉 Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast from Audacy, Inc. 👉 The Sarah Silverman Podcast from Lemonada Media 👉 How to Be a Better Human from TED Conferences Audio Media 👉 How To! from Slate Underdogs. Now it's time to vote. Andrew Levine and Scott Merritt are asking you to support the underdogs in the Webby's People's Voice competition. It's easy: 1️⃣ Go to the voting link (in the comments) 2️⃣ Click to vote on Second Act Stories 3️⃣ Register with your email address and a password 4️⃣ Click on the confirmation link in the email they send to validate your vote That's it! It's an honor just to be nominated.

Cabinet reshuffle options…

Flipping the PR playbook for crisis management: measure and defusion trough silence used to be the rule, the less you say the better. But a new playbook is emerging where you do just the opposite. And it works.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a story this past weekend about the evolving podcast landscape and how podcasts are creating new opportunities for creators to connect with audiences in innovative ways and monetize their content like never before. Thank you to Anne Steele for including me in her story alongside other industry leaders like Jen Sargent (Wondery’s Chief Executive). I always enjoy talking about this exciting new shift so I wanted to share some additional insights below... Today’s business landscape is undoubtedly more complex, but this complexity paves the way for unprecedented opportunities. We're now in an era where building a true 360-degree business is essential, and diversification is crucial for future success. The business model used to be simple: create a new podcast, make a deal, and sell ads. While the industry still relies on ads, there are now other proven revenue streams through subscriptions, live events, and merchandise that creators and businesses must focus on. Just like in traditional media, where the biggest stars will always get paid (think Tom Cruise), top-tier digital creators will continue to get lucrative deals with guarantees attached. Equally important, however, is the mid-tier and emerging creators who have created amazingly engaged communities and fandom. For instance, having one thousand fans who are willing to pay is far more valuable than having one million who are not. This is why PAVE Studios was created. We’re at the forefront of this transformative shift, reimagining business models for a future where formats continue to blend together and distribution strategies change. It’s crucial that there is an independent studio operating at the intersection of longform audio, video, and books, acting on behalf of and as a creative thought partner to creators of all types. In three short months, PAVE is already working with a handful of creators including Khloé Kardashian, Nicole Lapin, Dr. Mark Hyman, and more. And we are just getting started! We can't wait to unveil more of the amazing creators, partnerships and announcements in the coming months.

Hey Everyone! We're canceling today's bonus episode. Sorry again, I escalated our streaming issues to the CEO of riverside to see what's going on. If by Monday I don't have a clear answer, we are going to stream on Monday with their software, if it fails then we are switching vendors. In the mean time, on Monday we are having our first monthly Q&A session where paid members can ask questions that Joe and I will answer. You can submit your questions here: https://lnkd.in/gVY7jgXc And if you need something to watch, check out our special report: What a Trump Victory Means for Tech - Reactions From A Google Employee https://lnkd.in/gQBSHwPd

Episode four of our series on the Menendez brothers is available now. This story started as the trial of the century, but by the time all was said and done, it wasn't even the trial of the decade. So what happened? Why are we still talking about this case 35 years later? And is there a world where things might have been different? #podcast #truecrime #MenendezBrothers #writing #newpodcast