A top 100 hit in Apple Podcasts with just 10 listens

• How many downloads gets you into the Apple Podcasts charts? Tanner Campbell managed to get into the top 100 in the US Books category last Friday with just 10 listens and 24 followers. He writes more on Twitter; and will report back after a month with more detail about what he’s learnt about the Apple Podcast charts - and the importance of choosing an appropriate category.

  • Does it make a difference? In November last year, Steffan Garrero got into the top 50 using social media; but it had no effect on his overall downloads. Here’s more about how the charts work.

• Dan Misener and Jonas Woost have founded Bumper, a podcast growth agency. The co-founders, both formerly of Pacific Content, will work with organisations on audience development strategies, marketing and promotion.

  • Dan Misener will be a guest on Podland this week.

• Audacy released its financial report for Q2/22. The company made $69m from “digital”, including podcasting, up 18% year-on-year. Podcast downloads grew 40% year-over-year; revenue from podcasts was up in the “upper teens”, though (unlike others this week) the company didn’t give numbers. Overall, the company was “adversely impacted by declining macroeconomic conditions and ad market headwinds”.

  • The company also revealed that it has signed to represent CBS Sports podcasts.

• Global’s DAX has signed with Sounder to provide automated brand safety verification. Sounder’s solution will enable advertisers to purchase media across DAX’s podcast portfolio backed by the assurance that they adhere to brand safety guidelines, including those outlined by the IAB and GARM.

• Spotify is advertising its comedy podcasts at the Edinburgh Fringe. Music news publisher Chris Cooke has criticised the marketing as tone deaf.

• Rephonic has added additional Spotify charts (17 categories in 26 countries), and updated its engagement score algorithm.

• A new Pod Bible magazine came out yesterday in the UK; featuring interviews with Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo from Kermode & Mayo’s Take, and Namulanta Kombo from Dear Daughter. You can read the magazine for free online here.

• In the UK, Acast has produced a number of cross-branded shows promoting The National Lottery’s Good Causes.

• Alex Jones has been ordered to pay $45.2m in punitive damages after lying about a Sandy Hook family. The jury asked Jones to “stop the monetization of misinformation and lies”. The conspiracy theorist was removed from most podcast platforms in 2018.

The Tech Stuff - with RSS.com

• The team at the Podcast Index have worked on a proposal for the podcast:verify tag, which would remove email addresses from RSS feeds, and instead use a simple one-click claiming process. It uses a simple token system, letting podcast hosting companies understand which services people are using, and avoiding the near-25% dropoff from email verification. It’s built to be simple to implement, and great for privacy. If you work for a podcast hosting company, or a service like a directory or tool, they would appreciate your feedback on the proposal.
• You’ll be able to send boosts from the web to any enabled podcasts shortly, after an amendment to the Podcast Index website is approved. (We’ll do similar if we can understand how!)
• A reminder that if you use Apple’s AppleCoreMedia SDK to play back audio in your app, iOS 16 lets you set your user-agent so your app gets the credit in podcast host company dashboards. Please update your app ready for the release.
• Want to see what Adam Curry’s podcast setup looks like?

Podcast News

Outspoken the Podcast has joined ARN’s iHeartPodcast network Australia. The show is a twice weekly-dose of the hottest influencer and pop-culture news and is hosted by journalists and Adelaide-based triplets, Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber.

For some, the Big Resignation isn’t a new thing. Mom’s Exit Interview looks at moms who want to thrive without the 9-to-5; and features inspirational interviews with real everyday moms - entrepreneurs, consultants, part-time workers, stay-at-home moms with side hustles - and experts with tips to help you create the life you want. It’s hosted by Kim Rittberg.

Looking Forward hit 100 episodes at the end of last week. The host, Jeff Ostroff, told us that the 100th episode focuses on opportunities created by the somewhat obscure, yet growing industry known as “fiscal sponsorship.”

The Conversations We Should Be Having is a new podcast from Green Acre, A Bahá’í Center for Learning in Eliot ME, hosted by a BLM activist and a Chief of Police. Talking about race and justice in a new way, the podcast focuses on building relationships and friendships even when you don’t necessarily agree with each other.