

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 8, 2024 • 5min
Podcasters in Pajamas, SXM's Research Roundup, Cumulus Signs BiggerPockets & More.
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Streaming audio twice as “authentic” than TV for advertisers. Podcasts? Nine times. by Brad HilliOS 17, a writeup by Pete BirsingerWhy Gen Z’s biggest podcasters are working from bed by Lilly SmithThe 5 trends that will shape sports marketing in 2024 by Alyssa MeyersMusic streaming service SoundCloud tunes up for sale by Mark Kleinman…as for the rest of the news: Signal Hill Insights shares three potential game-changers from their 2023 research, Cumulus Media signs a deal with BiggerPockets, and iHeartMedia is launching a politically-focused podcast network.

Dec 22, 2023 • 7min
Christmas Sports Sold Out, YouTube and Co-Measurement, SmartLess' Big Business, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Disney nearly sold out Christmas sports ad space in early December.Simplecast Announces YouTube IntegrationSmartLess Proved Celeb Podcasts Can Mean BusinessYouTube Postpones Co-Viewing Measurement PlanQuick Hits: What marketers need to learn from breakthrough brand IP like Barbie, Nike, Super Mario Bros. for 2024 by Kristina Monllos. Digiday interviews several people in the advertising industry to get their take on the near-future of branded content in a post-Barbie world.Here's What's Missing From Netflix's Data Dump, According to Ad Experts by Bill Bradley. While the new What We Watched report from Netflix has some useful data covering the past six months, ad buyers would prefer smaller, more frequent batches of data with more targetable information than one giant batch every six months.The Crucial Timing of Ads. RedCircle sketches out the ebb and flow of ad spending throughout a typical year to give podcasters an idea of what strategies they should pursue in the early months, the summer, and the busy holiday season at the end of the year. What Worked in 2023: Brands in Podcasting by Annalise Nielsen. Pacific Content interviews several industry professionals to talk about valuable lessons learned in branded podcasting this year.

Dec 21, 2023 • 5min
Simplecast's YouTube Integration, Barbie's Lessons for 2024, Netflix's Data Dump, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting:Simplecast adds YouTube integration for automatic uploads by Adam ShepherdWhat marketers need to learn from breakthrough brand IP like Barbie, Nike, Super Mario Bros. for 2024 by Kristina MonllosHere's What's Missing From Netflix's Data Dump, According to Ad Experts by Bill Bradley…as for the rest of the news: Podimo has secured €44 million in combined funding, and eMarketer finds most TV and video ad buyers require at least three(!) forms of data currency.

Dec 20, 2023 • 5min
Seasonal Podcast Ad Strategy, Streaming Audiobook Royalty Concerns, 2024 Agency Trends, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Welcome to the ad-free internetSpotify's Push Into Audiobooks Sparks Concern Among Authors by Ashley CarmanThe Crucial Timing of AdsMedia Buying Briefing: Here are five media agency trends to watch in 2024 by Antoinette Siu and Michael Bürgi …as for the rest of the news: Rain News shares the audio-related highlights from Nieman Labs’ 2024 predictions, and Marketing Brew covers how Agencies of Record could become a thing of the past.

Dec 19, 2023 • 5min
IAB Creator Economy Study, YouTube Postpones Co-Viewing, 2024 Ad Trends, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: IAB Releases First-of-Its-Kind Research Report on the Creator Economy Advertising OpportunityWhat Worked in 2023: Brands in Podcasting by Annalise NielsenYouTube postpones co-viewing measurement plan by Tim PetersonAd Trends In 2024: Digital Deceleration, AI Rising, More Ad-Supported Streaming…as for the rest of the news: Tink Media has launched Podcast Group Therapy to offer podcast marketing strategies in tight-knit online sessions capped at 10 participants, new Association of Online Publishers report shows subscription revenues are beginning growth to a flat digital publishing market in the UK, and Magellan AI publishes their top movers and shakers in podcast advertising for November.

Dec 18, 2023 • 5min
Disney's Christmas Sports Inventory, SmartLess' Big Business, Behind the SiriusXM Rebrand, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Disney is almost sold out of Christmas NFL, NBA, and Rose Bowl ad inventory by Alyssa MeyersMailchimp cancels podcast after refusing to work with union producers by Ariel ShapiroHow Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes’ ‘Smartless’ Proved Podcasts Can Mean Big Business by Addie MorfootBehind the scenes of SiriusXM’s rebrand by Alyssa Meyers…as for the rest of the news: Podnews has launched a fun tool to find which Netflix series has similar performance to your podcast’s based on recently-published Netflix watch data, and IAB Australia has announced the 2024 IAB Australia Audio Summits sessions.

Dec 15, 2023 • 7min
Host Engagement in Video Podcasts, Spotify Signs Warner Bros. Discovery, TikTok Top Teen Choice & More
Here's what you need to know for this week in the business of podcasting: Sound You Can See: Podcasting’s Video DilemmaEdison Research, Cumulus Media publish Q3 Share of Ear StudySpotify Inks Podcast Deal With Warner Bros. Discovery for CNN, HBO and More Shows by Caitlin HustonTeens social media platform choices are shifting.

Dec 14, 2023 • 4min
Podcasting's Video Dilemma, Realm Signs Adelicious, Marketers Predict Podcast Adspend, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: Sound You Can See: Podcasting’s Video Dilemma49% of global marketers predict increase in podcast ad spending by Adam ShepherdAudio Is One Of Agency Giant WPP’s Top 10 Trends For 2024.Realm inks deal with Adelicious

13 snips
Dec 14, 2023 • 11min
10 Critical Facts about Video and Podcasting for Success in 2024
The podcast discusses the role of video in podcasting, highlighting that consumers switch between formats based on their context and mood. It explores the popularity of YouTube and Spotify as platforms for video and audio podcasts respectively. Insights are provided on the audience, genres, and format preferences of video podcasts, along with viewer opinions on native advertising.

Dec 13, 2023 • 4min
TikTok Podcasts Ending, Podcasting's Newest Demographic, McDonald's Continues Diverse Podcast Initiative, & More
Here's what you need to know for today in the business of podcasting: TikTok Sunsets Podcast FeatureTeens are more online than ever, but platform preferences differ: report by Jasmine SheenaPodcasters & Advertisers: Meet Your New Audience by Paul RiismandelThe Specialist DSPs Giving Omnichannel Giants A Run For Their Money By James Hercher…as for the rest of the news: McDonald’s has committed to supporting diverse podcasting for another two years, and Brian Morrissey discusses podcasts as ‘nuance media’ on The Rebooting Show.


