Podcast Movement shifts to a virtual event

• Exclusive: Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Podcast Movement 2020, in Dallas TX, has been cancelled. To take its place, Podcast Movement will today announce what they expect to be the world’s largest ever virtual podcasting event, Podcast Movement Virtual, over two weeks from October 19 - 29. The event will consist of over 100 live breakout sessions, panel discussions, and keynotes.

  • There’ll be three different live session stages throughout event days, and networking events will be hosted most evenings including events specifically designed for participation from international attendees. Prices start from US$99.
  • All registered PM20 attendees should check your email for your options; PM21 has been confirmed for August 3-6, 2021 in Nashville TN, USA (and is in our events page).

• Podcasts are coming to “Amazon Music / Audible”; Libsyn has quietly rolled out a distribution option for this service. “Amazon is not announcing a launch schedule at this time,” the announcement says.

  
  Aug 26 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.
  • “Amazon will not embed any advertising in or re-host your Content,” says the content licence agreement.

• Spotify now does 'video podcasts’. The technology only plays the video when the screen is on - switching to audio-only (and using less bandwidth) when video isn’t required, according to the release. This functionality will, of course, be required for Joe Rogan when he comes to the platform in September. Want to see it? Here’s one (available on mobile app and desktop app, but not the web player yet).

  
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  • The open podcast ecosystem also does video podcasts: supported by Apple Podcasts and Pocket Casts, among others. Spotify’s implementation, however, appears to be different. We’ve asked how it works.

• Next time you doubt the power of podcasting to make change, read this wonderfully heartwarming story from The UPSIDE, a podcast that “has created a movement of generosity and kindness”.

• Audioboom has announced its H1 2020 financial results. Revenue is up 20% year-on-year, in spite of the pandemic. The company posted a $1.2m loss: an improvement on $1.4m year-on-year. Some new shows are being delayed, though.

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• Storyboard has launched what it calls the first-ever listener commenting system for private podcasts and internal audio.

• Acast’s US boss Brian Danzis writes about podcasting’s resilience, 'the automated opportunity for brands’, and diversity.

• The IAB has revealed the presenters at the IAB Podcast Upfront, which will be a virtual event this year.

  
  Aug 26 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

• NPR is using podcasts to 'introduce the brand to younger, more digital-first people', according to an interview with NPR’s CMO, Michael Smith.

• Video news service Cheddar has a 'deep dive’: Podcast Wars - the tactics being used to gain and retain listeners.

• It can be hard to work out quite how much a narrative podcast might cost. Lawson Media has released podcast subscription plans to help companies budget and plan.

  
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• A prime example of good podcast marketing for your show: find a good angle and stick with it. Fireflies: the original kids debate show sent us a press release, which we covered; Steve Scauzillo from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune got in touch with us, and covered the story in the newspaper.

• When we mentioned podcast-cli yesterday, we weren’t expecting too many people to use it. Justin Jackson from Transistor made a video about it.

• Our podcast hosts page is now updated: Megaphone gained IAB Certification in May, and we’ve added Podspace, a Swedish podcast host.

Thank you to Feed Ignite for becoming our latest supporter. Feed Ignite offers production and social media support for podcasts, based in the UK but working everywhere. We’re grateful to them for their support; they helped us mark free events in our events section, below.

Tips and tricks

• Lessons for LGBTQ people looking to start their own podcast (Acast, from Aclass: Queer Voices)
• Why are branded podcasts so valuable? - and how to get the most out of them (Listen Entertainment)

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