Acast Enters Japanese Market Through Partnership with Otonal Inc.

Acast, the world’s largest podcast company, announces its partnership with Japan’s premier digital audio advertising agency, Otonal Inc. This strategic alliance will further amplify Acast’s global footprint, meeting the surging demands from advertisers and creators in Japan by providing innovative and far-reaching podcast advertising solutions.

The partnership will open up Acast’s 125,000 podcasts to the Japanese market, offering local brands and advertisers access to globally-acclaimed content, including that of the BBC, Financial Times, The Guardian and History Hit. It will also create a transpacific bridge, allowing Otonal to introduce Japanese advertisers and brands to Acast’s extensive global audiences. A significant milestone, Acast will facilitate Japanese companies reaching expansive and influential podcast audiences in the US and Europe on an unprecedented scale, transforming the podcast advertising landscape and providing unparalleled opportunities for cross-market growth and engagement.

Acast’s expansion into Japan marks a pivotal step in its journey toward becoming the biggest global player in podcasting. This move follows successful launches in Spain and Singapore, as well as a recent reseller partnership with Next Broadcast Media in the Middle East. The partnership with Otonal not only strengthens Acast’s presence in Asia, it also highlights its unique capability to integrate and elevate markets worldwide.

“Officially entering the Japanese market is extremely significant,” said Megan Davies, Managing Director, International. "We’re responding directly to local and international demand, and connecting, in particular, the major markets of Japan and the US, which shows how extensive the abilities of our marketplace are. What is also really important is that this partnership underscores our commitment to connecting diverse global audiences and advertisers through high-quality podcast content.”

“Podcast ads are starting to gain traction, including in Japan. Japanese companies are showing great interest in using podcasts domestically and overseas to expand their global footprint. At Otonal, we continue to pursue avenues to expand the digital audio market in Japan. Otonal, up until now, has formed many partnerships with international partners. Through our partnership with Acast, Japanese companies can now easily expand their global marketing efforts through podcasts,” said Taisuke Yagi, CEO of Otonal.

About Acast

Since 2014, Acast has been creating the world’s most valuable podcast marketplace, building the technology which connects podcast creators, advertisers and listeners. Its marketplace spans nearly 125,000 podcasts, 2,700 advertisers and c.400 million monthly listens. Crucially, those listens are monetised wherever they happen - across any podcasting app or other listening platform.

The company operates worldwide and is headquartered in Stockholm, Swede. Acast is listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (ACAST.ST).

About Otonal Inc.

Otonal Inc. is a digital audio advertising company that develops digital audio advertising business. Our mission is to create an audio advertising market in Japan through the development and provision of audio solutions, and to date, we have helped plan more than 2,000 audio advertisements and improve the placement and operation of more than 650 advertisers in Japan.

Otonal can provide total support for audio marketing initiatives, from data-based audio ad planning to creative production by narrators and voice actors, ad delivery, reporting, and voice content production.

In addition, through the conducting of a yearly survey regarding the Japanese podcast market and provision of audio ad technology, along with cooperation with several international partners, Otonal continues our efforts to create an audio advertising market in Japan.