Friday Newsflow
What happened in the podcast world this week.
It’s been a busy week in podcasting. Spotify launched it’s new Spotify for Creators and is clearly taking aim for YouTube. Behind the scenes here at Atabey, we’re planning out our workshops for 2025 inside WOC Podcasters, and leaning into our mission. Now more than ever, it’s important to uplift the voices of Black and brown women, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized women, and we’ll be doing our part to make their voices heard.
Industry Financials and Platform Updates
Spotify for Podcasters is being rebranded to Spotify for Creators, introducing a new monetization program called the Spotify Partner Program (SPP). To qualify, creators need at least 12 episodes, 2,000 unique listeners, and 10,000 streamed hours in the past month. The program allows podcasters to earn revenue from ads placed at chosen timecodes, while Premium users get ad-free video podcast content with payment based on watch-time. Additional features include thumbnails and promotional clips for episodes.
Spotify also reported strong Q3 earnings, with operating income surging to €454 million on revenue of €3.99 billion. The platform now has 252 million paying subscribers, and its stock rose by 17% in the past three days, totaling a 150% increase this year.
iHeart Media is laying off up to 500 employees, with significant cuts impacting radio and some podcast divisions. Additionally, BlogTalkRadio, one of the earliest podcast and live-streaming hosts, will shut down on January 31, 2024. It has been part of Triton Digital since its acquisition journey from Spreaker and Voxnest.
Acast has revised its free podcast hosting plan, reducing the limit from unlimited episodes to just five. The platform also adjusted customization options for websites and embed players. To maintain quality service, Acast is focusing on a balanced approach between free and premium features. Additionally, it launched the Podcasts You Can Trust campaign, collaborating with Tortoise Media, The Guardian, and The Financial Times.
BlogTalkRadio, a pioneer in podcasting and live-streaming since January 2006, will cease operations on January 31, 2025. The platform merged with Spreaker in August 2017, was acquired by Voxnest in 2018, and became part of iHeartMedia in 2020. As of August 2024, it hosted 3,293 podcasts.
Research, Reports, and Insights
Edison Research released a study comparing podcast appearances of Trump and Kamala Harris before the election, showing Trump reached over three times the audience size. They also released their top 50 podcasts for Q3. Twenty-one of the top 50 U.S. podcasts fare hosted on Spotify’s Megaphone platform.
Kantar's latest research highlights podcast ads’ impact on brand KPIs, noting a 1.7x increase in purchase intent and a 2.4x rise in brand favorability for high-ticket categories like automotive. The sweet spot for podcast ads is among listeners aged 35-44, who exhibit higher purchase intent and brand favorability.
The Podcast Marketing Academy released its Podcast Marketing Trends report, providing data for podcasters to benchmark their performance. The report highlights disruptions caused by Apple’s iOS 17 changes.
Awards and Industry Recognition
he Podcast Hall of Fame has announced a new board of governors and updated eligibility guidelines. The next induction ceremony will take place on Friday, January 17, at Podfest Expo in Orlando, Florida.
Catch up on our shows
The ladies of Are You Free for Coffee are discuss actor Michael Beach’s unique family dynamic, where his ex-wife lives with him and his current wife and children. They explore the challenges and benefits of this unconventional setup.
An investigation into a missing woman leads detectives nearly 30 years into the past to answer the question: What happened to Marta Rodriguez? Find out on Bite-Sized Crime!
In Grad School Femtoring, Yvette welcomes Dr. Ramon Goings to discuss strategies for thriving in academia and building a consulting business. Dr. Goings shares his journey from music education to becoming an associate professor and entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of finding mentors, leveraging transferable skills, and seeking help. They also address all things related to the dissertation writing process, offering practical advice and emphasizing the value of community support for grad students.
On The Growth Mindset Gal, Allie interviews the amazing Sairan Aqrawi. As a seasoned professional with a rich engineering and business coaching background, Sairan is dedicated to driving technical solutions and advancing organizational excellence. With a strategic mindset and strong problem-solving skills, she excels in designing and implementing comprehensive solutions that meet the highest standards in the industry. Her extensive experience in Systems Integration Engineering encompasses engineering design, quality assurance, and compliance, ensuring successful project delivery through goal-oriented management.
On While She’s Away, Dianni is sharing all about her recent adventure on the W trek in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. Over four unforgettable days, she tackled some of the world’s most iconic landscapes, and she’s got the tips to help you plan your own trek!
Due to illness, emotional devastation, and a 2-year-old's birthday party, the ladies of Wining About Herstory were not able to record a new episode this week. But because you can't NOT have your weekly hit of herstory, they're releasing their first-ever Herstory Happenings on the Seneca Falls Convention! Learn about the first women's rights convention in the United States and see what happens when women get together to fuck some shit up!
Last but not least, on Writing Black Joy, Safiya, and guest Gregory "G-Wiz" Rutledge talk about his own transformation from waiter to greater (the name of his book) and how he leveraged his creative and service based background to transform his career. Gregory is a high-performance coach, empowerment strategist, and the visionary behind the "Question Everything" brand.
Network and Learn at these Upcoming Events
Featured Event: Maximizing Your Podcast's Impact in the Holiday Season - November 21st at 12pm EST:
This workshop will equip you with the tools and strategies to create compelling holiday content that resonates with listeners.{This event is an exclusive event for WOC Podcasters members. To join WOC Podcasters, sign up here.}
PodINDY.com-24 - November 9th In Indianapolis, Indiana (and virtually) at 9am EST: Podcast Hall of Famer Dave Jackson goes deep on his book “Profit from Your Podcast: Amplified by AI” as the headliner at PodIndy.com. This is a one day live and virtual teaching proven strategies to turn listeners into a livelihood amplified by AI.
Developing Your Brand's Internal Super Fans - November 15th at 5pm EST: Discover how a leading financial services brand podcast transformed casual listeners into dedicated super fans, driving significant growth and brand favorability. This presentation will unveil innovative internal socialization strategies that leverage the power of internal audience engagement and advocacy to build a loyal listener base. [Free]
7 Steps to Launch a Branded Podcast in the Banking and Insurance Industry | Ausha - November 19th at 12pm EST: Learn how a branded podcast can become your most powerful asset! Are you a communications manager in the banking or insurance industry looking to engage your audience in a fresh way? Join us for this free, exclusive webinar hosted by Odile Beniflah, Head of US at Ausha. Odile will share real-world examples tailored specifically for the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Don’t miss this chance to learn the key steps for launching a compelling brand podcast aligned with your company’s goals. [Free]
Amplify Your Voice, Elevate Your Business - December 5th at 12pm EST: This weekly class is perfect for those who want to take their message to the masses, build their brand, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. [Free]
Brand Podcast Summit 2025 - January 14 - 15th: A free, two-day virtual event designed to help brands revolutionize their marketing through successful brand podcast strategies. It is designed for marketers, founders, and business leaders who want to break away from the more traditional marketing approaches. For those who want to use podcasting to become thought leaders in their industry, gain leads and raise brand awareness [Free]
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. Join with a 7-day free trial here.
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