Left Of Dial Media Launches The Inaugural Essential Listening Poll

~ jen

Unlike movies, music, and books, podcasts have never received the mainstream critical attention they deserve. They are rarely discussed, debated, or analyzed outside of industry circular after their initial release. Beloved shows fall off the charts and become invisible to new listeners, buried under an algorithm that favors new and familiar.

“We have yet to write our history or establish a cannon and keen new listeners are left without a starting point for exploration. The poll will celebrate the rich history of podcasting, help develop a culture of criticism, create broad debate and discussion, and breathe new life into timeless classics and forgotten cult hits,” says Alan Black, founder of Left of Dial Media.

In mid-April, a diverse list of participants including members of The Podcast Academy will be invited to vote in the poll, sharing their top five shows, shining a new light on the work that has the most inspired, engaged, and influenced them. Votes will be tallied and a definitive list of the top 100 podcasts of all time, along with individual participant lists, will be created and widely distributed with a launch and reveal at Podcast Movement in Dallas in August and a series of accompanying articles and celebratory events.

“There has been so much enthusiasm for a project like this. We are thrilled to partner with industry leaders like Good Tape, Podcast Movement, and The Podcast Academy and tastemakers like Eurowaves and EarBuds Collective to bring this project to life,” adds Black.

“Good Tape Magazine aims to engage critically with the profound impact podcasting has on our culture,” says Dane Cardiel, founder of Good Tape. “We’re eager to extend this work through our partnership with Left of Dial Media and hope it will spark countless conversations, discussions and debates about the medium we love.”

The Essential Listening Poll will ensure that the groundbreaking and unforgettable shows of yesterday continue to find new audiences and inspire the creators of tomorrow and that the history of podcasting pervades the culture and is widely celebrated and discussed.

For more information about The Essential Listening Poll and how to get involved, go to www.leftofdialmedia.com/essential-listening-poll

About Left of Dial Media

Left of Dial Media was newly founded in the spirit and with the attitude of college radio. We want to turn you on to your next favorite show — the one you didn’t know you needed, the one that changes your life. It is our new mission to produce, distribute, and champion incredible audio and create opportunities for new and visionary voices on and behind the mic.

Station Enabled Spotify Open Access For Seamless Access To Premium Content

~ jen

Station is pleased to announce an integration with Spotify Open Access that will allow users with Station subscriptions to access their paid content seamlessly on Spotify.

Station, a new podcast community platform, joins Spotify in the quest to scale distribution of podcasts, while supporting creators and fostering innovation in the industry. Spotify Open Access streamlines the process for listeners to unlock their premium subscriptions wherever and however they listen.

We are excited to announce that Tanner Campbell’s Practical Stoicism, a show dedicated to bring Stoic philosophy into everyday life, is already leveraging the new functionality. Listeners of Practical Stoicism can now conveniently access its premium feed on both Spotify and Station, eliminating the need to manage multiple subscriptions. To explore Practical Stoicism on Station, visit station.page/stoicism.

Key Highlights:

Unified Subscriptions: Subscribers of Station can now conveniently access their premium Station subscription content on both Spotify and Station at no additional cost.

Streamlined Listener Experience: The Open Access integration ensures that fans have more flexibility in how they choose to listen, discover, and enjoy podcasts and other exclusive content.

Creator-Centric Approach: The integration reduces friction for creators who wish to share their content across platforms helping to expand audiences and drive engagement.

Enabling Greater Audio Freedom

This integration makes subscription-based content more accessible. By reducing barriers for listeners and ensuring the content experience is uniform, both Spotify and Station aim to empower creators to reach existing fans and attract new ones.

“Station has long believed that bonus content should be widely accessible and creator-friendly,” added Cam Pritchard, CEO at Station. “Our integration with Spotify Open Access signifies a major step toward simplifying listener access while supporting the vibrant creator community. We look forward to seeing how this partnership helps more people deepen their relationship with their favorite shows, podcasts, and audio experiences.”

How It Works: Subscription Verification: Existing Station subscribers can link their Station and Spotify accounts providing a seamless crossover listening experience. Once verified, subscribers immediately gain access to premium content on both platforms without needing separate logins.

