Libsyn: more people using computers to listen

Libsyn: more people using computers to listen

Listen · · 4.2 minutes to read

This article is at least a year old

  • More people are listening to podcasts on computers, according to new data from Libsyn’s The Feed podcast. Total plays via computer, rather than mobile, increased by almost a percentage point to 12% of downloads. “Those changes had to do with people starting to stay at home”, said Rob Walch, the company’s VP of Podcaster Relations, adding that he would “expect [the figure] to drop more next month for mobile”. Apple Podcasts is still the market leader for consumption, though more people are listening via Android devices according to the company.

  • The 2020 winners of the New York Festival Radio Awards have been announced. The CBC were awarded 'broadcaster of the year’; their Hunting Warhead podcast was awarded as Best Investigative Reporting. Winners also included Wondery, CBS News Radio’s Mobituaries, ESPN’s 30 for 30; WNYC Studios’ Dolly Parton’s America; The Melbourne Age’s Last Voyage of the Pong Su; and Lantigua Williams & Co’s 70 Million. Here are the full winners.

  • It’s official: Apple Podcasts have announced that they have over one million shows, in more than 100 languages, in 175 countries and regions. They recently launched Apple Podcasts in twenty more countries.

  • SiriusXM, which owns Pandora, have released a “2019 at a glance” statement. Monthly active users for Pandora have decreased. “There is more work to do to realize Pandora’s potential,” says CEO Jim Meyer.

  • “Das nächste Level für Podcast Ads” - Spotify’s Podcast Ads product has been launched in Germany. The product allows targeted advertising within Spotify Originals podcasts, and claims to offer advertisers more accurate measurement.

  • Libsyn now has integration with Headliner, to enable users to upload promotional videos for their podcasts via social media. Here’s Libsyn’s support article explaining more.

  • Podcast host Captivate have launched a set of additional analytics, including episode-by-episode and geographical data. It’s available for all Captivate podcasters. (Disclosure - the Editor of Podnews is on Captivate’s advisory board).

  • Work for a podcast host? You might like to know that artwork filenames with more than one period in them, like myniceartwork.001.jpeg, will - even if they’re within specification - fail the Apple Podcasts validation process. We’ve never seen this mentioned before, but thought you might like to build in a check for filenames named like this (or at least add it to your knowledge base). We’ve shared this with Apple.

  • Tips and tricks published today include how to pick credible experts for your podcast (JAR Audio) and how to monetise your podcast (Buzzsprout).

Changing times, changing consumption

  • Speaking in a webinar yesterday organised by Megaphone, Jeremy Weiner, Megaphone Director of East Coast Sales, said: “What we’re not seeing is any kind of dips in listenership, but we are definitely seeing changes in that the listenership is pretty even throughout the day as opposed to spiking in the morning and evening.” George Gehring, Megaphone Studio Director of Media Solutions said that one of their advantages was that they can change creative “on a dime”. “It’s really enabled us to say to our partners now more than ever, we’re here to help and we can help you pivot quickly and smartly.” Steph Beran Sanderson, Wordsworth + Booth Director of Strategy, added: “Focus on staying flexible. This is the absolute key. In terms of how you’re communicating, you need to be nimble and light on your feet enough to adapt as consumer sentiment shifts.” Gehring gave an example: “We’re working with one alcohol brand who just launched a new product and the messaging was, drink [this] at a bar, go to this store to buy it. And we switched out the creative and now it was, this drink is as good on the sofa as it is at the bar. Use your order delivery service for it.” Dan Misener, pacificcontent Head of Strategy & Audience Development, added: “Pay attention to those broad industry trends, but also try and look at your own numbers on your own shows, on your own networks, and figure out what of that is actionable.”


    Aug 23 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.
  • Soundstripe surveyed over 320 video freelancers and creative agencies about the impact the coronavirus has had on their business. Over half of those surveyed have lost more than three-quarters of their projects; and almost 25% have shut their businesses altogether.

  • The Locked On Podcast Network, a leading sports network, claims that its audience is still growing even without sports. The company’s audience is up 75% year on year.

Podcast News

Companies mentioned above:
Apple logoAppleApple Podcasts logoApple PodcastsCaptivate logoCaptivateLibsyn logoLibsynLocked On logoLocked OnMegaphone logoMegaphonePandora logoPandoraSiriusXM logoSiriusXMSpotify logoSpotifyWondery logoWondery

Readers and supporters

Gold supporters

Silver supporters

Readers and supporters

Get a global view on podcasting and on-demand with our daily news briefing