Where did the $4mn owed to Kast Media’s creators go?

• On YouTube, a twenty-minute documentary on Kast Media has been published by “Coffeezilla”, the investigative journalist Stephen Findeisen - featuring Theo Von, Brendan Schaub, Whitney Cummings, Brian Last and Jim Cornette who all allege that they weren’t paid by the company. The journalist talks to Kast Media’s Colin Thomson and his former partner Dustin Knouse, and to creators on the network. Findeisen makes a number of allegations against Thomson personally, as well as the company. At press time, the video had over 1.5mn views.

  • Podnews first reported the Kast Media story in July. This week has seen further reporting from HotPod and Bloomberg.

• Minimum guarantees: The Coffeezilla video alleges that minimum guarantees were made to creators by Kast Media that became unsustainable. Similar minimum guarantees have been made - and then cancelled - by Audacy, who made an agreement with APM; and a Tenderfoot TV agreement with Cadence13 is the subject of legal action. We are aware of at least one further podcast network who is not paying creators on time.

  • Correction: an earlier version of this story said that Audioboom had cancelled a minimum contract. As detailed in the company’s H1/23 financial report, the company has one onerous contract which they made provision for; but Stuart Last, the company’s CEO, tells us “We have not and will not cancel this contract. Audioboom has never cancelled a minimum guarantee that has been contracted with a partner. We honor our contracts with creators including payments of minimum guarantees within those contracts.” We’re happy to make this clear.

• Goalhanger has recently agreed a new podcast with Richard Osman and Marina Hyde to host an all encompassing entertainment podcast called All Things Entertainment. The announcement was made at a Spotify event in London.

  • Jack Davenport from Goalhanger Podcasts is speaking at Podnews Live in London on Sep 27.

• In the US, Bloomberg reports that ABC could be being sold to local broadcaster Nexstar. CNN’s Reliable Sources reports concern within the company.

• The Economist confirmed that almost all the newspaper’s podcasts will be subscription-only from mid-October. Podnews has learnt the service is being operated using Acast+ Access, which integrates with The Economist’s subscription platform.

• In Atlanta GA, public broadcaster WABE announced the creation of WABE Studios, with a 25-podcast slate.

• At least three people are suggesting that Google Podcasts has automatically subscribed them to the Impaulsive podcast.

• Edison Research will release the Latino Podcast Listener Report 2023 on Oct 5

Thank you to Alan Haburchak for becoming our latest personal supporter. Supporters like Alan help us retain independence, so we’re less reliant on advertisers. Alan wants stickers for his laptop - we’ll dig some out!

Moves & Hires

• The co-host of Ursa Short Fiction, Deesha Philyaw, has signed a seven-figure deal for her next two books. She is author of the award-winning The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

Podcast News - with Airwave

Part of the Airwave Podcast Network: The Ten News, News For Curious Kids is a bite-sized podcast for kids and their adults that explains what’s going on in the world. Each episode explores topics kids care about most including events, sports, science, gaming, pop culture, entertainment, and more - with some great guests!

Beyond The Fog Radio has teamed up with San Francisco Magazine to shine a spotlight on the city’s creative forces. The show shares the powerful stories of the city’s many notable and unique residents.

In the Podnews Weekly Review this week, Sam Sethi and James Cridland discuss PodcastOne’s debut on NASDAQ, the good news coming out of the industry currently, and hear from International Women’s Podcast Awards organiser Naomi Mellor.

Burger Murders is a true-crime series for 2023. From soggy buns, barely melted cheese and frozen beef, the podcast delves into the most serious UK burger crimes, featuring real-life accounts, about what happens when fast food goes scarily wrong. It’s hosted by Joel Morris and Sara Barron, and is sponsored by - who else - Wendy’s, which returned to the UK in 2021.

Newly freed from Spotify exclusivity, Science Vs returned for season 15 this week. Last season reached record highs on the platform with consumption hours growing more than 60% since the previous season and the audience size more than doubling as it became available wherever you get your podcasts.