I’ve been busy doing everything “business operations” this week. Brittany (my co-owner) and I manage a team of five (soon to be six) and, what’s effectively, three different businesses under one BA umbrella, which means there are always many moving pieces. We’ve got a rebrand and new website in the works, an original production show launching soon, plus our clients and community members. It can be a lot! But we both love the excitement that comes from working in the industry. Let’s jump into what happened in podcasting this week.
Spotify for Podcasters has introduced a new set of terms and conditions relevant for both hosts and those distributing podcasts on the platform. Here's a summary of the key changes:
Promotional Content: Podcasts with promotional content must be marked accordingly, similar to YouTube’s requirements. This setting is already available for Spotify video uploads.
RSS Feed Removal: The "RSS Feed" method for delivering content has been removed from the terms and conditions, along with all other content delivery methods, including the Spotify website itself.
Shortened Licensing Requirements: Spotify’s licensing requirements are now significantly shorter. Notably, Spotify no longer has to display your copyright notice, though this change is unlikely to affect current practices.
No AI Training Mention: There’s no mention of training AI, although the terms still allow for derivative works.
Arbitration Clause: The new terms include extensive information about arbitration in case of disputes, adding two full pages to the agreement.
According to new data from Sounds Profitable's Ad Nauseam report, 68% of listeners engaged with some or all podcast ads in the last episode they listened to. This U.S. data highlights that while ad-skipping does occur, podcast ads perform better than those on radio or YouTube. The report also provides insights into ad tolerance among listeners.
The first set of speakers for Podcast Movement in Washington DC has been announced (and one of our favs, Alex Sanfilippo of PodMatch will be speaking! The event takes place August 19-22nd. Tickets are available now.
Edison Research’s latest Share of Ear data reveals that U.S. individuals aged 13+ who identify as LGBT spend 14% of their daily audio time listening to podcasts, equating to 40 minutes per day. This is 48% higher than the overall 13+ population, who spend 11% of their daily audio time (27 minutes) on podcasts. LGBT listeners also spend 16% more time on all audio sources compared to the general population, valuable information for content creators and advertisers.
Jemma Rose Brown has been named the new General Manager of The Signal Awards. She previously served as Director of On Air Fest at work x work.
iHeartMedia faces potential bankruptcy if it fails to restructure its $5.3 billion debt, with $3.1 billion due by 2026. The company previously emerged from bankruptcy in 2019. Meanwhile, Audacy has settled a $1.4 million unpaid tax claim with a Pennsylvania township and is emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Austria is set to provide €500,000 (US$540,000) in public funding for podcasts as part of a larger $27 million media subsidy for private broadcasters. A government representative highlighted the establishment of excellent journalistic products in this area that previously operated without funding.
Catch up on our shows
When a man suddenly vanishes from a small Nebraska town, his family and friends are left wondering: What happened to Josh? Find out on Bite-Sized Crime.
On Grad School Femtoring, Yvette discusses the challenges that grad students and working professionals face, including high stress and workload, and how coaching can help you navigate these hurdles. She also provides insights into the benefits of coaching, sharing her personal experiences with it, and offers a special limited-time offer on her coaching packages.
On Growth Mindset Gal - in honor of her 30th birthday, Allie shares a multitude of lessons. Allie discusses insights on how to build a better life for yourself by getting clear on who you are and what you want and talks about what she has learned from her own personal stories, therapy, and self-development books to reclaim her power and become the woman she was meant to be.
On Wining About Herstory the ladies are wining about boobs, women, and how history hates women! First, Emily tells the story of author Nobuku Yoshiya, an open lesbian who defined the Shojo and Yuri genres and went to extreme legal lengths to be with her partner! Then, Kelley tells the story of Vasilissa Vasilyenva, a Russian woman who preferred wearing men's clothes, much to the confusion of the Tsar. When the Tsar began going to great lengths to determine Vasilissa's sex (none of which involved having a conversation) things got weird.
Network and Learn at these Upcoming Events
Featured Event: How to Collaborate with Advertisers
Join WOC Podcasters for a session with Anne Kavanagh, CEO of OSSA; a marketplace for brands to buy podcast advertising and connect with female audiences. Learn how to work effectively with advertisers to achieve mutual goals. This workshop covers key strategies for communication, negotiation, and aligning objectives for better partnerships and success. {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
Press Record Studios Open House - June 15th at 11am EST in New York: Come join us at The Landing At 251 in Westbury and get acquainted with Press Record Studios. A new creative space for content creators. Whether you're looking to start a podcast, record YouTube content, or even level up your existing content offerings, let us help you deliver your very best content to your audience.
Grab a quick bite and get acquainted with the Press Record Studios founders, check out the creative space; and also network with fellow creators and business owners.
How to Create High-Demand for Your Podcast—One Episode At a Time - June 19th: Join the team at Podcasting for Business at their free monthly Strategy and Networking Call. This month’s guest expert is Shannon M. Hernandez who will be talking about the psychology of selling, and how it applies to your episode descriptions to get more people listening. The training session will be followed by Q and A and Networking!· [Free]
Phoenix Podcasters June Meet-Up June 20th at 6pm MST in Phoenix, AZ: Let’s hang out and chat about podcasting at the PHX Podcast Club’s June social event! [Free]
Riverside San Francisco Podcaster Meet Up - June 25th in San Francisco, CA: Connect with other creators like you, learn from each other, and make some new podcasting friends. Hosted by Riverside with Gogo Studioz. Meeting at Barrel Head Brewhouse from 6-9PM. ·[Free]
PRX Podcast Creator Summit - June 26 - June 28th in Atlanta, GA: Join us for a 3-day event in Atlanta for early-stage podcasters seeking a supportive creative community. There will be free seminars, training, and networking opportunities spanning the art, business & production of audio. [Free]
Community Hotseat - June 26th at 6pm EST: Ready to level up your podcast? Join our Community Hot Seat! One lucky member gets a live podcast audit, where everyone pitches in with constructive feedback on everything from your cover art to content quality, intros, outros, and more. Whether you're a podcast pro or just getting started, this is your chance to get valuable insights and tips from fellow podcasters! {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
YouTube for Podcasts: Everything You Need to Know - June 27th at 11am EST: Discover how to harness YouTube’s powerful reach of 2 billion users for your podcast. Join for an insightful session where Jennifer Han, CMO of Ausha, invites Erica Kornbluh, Strategic Partner Manager Podcasts, and Emma Sweet, Global Product Activation Manager Podcasts, from YouTube to share everything you need to know. During this session, you’ll learn how to distribute your podcast on Youtube, optimize your channel branding, and monetize your content and more.
Attendants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the live Q&A. Limited spots are available. [Free]
Podcast Movement 2024 - August 19-22nd in Washington, DC: Podcast Movement is the world’s largest annual gathering of podcasters and the podcast industry. Join us this summer in Washington, D.C.!
Doors are open to join the WOC Podcasters community!
WOC Podcasters is an inclusive podcasting community for Women of Color podcasters, audio creators, and professionals to connect, learn, and share resources. From esteemed podcasting leaders to aspiring podcasters looking to get started, this community will help you find the resources to prosper along your creative journey. This will be the last time doors are open at this price ($125 annual membership). Join with a 7-day free trial here.
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Always enjoy your recap for the week in podcastville! Excited to see you at Podcast Movement in August.