Mastodawn

May I Present A Podcasting Milestone:

Today, I had a minor outpatient surgical procedure performed. The doctor told me, "you have a very soothing voice - it's like a podcast voice." I tell you this not to humblebrag. I tell you this because it's the first time someone didn't lead with "you have a nice radio voice."

Dunno what it means, but it means something.

Tom Webster Jan 21

If you've ever struggled to keep a podcast fresh, I wrote this for you.
https://soundsprofitable.com/article/what-would-you-do-if-you/

What Would You Do If You Actually Loved Podcasting? - Sounds Profitable

The WHO and WHY of podcasting are important, but you have to get them in the correct order.

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Jan 9

Walnut says to quit working, so I am taking his advice.

Tom Webster Jan 8

"My suggestion for 2026 is simple: before you add anything new, reconnect with why you started. Not as nostalgia, but as strategy. What was the show you wanted to make before someone told you it needed video clips? What was the relationship you were building before you started worrying about algorithmic reach? What would you create if you trusted that the audience who found you actually wants what you’re already making?"

https://soundsprofitable.com/article/remember-who-you-are/

Remember Who You Are - Sounds Profitable

Experimentation is healthy, but expansion at all costs includes the cost of ignoring the audience that built everything in the first place.

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Dec 12

Extremely proud of the latest research study we just released, The Creators. For one thing, it led to this article, and to me, this is an existential issue for podcasting, because it wasn't great to begin with, and video is making it *worse*.
https://soundsprofitable.com/article/the-gap-in-podcasting-that-should-concern-us/

The Gap In Podcasting That Should Concern Us - Sounds Profitable

What dangers lie in a medium that rebuffs potential creators before they start?

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Dec 9

Tomorrow! Join me for our last research presentation of the year: The Creators 2025. Learn who is creating, who has stopped, and where the barriers to creating may lie. Ring in the holidays with KNOWLEDGE

https://soundsprofitable.com/research/the-creators-2025/

The Creators 2025 - Sounds Profitable

On Wednesday, December 10th at 2PM EST, join Sounds Profitable’s Tom Webster as he walks through the complete findings of The Creators 2025 Report and what they mean for platforms, publishers, advertisers, and creators navigating today’s podcast landscape.

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Dec 3

Forget "Podfade." Let's talk about creator fade. That's the topic of this week's newsletter, and next week's new research study, The Creators 2025.

https://soundsprofitable.com/article/forget-podfade/

Forget Podfade – Let’s Talk About Creator Fade - Sounds Profitable

Churn is part of podcasting, but The Creators 2025 finds some creators are quitting more than just individual podcasts.

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Nov 19

Mostly I am just proud of the headline, but today's article also presents an interesting twist on podcast advertising - when the podcaster and the brand are one:
https://soundsprofitable.com/article/clawing-their-way/

Clawing Their Way to Ownership: Why Some Podcasters Are Building Products Instead of Reading Ads - Sounds Profitable

A look at what happens when the creators themselves are the brand.

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting

Tom Webster Nov 18

With Cloudflare down, so are many of the AI services that content creators are using to shovel out slop content. Today we will see who REALLY can create content, and who on ye at by esteem desire warmth former. Sure that that way gave any fond now. His boy middleton sir nor engrossed affection excellent. Dissimilar compliment cultivated preference eat sufficient may. Well next door soon we mr he four. Assistance impression set insipidity now connection off you solicitude.

Tom Webster Nov 12

Next year, we are bringing Podcast Movement Evolutions to SXSW—for free. Yes, free. My partner, Bryan, has the deets here: https://soundsprofitable.com/article/podcast-movement-to-sxsw/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOBmbFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFPRE5ibGpVTHZiRDhDamVJc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvHrGYM8FT9zI_FoDqo9ULrk-3U5lBpDY2ruGUGYD2aLql3PB--c7NiPeTkv_aem_ilYV_Rsp8VJUb6KsFyHTHg

Why We’re Bringing Podcast Movement to SXSW (And Making It Free) - Sounds Profitable

Podcast Movement Evolutions is going to Austin next year. Let's talk about how, why, and how much extra cost it'll be (spoiler: none).

Sounds Profitable - The business of podcasting