How important are ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews anyway?

• Do podcasters really need to beg for ratings and reviews? Dan Misener from Pacific Content asks the questions that ought to be asked. “We have not seen conclusive evidence that ratings or reviews directly contribute to chart performance, visibility, or editorial support from Apple Podcasts”, he says. (Some others claim that reviews are only used for the “What’s Hot” algorithm; and not for the others).

• The Australian Podcast Awards have announced their finalists. If you’re looking for decent Aussie podcasts, listen to any of these. The winners will be announced on May 5.

• Football podcast By Association is one of the finalists for the Australian Podcast Awards, but is also nominated for Best Sports Podcast in the 22nd Annual Webby Awards (vote!). “I truly believe in the work I’m doing, and these nominations only reinforce that,” said host and producer James Parkinson.

• Open for beta-testing… a new app, AlarmPod - an iOS app that lets you wake up to your favorite podcast episodes each morning. Such a simple idea, it’s a surprise that most podcast apps don’t include it as an option.

• BE Media Production has shared a branded podcast case study for a fertility clinic in Australia. “We’ve seen a significant uplift in inquiry activity,” says the company, and have commissioned a second series.

• Event: The Columbus Podcast Festival (Columbus OH, United States); May 10-13. Now added to our not-quite-launched-yet podcast events page.

• HotPod 157 is out. Nick discusses decent figures from NPR, and an exec shuffle at Gimlet.

• A detailed look at podcasting’s slow editorial evolution from the UNC Asheville (NC, United States) student publication 'thebluebanner’.

Relevant if tedious disclosure: I am a member of IADAS, who nominate and select Webby Awards winners, and a judge for the Australian Podcast Awards.