Libsyn buys a web hosting company

• Podcast host Libsyn, properly known as Liberated Syndication Inc, has purchased web hosting company Pair Networks. Some data points in the announcement: “In 2016, Libsyn delivered over 4.59 Billion downloads. We host over 3.2 Million media files for more than 35,000 podcasts, including typically around 35% of the top 200 podcasts in iTunes.” Both companies are based in Pittsburgh PA, USA.

• On Tuesday we reported on highly inflated figures from iHeartMedia on Podtrac’s charts. Yesterday, Podtrac removed iHeartMedia from all of their ratings charts. Today, iHeartMedia have made a statement to InsideRadio, saying in part: “We are working through with Podtrac what constitutes listening.”

  
  This link is no longer available, as at Jul 29 2023
  • We also gratefully noted coverage from AllAccess.

• Audible, Amazon’s audio production arm, is working with theatres as a way of producing audio drama, reports The Pacific Standard. The move is seen as a significant win for accessibility of theatre productions.

  
  Jul 29 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• The US freesheet Metro writes a piece exploring the success of true crime podcasts, focusing on Radiotopia’s Criminal and Wondery’s Hollywood & Crime. “I am pleasantly surprised that podcasts like this show do as well as they do,” says H&C’s Larry Brand, “because we are so attuned to visual images.”

• Chris Huskins from UK producer Abrupt Audio posts some ideas on how to know whether your idea for a podcast is any good.

• Listicle corner: a list of media podcasts, from UK publication Journalism.co.uk. One they’ve forgotten: the Australian ABC’s MediaWatch, which is available as a vodcast (but which works perfectly as just audio).

Thank you and welcome to acast, who joined our list of silver supporters today.