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Friday, May 23, 2025
The team from Apple Podcasts spoke at The Podcast Show yesterday - the first ever time that Apple Podcasts has spoken at a podcasting event. The talk, by Jake Shapiro and Susie Warhurst, was well received by the audience, who learnt that 2024 was Apple Podcasts’ best year ever for listeners, hours, and premium podcast subscribers. The chimneys at the iconic Battersea Power Station, where Apple’s UK operations are based, turned Apple Podcasts purple in celebration of the podcast creator community this week.
Apple unveiled some data from one of Goalhanger’s shows, The Rest is History. That show has 45,000 paying subscribers using Apple Podcasts, and it was revealed that 57% of them are on the annual plan, which is helpful for retention. Tony Pastor, the co-founder of Goalhanger, was quoted as saying “The key advantage of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions is how seamless the experience is for listeners.”
- Apple Podcasts also shared the strength of UK podcasting, with many UK shows also achieving top 10 chart positions around the world, like Wondery/Novel’s Kill List and Noiser’s Sherlock Holmes. Apple said that 88 of the top 100 UK shows are made in the UK.
Apple Podcasts announced the latest additions to the Creators We Love program, which includes five of the UK’s most well-established podcasters. Selected by the Apple Podcasts editorial team, the five shows will be promoted both on and off the platform.
- Opinion: It’s nearly 20 years since podcasts first went into iTunes; and Apple has been a good steward of open podcasting since. Apple Podcasts has been criticised in the past for being overly secretive; but to see the Apple team being so open with creators at The Podcast Show was refreshing and well-reviewed by all - and reinforced that Apple, of all of the big podcast platforms, is podcasting’s friend. We hope to see more of this in future.
👉There's More To Read: HERE
Podcast listening has moved into the mainstream in the UK, according to the Edison Research Infinite Dial UK, which was released yesterday at The Podcast Show. The data gives a new high for monthly listening for podcasts of 51%. There’s a webinar later in the month to learn more.
Also released in London was the Top 25 Podcasts in the UK for Q1/25 from Edison Podcast Metrics. There’s no change in the top three shows (Rogan, TRIP, Diary of a CEO), with Goalhanger having four shows in the top ten.
UK media regulator Ofcom released its annual Podcast Survey and Audio Survey dataset. The data goes into use of video podcasts, suggesting that 41% prefer audio-only podcasts.
Apple Podcasts is due to speak at The Podcast Show in London today. We understand audiences will be given some case studies into Apple Podcast Premium Subscriptions, and a look at Apple Podcasts over the last near-20 years.
UK-based media and entertainment group Global signed a strategic partnership with Australia’s ARN, who run the iHeart brand in Australia. ARN will represent Global’s shows in Australia for ad sales; ARN’s shows will be available within the Global Player in the UK.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Podcast listening has moved into the mainstream in the UK, according to the Edison Research Infinite Dial UK, which was released yesterday at The Podcast Show. The data gives a new high for monthly listening for podcasts of 51%. There’s a webinar later in the month to learn more.
Also released in London was the Top 25 Podcasts in the UK for Q1/25 from Edison Podcast Metrics. There’s no change in the top three shows (Rogan, TRIP, Diary of a CEO), with Goalhanger having four shows in the top ten.
- Industry analyst Adam Bowie looks at the data from the chart in more detail.
UK media regulator Ofcom released its annual Podcast Survey and Audio Survey dataset. The data goes into use of video podcasts, suggesting that 41% prefer audio-only podcasts.
Apple Podcasts is due to speak at The Podcast Show in London today. We understand audiences will be given some case studies into Apple Podcast Premium Subscriptions, and a look at Apple Podcasts over the last near-20 years.
UK-based media and entertainment group Global signed a strategic partnership with Australia’s ARN, who run the iHeart brand in Australia. ARN will represent Global’s shows in Australia for ad sales; ARN’s shows will be available within the Global Player in the UK.
👉There;s More To Read: HERE
The Podcast Show in London is underway, with record numbers of attendees registered to attend. Christiane Amanpour and Emily Maitlis – two veteran female journalists – have been confirmed for a ‘Behind The Headlines’ session; and Apple Podcasts will deliver a session for the first time.
Spotify’s share of downloads is down year-on-year in the UK, according to OP3 data. Our Editor, James Cridland, speaking this morning at The Podcast Show London, compared data from a typical week in April in 2024 and 2025. “It may be that this is the growth of Spotify video, which won’t be seen by third-party analytics services like this,” he said. Apple Podcasts increased its share by 4.3%. The data also doesn’t show YouTube, Global Player or BBC Sounds.
The Signal Awards released a new report about what podcasters can learn from the creator economy. Enter The Engagement Era: How Podcasters are Learning From The Creator Economy is available now, exploring how top podcasts are reconfiguring their businesses to become more responsive to their listeners.
At The Podcast Show, Flightpath launched a predictive forecasting suite for video. “By incorporating real-time virality signals and behavioral data, Flightpath enables our clients to understand not just how a video will perform, but why.”
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
The Podcast Show in London is underway, with record numbers of attendees registered to attend. Christiane Amanpour and Emily Maitlis – two veteran female journalists – have been confirmed for a ‘Behind The Headlines’ session; and Apple Podcasts will deliver a session for the first time.
