Month: June 2025

Smartless Mobile Wants You To Stop Overpaying – And They’re Not Exactly Subtle About It

~ jen

Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the minds (and mouths) behind the widely popular Smartless podcast – are taking on a new role: mobile entrepreneurs. With the launch of SmartLess Mobile, the trio is serving up a new kind of wireless service: direct-to-consumer, data-sane, and refreshingly BS-free.

Bringing the same smart, self-deprecating humor that’s made their podcast a massive hit, the team has a new mission: help people to stop paying for mobile data they don’t use – and don’t need. It’s time to stop getting outsmarted by your phone bill.

Most people don’t realize that 90% of their phone’s data use happens over Wi-Fi, whether that occurs at home, work, school, or the millions of free hotspots across the country. The need for expensive unlimited data plans is rapidly evolving, and Smartless Mobile challenges the industry norm that “more data” means “better value.”

As the first product extension for SmartLess mobile services is a logical fit: “Our SmartLess podcast now reaches millions of listeners each month, almost all of whom listen on their phones.” Said Bateman. “Extending the SmartLess Brand into a mobile is a logical next step.”

“We’re not the industry, and we’re not trying to outsmart you,” Hayes said. “If you own your phone, spend most of your day on Wi-Fi, and are on an unlimited data plan, moving to SmartLess Mobile could literally cut your monthly bill in half. Seriously, if your phone bill knew how often you’re on Wi-Fi, it would be embarrassed.”

As millions of American households look to reduce unnecessary financial stress, cutting costs shouldn’t be complicated. Starting with your unused data is a no-brainer.

“It’s time for something to cost less,” said Arnett. “You’re paying for way more data than you use, and we’re pretty sure that Big Wireless isn’t going to let you know that your phone isn’t using their network the vast majority of the time. So, we’ll say it: If you’re using less, you should be spending less.”

As a digital-only brand, Smartless Mobile has foregone expensive retail locations and directed those savings to lowering the cost of service for its customers. With the rise of eSIM technology, switching mobile providers has never been faster or easier. Most Americans can bring their existing numb with them just by scanning a QR code, and the whole process takes just minutes.

SmartLess Mobile offers nationwide coverage across the continuous United States and Puerto Rico.

The SmartLess Mobile founding team also includes wireless industry veterans Paul and Jeni McAleese, along with lead investor Thomvest Asset Management.

New Podcast ‘The Messy Parts’ Launches To Challenge The Myth Of Perfect Success

~ jen

While social media feeds overflow with polished stories, a new podcast is asking: what if the biggest career breakthroughs come from the moments we’re less likely to share? The Messy Parts, launching June 9th cuts through the highlight reel to explore the raw, unfiltered reality behind achievement.

Host Maryam Banikarim, a powerhouse executive with 20+ years in the C-Suite at Nextdoor, Hyatt, NBC Universal and Univision, created the show after growing tired of the facade. “I’ve been ‘successful’ by most measures and its messy as hell,” says Banikarim. “There are days even the people who ‘have it all’ can barely get out of bed. We want listeners to know they’re not losing their minds alone.”

What Makes This Different:

Candid conversations revealing never-before-heard stories behind influential careers

Maryam’s unique lens as someone who’s “been through it”

Access to high-powered guests willing to share their most vulnerable moments

Actionable insights for navigating career pivots, setbacks, and recovery. The Podcast arrives as 70% of professionals actively seek career change and 78% of those under 40 are reassessing their paths. Traditional career advice focuses on success stories, but professionals need honest conversations about failure, pivots, and what it really takes to bounce back.

The premiere episode features Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, discussing a self-funded brand, the real struggles behind Instagram gloss, and how “letting the messy parts hang out” became her superpower.

“The Messy Parts” launches with intimate 35-minute conversations recording at historic Newsstand Studios at Rockafeller 35-minute conversations recording at historic Newsstand Studios, Rockafeller Center, available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and all major platforms. 

Unlock the Power of Your Podcast with Blubrry Statistics: A Comprehensive 4-Part Demo Series

~ admin

Every podcaster aspires to expand their audience and create content that resonates deeply with listeners. But how do you measure success effectively? Enter Blubrry Podcast Statistics—your gateway to powerful, actionable insights explicitly designed to help your podcast thrive.

In this exciting four-part video series, we take you on an in-depth tour of Blubrry’s intuitive and feature-rich statistics platform, helping you transform raw data into podcasting gold.

