Sounds Profitable
Bryan Barletta
The pace of change the podcast industry is undergoing is staggering. The implications for podcasters, hosting providers, podcast listening app developers, and advertisers and agencies are enormous. And so is the growth potential. Presented as a companion to the weekly newsletter of the same name, our podcast provides you with direct access to our narrated articles, interviews with industry experts, bleeding-edge research, and can't miss industry news recaps. That Sounds Profitable, right? Assumptions and conventional wisdom will be challenged. Easy answers with no proof of efficacy will be exposed. Because the thinking that got podcast advertising close to a billion dollars annually will need to be drastically overhauled to bring in the tens or hundreds of billions of dollars podcast advertising deserves.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 31, 2024 • 5min
Brand Podcasting Summit, Open Internet Study, Publishers Holding Strong, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: The Free and Open Ad-Supported InternetBrand Podcast Summit Keeps the Focus on the Audience by Jeff VidlerIn rocky digital advertising landscape, advertisers reconsider direct mail by Kimeko McCoyDigiday+ Research: Publishers held onto their staff and titles last year, even as traffic fell by Julia Tabisz…as for the rest of the news: SXM Media signs $100+ million three year exclusivity deal with Smartless, Acast’s Megan Davies talks about AI’s role in podcasting, and Triton Digital’s Sharon Taylor has published predictions for podcasting’s 2024 from nine industry leaders.
Jan 31, 2024 • 9min
Knowing Half The Battle in Podcasting
With apologies to G.I. Joe, half the battle of podcasting is not the changes in technology, but keeping up with changes to the audience. Tom Webster digs into the “neglected half” of the work of podcasting.
Written by Tom Webster
Edited by Bryan Barletta
Audio edited by Gavin Gaddis
Hosted by Spreaker
Sounds Profitable: Narrated Articles is a production of Sounds Profitable. For more information, visit soundsprofitable.com.
Jan 30, 2024 • 6min
Spotify's Audiobook Boom, Podcast Listener Growth, Prime Video Ads, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Apple’s New iOS 17 Software Is A Positive Step For Podcast Advertisers And Content Creators John Wordock and Pierre BouvardTriton Digital US Podcast Report 2023Audiobooks Are Booming. Spotify Wants in on the Action by Alexandra AlterThe Results Are In: Here’s What Americans Streamed in 2023 by John KoblinAmazon rolls out ads on Prime Video by Jasmine Sheena…as for the rest of the news: Ari Paparo interviews Spotify’s Per Sandell to discuss the company’s targeting and adtech, Linkfire announces Engaged Listeners metric for Apple Podcasts, branded podcast production Pop by Pacific Content launches, and MediaPost interviews Ad Results Media's Gretchen Smith about podcast advertising.
Jan 29, 2024 • 4min
Apple Transcripts, ESPN Broadcasts Podcasts, Wondery Debuts Toys & More
Apple introduces automated transcription on its podcast platform. ESPN plans to air podcasts on ESPN2. George Carlin's estate sues podcasters over an AI-generated comedy special. Amazon surpasses Better Help as top podcast spender. Wondery debuts a new toy line inspired by Wow in the World.
Jan 26, 2024 • 9min
Sounder on APIs, Apple Rating Analysis, YouTube's Host-Read Haven
Guest Tom Webster, a podcasting expert, discusses the release of Sounder's OpenAPI and how podcast networks are testing AI tools. They also analyze the ratings of Apple podcasts and the effectiveness of YouTube ads. The chapter concludes with a quick hit segment.
Jan 25, 2024 • 4min
New NPR CEO, Open APIs for Podcasting, Audacy Revenue Projections, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Unlocking the Value of Audio Content: Why Open APIs Are a Game-Changer (featuring Bryan Barletta, Partner at Sounds Profitable)The “Why” of Your Podcast by Tom WebsterMore gambling ad spend goes to TV than all other formats combined by Sara LebowNPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era by David Folkenflik…as for the rest of the news: Audacy projects ambitious revenue growth in streaming and podcasting for the year, and Paramount announces Jon Stewart will return as executive producer and Monday host of The Daily Show.
Jan 24, 2024 • 4min
Diversity Delivers, Personalization Pitfalls, Money Movers, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting:Most streaming music tracks do not reach monetisation threshold by Ella SagarBrands Are Getting Shy On DEI, But Reaching Diverse Audiences Is Still Good Business by Anthony VargasWhy Personalized Ads Go Wrong And How To Do Them Right by Hana Yoo…as for the rest of the news: Magellan has published their rankings of top podcast advertisers for December 2023, Brian Morrissey reflects on what media publishing might look like if the current billionaire-supported model falls apart, and Sounder has a free live webinar next Tuesday with Bryan Barletta on open APIs.
Jan 24, 2024 • 10min
The “Why” of Your Podcast
Understanding the 'why' behind listeners' choices, the importance of aligning goals, and exploring the different reasons behind audience engagement in podcasting.
Jan 23, 2024 • 7min
Audio's 2024 Momentum, Challenging TV Upfronts, Networks Test AI, & More.
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: How podcast networks are testing AI tools for faster translation, ad sales by Sara GuaglioneI analyzed 28.5 million Apple Podcasts star ratings by Dan MisenerParamount Won’t Return to TV’s Upfront Week in New York by Brian SteinbergAre awards worth it for Canadian podcasts? By Kattie LaurLUMA: 2024 Will Be Better For M&A (No, Seriously This Time) by Allison SchiffSound will no longer be an afterthought
Jan 22, 2024 • 5min
Sports' Gen Z Problem, Host-Read on YouTube, Podcasting's Cool Factor & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Not All Podcast Ads are Created Equal. Here's Why by Kedric WallsSports has a Gen Z problemAre Podcasts Cool (Again)?Hot Pod Interviews NPC Podcast Chief Collin Campbell…as for the rest of the news: amplifi’s Steven Goldstein writes The Truth About Podcasting’s Measurement Makeover, PodBean’s final free live event of “Podcast Launch Month” is this Thursday, and healthcare is projected to invest over $36 billion in U.S. advertising this year (which podcasting could get a cut of).
