Ten Years of Amplifi & Podcasting’s Evolution — amplifi media by Steven Goldstein
A look back at April of 2014 when Goldstein founded Amplifi Media, following a career working at places like NBC, ABC, and growing Saga Communications to encompass over 100 radio stations. 2014 remains a focal point for two reasons: Apple Podcasts becoming a default iPhone app, and the launch of Serial that October. Looking back, Goldstein identifies three key phases for podcasting: the “MeUndies Era” where direct-response ads were king, “Spaghetti Against the Wall” marks the phase where big media stepped into podcasting. An era marked by a lot of big swings with Hollywood names and experimental shows intended to be leveraged into bigger IP. Some hit, some missed. Finally, the “What’s a Podcast” era we find ourselves in now. Bets are being replaced by sustainable, diversified models as the borders of ‘a podcast’ stretch to multiple major distribution hubs.
Edison Research Debuts The Infinite Dial 2025
The Infinite Dial 2025 was released today, and among the highlights of this yearly study were the podcast consumption figures. This year, the podcast usage questions were changed to better account for video podcast consumption, which increased the numbers over last year in line with what we also saw in The Podcast Landscape. Among the highlights:
Monthly podcast consumption 12+: 55% (compared to 53% in The Podcast Landscape)
Weekly podcast consumption 12+: 40% (compared to 37% in The Podcast Landscape)
Differences between the two studies are negligible and likely down to age (12+ for Infinite Dial vs. 18+ for Podcast Landscape) and sampling differences.
Podcast Fandom Is Growing and Deepening Through Multiplatform Activity by William Earl
Variety coverage of a new white paper from Wondery titled The Fandom Phenomenon. The report surveyed 3,000 American podcast listeners aged 13+, produced by Dentsu and Edison Research. 46% of respondents say the podcasts they love the most are their “favorite form of entertainment.” They’re also seeking podcasts outside the usual expectation of social media (though 68% do still look on social media). 43% of respondents look for podcast-related content in TV and books, with the report suggesting this shows podcast talent and studios have the opportunity to scale their brands into multimedia franchises.
Creators Spotlight Smaller Channels from The Publish Press
A look at a current trend among streamers and YouTubers challenging each other to recommend their favorite small creators. While recommending other YouTubers is not a new phenomenon, streamer JSchlatt gamified the process by shouting out a smaller creator he likes and then challenging a similarly-popular creator to do the same, which has caused a chain reaction of other gaming-focused creators like Ludwig and Jacksepticeye to do the same, leading smaller creators to receive significant bumps in subscribers. Something podcasting should take note of. The power of a feed drop is well-known, but organic podcast recommendations also carry weight. They’re free, easy to do, and more podcasters openly supporting the world of podcasting boost the likelihood of overall podcast listening increasing as single-podcast audience members are sent to try their second podcast on the recommendation of their favorite creator.
As for the rest of the news…
- BBC Studios has been given exclusive access to the Oracle Red Bull F1 team for the upcoming podcast The Inside Track, which will cover behind-the-scenes stories and developments from every race throughout the Red Bull team’s 2025 season.
- Nielsen has released their Global Media Planning Report for 2025, focusing on three key trends in media: balancing traditional and emerging digital media, embracing retail media advertising, and adjusting to changing media consumption habits.
- Ashley Carman, in her Soundbite newsletter, covers the news that Audacy is searching for a buyer for Pineapple Street Studios, which is forecast to bring in 10.2 million in revenue with an EBITDA of $2.2 million. (On the subject of Soundbite, partners of Sounds Profitable can get access for $7.99/month for a year’s access instead of the normal price of $11.99/month. If you’re a partner, get in touch to learn more)