Part 1: Introduction and Essential Metrics Kick off the series by familiarizing yourself with Blubrry’s core analytics dashboard. Learn how to swiftly navigate essential tools, including cumulative listens, average performance metrics, global category comparisons, and intuitive event tracking. Quickly grasp your podcast’s health and momentum at a glance, providing you with clarity on immediate performance.

Part 2: Trends and Detailed Comparisons In the second installment, delve deeper into comprehensive analytics. Explore versatile trend charts covering 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and even 2-year periods. Identify seasonal patterns and long-term listener trends with monthly aggregated data, and leverage episode comparison tools to discover precisely what content clicks best with your audience. Plus, see how average daily plays and estimated audience numbers can sharpen your strategy.

Part 3: Listener Geography and Preferences Discover exactly where your listeners are located globally and regionally. Blubrry’s sophisticated geolocation features not only identify your top countries but also offer detailed breakdowns by Nielsen DMAs within the U.S. and specific maps for Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, and the UK. You’ll also learn how listeners engage with your content, identifying preferred devices, apps, and operating systems, empowering you to deliver a perfectly tailored listening experience.

Part 4: Episode-Level Insights, Surveys, and Media Kits Wrap up the series by diving into precise episode-level data analysis, allowing you to measure and enhance individual episode performance. Utilize the unique Audience Survey feature to collect detailed demographic data directly from your listeners, visually presented to guide your content decisions. And don’t miss the dynamic Media Kit feature, updated daily with your latest stats, ideal for impressing sponsors, guests, and collaborators effortlessly. Celebrate podcast milestones visibly with attractive badges directly from your dashboard.

Whether you’re a podcasting novice or an experienced pro, the Blubrry Podcast Statistics Demo series equips you with everything needed to enhance your content and grow your audience strategically.

Ready to dive into the future of podcast analytics? Join us on this engaging, informative journey and unlock the full potential of your podcast today!

Sport Social Partners With Audacia Audio To Boost Podcast Advertising Across APAC

~ jen

Sport Social, Europe’s largest dedicated sport podcast network, has partnered with global audio advertising marketplace Audacia Audio to bring more programmatic advertising opportunities to eight key markets across Asia-Pacific: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand.

The partnership will see Audacia integrate with Sport Social’s network, helping to fill growing podcast ad inventory in these regions using advanced programmatic technology. With increasing audiences across APAC, this collaboration ensures that brands in these markets can now access a rich catalog of premium sports content in a scalable, efficient way.

Kym Treasure, Founder and CEO of Audacia Audio shared her excitement about the partnership:

“We’re incredibly proud to become the exclusive third-party representative of Sport Social across Asia Pacific. With a catalog of over 600 shows — including fan favorites like The Anfield Wrap, Seaman Says, and Under the Cosh, as well as standout content from creators such as Crowd Network and Goalhanger — Sport Social is a powerhouse in global sports audio. 

What sets them apart is their deep collaboration with official rights holders, including eight Premier League clubs. This partnership gives brands across APAC the chance to align with elite sporting content in a truly meaningful way.

Sport Social podcasts are loved worldwide, and this unrivaled, genre-spanning catalogue opens up fresh opportunities for brands and agencies across the region to be heard across this premium content.

Through Audacia Audio, advertisers can now access a premium podcast inventory that’s never been this accessible or scalable across APAC — and with such a high caliber of content, the opportunities are truly unparalleled.”

Gavin Martin, Head of Trading at Sport Social, said: “This partnership means more opportunities for our podcasters whose shows are resonating with listeners in these regions. With Audacia’s programatic infrastructure an market expertise, we’re better positioned to connect brands with passionate sport fans across APAC and deliver more value to creators.”

For podcasters, the integration means increased monetization in potential ares where Sport Social is seeing listener growth. For advertisers, it offers streamlined access to highly engaged audiences across a wide range of sports podcasts, all delivered in a trusted and brand-safe environment.

With more than 600 shows on the network, including titles like The Anfield Wrap, Seaman Says, Undr The Cosh and content from producers like Crowd Network and Goalhanger, Sport Social works closely with official rights holders including Premier League clubs, World Athletics, and Paralympics GB, offering brands the chance to align with elite sporting content.

Platform Media Brings In Senior Executive Producer Alex Watson To Supercharge Growth At Leading Entertainment Label Listen

~ jen

Platform Media taps Alex Watson to drive Listen, their ambitious entertainment and TVs label’s originals push – starting with The Buckleys, hosted by Clair and James Buckley.