Spotify’s share of downloads is down year-on-year in the UK, according to OP3 data. Our Editor, James Cridland, speaking this morning at The Podcast Show London, compared data from a typical week in April in 2024 and 2025. “It may be that this is the growth of Spotify video, which won’t be seen by third-party analytics services like this,” he said. Apple Podcasts increased its share by 4.3%. The data also doesn’t show YouTube, Global Player or BBC Sounds.
The Signal Awards released a new report about what podcasters can learn from the creator economy. Enter The Engagement Era: How Podcasters are Learning From The Creator Economy is available now, exploring how top podcasts are reconfiguring their businesses to become more responsive to their listeners.
At The Podcast Show, Flightpath launched a predictive forecasting suite for video. “By incorporating real-time virality signals and behavioral data, Flightpath enables our clients to understand not just how a video will perform, but why.”
👉There's More To Read: HERE
What five podcasts have impacted you the most? Left of Media is creating The Essential Listening Poll - a list of the 100 most influential podcasts of all time to be published in August at Podcast Movement in Dallas: and as a Podnews reader, you’re invited to submit your five shows here. You’ve until the end of this month - please say you’re a Podnews reader when you submit yours.
Kara Swisher (and the business beind Pivot) is the subject of a profile in the New York Times. We learn that Swisher and business partner Scott Galloway turned down a $40mn guaranteed offer, and instead signed a 70% revenue deal with Vox Media that could return $70mn for them to split.
Spotify has been criticised for listing spam podcasts that operate as links to websites for illegal drugs. Previous industries who have targeted free podcast hosts like Spotify also include book piracy and sex workers. Spotify say they’ve removed them.
Soundstack has expanded its content delivery network with two new data centres: one in Sydney, Australia; and one in London. “Low latency, fast ad decisioning, and scalable ad stitching are essential for podcasting and streaming success,” says CEO Jon Stephenson.
Ahead of The Podcast Show London this week, The Sound Boutique has released a set of 16 ready-to-license music packs for podcasters. Each pack comes with edits and full audio stems.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Among our five would be… CNET’s Buzz Out Loud; This Week in Tech; pioneering true-crime show Death in Ice Valley; satirical show The Bugle; and your podcast. Yours. That one you do.
Kara Swisher (and the business beind Pivot) is the subject of a profile in the New York Times. We learn that Swisher and business partner Scott Galloway turned down a $40mn guaranteed offer, and instead signed a 70% revenue deal with Vox Media that could return $70mn for them to split.
Spotify has been criticised for listing spam podcasts that operate as links to websites for illegal drugs. Previous industries who have targeted free podcast hosts like Spotify also include book piracy and sex workers. Spotify say they’ve removed them.
Soundstack has expanded its content delivery network with two new data centres: one in Sydney, Australia; and one in London. “Low latency, fast ad decisioning, and scalable ad stitching are essential for podcasting and streaming success,” says CEO Jon Stephenson.
Ahead of The Podcast Show London this week, The Sound Boutique has released a set of 16 ready-to-license music packs for podcasters. Each pack comes with edits and full audio stems.
👉There's More To Read: HERE
The Podcast Academy has announced two, new, international awards will be handed out at The Podcast Show in London this week.The International Governor’s Award goes to Steven Bartlett from FlightStory’s chart-topping Diary of a CEO, which has “elevated podcasting as a medium for insight, vulnerability, and meaningful dialogue”, said Christy Mirabal, the chairperson of TPA.
Headliner launched TL;DL today. “Too Long; Didn’t Listen” blends clips from your favorite shows with AI-host insights for a unique, personalized audio experience. You can try it today.
More than 80% of creators are using AI in their workflow, according to a new study from Wondercraft. The main benefit of AI is to save time, according to the survey.
In Germany, ProSiebenSat.1 has acquired podcast production company Studio Bummens, which is one of the largest in the country. The companies have worked together for some time; no terms were given.
Podcast hosting platform Disctopia has acquired Wavve, an audio-to-video tool. Wavve’s technology will be incorporated into the Disctopia platform.
In the UK, The 2025 Golden Lobes were awarded last week. Powered by Adelicious, the awards crowned the funniest podcasts - winners included Harry Hill, Tom Scott’s Lateral, and Frank Skinner, who received the inaugural Lobes Legend Award.
Monday, May 19, 2025
- The International Impact Award goes to James Cridland, the Editor of Podnews, who Mirabal said has been “a global voice for the podcast industry, tirelessly advocating for its growth, innovation, and sustainability”.
Headliner launched TL;DL today. “Too Long; Didn’t Listen” blends clips from your favorite shows with AI-host insights for a unique, personalized audio experience. You can try it today.
- Here’s a ten-minute version of the Podnews Weekly Review from this week, via TL;DL (it’s summarised our top story well - but that’s all it did).
More than 80% of creators are using AI in their workflow, according to a new study from Wondercraft. The main benefit of AI is to save time, according to the survey.
In Germany, ProSiebenSat.1 has acquired podcast production company Studio Bummens, which is one of the largest in the country. The companies have worked together for some time; no terms were given.
Podcast hosting platform Disctopia has acquired Wavve, an audio-to-video tool. Wavve’s technology will be incorporated into the Disctopia platform.
In the UK, The 2025 Golden Lobes were awarded last week. Powered by Adelicious, the awards crowned the funniest podcasts - winners included Harry Hill, Tom Scott’s Lateral, and Frank Skinner, who received the inaugural Lobes Legend Award.
👉There's More To Read: HERE
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