Libsyn 5 available to all in beta

Our cover story: Zoe Chace, reporter for Serial’s true story about election fraud. Read more below in our Podcast News section.

• Libsyn has put Libsyn 5 into open beta for everyone to try. “We are excited to share with current and new Libsyn.com users the opportunity to access the new streamlined publishing experience,” said a company spokesperson. Libsyn 5 overhauls the user experience, adding nicer-looking podcast websites, and improved statistics - here’s a full list of the new features.

  • Greystone Capital posts a positive opinion of the company, claiming to be “blown away by the updates” in Libsyn5, and highlights the effect of the company’s current lawsuit against former shareholders.

• Spotify is to hold a new round of Sound Up programs: a global program that gives under-represented podcasters the tools to boost their platforms and build their own shows. The website lists shows from previous Sound Up alumni, and the full details about where they are taking part.

  • The first to announce is the Australia Sound Up Program, aimed at Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander podcasters. If that’s you, you’ve until April 19 to enter.
  
  This link is no longer available, as at Sep 2 2023
  • The company has also launched Behind The Mic, a new apprenticeship program coming later this year to support aspiring Black podcast producers. Three apprentices will become permanent Spotify employees as a result.

• Happy sixth anniversary to Podcasts in Color (and watch out for a new website in May).

  
  Sep 2 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Spotify has bought Locker Room, an iOS-only live sports audio app. Like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, it will let anyone host audio conversations. It’s to rebrand under a new name, and Gustav Söderström, chief R&D officer at Spotify, hints at integration with Anchor and Spotify’s podcasts.

• Erik Diehn and Tom Webster have been confirmed as speakers at Podcast Day 24, the 24-hour global podcast conference on June 7.

• Entercom, which owns Cadence13, Pineapple Street Studios, Podcorn and CBS Radio, has changed its name. “Part audio, part audacious, part odyssey”, the new name is Audacy. As part of that, RADIO․COM is no more: they’ve rebranded it Audacy as well. You can get your podcast into that app; our big list of podcast directories includes them. The stock market likes it: shares rose by 5.2%.

  
  Sep 2 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• The Podcast Index now lists over 2m podcasts. It doesn’t automatically pull new shows from Apple Podcasts, but even so, has now overtaken the number of shows there.

  • The Podcast Index website now also shows Value for Value splits, as in this example. Watch Podnews in the next few days for a full article on how this all works.

• Reuters Audio can now be accessed in the Reuters Connect Marketplace, giving more flexible access to over 600,000 archive audio clips. They initially launched in June last year.

• History/trivia podcast Your Brain On Facts is preparing for its 150th episode next week and wants your fast, fun facts. Host Moxie LaBouche is looking for 50 podcasts of any genre to record a 1-3 sentence fact on any topic you want (maybe the topic of your show?), as long as the language is clean. You might even be part of a Guinness world record for most guest segments on a single podcast episode. Email yourbrainonfacts@gmail.com before Sunday April 4.

Tips and tricks

• So, you’ve published your first episode… now what?

  
  Sep 2 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• How I make… True Crime Reporter - Robert Riggs discusses his production process.

Podcast News - With Toyota Untold

The Toyota MR2 — a fan favorite of hobby builders around the world, gets the nostalgia treatment in this recent episode of Toyota Untold.

The Improvement Association is the new podcast from Serial & The New York Times. Hosted by Zoe Chace, it looks at election fraud: actual, proved, election fraud. It launches April 13.

Unwell: A Midwestern Gothic Mystery has won the 'best podcast’ awards in the BBC Audio Drama Awards. The only independent show in the Podcast category, it beat shows from Audible and the BBC itself.

Between 2 Mics, Squadcast’s podcast, interviews Sounds Profitable’s Bryan Barletta in their latest episode.

Career Crossroads looks at our Editor, James Cridland, and his career from radio presenter to podcast newsletter editor.