Availability: The integration is rolling out globally in the coming weeks. Users can log into their Station or Spotify accounts to activate cross-platform access. 

About Station: Station is a new community platform for podcasts, designed to help creators reach listeners directly and efficiently join community events, ask hosts questions, unlock exclusive content, and access promotional offers mentioned on their favorite shows.

Quill Ranks #1 On The Globe And Mail’s List Of Top Growing Women-Led Companies

~ jen

Quill, a leading branded podcast agency, has been recognized as the fastest-growing women-led company, securing the #1 spot on The Globe and Mail’s inaugural ranking of the Top Growing Women-Led Companies, with 4,186% over the past three years.

This prestigious ranking highlights the extraordinary growth of women-led businesses across the country, measuring three-year revenue growth. As a female-founded and women-led organization, Quill’s recognition underscores their rapid expansion and commitment to driving innovation in the podcasting industry.

Being ranked as the number one fastest-growing women-led company is an achievement that goes beyond Quil — it’s a testament to the power of women entrepreneurs and leaders in shaping the future of business,” said Fatima Zaidi, Founder and CEO of Quill and CoHost, a podcast hosting and analytics platform.

“Only a fraction of venture funding and business resources go to female founders, yet women-led businesses continue to drive remarkable growth and impact. At Quill, we are proud to be 66% female-led, to champion opportunities for women in media and technology, and to be one of the few companies that haven’t raised capital on this list.”

Since it’s inception, Quill has been at the forefront of branded podcast production, helping enterprise-level brands like Walmart, L’Oreal, and Expedia Group create compelling audio content that engages audiences and drives measurable impact.

The full list of winners and additional coverage is available in the March 2025 issue of Report on Business magazine and online at The Globe and Mail.

About Quill

Quill is a podcast production agency that produces high-quality audio content for brands. They specialize in crafting compelling branded podcasts and audio marketing strategies that have an impact. Working with leading companies, including Walmart, McKinsey & Co, Expedia Group, PwC, and Interactive, Quill empowers brands to tell their stories, engage in listeners, and make a lasting impact.

Quill is also the parent company to CoHost, a podcast analytics, hosting, and audience insights tool that provides brands with deeper metrics around who is listening to their podcast. Through CoHost, Quill provides clients with actionable, data-driven insights on podcast performance.

Sam Sanders To Be Honored With The Podcast Academy’s Impact Award At The Ambies

~ jen

The Podcast Academy, the preeminent professional podcast organization, announced that award-winning reporter, radio host and podcast Sam Sanders, will receive the Impact Award, which recognizes an individual or podcast that has made a significant, positive effect on its listeners.

Previous recipients of the Impact Award include Ira Madison III (2024) and Teenager Therapy (2020). The honor will be bestowed upon him at the Fifth Annual Awards For Excellence in Audio (The Ambies), which will be hosted by multi-hyphenate comedian Tig Notaro, on Monday, March 31, at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago.

As previously announced, Ira Glass will receive this year’s Governor’s Award. The ceremony will be LIVE streamed by Amazon Music-Twitch from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST.

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 ceremony will highlight 199 nominees across 28 categories with winners to be selected by every voting member of The Podcast Academy (TPA).

“Sam Sanders doesn’t just cover the news, he makes sense of it, humanizes it, and welcomes us into the conversation,” said Christy Mirabal, chairperson of TPA. “From his early days at NPR to his groundbreaking work into It, Vibe Check, and now The Sam Sanders Show, he builds spaces where joy, curiosity, and critical conversations thrive. His ability to challenge perspectives, celebrate culture in all its complexity, and make audiences feel truly seen is what sets him apart. The Podcast Academy is proud to honor his lasting influence on the industry with this year’s Impact Award.”

Sanders is an award-winning reporter, radio host and podcaster. He currently co-hosts Vibe Check from Stitcher Podcasts, with Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford, and The Sam Sanders Show, produced in partnership with KCRW, and distributed nationally through PRX. 

