Exclusive: Amazon Music delivers video podcasts

• Exclusive: Amazon Music begins rolling out video podcasts from today. Video podcasts will initially be available for customers in the US on iOS and Android, across all subscription tiers. A spokesperson told us: “In today’s rapidly evolving podcast landscape, video has emerged as an increasingly essential format for creators and their audiences. With more consumers engaging with video podcasts of their favorite shows, Amazon Music is introducing an integrated video podcast experience for customers, making it simpler for customers to watch a selection of their favorite podcasts without leaving the app. This early experience will help us gather valuable customer feedback to shape and enhance the experience.”

  • Amazon Music is initially launching video podcasts with Amazon’s ART19, and has plans to expand to additional partners later this summer. Initial shows with video include Higher Ground’s IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, and Dear Media’s Khloé in Wonder Land, Not Skinny But Not Fat and Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari. ART19 and Amazon Music will work directly with creators and publishers to provide instructions on how to make their videos available on Amazon Music.
  • Podnews is told that the app will use HLS video, including support for HLS multivariate playlists via an alternate enclosure in RSS. Videos remain hosted by the creator’s podcast hosting company. A company spokesperson told us that the approach “maintains an open RSS ecosystem, meaning podcast creators retain full control over their hosting, ad inventory monetization, and audience targeting.” There is no private API to submit video, and Amazon Music is not charging podcast creators or networks for access to video distribution. A number of podcast hosting companies offering video have already said that they aim to support video delivery using the alternate enclosure.

• Acast claims its the first to monetise Apple Podcasts’ HLS video, signing campaigns with State Farm and T-Mobile. The company says that 117 shows have already enabled Acast’s Apple HLS integration, with over 1,000 video episodes published to date (on Acast, access to video is currently invite-only). HLS video with Apple Podcasts, like with Amazon Music, remains hosted by podcast hosts like Acast.

• At The Podcast Show in London next week Flightpath will unveil Revenue Optimizer, a tool that is built to ensure that publishers maximise the available revenue from advertising campaigns in their shows. (Brand Stage, Wed, 2pm)

  • Muck Rack, a communications platform, will also be speaking at The Podcast Show. The company has joined Sounds Profitable’s Partner Network, and will be alongside Sounds Profitable’s Head of Communications, Molly DeMellier, on “The New Word of Mouth: Podcasts, Earned Media, and AI Search.”

• Magellan AI has partnered with Signal Hill Insights for full-funnel podcast measurement. Magellan AI’s exposure data will flow “directly into Signal Hill Insight’s studies, enabling more precise audience matching, stronger control groups, and a more reliable read on how campaigns shift awareness, favorability, and intent”.

• The BBC said there were 231 million downloads of its podcasts on third-party apps in Q1/2026. The figure is up +1.7% quarter-on-quarter.

• Podcasting and audio have been officially recognised in the UK after a campaign by AudioUK and its members. The move is a significant step forward in how podcasting and audio businesses are defined, understood, and supported within the UK economy.

• Ozen.fm is partnering with NumberEight to enhance its ability to deliver scalable and effective podcast targeting across its global ecosystem.

• Azerion has become IAB Podcast Measurement Guidelines certified. The company, based in the Netherlands, specialises in digital advertising and online gaming.

• There’s a new, video-capable podcast studio in Sydney’s inner west. Talent Studios is built by executive podcast producer Pariya Taherzadeh.

Thank you to Podbean, who return as a gold supporter today. Podbean is an easy and powerful way to create, promote and monetize your podcast - everything you need for a successful podcast. It’s companies like Podbean, and every one of our supporters, that pay for Podnews to keep journalism free: no paywall, no super-secret Slack space, just open for everyone, just like podcasting should be. You can be like Podbean and become a supporter yourself.

Moves and hires

• Ainsley Rossitto has been hired as Head of Podcasts for beehiiv. She joins from Paramount Global, and joins the company as beehiiv becomes more than just a newsletter company, with its own native podcast hosting platform.

Tips and tricks - with The Podcast Show London

• Going to London? You’ll need to apply for a UK ETA in advance, if you don’t have a UK or Irish passport. It’s £20 (about $27). You can blame the Prime Minister for that (whoever it’ll be by then - checks news headlines)
• Wondering who’s charging what for video? We’ve got a page comparing the price details so far.

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave: Smart Travel from Nerdwallet helps you get the most out of your travel dollars, your travel pounds, your travel euros and even your travel đồng. They’ll know the best way to get from Heathrow to your London hotel, for example (clue: not a black cab). Today - How to Travel Without Paying for a Hotel.

Front Page was new from the Black Effect podcast network yesterday. Hosted by the current news correspondent for iHeart’s nationally syndicated morning show, The Breakfast Club, Mimi Brown will expand her on-air coverage of the most talked about news stories each weekday into easily digestible 10-to-12-minute episodes that will give listeners more of the headline-making details they crave.

Slow Burn is back with a three-episode season on Justice Neil Gorsuch. “He’s the wild card on the most powerful Supreme Court in modern history, the swing vote in certain, critical cases, and a central pillar of the conservative supermajority reshaping American life. To understand this Court and where it’s headed, you have to understand Gorsuch.”

Kitchen Island HQ is where business and real life meet - a podcast for service-based entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses while raising little humans. Hosted by Kelly McCracken, expect honest conversations around practical strategies, smart systems, work-life balance, and what it really looks like to grow a business in the in-between moments: at the kitchen island in the middle of everyday life.

Mythical Creatures for Kids is an audio-only, educational podcast that brings magical legends to life. Co-created, written and hosted by a 5 year old and parent. The show asks big questions about creatures like Dragons, Loch Ness Monster, the Kraken and so many more! Completely human-made and perfect for curious kids ages 4–8 and their grown-ups who love a little bit of magic.