Podcast subscriptions are a hot topic with A LOT of speculation about what may happen. The reality is, it’s far too early to know how successful podcasts by subscription will be. The variables are considerable. Podcasts are abundant and free, thus asking people to pay doesn’t, at the outset, appear…

Last week’s announcement about Apple Podcasts subscriptions has everyone in the industry talking. Let’s break down what’s happening and answer some questions about what it means for listeners. Who is subscription podcasting for? There is one essential factor driving creator interest in podcast subscriptions, and it is not their audience. It’s revenue. Hang on to…

Today’s post breaks down the numbers of how many podcasts you’re actually up against. It seems everyone has a podcast. Or do they? Recently Apple Podcasts rolled over the two million podcast title mark. Extraordinary, right? Daunting, even. But the “box office” number is deceiving. 1/4th Of All Podcasts Are Out Of Business, Or More Likely, Were Never Really In It. Analyzing data from Apple Podcasts…

There is an odd notion among some in the industry that podcasts must run long, be unedited, and natural. Many say it’s part of the charm and authenticity of the medium. It is free-flowing and an antidote to our over-produced culture.I will be brief. That’s madness. The reality is attention…

A few years ago, just about anyone could launch a podcast on just about any topic and be pretty confident there were only a handful of shows on the subject. If you wanted to start a podcast about a niche topic such as knitting or poker, there were few, if…

Going to CES over the past few years was like walking into a candy store for anyone in the business of audio. There were smart speakers, infotainment stacks in cars, and hearable devices on the hardware side of the business. On the content side was an explosion of innovation in…

When I started Amplifi Media five years ago I met with large and small companies, who had no audio strategy. Audio? Strategy? In a digital media world, audio was an analog relic, a wooden cathedral box radio with people sitting in their living rooms listening to FDR’s fireside chats. …

The most read post in the five years this blog has been published is this one: Why Can’t Music Be Played In Podcasts? In fact, it comes up so often it is a “Google Zero” post, meaning it is the first item that pops up with that query. Every month…