In 2022, The New York Times named Vibe Check one of the 10 best podcasts of the year and the show was awarded with a Signal Award in 2022 for the best pop culture podcast.

Previously, Sanders launched and hosted the NPR radio show and its podcast It’s Been a Minute, interviewing luminaries ranging from JLo to Maya Rudolph to Beto O’Rourke to Malcolm Gladwell. Sanders was also a founding host of the NPR Politics Podcast while covering Election 2016 for NPR. He founded the pop culture podcast Into It at Vulture and New York Magazine, and it was named a best podcast of the year in 2022 by both Spotify and VOGUE. 

Sanders has been named best podcast host by both the Ambies and iHeart Podcast Awards, and his work has been honored by the LA Press Club, the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and the National Association of Black Journalists. 

His written work has appeared in New York Magazine, Politico Magazine, The Washington Post, and the Columbia Journalism Review. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and has taught radio at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

US Podcast Consumption Reaches Record High – The Infinite Dial

~ jen

The percentage of Americans who have consumed a podcast has reached an all-time high, according to The Infinite Dial 2025, released by Edison Research with support from Audacy, Cumulus Media, and SiriusXM Media. This latest installment is part of the longest-running annual survey of digital media consumption in the United States.

Now in its 27th year, The Infinite Dial is widely recognized as a trusted industry benchmark for media consumption habits. Presented by Megan Lazovick, Edison Research Vice President, alongside James Cridland, Editor of Podnews, the study highlights critical insights into podcast consumption, online audio trends, in-car audio usage, smart speaker usage, social media behaviors, and other digital media habits.

Key findings from The Infinite Dial 2025:

Podcast Consumption Reaches An All-Time High

70% of Americans age 12+ have listened to a podcast.

51% of those Americans age 12+ have watched a podcast.

73% of Americans age 12+ have consumed a podcast in either audio or video format, representing an estimated 210 million people.

Podcasting achieves new heights with 55% of Americans 12+ now being monthly consumers.

Video Integration is Expanding Podcast Reach

48% of Americans age 12+ have both listened to and watched a podcast.

According to Edison Podcast Metrics, YouTube is the service most often to listen to podcasts with 33% of U.S. weekly podcast listeners using the service.

A strong male video podcast audience drives higher monthly podcast consumption among men (57%) compared to women (52%).

Public Opinion Supports Social Media Regulation 

Social media reacts 86% of Americans, an estimated 248 million Americans.

Nearly half (48%) of Americans express support for banning social media access for anyone under the age of 16.

Online Audio Reaches All-Time High

79% of Americans age 12+ listen to online audio monthly, an estimated 228 million people.

Among American aged 55+, listening preferences for the online audio brands they use most often are more evenly distributed across multiple brands.

Car Audio Continues It’s Digital Shift

Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month (88%), 40% have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and 33% actively use one of these systems.

Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month (88%), 28% have Apple CarPlay, with 22% actively using it.

Among Americans age 18+ who have driven or ridden in a car in the past month, (88%), 19% have Android Auto, with 13% actively using it.

“As someone who has been using Infinite Dial since I was working at the original Virgin Radio in London, I’ve watched digital audio evolve from a niche to mainstream,” says Cridland. “These numbers don’t just inform strategy — they validate the direction our industry has been moving.” 

DeepCast Expands Marketing Team With Strategic New Hires To Accelerate Growth

~ jen

DeepCast announces the expansion of its marketing team with the addition of two seasoned professionals, strengthening the company’s position in the podcast sectors. Faybeo’n Mickens steps into the role of Senior Manager, Marketing, overseeing partnerships, audience development, and overall marketing strategy while Nicolas Turturro joins as Marketer, focused on content marketing and growth.

“As DeepCast continues to scale, we’re strategically investing in marketing talent that can help us reach more creators and drive adoption of our AI-powered solutions,” says Lucas Dickey, CEO of DeepCast. “Nick and Fay bring exceptional expertise and industry connections that will accelerate our growth trajectory and strengthen our position as the leading technology partner for podcast creators.”

