Podcast Consumption in Japan, Podcasts on beehiiv, & More

This week in the business of podcasting:

• beehiiv has launched podcast hosting and monetization, letting newsletter creators consolidate their audio content into one platform with IAB compliant infrastructure and built-in growth tools.
• New Sounds Profitable research reveals that podcast discovery relies heavily on algorithmic amplification, leaving moderate and centrist audiences without the institutional infrastructure needed to bring them into the medium.
• A 2025 survey shows podcast listenership in Japan has grown to 18.2%, with the highest adoption among Gen Z listeners aged 15 to 19 and strong representation among corporate decision-makers.
• Industry analyst Ben Robins argues that podcast advertising effectiveness data is being hoarded by major players, limiting market growth at a time when audio connection metrics could attract more ad spend.

To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.