Podcasting is growing in China

In Sounds Profitable with Claritas this week, Bryan Barletta suggests that transcripts should be mandatory in podcasts, and that the podcasting advertising industry should push for this to happen. You should subscribe.

Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Podcasting is growing in China, says CGTN, a Chinese government website. “Over 36,000 podcasts have been either downloaded or streamed across China”, says the website (which seems… low). Lizhi, one of the main podcast platforms in the country, was interviewed in Podland News in January.

  
  Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Media streaming software Plex has removed podcasts from its service. A company spokesperson said the podcast feature had “light traction”, though it was described by users as “a hot mess” and part of a trend of “adding features that won’t be fixed or well maintained”.

• The terms for Amazon Music for Podcasters have been updated. Here are all the changes: there doesn’t appear to be any obvious change for us (though clarity that the service does not cache your podcast nor inject advertising).

• There’s a new #1 show in the Australian Podcast Ranker: SCA’s Hamish and Andy top the chart. For publishers, ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network Australia is still #1 for podcasts, but SCA is closing the gap.

  • What happens when you go exclusive? 2 Guys 1 Cup achieved 32,714 downloads in February’s Australian Podcast Ranker; it went exclusive to SCA’s LiSTNR in early March; resulting in the show dropping out of the Ranker entirely.

• One of the two podcast rankers in France has published its March figures. There has been a 10% growth in downloads year-on-year; Choses à Savoir is #1 according to ACPM.

• iHeartMedia has announced a podcast network for NFT characters.

• SBS has launched the first video podcast in Australian Sign Language (Auslan). The show, Our Deaf Ways, is a series by SBS and Deaf Australia about everyday life as a Deaf person, and launched today, which is Auslan Day.

• In the UK, daily news podcast The Smart 7 is celebrating its second anniversary with 10m network downloads and a new show - The Smart 7 Deutsche Edition, which will launch in Germany on May 2.

• Steven Goldstein has been teaching an NYU course about podcasting. He learnt that not everyone thinks podcasting is a road to riches; but students are “incredulous” that the music business has failed to figure out music licensing for podcasts.

  
  Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• Podcast saleshouse Podfront UK has been nominated for Sales Team of the Year at the Alf Awards. It has also received a nomination for Best Start-Up; production company Listen has also received a nomination. The awards are given on June 15.

• Adweek has launched the Adweek Podcast Network with Acast.

• Do branded podcasts work well for older audiences? JAR Audio suggests the data says… yes.

• While CNN is available on basic cable in the US, fewer than 10,000 people are using the new paid CNN+ subscription service, reports CNBC. Axios reports cuts are coming. The product isn’t available on Android TV, and only launched on Roku on Monday. (Something to learn for paid podcast subscriptions?)

  
  Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• How does Wise, a fintech company (which we use at Podnews for international payments), use podcast advertising? Cassandra LaPrairie is interviewed by NPR’s Scott Davis at a RAIN Podcast Business Lunch today at 12pm Eastern.

  
  Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

Moves and hires

• Courtney Holt, Spotify’s Global Head of Podcasts and New initiatives, is to leave the company. He had worked there for four years. Julie McNamara and Max Cutler will split Holt’s responsibilities.

Sep 13 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.
• Steven Shanks and Michael Kropko have been made co-CEO of Ad Results Media. Former CEO Marshall Williams, will continue to support the company as Chairman.

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• Ariel Shapiro will be the new lead reporter for Hot Pod, a podcast industry newsletter. She joins from Forbes and from ViacomCBS Paramount.

This link is no longer available, as at Sep 13 2023
• Gilbert Gottfried, the host of Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast, has passed away. He was 67.

Podcast News - with Acast

From Acast: That Peter Crouch Podcast has joined Acast, and the first show is today. You’ll have to resubscribe for this one, but you’ll get much of what you’ve come to expect from this top-rated UK show, hosted by the former English Premier League footballer. He’s back - stronger!

The Chaser Report has hit 3m listens, and has entered the top 30 of the Australian Podcast Ranker. Showing excellent timing, the show has taken a two-week break just as Australia starts a federal election campaign; the show returns on April 26.

Scamfluencers is new from Wondery, and tells the unbelievable true stories behind some of the world’s most infamous and extravagant scammers. We’re promised the fake Saudi Prince who swindled millions from innocent people, a teenager in scrubs who posed as a doctor and conned elderly patients, and a Hollywood actor whose starring role was running a massive Ponzi scheme.

The Line of Fire with Ramita Navai is new today from Aurra Studios. Hosted by investigative journalist Ramita Navai, it explores what facing death and danger can teach us about humanity and the world we live in, and what wisdom can be learned from working in war zones.