The expansion comes on the heels of DeepCast’s recent launch of podsite.fm (beta) and follows strategic investments from Automatic, Idealab, and the Glen Nelson Center at American Public Media Group — signaling growing market confidence in the company’s innovative approach to podcast technology.

Faybeo’n Mickens brings over fifteen years of experience as an award winning audio marketing executive specializing in brand partnerships, strategy, community building, and digital marketing. A graduate of the College of Charleston with an MBA from St. John’s University, Mickens has built a career championing audio creators — from serving as marketing director for multiple “Top 200” charting podcasts to spearheading initiatives that elevate independent voices to mainstream platforms.

Prior to her marketing career, she served as Senior Music Curator for pioneering audio fitness app Aaptiv, where she collaborated with industry giants including Warner Music, Sony, Amazon, and Tidal. Beyond her corporate achievements, Mickens serves as a cultural ambassador through the U.S. Department of State’s global Music Diplomacy Initiative.

Nicholas Turturro joins DeepCast with a proven track record in digital marketing. A Syracuse University graduate with honors, Turturro previously led marketing initiatives at DOOR3, where his campaigns directly generated over $1.6M in revenue. His multifaceted background spans content creation, campaign management, and strategic marketing, complemented by his experience at Broadway For All, where he managed digital marketing strategy for the Tony-Award winning non-profit.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in DeepCast’s growth story,” continues Dickey. “With our recent product launches gaining traction and new investment fueling our expansion, bringing on marketing leaders of Nick and Fay’s caliber demonstrates our commitment to scaling intelligently. Their expertise will be instrumental in communicating the unique value we bring to podcast creators and building strategic partnerships that expand our reach. The new marketing leadership will spearhead initiatives to maximize creator success through comprehensive resources and educational tools tailored for DeepCast Creator and Podsite.fm. 

“At DeepCast, we’re committed to meeting creators where they already gather and engage. Fay and Nick will amplify our presence across the entire podcasting ecosystem — from industry events and targeted newsletters to podcast appearances, comprehensive best practices guides, and community forums like Reddit,” says Dickey.

“This strategic approach allows us to not only listen directly to the evolving needs of creators but also to educate and communicate our innovations to those who will benefit the most from our tools. Our goal is to become an active, valuable participant in every conversation about podcast growth and success.”

BBC Studios Productions Gains Exclusive Access To Red Bull Racing For The Inside Track

~ jen

BBC Studios Productions today announced The Inside Track, a new podcast telling the story of the 2025 Formula 1 season with exclusive access to Oracle Red Bull Racing.

The Inside Track hosts Matt Majendie and Rick Edwards will tell behind-the-scenes stories from every race, taking F1 fans inside the drama of this year’s pivotal season.

Sports journalist Matt Mackenzie has been given full access to the Red Bull F1 team. He will bring the latest from the track, the garage, and the team’s HQ straight into the studio.

He’ll be joined by co-host and F1 enthusiast Rick Edwards to explore the wider competition as it unfolds. This year promises to be an epic season, with Red Bull’s world champion driver Max Verstappen going for his fifth title in a row against fierce competition from McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.

Between races, the show will give listeners unique insights into the world of F1 with the help of Red Bull Racing’s technical crew, discovering what really makes the difference between winning and losing.

Christian Horner, Team Principle Red Bull Racing: “We’re really looking forward to having Matt as part of the team here at Oracle Red Bull Racing. We’re going to have tight opposition this year, the 2025 season is going to be a tough fight from start to finish.”

Matt Majendie: “Red Bull have been the most successful F1 team in recent years. I’m thrilled that they’ve given me unprecedented access to their operation. It’s an incredible opportunity to see the season first hand and give our audience the inside track on what makes Red Bull and Formula 1 such a compelling story.”

Rick Edwards: “As a big F1 fan since the heady days of Prost and Senna, I’m thrilled to be piggybacking on Matt’s unbelievable access, whilst slightly concerned that I won’t be able to contain my giggling excitement.”