Alex joins from Pixiu Podcast, where he served as Head of Content, playing an instrumental role in shaping the company’s creative and commercial approach in his nine-year tenure. Having led a high-performing creative team, Alex developed a string of standout series with top tier talent, including Fearless with Trinny Woodall, Happy Mum Happy Baby with Giovanna Fletcher, and Plot Twist for Sky.

Continuing his streak of taking entertainment formats to the next level, Alex is set to take the reins on the chart-topping Platform Media original, The Buckleys. Launched in November 2024, The Buckleys is the Spotify Top 10 Comedy podcast hosted by Clair and James Buckley, the latter best-known for his role as Jan in The Inbetweeners. With no guests or gimmicks, the show has already racked up 7.2 million long-form plays across video and audio.

Beyond launching entertainment hits, Alex has carved out a strong reputation in the branded audio space, leading standout campaigns for major players including Audable, Spotify, The British Library, Penguin Books, NatWest, Virgin, Deezer, and BT Sport. He now brings that expertise, and a deep network of industry relationships, to Platform’s high-performing commercial team who were recently recognized in The Drum Marketing Awards 2025.

Alex Watson says: “Platform Media’s merger with Listen and Goldhawk Productions makes it out as a supergroup in the UK content landscape. I’m incredibly excited to join this team at a time of such momentum and ambition – to help shape the next wave of standout shows.”

Darby Dorras, Chief Content Officer at Platform Media says: “Listen have led the charge on premium entertainment formats, we’re thrilled to have Alex on board to support this next phase of growth. With a sharp commercial instinct and a deep understanding of the audio landscape, Alex will be instrumental in turning Listen’s hit original podcast into powerful revenue drivers.”A

Alex will Executive Produce on The Buckleys, as well as Listen’s growing slate which includes Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong Its Right, Making a Scene with David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and The Traitors: Uncloaked. Listen is one label under the Platform Media supergroup, which also includes their factual and fiction label, Goldhawk and their sports label, Folding Pocket.

Podscribe Releases Q2 2025 Performances Benchmark Report Featuring First-Ever Global Audio Ad Metrics

~ jen

Podscribe, the leading attribution and analytics platform for audio advertising, has release its Q2 2025 Podscribe Performance Benchmark (PPB) Report – a comprehensive snapshot of podcast and streaming audio ads are performing across audiences, formats, and geographies.

This report draws on data from 67,000+ audio campaigns, 270+ advertisers, and over 20 billion impressions, offering industry benchmarks across both the U.S. and international markets. For the first time, the report includes conversion performance insights from five additional countries: Germany, France, Australia, the UK, and Canada — shedding light on how audio ad measurement is scaling globally.

Highlights from the Q2 2025 PPB Report:

International Reach: Reliable audio ad measurement is now possible across international markets, despite challenges like higher IP churn, truncated IP’s and lack of device graphs.

Audience Segment Insights: More affluent and more educated listeners still deliver the strongest performance — but for other segments, conversions vary highly by brand.

Lag Reporting & Incrementally: 45% of all conversions happen within the first 7 days of ad exposure, and 66% of surveyed marketers are now measuring incrementally.

Pixel Attribution Outperforms Surveys & Promo Codes:  Pixel-based attribution captures 2.3x more conversions than post-purchase surveys and 4.6x more than promo codes.

Why the PPB Matters

Built on real attribution data from thousands of campaigns, the PPB is the industry’s go-to source for audio ad performance benchmarks. With new international insights and solutions for measurement blind spots, the Q2 2025 PPB report is a must-read for marketers looking to scale audio advertising smartly.

About Podscribe

Podscribe is the leader in pixel-based attribution, incrementally, and verification for podcast, streaming, CTV, and other hard-to-measure media channels. We help advertisers, agencies, and publishers measure true campaign impact, optimize performance, and scale with confidence — backed by real-time, household level data.

Audacy Elevates Michael Biemolt To President Of Digital Sales

~ jen

Audacy announced the elevation of Michael Beimolt to President of Digital Sales, a key move underscoring the company’s commitment to fueling its digital nature. In this role, Belmont will spearhead all national and local digital sales strategies, focusing on Audacy’s dedication to delivering innovative solutions and outcomes that matter for its partners. He will report to Bob Philips, Chief Revenue Officer.

