IAB Podcast Measurement v2.2 rolls out

• The IAB has released v2.2 of the Podcast Measurement Guidelines. It’s the first new set of guidelines in over three years. To help understand what’s changed, we’ve prepared a summary of changes between v2.1 and v2.2, and between the public consultation vs final. One change is the removal of Spotify as a contributing company: Spotify left the IAB earlier this year.

  • One significant addition is on page 7: “To claim compliance with these guidelines, an organization must go through the IAB Tech Lab certification process and get listed on the IAB Tech Lab website.” This is, perhaps, to clarify podcasts hosts claiming they’re compliant.
  • To help, our podcast hosts page now lists the version of IAB Podcast Measurement Guidelines that each podcast host is certified to, and the date of that certification.

• Apple Podcasts has added a curated Wellness category to its app - you’ll see it in the search page. Featuring a curated collection of health, fitness and wellness shows, it’s part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The category curates episodes, shows and creators; subtopics reflect the evolving definition of what it means to be well today including: Mood, Sleep, Relationships, Meditation, Movement and Gratitude.

• Global’s DAX is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

• 69% of consumers say advertising in “disconcerting” news has no negative effect on how they perceive a brand, according to IAB CEO David Cohen.

• Dovetail, PRX’s podcast publishing and monetization platform, has unveiled a set of new features and functionality.

• Podscribe has announced an integration with Rocker Box, a multi-touch attribution company. It allows advertisers to integrate podcast performance with social media, email marketing, and other channels.

• Alongside Podnews’s overview slides with podcast data for your presentations, you might want to use this slide deck from Sounds Profitable too: data that makes the point that podcast advertising is, in a risky landscape, the safest bet.

• OP3’s John Spurlock is interviewed by Castopod. The tool gives public, comparable data about podcasts - here’s data from some of the shows using it, and here is data for our daily podcast. It’s free; Podnews is a monthly financial supporter (and you, big podcast company, should be too).

• In Australia, marketing website Mi3 criticises the state of podcast measurement, saying that “there needs to be consensus on industry standards”.

Tips and tricks - with Ausha 🚀

• Ausha suggests: Explore 5 innovative ways to use transcription to enhance your podcast’s accessibility and SEO

• Ausha suggests: Learn about the leading podcast transcription services of 2024 with Ausha’s comprehensive review

• Who is your podcast for? Lower Street suggest that you define your podcast’s ideal listener.

• Did you see a big drop in downloads over the past six months? You’re not alone - Apple Podcasts made a change that impacted everyone

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave Media: Calm Cove is perfect for adults and babies who struggle to sleep. Relax and be calm while listening to sleep sounds to help you drift off, including white noise, nature sounds, streams & oceans and meditation sounds.

Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy was announced from Wondery yesterday. A new true crime show - featuring real-life bad romance stories of love gone awry and the unbelievable aftermath - it goes live in Wondery+ on Monday and open RSS in June.

In the Podnews Weekly Review this week, Kevin Finn talks about “fanmail”, a new way for listeners to get in touch with Buzzsprout podcasters. Plus, Captivate’s Mark Asquith talks about the YouTube integration the company has worked on this week.

On the week of World Press Freedom Day, Sound Judgment looks at the case of New Hampshire Public Radio reporter Lauren Chooljian, and the pressure placed on her after she dug into allegations of sexual misconduct. Telling stories of retaliation by the people she was investigating, it’s a sobering thought on what might happen to journalists wanting to tell the truth.