PodcastOne Announced Judges to Find the Next Big Podcast Star

PodcastOne, a leading podcast platform and a subsidiary of LiveXLive Media, has set its award winning panel of judges to select the winner of Self Made Podcast Edition, an audio competition to find the next big podcast star for the network giant. The storied list of podcast notables and advertising and media industry executives will use criteria ranging from sound quality to host relatability to show promotion paired with download numbers, to determine the grand prize winner.

Selected for the panel are:

Kaitlyn Bristowe, creator and host of Off the Vine, one of the most successful and downloaded podcasts for women. Bristowe is also current Co-host of The Bachelorette and recently was crowned champion of Dancing with the Stars;

Adam Carolla, host and Guiness World Record holder for the world’s most downloaded podcast, The Adam Carola Show. Additionally, Carolla is the former host of the iconic radio and television series Loveline;

Emmy Award-winner Doug Ellin who created the smash HBO series Entourage and host of two podcast series, Hollywood Ways and the Victory Podcast which garnered more than 5 million downloads in its first 12 months.

Internationally recognized broadcast journalist Jillian Hamilton who hosts the podcast Cheating: When Love Lies;

Barbara Schroeder will also serve as a mentor in addition to her judging duties. Schroeder who created the Netflix hit documentary Evil Genius and whose podcast Bad Bad Thing catapulted onto the top True Crime genre charts will provide expert insight with each of the finalists to help them hone their storytelling skills.

Rounding out the group of esteemed panelists are revered and venerated podcast industry scions and advertising industry executives James Ingrassia, Head of Client Services, Oxford Road, the leading Los Angeles-based audio ad agency; DeSha Runnels, Vice President of Media, Ad Results, the world’s leading audio & podcast advertising agency; Sarah Cotenoff, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships, Podsights, the leading attribution platform for podcast advertising; John Goforth, Chief Revenue Officer, Magellan AI, the leading developer of a data and analytics platform used to analyze podcasts and organize the data; Kit Gray, Co-Founder and President of PodcastOne; and member of the Radio Hall of Fame, Norm Pattiz, Founder of PodcastOne and WestwoodOne.

Self Made Podcast Edition is driven by fans as well as the panel of judges, all listening to see who will take the top prize: a podcasting contract with PodcastOne, and a total package worth over $100,000 including promotion across the network. The competition will culminate in episodes submitted by each of the five finalists via LaunchpadOne. With over 1200 independent podcasts, LaunchpadOne is PodcastOne’s free innovative podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform that provides an end-to-end podcast solution. A winner will then be crowned on September 30, 2021 – International Podcast Day.

WARC and iHeartMedia Study Reveals Audio Investment Gap for Marketers

WARC, the global authority on marketing intelligence, unveiled the results of a study conducted in collaboration with iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in the US, on media consumption and audio investment in the US.

The Investment Gap: Understanding the Value of Audio” highlights a divergence between consumption and investment. While 31% of the average consumer’s media consumption is now audio, only 8.8% of the average media budget is allocated to audio, and 25% of advertisers do not invest in audio at all.

According to the study, consumers of every generation are spending more and more time with audio content across radio, streaming and podcast, driven by audio’s ease and accessibility with the growth of wireless headphones and smart speakers adding to in-car, at home, and work listening.

Whilst WARC Data forecasts audio advertising spend in the US to reach $13.9bn this year, a double-digit recovery (+10.9%) from the pandemic’s 2020 cuts, the report highlights a large audio investment gap and the vast opportunity that exists in this mass reach and high engagement audio advertising market.

The study also identified four key types of advertiser attitudes toward audio:

Audio Avoiders, the 25% of advertisers who do not invest in audio at all

Broadcast Believers, who have seen the benefits of radio and are beginning to delve into more forms of audio

Digital Only, those who have started to invest but are missing out on the full suite of audio options, particularly the 90% reach of broadcast radio

Cross-Platform Champions, who explore audio’s full potential and continue to test, learn from and optimize their investments across platforms

Furthermore, the study shows that audio is not a monolith. There are different and critical channels within the audio segment, and they play different roles in the minds of consumers that advertisers should take advantage of.

Broadcast radio reaches 9 out of 10 Americans every month, and is also the number one mass reach media among people ages 18 and over. Podcasts are the fastest growing new audio platform and consistently deliver higher advertising conversion rates than all other digital channels, including social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and even Google. Forecasts from IAB/PwC show podcast ad spend is expected to grow rapidly in the US this year, up to 60% to top $bn for the first time.

