Global podcast revenue rises to $9.2bn

• Across the world, the podcast economy grew 23% last year, says new data from Owl & Co. Global podcasting is now worth $9.2bn in revenue, says the data. The biggest increase came from direct ad revenue, but revenue from consumers (membership tools like Patreon and Supporting Cast, etc) also significantly increased, and is now worth $2.2bn alone.

• Vox Media’s podcast network, Vox.com and New York magazine, have been sold to James Murdoch for a reported $300mn. The Verge and other Vox websites aren’t part of the deal. (James Murdoch is the one that split from his father Rupert Murdoch’s media empire some years ago).

• 43% of British adults now listen to an ad-supported podcast monthly, says new data from Sounds Profitable and Sound Insights. 44% of UK podcast listeners recalled ever making a purchase after hearing a podcast ad, according to the findings of The Advertising Landscape UK, which were shared yesterday at The Podcast Show.

• New partners for Apple Podcasts HLS video were announced at The Podcast Show London - Firstory, Audioboom, RedCircle, and Blubrry.

• Sounder.ai, the audio intelligence platform owned by Triton Digital, has announced expanded availability in the programmatic buying platform The Trade Desk. Sounder.ai analyses spoken-word content in podcasts to add contextual signals to help scale audio advertising.

• The Echo Podcast Summit is to return to Halifax NS, Canada, this June. The event is back for a second year, focusing on how podcasting is evolving beyond content into something deeper: communities built on trust, shared identity, and sustained engagement. It’s on June 18.

Behind your favorite sport, there is always something else at play.

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Power Plays is a new investigative podcast from the Human Rights Foundation hosted by sports journalist Karim Zidan, exposing how authoritarian regimes weaponize sports for political influence.

Season 1 explores the regimes that have exploited the FIFA World Cup over the last century, from Italy’s fascists in 1934, to Argentina’s military junta in 1978, to Russia’s kleptocratic police state in 2018, to Qatar’s monarchy built on the backs of exploited migrant workers in 2022. We also look ahead to the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, which will be hosted — and used — by authoritarian regimes in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Power Plays reveals what’s happening beyond the headlines. Whether you like football or geopolitics — whether you plan to watch the World Cup or turn it off in protest — these stories matter.

Listen here.

Tips and tricks - with The Podcast Show London

• Should I have the word “podcast” in my podcast’s title? - no, but yes, but no.
• How to make decent podcast artwork - plenty of tips from many people.

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave: THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent brings you a fresh way of thinking about the biggest political stories of the moment, offered up in an entertaining, information-packed conversation with a leading lawmaker, journalist, or newsmaker. Today - is Texas possible for the Democrats to win?

In a cultural moment increasingly defined by loneliness and evolving definitions of connection,  a new podcast turns its focus to one of the most essential yet under-examined forces in modern life: friendship. Two Peas on a Pod launches today with Podcast Nation.

Bridges & Beacons is a new podcast from The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, featuring multigenerational conversations with peace builders creating change around the world. Inspired by Jimmy Carter’s legacy of empathy, mediation, and moral leadership, each episode explores the human side of conflict resolution through stories of resilience, justice, and understanding. The series offers practical insight and hope while highlighting the power of dialogue, connection, and community in building lasting peace.

Staying Human with Dr. Vivek Murthy is a new podcast from the 19th and 21st U.S. Surgeon General, exploring how to live meaningfully in today’s world of upheaval. Guests will range from renowned surgeon Dr. Atul Gawande to bestselling author Kate Bowler. The podcast is brought to listeners in partnership with PRX.