Interest in podcast advertising hits twelve year high

• Podcasting has never been more interesting to advertising agencies and marketers, according to new research released by Westwood One. The study reveals that 76% of agencies and advertisers currently advertise in podcasts - a x5 increase in the last twelve years.

• SpotsNow has launched a new AI Search for podcast ad buyers. The tool helps buyers discover more shows that fit their target, and helps them focus on audience fit and performance. Each search also returns available last-minute inventory matched to the advertiser’s audience and criteria, to help sellers fill sports that would otherwise go unsold.

• Podtrac has launched Podcast Promo Trades, a new free service to allow podcasters to grow shows by trading promos in other podcasts. Podtrac’s Promo Platform has been used by a number of large podcasters to expand their audience and accelerate growth, the company says.

• The iOS 27, tvOS 27 and macOS 27 public beta is now available to anyone. It brings Apple Podcasts video to the macOS desktop and to Apple TV devices, as well as a new AI service. (We’ve been running the developer beta for a while.)

• Switched On Pop has launched on Netflix. The Vulture show is now video-exclusive to Netflix, and has published almost 500 episodes.

• Think getting your podcast on Netflix means it has to come off YouTube? That’s been the case so far, but Deadline reports that Alan’s Universe, from Alan Chikin Chow, will be available on Netflix as well as YouTube.

• Podpage has launched episode alerts by email - alerting your listeners when you publish new episodes. It’s a simple way to reach listeners with new content as soon as you’ve published it.

• The launch of new podcast, vodcast and creator development company, Podrophenia, has been announced. The company is a partnership between the Elvis Duran Group, Looking4Larry and MCM Studios, and will operate from Manhattan.

• Backyard Ventures has signed The Sketchy Podcast for ad representation.

• Yesterday, we noted Red Seat Ventures becoming IAB v2.2 compliant. They, of course, own Speakeasy, a podcast hosting company which they launched in early April.

• Clutch released a survey about podcasting. 46% of podcast listeners would reject podcasts that are AI-hosted or heavily AI-generated, the survey says; however, 62% of listeners don’t care who hosts a podcast - whether it’s a celebrity or someone less well-known.

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No Gear, No Gig

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It’s not unusual for podcasters working at home to think that their studios and gear are covered by their homeowner’s insurance. However, if that equipment is used to generate income, it’d likely be considered “business equipment” and excluded from a claim.

Check with Laura Donelan at MusicPro Insurance to make sure the tools of your trade are properly covered. MusicPro is a 20+ year old company owned by ASCAP and Sterling Risk specializing in protecting music and AV gear. For the “white glove service” MusicPro is known for, call Laura today at 1-800-MusicPro, or reach out by email at ldonelan@musicproinsurance.com.

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Tips and tricks - with Podcast Movement NYC's Public Vote

• At Podcast Movement Evolutions 2026, Anthony Savelli, EVP of Sales, Libsyn; Angela Halili, Host of Girls Gone Bible; and Arielle Reitsma, Host of Girls Gone Bible hosted From Hobbyist to Icon How Podcasters Build Shows That Scale
• If you’re appearing on a podcast as an interviewee, there are tons of tricks and tips to make your appearance get results, says Lyndsay Phillips.

Podcast News - with Airwave

With Airwave and TWiT.tv: Tech News Weekly gets interviews from tech journalists who make or break the top stories of the week. In the latest episode - the rise of AI-first schools: is AI the way of learning in the future?

Better in Person with Stephen Dubner is a brand new interview series launching today from the Freakonomics Radio star. The show is shot in his own living room; his goal is to create a kind of conversation that is missing from today’s media landscape.

Cosmopolitan writes: “between all the idiotic, unqualified men with microphones and platforms who do nothing but waste their breath and our time, these nuns are exactly what the people need”. They’re talking about Dominican Sisters Open Mic. And probably Joe Rogan.

PodBiz celebrates its one-year anniversary this week, with a look back at the year: including reflections on what NJ Belenkey and John Kiernan have learnt about podcast monetisation.

In April, one person gave out free cups of tea in a Brooklyn park; and audiomaker Mae Nagusky was there to make short, sound-rich, non-narrated audio movies about who came, and what happened. Perpetual Brew is an experiment in community, trust, and what is possible with our public spaces.

Video episodes of On Purpose with Jay Shetty are now available on Spotify and Netflix, starting with Millie Bobby Brown. The show has moved from iHeartMedia to Spotify.