Spotify or Apple? Who's bigger for podcasts?

• Libsyn has released its most popular platforms for April, in The Feed: Apple has 60.01% and Spotify 13.65% of all podcast downloads. Earlier this month, Buzzsprout released its April figures: it reports Spotify and Apple Podcasts both tie at 29.3%.

  • These numbers, from similarly-sized US podcast companies, are quite different. We go deep into the numbers to find out who the 'big dog’ of aggregator apps really is - and the underlying changes in the industry.

• Richard Heyse, the CFO of Libsyn, has resigned as the company gave the stock market an update on their incorrect financial reports. Libsyn underpaid a number of different taxes between 2015 and 2020: mistakes worth around $3.7m in unpaid tax and fines. The incorrect returns have also put Libsyn out of compliance with a number of bank loans.

  • Libsyn’s previous CFO, John Busshaus, also resigned in October 2019 and is currently taking the company to court for wrongful termination: claims that Libsyn deny.

• As part of a wider piece of work for better accessibility, Spotify is to begin auto-transcribing some of its podcasts in the next few weeks. They plan to enable transcripts for every podcast in the future . (We reported that this was coming in May last year).

  • Not all podcasters want automated transcripts; there is a <podcast:transcript> tag for transcripts already from the Podcast Index; and live captions are available for all apps on desktop and Android mobile devices.

• Podcast host Castos has acquired Podiant. Podiant customers will be migrated to use Castos as their new podcast host.

• The IAB Tech Lab has a number of new board members, including Amazon Advertising.

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• Netflix is said to be expanding their podcast activity and taking pitches from production companies.

• Price Brothers is a new digital audio creative agency, promising creative services for ad platforms that offer different experiences, like dynamic or interactive audio.

• The winners for the Webby Awards were announced, including a number of podcast categories. Separately, Evergreen Podcasts won four Communicator Awards.

• WBGO, a jazz station in Newark NJ, USA, has launched its own podcast unit, WBGO Studios.

• Vancouver’s branded podcast company JAR Audio and Amsterdam’s Big Orange, an audio storytelling company, have entered into a global strategic partnership, “declaring war on bad audio”.

• New premium podcast company Hyphen Media has launched. The company “tells stories by and about people of color, for everybody, with the mission of championing inclusion through diversity”.

Tips and tricks - with Sounder․fm

• On Sounder: Huddle Up With Gus Former NFL quarterback, Gus Frerotte talks with guests about when they fell in love with sports, how sports taught them to overcome adversity and help shape their path to success.
• Make your own DIY acoustic panels - Marcus dePaula gives advice on how to achieve a good effect with stuff you can buy at a local store. If you like phrases like “eye bolts”, “French cleat hardware” or “pocket hole jig”, this one’s for you.

Sep 3 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.
• Podbean is to host a livestream and podcast event focused on podcast production. How to Start a Podcast - LIVE is June 10-12. A full pass is $39, but register with the code podnews for a complimentary ticket.

Sep 3 2023: This broken link now points to the Internet Archive.

Podcast News - with HubSpot Podcast Network

From the HubSpot Podcast Network: My First Million brainstorms ideas for new businesses. Recently, Shaan and Sam have covered a horse racing company with a difference: there are no horses.

Queerstories, an award-winning podcast celebrating the culture and creativity of the LGBTQI+ community, is back for season 3 and is now published on Acast. (It was on Omny Studio).

It’s a cracker: The Los Angeles Times has announced their new podcast The Trials of Frank Carson. From the reporter and host behind Dirty John, the podcast focuses on a Californian defense attorney who was accused of murder, rather than the Northern Irish comedian.

Pineapple Street Studios is five years old this month, and launch 70 over 70 - stories and wisdom from 70 remarkable people over 70. Guests already announced include Madeleine Albright and Dan Rather.