Edison Research, SoundStack Launch Podcast Download Metrics Service

~ jen

Edison Research LogoEdison Research, the industry leader in podcast audience measurement and provider of Edison Podcast Metrics, has partnered with SoundStack, the independent technology and service company for audio publishers, to launch Edison Download Metrics, an innovative service that delivers precise podcast download analytics for publishers of all sizes.

“We see this as the next step in Edison Researcher’s efforts to provide data to the podcasting industry worldwide that helps bring more advertising dollars into the space,” said Edison Research Senior Vice President and podcasting lead Melissa Kiesche.

“While our survey of 20,000 podcast listeners each year provides the most complete look at the totality of actual listening to all podcasts in the U.S., our new download counting service, powered by SoundStack’s industry-leading tech, will provide deeper information to subscribers, especially for smaller and short-run shows.”

While Edison Podcast Metrics measures weekly reach of podcasts and networks and provides the most complete view of podcast listening habits in the U.S. through survey data, Edison Download Metrics provides publishers with opt-in access to precise, IAB v2.2-compliant download data.

One major podcast network has already implemented the new download metrics service, with several additional publishers scheduled to join in 2025. This service is designed to be accessible for large networks and independent podcasters alike, with scalable solutions for publishers of any size.

Rockie Thomas, Chief Strategy Officer at SoundStack said, “We are excited to bring the technical infrastructure and data that allows Edison to deliver an independent, third-party measurement solution to help the podcasting industry grow.” SoundStack is a certified IAB v2.2 vendor.

Edison Research maintains its position as an independent, third-party research provider with no ownership or affiliation with any publisher or sales house. Through Edison Podcast Metrics, the company conducts the most extensive podcast listening research in both the U.S. and the U.K. markets.

Publishers interested in Edison Download Metrics can utilize the service as their primary download tracking solution or add it to their existing Edison Podcast Metrics subscription for a more comprehensive view of their podcast performance.

Subscribers to Edison Download Metrics will receive:

Verified IAB v2.2-compliant download metrics, providing trusted, industry-standard measurement

Subscribers to both Edison Download Metrics and Edison Podcast Metrics will receive:

Verified IAB v2.2 compliant download metrics, providing trusted, industry-standard measurement.

Comprehensive insights, blending verified download data with listener findings available only through Edison’s industry-leading survey.

Enhanced audience profiles for every podcast, delivering detailed demographics and weekly reach estimates — even for small or limited-run shows.

Ability to integrate with agency data planning systems, streamlining ad workflows and maximizing monetization opportunities.

The combination of survey data plus the download metrics allows of more robust information for publishers. Perhaps more importantly, the information will bring more visibility for podcasting to advertisers, with set plans to use the information in agency planning systems.

Representatives from both companies will showcase the new service at Podcast Movement Evolutions in Chicago, March 25-28, 2025. To connect with us, contactinfo@edisonresearch.com or info@soundstack.com.

Audacy Announces Executive Leadership Update

~ jen

Audacy, Inc. announced executive changes, including the appointment of Kelli Turner as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Chris Olivero as Chief Business Officer and Bob Phillips as Chief Revenue Officer.

Turner, an accomplished media leader, has been serving as Interim President and CEO since January when former President and CEO David Field stepped down. Oliviero and Philips are highly regarded industry leaders with more than a half-century of experience combined serving Audacy and its predecessors. Olivero was most recently Market President for Audacy New York, and Philips was President of Audacy Networks and Multi-Market Sales.

“On behalf of the Audacy board, we are delighted that Kelli Turner has agreed to take on the permanent President and CEO role and lead Audacy through its next phase of reinvention and growth,” said Michael Del Nin, Chairman, Audacy. “She is an exceptional media executive who, along with Chris Olivero and the rest of the Audacy team, will ensure we continue to invest in high-quality content to engage our audiences and provide the best-in-class solutions to our partners.”

Turner has served on the Audacy Board since September 2024. Turner has also serve on the boards of directors of several advertising and music technology companies, including DoubleVerify, Downtown Music Holdings, and Chief Financial Officer of Sun Capital Partners, a leading private investment firm. 

