Audioboom hits a billion impressions

• Podcast monetisation company Audioboom made more than 1bn advertising impressions available for the first time during October, thanks in part to AdRip, a tool to automate removal of old ads in back catalogue material. The network is achieving 127mn downloads a month.

• The Economist has defended its move to put (almost) all its podcasts behind a paywall. “The better the podcasts get, the more you risk cannibalising your own business,” The Economist’s director of podcasts and US editor John Prideaux told Press Gazette, also suggesting the company was uncomfortable with host-read ads. The newspaper has 25 to 30 staff working on podcasts.

• Tenderfoot TV has acquired Resonate Originals, the podcast division of Resonate Recordings. It’s the first acquisition by Tenderfoot TV. No terms were given.

• Cleanfeed, a low-latency remote recording tool, has launched a new 'markers’ feature - an easy way to add markers while recording. Markers can be imported into Audacity and Hindenburg. The company also recently made it easier to spot when a user is connected using 'minimum quality’ (you probably shouldn’t be), and showed how Forever Audio is using the tool to record.

• Podster has agreed a deal with RTL Germany to adapt its podcasts for a global audience. RTL is Germany’s leading media company.

• BBC R&D has released the code behind its Adaptive Podcasting trial; and documentation containing the learnings from its work. The release marks the culmination of this phase of the ten year project.

• Ossa has launched a Podcaster in Residence program, to identify podcasters with significant growth potential.

• The biggest independent podcast host Buzzsprout released its network stats for October. Year-on-year, Apple Podcasts has increased download share by 3.5%; Spotify by 3.6%; and Google Podcasts increased its share by 0.3%. Total downloads were up 12.6% on the year, though dropped slightly month-on-month.

  • Of note, Amazon Music downloads were down from 2.2mn in September to 1.1mn in October.

• iZotope is giving away a free plugin: Ozone 11 EQ lets you fine-tune your sound. It’s part of Komplete Start, a set of free music production software.

• Magellan AI published the top spenders, movers and shakers in podcast advertising for September. Both BetterHelp and Amazon spent less month-on-month.

• Digiday follows a trend by publishers to use existing feeds to help promote new shows.

• Futuri has launched Futuri AudioAI, an expanded AI-driven local content system for radio stations and other outlets.

Moves and hires

• Natalie Harvey has been appointed as Chief Revenue Officer at Mamamia. She joins from Seven West Media.

Podcast News - with Airwave

From Airwave: Economics Explained takes a look at interesting countries, policies, and decisions from the point of view of an economist. The most recent episode looks at a $6.5 trillion dollar problem that sounds boring but is vital - infrastructure maintenance. Why is it such a problem for developed economies across the world?

A new podcast launched earlier this week, called Back That Book Up - with the first guest being Isabella Hammad, a British-Palestinian author. She discusses her latest novel with host Sylvie, which centres on experiences of being Palestinian in both the West Bank and Israel.

Over the Top with Beadle and Rosenberg is a new “fast-paced, energetic sports and pop culture show” from Wondery, as part of Wondery’s sports slate announced earlier in the year. Michelle Beadle and Peter Rosenberg pit the biggest, wildest, and most hyped sports and pop culture stories against each other.

Down Range is new today from Tenderfoot TV. The limited series honors the American Special Forces, bringing to life heroic true stories of combat with veterans who were involved firsthand. It’s hosted by actor, best-selling author, filmmaker, and former Navy SEAL Remi Adeleke.

Transit Unplugged is back for season 7, interviewing Randy Clarke, the CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The show is for transit executives who want to advance their careers that delves into the world of public transit through interviews with its leaders.