The study also highlights the effectiveness of audio advertising at al local, regional and national level and across every stage of the funnel.

Increases brand awareness: Audio delivers wide reach and high frequency. Nielsen Share Shift data shows that adding audio to a TV campaign improves performance by 20% whilst reducing costs.

Creates favorability: Audience members have close relationships with their preferred stations and platforms, audio boosts brand familiarity and consideration.

Sparks conversion: By delivering urgent calls-to-action at the most relevant times and places, audio motivates the actions and interaction brands require.

Whether brands tap into broadcast radio for its mass reach or its effectiveness or dive deeper into podcasting for its highest conversion rates, the study points out how right sizing the audio investment will drive real impact and growth for brands.

The Ambies 2022 Are Open For Submission

The Ambies celebrate excellence in podcasting and elevate awareness and status of podcasts as a unique and personal medium for entertainment, information, storytelling and expression.

The Podcast Academy has expanded the Show Recognition categories to include Best Podcast for Kids and Best Indie Podcast. The Ambies 2022 are accepting entries. The last date to submit your entry is December 3, 2022.

There are two types of award categories to consider for your submissions: Show Recognition categories and Talent Recognition categories. Find the category that is right for you here.

Before you get started with submission(s), please take a moment to review the rules and the entry process. Please note, names and titles entered on your submission form may be used in print and/or online if your podcast is nominated for an Ambie.

Here are some things to know about the rules:

Production companies, individual producers/creators, and distributors of a podcast series which published at least 3 episodes during the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, are eligible for consideration. Any ongoing podcast can enter, and any miniseries podcast can enter so long as they published episodes in 2021.

English language only, at this time.

ENTRY FEES:

  • Members of The Podcast Academy – $100
  • Non-Members – $175
  • Payments may be made by credit card, PayPal, or bank transfer.
  • Submission reimbursements available for qualifying individuals through The Podcast, Seriously Awards Fund
  • Additional scholarships may be available through The Podcast Academy.

Category Submission Limits: There are two types of category: Show Recognition and Talent Recognition.

  • Show Recognition Categories: A podcast may be submitted into a maximum of three Show Recognition Categories.
  • Talent Recognition Categories: There are no limits on Talent Recognition Categories.

Voting: Regular Members of The Podcast Academy will have one month to listen to nominated podcasts in their assigned categories and vote for winners.

Winners will be announced on March 22, 2022.

The Creators of PodMatch Launch PodcastSOP

Software aimed to serve podcast hosts as their dedicated project management system for releasing podcast episodes has been launched by creators of PodMatch. Called PodcastSOP, the software is specifically designed to help podcasters manage the workflow that goes into releasing upcoming episodes of their show.

Alex Sanfilippo of PodMatch, a free podcast booking service that automatically matches guests and hosts together for interviews, announced the official launch of this additional service, saying, “When I polled more than 1,000 podcasters who ended their shows, I found that one of the primary reasons that they stopped podcasting was due to stress caused from a lack of organization and systems, and that’s precisely what PodcastSOP helps with.”

Sanfilippo noted that he performed extensive research on the lifespan of podcasters. “What I learned was alarming, 90% of people who launch a podcast stop before they reach the one-year mark of their show. The mission of PodcastSOP is to help more than just 10% continue for longer than one year.”

Features included with PodcastSOP consist of creating episode templates, adding episode checklists to complete, setting deadlines, uploading unlimited files, adding team members, commenting on specific tasks, and much more.

From the pre-launch week came great feedback that has generated significant support for PodcastSOP, as follows:

  • “PodcastSOP is seriously a game changer! I don’t know how these guys always come up with the most needed software in the podcasting industry!” – Josh Tapp, Founder of Podcast Multipliers and host of.
  • “With the explosive growth in podcasting, it’s exciting to see a new resource like PodcastSOP help podcasters of all levels.” – Harry Duran, Founder of FullCast and Host of Podcast Junkies.
  •  “Finally! A systems-based, time-saving software specifically for podcasters to help them manage their workflow! Thanks, PodcastSOP!” – Kate Erickson of Entrepreneurs On Fire.

Prior to launching, PodcasSOP conducted a three-month alpha test with 100 podcasters ranging from beginners to seasoned show hosts to learn what the podcast industry needed in project management software. During those 90 days, Sanfilippo and the team implemented recommendations and enhanced the product to be the ideal solution for all podcasters regardless of their experience level.

