It's beginning to feel like summer! It's been a slow week here at Boundless, but many things are happening in the background. We're getting ready for a new website and a summer sale starting soon. But I won't dive too much into that yet. First, let's get into what happened in the podcasting world this week.
It looks like iHeart Media may have worked out its union issues. The iHeart Podcast Union, part of the Writers Guild of America East, has ratified its first union contract. The contract includes pay increases and improved staff benefits. A union representative stated, “This contract has immediately improved the lives of many of our members and we believe it will continue to improve our lives and working conditions.”
A new podcast advertising study by Ad Nauseam surveyed just over 1,000 weekly podcast listeners on their interaction with podcast ads. On average, respondents expect to hear three ads in a given podcast episode, and the majority reported hearing three ads in the last podcast they listened to. Notably, when asked about the ideal number of ads in a podcast episode, the answer was never "zero."
Sam Klebanov from Morning Brew reported that a group of music labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, and Warner Music Group, have filed lawsuits against AI song-generating startups Suno and Udio. The lawsuits allege that both startups have not fully disclosed the contents of data sets used to train their musical AI and are concealing the use of songs from the labels’ catalogs. The suits claim these AI-generated songs could crowd out human-made tracks and lead to financial losses. The labels are demanding damages of up to $150,000 per instance of copyright infringement.
Here’s some comfort when it comes to video podcasting. Edison Research reports that 79% of weekly podcast listeners in the US “have listened to podcasts that have video,” with 72% actively watching the screen. If you’re a little video shy, just know that not everyone is actually watching.
Edison Research also reports that podcasts have more listeners than ever in the UK. The data indicates that 42% of people are monthly podcast listeners, and 30% listen weekly.
Anne Steele from the Wall Street Journal reports that the New York Times plans to move its podcasts behind a paywall. The NYT aims to generate new revenue by paywalling existing content and offering premiers of new shows as a premium service. All but the last three episodes of The Daily will be moved to a paywalled archive, and new episodes of Serial will be available to paying subscribers before public release.
Over in the podcast recommendation newsletter EarBuds, Audio Drama Podcasts Created by Black Women are being highlighted. Yhane Washington Smith, a WOC Podcasters Community member, curated the list.
Catch up on our shows
On Grad School Femtoring, Yvette addresses the pervasive issue of both scarcity and scarcity thinking in higher education and its impact on first-generation BIPOCs. She shares her personal experiences of working to overcome negative messages and tap into your potential and provides actionable steps to embrace an abundance mindset, build supportive communities, and pursue one’s the things that bring you flow despite systemic barriers.
In the latest episode of Orgasmica, Virginia’s guest, Aida Morales, takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of horse-assisted coaching. Discover how these majestic animals not only facilitate the coaching process but also teach profound lessons about connection, communication, and leadership.
Back with an episode from the vault, Strategy for Creatives: Business Minus the Bullshit examines the common marketing mistakes that many business owners make and provides actionable advice on how to avoid them. Tune in to learn how to streamline your marketing strategy, save time, and convert potential clients into paying customers.
On Growth Mindset Gal, Allie interviews the fantastic Kim Ades. Kim is the President and Founder of Frame of Mind Coaching® and JournalEngine®. Recognized as a pioneer in the field of leadership coaching and thought mastery, Kim uses her unique philosophy and quirky coaching style to help leaders shift their thinking to achieve extraordinary results.
It's Dairy Appreciation Month on Wining About Herstory so naturally, the ladies are wining about LGBTQ ladies! First, Kelley tells the story of Mary Frith, AKA Mol Cutpurse, who used her affinity for masculine clothes to further her criminal enterprises. Then, Emily talks about Kitty Tsui, a multi-hyphenate living legend who helped to establish the AAPI Lesbian community in California, wrote groundbreaking LGBTQ literature, was a champion bodybuilder, leather educator, actor, and SO MUCH MORE!
Network and Learn at these Upcoming Events
Featured Event: Proactive Mental Wellness for Entrepreneurs & Creators - July 17th at 7pm EST
Join Christina Broderick-Royes, founder of Intention Elevation, on a guided journey to develop a personalized action plan for prioritizing and maintaining mental wellness proactively! Through cultivating self-awareness, fostering a positive mindset, establishing supportive habits, building community, and utilizing available resources, attendees will create a comprehensive mental wellness strategy tailored to their entrepreneurial/creative pursuits. {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
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]
Cracking the Code: Maximizing the Potential of Your Show Notes Workshop - July 10th at 6pm EST: Make the most of your podcast show notes and increase listener discoverability and engagement! From learning why show notes even matter to optimizing SEO for discoverability, you'll gain practical insights and actionable strategies tailored specifically to podcasters. {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
WOC Podcasters Happy Hour - July 24th at 7pm EST: IT'S HAPPY HOUR TIME! Grab a glass of wine, a cocktail, or your favorite tea, and join us for an evening of community, connection, and laughter! Be part of our lively community-building sessions where you can connect with fellow podcasters and leave feeling revitalized and excited about potential new collaborations! {This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
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 ($197 annual membership). Join with a 7-day free trial here.
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