Audacity updates its privacy policy

• Audacity has updated its privacy policy, and the team has apologised for some wording that “begged for misinterpretation”. The company has amended its policy to no longer store IP addresses (even for 24 hours); and removed a restriction for under-13s.

  • Opinion: The privacy policy now seems clear and fit for purpose. However, it’s highly unlikely that the amendment about storing IP addresses would have been made without independent media holding them to account.

• iHeartRadio is #1 for podcasts, according to the Media Monitors Podcast Listener Survey for the second half of June. Joe Rogan and The Daily are #1 and #2 shows; comedy is the #1 genre. The research is based on recall; Media Monitors is owned by iHeartMedia.

• Apple Podcasts is hiring for a Head of Content. This was N’Jeri Eaton's title.

• In an email, Google has said FeedBurner is to move to new infrastructure in mid-August, and warns people using their email subscription services to download their lists before then, since that feature won’t be available. Here’s more detail. FeedBurner powers 56,000 podcast feeds (about 1.4% of all podcasts).

• Clubhouse no longer has a waitlist, and is open to everyone. It’s also got a nice new logo, and a fancy website. Ed Zitron isn’t a fan, calling it a stinker.

• Podcast Movement’s Dan Franks talks to Audioburst about what to expect at Podcast Movement 2021. The event talkes place in Nashville TN, USA, on August 3-6. (One thing not to expect, sadly, is Podnews - we can’t travel).

• The Melbourne Podcast Festival has been rescheduled to September 17-19. Tickets are still valid.

• DM Podcasts has partnered with talent agency Born Bred Talent to offer brands access to their podcasters.

• Podsights and ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network have released details on the ad conversion rates for the network, which they say are higher than social media channels.

• Scott Galloway, the co-host of Pivot, has had his Bloomberg TV show cancelled after posting a weird half-clothed promo for it.

• Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen are releasing a book of the Renegades: Born in the USA podcast.

Tips and tricks

• Spotify Greenroom records in 64kbps 48kHz mono MP3, in case you’re wondering.

• Stop researching gear and focus on making your content better, says a redditor.

  
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Podcast News

All the trains in my son’s train podcast ranked by how much I hate them has almost nothing to do with podcasts, other than being sparked by listening to Thomas & Friends Storytime over and over again. (Here’s one with US accents). We thought it was worth linking to, though.

MECCA Talks is new from Australasian cosmetic brand MECCA, working with Acast. It features conversations with brand founders, industry experts and MECCA’s in-house specialists, and has deep dives into the history of iconic beauty formulations.

Sealed Section is a new health podcast from Mamamia, with Chantelle Otten focusing on intimate, private issues for women. There are some things just too personal for many women to talk about even with your closest friends.

Gastropod, a food, science and history podcast, has joined the Vox Media Network, working with Eater.