Prior to joining Sun Capital Partners, she was President and Chief Operating Officer of SESAC Holdings, a leading music licensing and rights management company owned by Blackstone. She has also served in various executive and leadership roles in the investment and media industries, including RSL Group, Martha Stewart Living, Time Warner, Allen & Company and Citigroup.

“It’s a privilege to lead Audacy at this exciting moment in its impressive history and the evolution of audio,” said Turner. “This is one of the most dynamic businesses in media and entertainment, and I am looking forward to partnering with Chris Olivero and all of our teams to build on our momentum with audiences, creators and advertisers. I’m especially excited by the appointments of Chris and Bob, who know Audacy’s businesses inside and out and whose track records in management, programming and sales are second to none.”

Olivero has served as Market President in New York since 2020 and spent more than 23 years at CBS Radio (which became part of Audacy in 2017). He started his career as a production assistant on “The Howard Stern Show” and took on progressively more senior programming roles.

Philips joins CBS Radio in 1996 and later served as Chief Revenue Office for CBS Radio and Entercom. Following Entercom’s rebranding as Audacy in 2021, Philips transitioned into his most recent role as President of Audacy Networks and Multi-Market Sales.

The company concurrently announces the departures of Chief Operating Officer Susan Larkin, Chief Digital Officer J.D. Crowley, Chief Marketing Officer Paul Suchman and Executive Vice President and General Counsel Andrew Sutor. Mike Dash has been named Executive Vice President and General Counsel, succeeding Sutor, who will stay on for a transitional period. Dash has been with Audacy’s companies for nearly two decades.

Announcing Goalhanger’s First New Release Of 2025 – Journey Through Time

~ jen

History from the ground up — the stories you didn’t learn, the people you never knew, shaping history in ways you never expected.

Launching on 20th March 2025, Journey Through Time uncovers the overlooked, forgotten, and untold sides of history — from hidden stories to new angles on events we thought we knew. Co-hosted by British-Nigerian historian and BAFTA-winning filmmaker David Olusoga and American cultural an literary historian Sarah Church’s, Chair of Public Humanities at the University of London, the show explores the past from the ground up.

Each episode weaves the monumental with the personal. “We don’t just tell you what happened in the past; we want to show you what it felt to live through it,” said Co-Host Olusoga. “Like the programs I make on TV, this show will uncover the sorts of history that didn’t take place in parliament or palaces. What Sarah and I are doing is to explore how political decisions, new technologies, and the random chaos of the past played out on the street, within the home or on the battlefield.”

Co-Host Churchwell adds, “We want to uncover the hidden layers of history — stories of ordinary people navigating extraordinary times. Our goal is to challenge familiar narratives and reveal the surprising truths behind what you think you know—or maybe haven’t thought to question. It’s about understanding history not just as something we study, but as the force that shaped our world.”

David and Sarah, both storytellers, will be blending engaging storytelling with sharp historical insights, bringing their distinct perspectives to stories that challenge what we think we know about the past. They will uncover the human experience behind events both famous and forgotten, revealing the choices, struggles, and ambition that changed history in ways that continue to reverberate today.

In the first two episode of Journey Through Time, David Olusoga and Sarah Churchwell explore a terrorist attack that shook America, led to the creation of new national security agencies, and helped push the United States toward war. But it’s not 9/11 They uncover the story of 1916 Black Tom Island explosion — a devastating blast that rockedManhattan and helped pave the way for America’s modern security state.

In upcoming episode, David and Sara uncover the remarkable story of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president in the United States in 1872; track the path of the Great Storm of 1703, the most violent weather event ever recorded in England; and follow the scandalous murder of architect Stanford White, a crime that exposed the dart side of America’s Gilded Age.

They’ll revisit the Great Exhibition of 1851, where Britain put its industrial might and its insecurities on display; explore the true story of Bass Reeves, the formerly enslaved man who became one of the most legendary US Marshals of the American West; and uncover the lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two women who defied the British Empire to become pirates in the Caribbean.

Joining as a launch partner for the show, the online genealogy service Findmypast, while Google’s NotebookLM is also coming on board to support research across the series.