“Our growing digital portfolio will benefit from this new organizational structure, setting Audacy up perfectly for further success,” said Chris Oliviero, Chief Business Officer, Audacy. “With Michael at the helm, we will lean into his expertise, experience and creativity to further energize our digital sales, unlocking new opportunities and creating better workflows and results for our local and national teams. We’re excited about what this means for our client partners and colleagues.”

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to step into this role and lead Audacy’s continued digital growth,” said Biemolt. “We have an inspiring team, and I look forward to working together to deliver meaningful impact and outcomes for our partners and clients worldwide.”

Michael Biemolt is a seasoned media and digital executive with over 30 years of experience in broadcast, digital sales, and marketing leadership. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President at Audacy, leading digital transformation efforts and helping grow national sales capabilities. 

He has held senior roles across Audacy and its predecessor brands, including Senior Vice President for RADIO.COM and Vice President of Digital Media. Earlier in his career, Biemolt spent over a decade at CBS Radio and CBS Television, serving in various leadership roles. He began his career at WBBM-FM in Chicago, advancing from Promotions Director to Marketing Director.

Ad Marketplace Gumball Launches New Contextually Relevant ‘Adaptive Ads’ Powered By AI

~ jen

Gumball, the award-winning advertising technology platform announces ‘Adaptive Ads’, an AI-driven ad product that keeps listeners engaged by delivering unique, contextually relevant podcast ad reads for each episode. Adaptive Ads are available to run across inventory on Gumball along with Audioboom, Backyard Ventures, and QCODE who have joined as early partners.

The tech behind Adaptive Ads works by considering the similarities between a show’s audience and brand’s target buyer, the specifics of the brand’s ad copy, and the content and tone of a particular episode, to create a script that captures the brand’s requirements while thematically matching the podcast episode it’s being inserted into.

“Adaptive Ads bridge the gap between the relevant of host read ads and the scalability of programmatic ads,” says Andrew Pile, Chief Technology Officer of Gumball. “Since Adaptive Ads are created using the content of the show and not the listener’s personal data, they feel topical without invading user privacy. It’s a more effective way to capture one of the unique qualities of host-read advertising without crossing an ethical line.”

These scripts are then turned into AI-voiced ad reads created using high-quality voice models, including compensated voice talent. Each audio file then gets run through Gumball’s ‘Ad Analyzer’ to ensure the ad meets the requirements of the brand. This is the same proven technology Gumball has been using to detect compliance for thousands of host-read ads, including promo codes, talking points, and disclosures. The end result is a campaign with a unique ad read for every episode that can be trusted to be engaging and brand safe.

“At Gumball, our vision has always been to build tools and solutions that enhance the value of the podcasting industry for both creators and brands while never losing sight of the most important part of the value chain: the listener experience,” says Marty Michael, CEO of Gumball. 

“Adaptive Ads are a natural extension of that vision. It’s physically impossible for a show with hundreds of episodes in its back catalog to record unique ads for each one. With Adaptive Ads, we’re giving creators another powerful monetization tool, improving the listener experience over traditional announcer-read programmatic, and helping brands reach audiences in a more relevant way.”

Adaptive Ads run through a standard VAST tag, which allows Gumball to partner across the industry, regardless of platform. Early test campaigns report evidence of the product quickly becoming a premium alternative to programmatic. 

“We’ve run both host-read and programmatic podcast ads before, so we were curious how Adaptive Ads would stack up,” says Elise Kaplan, VP of Partnerships at Adopter Media. “The results honestly blew us away. This campaign for Graza performed right in line with our host-read efforts, but with the ease and scale of programmatic. It was also fun to see what the AI came up with! It actually gave us a few great taglines.

Kast Media Emerges From Chapter 11 Restructuring With 85% Of Support

~ jen

Kast is pleased to announce the confirmation of its Chapter 11 plan of restructuring. The plan was confirmed with overwhelming support, and approximately 85% approval by both claim value and number of creditors voting in favor.

“This marks a major milestone for Kast,” said Colin Tomson, founder of Kast Media. “We walked through a challenging time. The Chapter 11 process was heavily scrutinized. We welcomed the scrutiny. We’ve learned a lot, and we’re better for it.”

“We’re tremendously grateful to our partners and stakeholders for their unwavering support, and we’re now entering the next phase with clarity, momentum, and new content already underway.”

Despite the complexity of the process, Kast’s streamlined operations continued to perform throughout the bankruptcy, and the company maintained operational profitability net of restructuring costs during the period.

The company’s content and advertising business remains strong and growing, with new projects and partnerships already growing revenue, productions in development with major streaming platforms, and a robust slate of new content in the pipeline.

