2023 IAB Upfronts Recap with Matt Shapo of the IAB

Welcome to the Media Roundtable, Industry Edition! In this episode, we're recapping the IAB Podcast Upfronts conference highlights.

Our fearless host is once again Oxford Road’s very own Jennifer Laine, along with fellow Oxford Roadies and Upfront Attendees Steven Abraham,  Spencer Semonson, Kristen Duenas, and special guest, Director of Digital Audio & Video for the IAB, Matt Shapo, taking a well-deserved victory lap from the event. 

Missed the Upfronts? We’re giving you a front-row seat to trends and your new favorite show so you can like it before it’s cool (Spoiler Alert: It’s probably NPR’s Body Electric). 

  • Upfronts Unveiled ☕️ - Matt Shapo spills the tea on the latest trends and big names at the event. We’re talking Conan O’Brien anecdotes, brand safety, and what makes podcasts so special.

  • Niche is the New Cool 😎- Networks are slicing, dicing, and bundling what they hope are deeply engaged audiences. One very smart approach from The Believe Network is next-day recaps of every game from major sports leagues featuring players from each team. This might be the gold standard in niche-perishable media.

  • Cross-Channel Power Play 🤝- How do you take advantage of ads on companion podcasts? Imagine sponsoring a TV show and then deepening your campaign with that same message on the companion podcast recapping the show. 

We’re covering all this and a whole lot more, from tapping into built-in audiences, what amazing co-branded content looks like, and what next year’s upfronts could look like for the fastest-growing channel in digital media. To hear the full episode, click the link below.

Bianca Gorodinsky