The later part of the new software’s name comes from one of its noteworthy features, called the Template Gallery, which allows users to select a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from popular podcasters to manage their show like industry leaders. They can also adjust the template and make it their own with just a click of a button.

The first project management software specifically for podcasters, PodcastSOP is currently available at an introductory rate of $6.00 (USD) per month after a 14-day free trial.

Blubrry Added Podcast Hosting Plans

Blubrry announced that they are once again bringing value to podcast hosting customers with their Advanced Plan. Advanced Statistics and Domain Mapping (for those using our free WordPress websites) are now included in Blubrry’s $20+ hosting plans.

Growing a podcast audience is exciting, and Blubrry is offering one of the best ways to keep track of this growth by making adjustments based on data. Blubrry provides that data with Advanced Statistics.

Advanced Statistics, Blubrry’s most powerful podcast analytics, are now automatically included with all Advanced Hosting plans. Released as an add-on in 2019, Advanced Stats provide data on partial downloads, play delivery and listener retention.

Mapping a domain name to your website is the ultimate way to build your brand under your .com and gain the authority, search, and referral traffic your show deserves.

New Offerings:

  •  Advanced Hosting starts at $20 for 250MB monthly storage
  •  Advanced Statistics included (new)
  • Domain mapping is included with the free Blubrry WordPress site (new)
  • Extra Storage $20 provides 250MB of additional storage (new)

Current plans of $20 and above have received an automatic upgrade. There is nothing you need to do except take a deep dive into the new analytics in your dashboard.

Also, map a domain to your Blubrry-provided WordPress website or migrate your WordPress site to the free one provided by Blubrry.

Standard Statistics are still included with all $12 hosting plans, or available to any podcaster not using Blubrry hosting for $5 per month.

Australian Podcast Awards Announces New Partners and Judging Line-Up

The Australian Podcast Awards (APAs) announced the country’s biggest podcast player, Acast, will be powering the Awards this year as its headline partner.

Joining Acast is Southern Cross Austero’s LiSTNR app who joins as a Gold Partner and the sponsor of the public vote category – The Listener’s Choice Award.

Acast and LiSTNR join a list of podcasting heavyweights supporting the 2021 APAs, including Spotify, iHeartPodcast Network Australia, Nova Entertainment Podcast Network, Podfollow, and Podnews.

The APAs has also announced its 2021 judging panel, which includes a list of well-known personalities, industry veterans and audiophiles who will together determine the best Australian podcasts of 2021.

News Corp’s National Entertainment Editor, Johnathan Moran, joins a series of media and entertainment heavyweights including the TODAY Show’s Entertainment Producer, Cosima Toni, Editor and podcast creator Melissa Mason, Head of Entertainment for The Project, Kristy-Lee Lorraway, Pedestrian Group’s Senior Entertainment Editor, Matt Galea, and pop culture writer Patrick Lenton.

The APAs independent judging panel also unites talent from the nation’s leading podcast production houses including: ABC Radio, Acast, ARN / iHeartRadio, Mushroom Group, Nova Entertainment, Piccolo Podcasts, SBS, SCA, SoundCartel, and Spotify.

Matt Deegan, Director at the Australian Podcast Awards, said:

“This year’s Australian Podcast Awards, powered by Acast, is shaping up to be the best yet. The judging panel is truly world class and the content we’re seeing is sure to spark debate, intrigue and even some laughs along the way. It’s an absolute delight to see such amazing content from Australian creators who continue to raise the bar year on year.”

Guy Scott-Wilson, Content Director, Acast Australia and New Zealand said:

“As a creator-first podcast company, Acast will always champion and celebrate the independent podcasting industry. In Australia and across the world, we power a thriving, profitable and sustainable open ecosystem, giving podcasters the freedom and tools to develop and grow valuable listener relationships, while making money from their craft. It’s this approach to podcasting that has seen us work with some of Australia’s favourite podcasters.”

“Our industry has been on a growth trajectory and we are firm believers that it’s the creators that are powering that growth. The quality and breadth of Australian podcast content is amongst the best in the world, so sponsoring the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the talent of our local creators and their contribution to the global podcasting community.”

