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Greetings! The recent Hot Pod Summit was a huge success, and I want to express my gratitude to all the attendees who contributed greatly to the event. Participants from various sectors engaged in conversations about advertising strategies and innovative business models. While we may not have found all the answers to the challenges facing the podcasting world, I am filled with optimism for the industry’s future. Here are some key highlights from the gathering:
Recently, I had the pleasure of appearing at the On Air Fest where I interviewed Stephen Dubner, the host of Freakonomics Radio. Delving into the craft and business aspects of podcasting with him was truly enlightening. Stay tuned for an in-depth Q&A with Dubner in tomorrow’s Insider newsletter.
I’d like to give a special shoutout to our partners at work x work and the entire On Air Fest team for their hard work in organizing the event, and to the Wythe Hotel for hosting us. A big thank you also goes out to my colleagues at Verge who played integral roles in making the Hot Pod Summit a success: Kara Verlaney, Esther Cohen, Jake Kastrenakes, Amrita Khalid, Nilay Patel, David Pierce, Andru Marino, Andrew Melnizek, and Helen Havlak.
We also greatly appreciate our lead sponsors: AdsWizz, the company behind the advertising technology for top audio publishers and podcasters, and Simplecast, a platform offering hosting, analytics, and monetization services for independent creators.
Moreover, we are pleased to offer an exclusive discount to Hot Pod Summit and On Air Fest attendees on new annual subscriptions to Hot Pod Insider. Use code HPSBK2024 to enjoy a 25% discount on an annual subscription. Grab this offer before it expires on Sunday, March 10th, at 3PM ET.
Ira Glass recently shared his frustrations with the iOS 17 update, echoing the sentiments of many in the industry.
In a candid discussion, Glass highlighted This American Life‘s proactive approach to online distribution and its transition to private ownership after being co-owned with WBEZ for two decades. Despite its resilience in the face of industry challenges, the show did not escape unscathed. Glass revealed that This American Life experienced a 20% decline in downloads following the iOS 17 update, which affected automatic downloads.
Reflecting on the situation, Glass expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’m not thrilled about the financial impact. It’s disheartening to see these numbers decline. It’s more than just statistics; it’s emotional.”
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