Spotify's new social-sharing features

• Spotify is adding a way to share timestamps when you share a podcast - a way to share a particular point to start listening.

  • Links work on desktop, iOS and Android: here’s a link to economist Will Page’s interview on Podland to see how it works.
  
  This link is no longer available, as at Sep 3 2023
  • It looks like it’s as simple as adding a t attribute in seconds to an episode link - the above link ends &t=513. Pocket Casts timestamp links work identically, as do Podfriend timestamp links. Is accepting ?t=:seconds a defacto standard that everyone can build?

• In the UK, this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. Acast is bringing together their podcasters to raise awareness.

  • Acast UK has also made Campaign’s Best Places To Work 2021 list; they tell us they’re the only podcasting company to do so.

• In the US, scripted podcast company Scripty has launched: a company that produces original scripted series 'primed for adaptation to film and television’.

• Audacy has launched Exit Scam, a true-crime podcast about cryptocurrency. In what the company calls a “unique windowing opportunity”, the Audacy app has episodes a week earlier than everywhere else.

• Stitcher’s Midroll adsales has merged with Pandora and SiriusXM’s sales teams. The new group is called SXM Media, and claims it has a reach of 150m listeners, which it calls “the largest digital audio advertising platform in North America”.

• Lemonada Media has launched an in-house sales team. The company was with Stitcher’s Midroll, and previously sold through Westwood One.

• The Quill Podcast Awards are open for entry. The awards are “a place where top podcasts and brands in various categories can be recognized for their production, innovation, and hard work” - they are free to enter, and you can enter your favourite show if you want.

  • Podnews is sponsoring the “Innovator of the Year” category.

• Enterprise podcast host Omny Studio has added enhanced reporting functionality and additional metadata features.

• Is RSS dead?

Tips and tricks - with Sounder․fm

• On Sounder: Real Sports Heroes explores the importance of today’s black sports star having a voice that goes beyond the court and playing field.
• Mark Asquith from Captivate has added a new Twitter list of 'people doing amazing work in the industry' - might be worth a follow.
• Want to earn Bitcoin from your podcast? - yes, you can do that with a growing number of podcast apps.

Podcast News - with HubSpot Podcast Network

From the HubSpot Podcast Network: My First Million is a podcast where the hosts brainstorm new business ideas based on trends & opportunities they see in the market.

For Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, Dad I’d Like To Friend (The DILF Podcast) discusses the mental health of parents, fights outdated stereotypes, and season two has just started.

Mental health for employees is also important: The Caring CEO is a podcast to inspire and provide tips for leaders who believe that future success is one based on employee mental health as well as growth.

The Worst Day Of Your Life can define you for good, as well as for bad. NOVA Entertainment’s new podcast features real stories of extraordinary people, who refuse to let disaster permanently change their lives and strive to help others change their lives for the better.

You Here Now says that “change is inevitable”, and shares stories that changed people’s lives in profound ways. It’s brand new, with a story about the Northern California forest fires last year - and one person who’s home the fire claimed.

The FADER Uncovered has just been launched: a series of in-depth conversations with the world’s most impactful musicians, from genre-defining stars to avant-garde pioneers hosted by seven-time Grammy Award winner, Oscar Award winner, legendary record producer and DJ, Mark Ronson.