Grant Tothill, General Manager for Digital Audio at Southern Cross Austereo, said:

“Podcasting in Australia continues to grow and is fast becoming a part of people’s everyday life. The creativity in audio treatments, concepts, and story-telling is advancing each year. With so many great creators and producers doing brilliant work, to be able to play a role in recognizing that by sponsoring the Australian Podcast Awards’ ‘Listeners’ Choice Award’, ‘Best Documentary’ and ‘Best Current Affairs’ Awards is an exciting opportunity for everyone at LiSTNR.”

The judging panel of industry experts will determine nominees from the provided category shortlists. Category winners will then be announced at a virtual event in November.

Boomcaster Provides Studio-Quality Recordings

Boomcaster, a recently launched podcasting and vodcasting platform, provides studio-quality recordings and the ability to livestream to YouTube and Facebook.

Boomcaster is setting up new benchmarks for production quality by recording each participant locally, in real time, and then uploading the files to the Boomcaster cloud. The result is studio-quality audio and video that is unaffected by network glitches or bandwidth issues. By recording locally, Boomcaster doesn’t rely on the quality of each participant’s network connection, which can result in poor-quality audio recording.

Raf Los, who has been using Boomcaser for his Down The Security Rabbit Hole Podcast, said, “The best part of Boomcaster is knowing that I will get super-high-quality audio and video as separate tracks, regardless of the network-related issues like out-of-sync audio, grainy video, etc., that can happen during a podcast recording session.”

Boomcaster, which doesn’t require users to download software, creates a separate web recording as a backup so users are guaranteed never to lose an interview. Boomcaster also allows users to schedule podcasts and send invitations.

Users can also customize Boomcaster sessions with their logo and color palette to brand their podcasts and vodcasts.

Hari Gopalakrishna, the founder and CEO of Boomcaster, created the service after realizing the quality of his podcasts fluctuated based on the bandwidth and strength of his internet connection. He also needed separate tracks for editing and wanted to livestream while recording; the alternative was to have each participant download and install specialized software on their computers, which, he said, “seemed daunting for us and our guests. This is what set me on a journey to build a super-reliable, but simple podcast recording solution for professionals and novices alike.”

“I have been a podcaster for a long time and have used different software for recording and live-streaming. Boomcaster is hands down one of the simplest and the most user-friendly application I have come across,” said Mitch Robbins, host of The Med-tech Talent Lab.

idobi Signs Exclusive Agreement with AdsWizz for Monetization

AdsWizz, a global leader in digital audio and podcast technology solutions, and idobi Network, the internet’s #1 alternative music network, announced the expansion of their current agreement, making AdsWizz the exclusive global monetization provider for advertisers seeking to reach idobi’s highly engaged audience across key markets, including the US and Europe.

Building on a successful existing relationship, this expanded agreement designates AdsWizz was the sole monetization provider for all of idobi’s inventory. Buyers can access idobi’s inventory through the AdsWizz Marketplace, a global exchange enabling publishers and advertisers to easily transact audio advertising programmatically.

Through the AdsWizz Marketplace, advertisers will gain access to idobi’s distinctive global audience of trend-makers in the 13–34 demographic, evenly split between genders. idobi is an all-access-pass to the alternative music world, including three fan-favorite streaming stations focused on alt-rock, heavy, and indie genres. Enhancing the music with content that resonates, the idobi studio produces over 20 podcast-shows dedicated to the alternative music & entertainment lifestyle and the community who inspires it.

“Since 1999 idobi has cultivated an international community within the alternative music world. In that time the network has become more than music: idobi is now a lifestyle. Building on a consistently beneficial relationship with the AdsWizz team, who continues to revolutionize the audio advertising technology space, we look forward to expanded opportunities and growth via this new era in our relationship,” said Eddie Barella, COO & Program Director, idobi.

“This expanded agreement will enable us to help increase the monetization of idobi’s valuable inventory to the fullest extent and to do that for them globally. We are excited to continue working with them across countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Brazil,” said Anne Frisbie, SVP Global Supply & Partnerships, AdsWizz.

The relationship between idobi and AdsWizz further strengthens AdsWizz’s position as the go-to ad-tech provider for podcast and digital audio publishers across the US and Europe. AdsWizz’s extensive technology and services enable publishers to efficiently monetize all their audio content — whether publishers sell their inventory themselves or outsource such sales — and make it easily accessible to brands and agencies.

Globally, the AdsWizz Marketplace offers over 9 billion available impressions and connects with over 80 million uniques each month. Adding idobi content to the AdsWizz Marketplace will enrich and expand the marketplace’s current offering, helping to streamline the overall ad buying and selling process for both publishers and advertisers. Additionally, audio buyers can reach listeners in more personal ways through rich audience segment targeting, such as geo, device type, genre, language, weather, demographic, behavioral segments and more.

