Sounds Profitable Podcast Movement's SXSW Celeb Lineup, New Audible Plan, & More
Mar 4, 2026
Amazon revamps Audible with an $8.99 streaming-first plan and folds Wondery perks into Audible Originals. Big-name appearances are set for Podcast Movement at SXSW and Apple will demo an HLS video podcast upgrade. Video podcasts are climbing fast, reaching 20% of internet users and pulling time from TV. Creator agencies are morphing into full-service multi-platform operators as M&A in the creator economy accelerates.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Audible Moves From Ownership To Streaming
- Audible added an $8.99 Standard tier to shift from permanent ownership to streaming access for audiobooks.
- Subscribers can pick one audiobook per month to keep available while subscribed, and Wondery+ is folded into Audible Originals with perks.
Wondery+ Content Migrates To Audible Originals
- Wondery Plus is shutting down and its shows become Audible Originals with early access, ad-free versions, and subscriber-only episodes.
- Both standard and premium Audible subscribers receive similar Wondery+ perks for those Originals.
SXSW Lineup Adds Penn Badgley And Sean Astin
- Podcast Movement added Penn Badgley and SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin to SXSW events and Apple will spotlight its HLS video podcast upgrade.
- Badgley appears on Companion Presents; Astin delivers a keynote; Apple highlights HLS-powered video in Apple Podcasts.