With the reorganization behind it, Kast is entering a new phase focused on creator-service innovation, expansion, and delivering industry-leading storytelling.

About Kast Media

Kast Media is a leading podcast studio and network known for premium, genre-defining original storytelling. With a slate of critically acclaimed shows, Kast blends cinematic storytelling with the immediacy of podcasting.

Founded by Colin Thomson, the company has renewed focus on transparency and long-term creator empowerment, and is building a stronger, more resilient future media ecosystem through innovative content and industry reform.

SCA Supercharges LiSTNER Leadership To Drive Audience And Growth

~ jen

SCA has announced a new leadership structure and several promotion for LiSTNR, marking a pivotal step in the platform’s evolution as Australia’s leading locally owned digital audio destination that has become a market favorite for advertisers — underpinned by powerful first-party data capabilities.

SCA has ambitiously invested in LiSTNR since its launch in 2021. Today, the LiSTNER app has 2.25 million signed-up users, with the LiSTNER Audience Network — which includes radio in-stream and podcasting — attracting more than 10 million monthly listeners. The latest Australian Podcast Ranker also features more LiSTNER podcasts than any other platform. With strong year-on-year revenue growth, LiSTNER is uniquely positioned for commercial success.

Recognizing LiSTNER’s critical role within SCA’s All About Audio ecosystem and its expanding commercial potential, SCA has appointed Chief Operating Officer Stephen Haddad to lead the platform into its next phase of growth, alongside promotions for Grant Tothill, Sam Cavanagh, and Mike Williams.

This new leadership structure aligns deep audio and content expertise with core operational priorities. By placing proven talent in these strategically significant roles, SCA is sharpening its focus, accelerating audience growth, and unlocking the full commercial and creative potential of the LiSTNER platform.

Haddad said: “LiSTNER’s success comes from years of strategic investment in building Australia’s strongest digital audio network, powered by robust first-party data, world-class content, and a clear vision for the future. I’m excited to lead this new chapter with a strengthened leadership team.

Grant, Sam, and Mike each bring a wealth of expertise and drive, and will play a key role as we sharpen our focus on audience growth, content excellence, and commercial impact. With this team in place, backed by talented content and commercial teams, and ongoing innovation in adtech, we’re well positioned to extend LiSTNER’s leadership in the digital audio space and deliver even greater value to audiences and advertisers.”

Tothill has been promoted to the newly created role of Executive Head, LiSTNER Operations and Audience. Tothill will oversee end-to-end operations, drive audience growth through innovative content and data-led strategies and lead the development of a distribution strategy to maximize reach and commercial opportunities.

With over 30 years of experience across radio promotions and content, marketing and artist development in both radio, music, and partnerships, Tothill brings unmatched industry insight. Since rejoining SCA in 2010, he has held senior roles shaping podcasting and audio innovation, including Director of Entertainment and Content Solutions, Executive Head of Podcasting and his current role as Executive Head of LiSTNER Audience and Growth, with a focus on developing content-led strategies to grow audiences and commercialize brands across multimedia executions.

Cavenagh has been promoted to Head of Content — LiSTNER Original Podcasts. Cavanagh will oversee the creation, commissioning, and optimization of SCA’s original podcast, ensuring they align with LiSTNER’s strategic goals and perform strongly. LiSTNER’s vertical Heads across Entertainment & Culture, Factual and Sport will report to Cavanagh.

Cavanagh is a leading figure in Australia’s audio and media landscape, with over two decades of experience across radio, podcasting and creative content. Best known as the long-time Executive Producer of Australia’s most successful radio shows and podcast, Hamish & Andy, he has shaped some of the country’s most iconic radio and podcast shows. Cavanagh has also applied his creative leadership in agency with senior content role at Thinkerbill and Tribe.

Williams has been promoted to LiSTNER Head of Entertainment & Culture, leading the Entertainment vertical. Willians will manage the entertainment podcast producers and oversee the development of high-quality, engaging content that resonates with LiSTNER’s audience.

With more than 16 years of experience in audio and production, Williams is an experienced leader in digital transformation, audience growth, and audio content strategy, specializing in high-impact audio experiences across a range of genres. He spent over a decade at the ABC, where he played key roles at ABC Radio National, triple j and Double J, launching groundbreaking audio projects across documentary, news, music and digital-first storytelling. He joined SCA in 2022 as Executive Producer for LiSTNER’s Original Podcasts.