AdsWizz and its regional sales representatives are proud to represent this highly sought-after alternative music inventory. Advertisers can now leverage idobi’s content to connect with new audiences around the world within the AdsWizz Marketplace, including countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Australia, United Kingdom, Russia, France, Thailand, and Spain.

Acast Hires First Content Business Development Director

In an initiative to help more US publishers monetize their expanding global ad inventory, Acast – the global power source of podcasting – has appointed its first Content Business Development Director. The new role has been filled by Michael Leonard, who’ll help premium US media organizations, networks, and creators capitalize on their growing international audiences.

An analysis of Acast’s 100 most-listened-to US podcasts shows that there are massive audiences of international listeners on American content. Between April and June 2021, an average of 22% of all listens to these most popular US podcast came from outside the country. On average, they had listeners in 150 different countries or territories, while 7% of total listens came from countries where English isn’t a primary language.

Acast is uniquely suited to monetize publishers’ international listenership due to its unparalleled global sales footprint within the podcast industry. The company holds presence in 12 countries with local, in-house teams that sell advertising and sponsorship across more than 30,000 podcasts around the world. In Q2 2021, the company reported net sales growth of 130% compared with the same quarter a year prior.

Having Leonard in this newly created role, focused solely on monetizing international listens, is part of the company’s wider strategy to help more US publishers — including those whose current solutions do not have global capabilities at the scale of Acast’s — expand their businesses by unlocking the enormous advertising opportunity in international audiences.

“One of the most lucrative opportunities for US podcast publishers right now lies in harnessing their popularity with international audiences,” said Veronika Taylor, Managing Director, Americas at Acast. “Many media organizations and networks are leaving valuable global inventory unused — and money on the table. We’re offering US publishers the best marketplace to sell their programming across the world and maximize their profits.”

Leonard most recently worked at mobile advertising company Kargo, where he spent seven years working in publisher partnerships and managed ad supply across content from hundreds of publishers. He joined Acast in August and is based in New York.

“With a strong presence in international markets, Acast is the right partner for any publisher looking to expand and monetize their audio footprint globally,” said Leonard. “I look forward to working with leading publishers and creators in the US, and helping them reach their full potential.”

Planet Money’s Jacob Goldstein Joins Pushkin Industries Team

Veteran journalist, writer, and podcast host Jacob Goldstein joins Pushkin Industries as Executive Producer. Goldstein spent more than a decade as co-host of Planet Money, NPR’s incredibly popular business podcast, reporting stories that make economic journalism approachable. He’s also the author of the book “Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing”, which the New York Times called “a history of currency full of astonishing tales you might tell a friend in the pub.”

Before discovering podcasts, Jacob worked as a staff writer at the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald, and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. He has done stories for the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, and All Things Considered. Goldstein joins the executive team at Pushkin, the audio company co-founded by Malcom Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg in 2018, where Goldstein will head up a new business department.

He will also be developing his own business show to launch in 2022 and executive producing Hot Money which will be a partnership between Pushkin and the Financial Times. Goldstein will be reporting to Mia Lobel, Pushkin’s VP of Content and Production.

“I’ve admired so many Pushkin products over the past few years,” Goldstein says. “I’m delighted to be joining the ranks of Pushkin hosts and to be part of the amazing production team. I can’t wait to start making shows here.”

“Whenever I hear Jacob Goldstein on the radio or a podcast, I know I’m in for a great ride. He tells stories about money that entertain as much as they inform,” says Jacob Weisberg, Pushkin’s co-founder and CEO. “We’re thrilled that he’s bringing his unique and delightful voice to Pushkin.”

This Fall, Pushkin will release a wide range of new podcasts, including Bad Women, which uncovers the truth of the five women said to have been killed by Jack the Ripper, hosted by award-winning historian and author Hallie Rubenhold; Some of My Best Friends Are…, hosted by interracial best friends Harvard professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and journalist Ben Austen, exploring the absurdities and intricacies of race using pop culture and history; and Backstage Pass with Eric Vetro, vocal coach to the stars, featuring intimate interviews with his students, from Ariana Grande to John Legend, about their singing process and careers. The rest of 2021 will bring new seasons of A Slight Change of Plans, hosted by Dr. Maya Shankar and Lost Hills, hosted by the New Yorker’s Dana Goodyear.