Acast is #1 in Podtrac

• Podtrac released its rankers for March - including, for the first time, Acast. Acast is the #1 publisher globally, with 405mn downloads in March. It also came in at #3 publisher in the US. “In today’s newest ranker, we’re seen not just as a global leader, but also as a top contender in the highly valuable US market,” said Chief Business Officer at Acast, Greg Glenday.

  • The ranking also includes the iHeartRadio Audience Network for the first time, which is a comfortable #1 within the US.

• Sony Music has acquired podcast production company Neon Hum. Neon Hum’s founder and CEO Jonathan Hirsch is now VP Global Podcasts and Head of US Creative for Sony Music’s Global Podcast Division.

• A talent agency focusing on YouTubers and Twitch streamers, including Mr Beast, Night has acquired The Roost Podcast Network from Warner Bros. Discovery. A majority of the team will be retained, including the head of the network, AJ Feliciano.

• The Verge says that companies like OpenAI are transcribing podcasts as data to train artificial intelligence programs.

• Veritonic has unveiled a new longform content analysis solution, allowing in-depth data about your own content or that of your competitors.

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• After SB Nation’s announced closure of the network’s local sports podcasts, are these types of shows doomed? Not so fast: the Locked On Podcast Network says the local sports podcast model is thriving.

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• CEO Magazine has written The CEO’s guide to starting a podcast.

• Episodic vs Serial Podcasts : A Comprehensive Guide for Content Creators (Ausha)

Podcast News - with New Podcast Trailers - the podcast

The IAB Australia Podcast has been updated with four sessions from the Audio Summit, including a session about advertising within true crime podcasts, and “the balance of keeping crime content responsible while scratching the itch of crime obsessed Australians”.

Had it with election coverage already? The hit comedy podcast I’ve Had It has a special interview today with Vice President Kamala Harris, who tells us what she’s had it with. We’re even promised that we’ll learn what she thinks of Beyonce, as well as everything that’s at stake in this upcoming election.

A podcast about SNL stars The Lonely Island could be made even better if it also had Seth Myers in it. The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast delivers just that - aided by Seth, the guys will relive their time at SNL and reminisce on the nearly 50-year-old show from a time when putting short comedy sketches on the internet was so novel that they maybe even helped launch YouTube to do it. It’s new today.

Rainn Wilson’s Soul Boom is new today. The show will delve deep into the essence of the human journey—exploring creativity, spirituality, and psychology. In conversations with some of the brightest artists, thinkers, and doers, the podcast aims to empower listeners in their efforts at both personal growth and social change.

Greek mythology-for-kids podcast Live from Mount Olympus returns for season four today, and this time it’s the story of Prometheus that gets the award-winning treatment - a god with an unusual gift. It’s from PRX, the Onassis Foundation, and the TEAM.

Multi award-winning indie podcast Linda Marigliano’s Tough Love is back for season three today. The show is now weekly, and this season starts with Linda reunited with her partner Magnus, finally living in LA and announcing her pregnancy news. The show features comedian guests, original music and vulnerable storytelling.