Apple to add follower numbers

• Breaking: Apple Podcasts will add follower numbers to Apple Podcasts Connect, starting next month. You’ll be able to view followers per show and easily measure followers across shows. Additionally, Apple Podcasts Connect will accept MP3 files for subscriber audio, and allow podcast publishers to customise subscriber banners.

• In Canada, Rogers Media is running Canada’s Next Great Podcaster across its radio stations: a competition to win CAD $10,000 and get your show idea produced. Caution, though: Matt Cundill pointed out to Podnews that the rules let Rogers use any of your ideas they like (even if you don’t win) without giving you a penny (¶7d); it might not really be $10,000 (¶9a); and the draw is entirely random anyway and nothing to do with your entry (¶10).

  • We asked Rogers. Matt Mise, Commercial Integration Director, News & Entertainment, Rogers Sports & Media, told Podnews: “It is standard practice under the terms and conditions of our contests that we may use submission entries solely for the purpose of promoting the specific contest (or similar one) that the submission is connected to. After reviewing the terms again, we’ve updated the verbiage to better clarify this. It should be updated on the contest terms and conditions page by Tuesday morning. With regards to how the winner is chosen, this is the first time we’re executing a contest of this type in support of podcasters, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Eligible entries must still provide all required elements to describe and present their podcast concept in order to qualify to be selected. We will look to offer more contests like this in the future where there will be opportunity for a more vigorous selection criteria."

• The Times of India highlight the winners of the Times Podcast Challenge in Kolkata.

• Radiolab released a podcast about Helen Keller in American Sign Language. The transcript is also available in braille-ready format. /thnx Jack!

• In Germany, the Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft has published a white paper aiming to “standardize the multitude of forms of advertising in the booming podcast market”.

• Podcasters Unlimited has announced a second year of its PODWORK conference. It’ll be a virtual event on May 21, to highlight, encourage and promote the growth of podcast networks.

• CastCoverage is a website podcast player with a slightly different aesthetic.

Tips and tricks

• Show notes are good - but could yours be better? How to SEO your show notes reminds us that show notes aren’t just for your current listeners.
• Podcast merch can be a fun way to build community, says The Podcast Host. Wait till they get a hold of our podcoasters.

Podcast News

Sportbikegrrls is for women who are obsessed with sportbikes and all things motorcycle. The host, Linda, shares her journey towards becoming a rider, while interviewing and sharing the stories of other women in the motorcycle industry. It launched in January.

HBO Docs Club is a deep dive into a wide variety of titles from HBO Documentary Films, past and present. Produced by Audacy’s Pineapple Street Studios and HBO Max, it’ll be hosted by Brittany Luse and Ronald Young Jr, and launched yesterday. - read more

Every newspaper needs a daily news podcast, and The Front was launched yesterday, from The Australian in, um, Australia. Hosted by Claire Harvey, it promises the essential page one stories, journalists’ candid take on the issues that matter, and behind-the-scenes insight.

Whatever ups and downs we all face, it turns out that others have lived through them too. The Life Shift is launched today. Matt Gilhooly has candid conversations with people about the pivotal moments that changed their lives forever.

Announcing Adori's new YouTube Integration

Paid content

It makes your podcast an immersive experience with images, subscription and e-commerce links - here’s an example - and you don’t need to be a video editor to do it.

Adori Studio allows you to seamlessly in 3 easy steps:

• Import podcasts from RSS feeds or upload audio files
• Enhance them with visualizations
• Upload those enriched assets directly to YouTube

Get started today with Adori Studio - or, if you’re coming to Podcast Movement Evolutions, set up a meeting to learn more.