Job cuts at Spotify

Spotify has cut a number of jobs in its podcast division - “15 employees or about 3% of the team”, according to a report. Cuts are apparently in The Ringer and Spotify Studios, though Spotify wouldn't confirm. Those affected include The Ringer’s special projects lead Andrew Gruttadaro, and writer Miles Surrey. A show from The Ringer, New York New York with John Jastremski, is to be cancelled.

Over the past few weeks, Podnews has heard sustained chatter from different parts of the industry about significant changes to come at Spotify’s podcasting tools, including potential closures of revenue programs and brands. Spotify flatly deny any upcoming changes, describing them to us as “very much not true”.

CNN loves podcasts so much, it appears to be making some of its programs look like them. Jake Tapper’s show appeared to “come from his office”, complete with visible microphones and a cheap sofa; Anderson Cooper also appears to be using large, in-vision microphones.

The Wall Street Journal cover “the veteran podcasters hanging up their headphones”; reasons given are the additional stress from video.