Sounds like a Big Deal - Spotify, IAB, Branded Podcasts, and Audacy’s Sports Play

It’s a brand new episode of the Media Roundtable, and we’re tackling the biggest audio stories of the day: big podcast revenues, platforms too big to quit, and becoming a sports giant.

Back on the lead microphone, fresh from hosting Ad Infinitum, is Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road). Stew is joined by fellow Oxford Road experts James Ingrassia (EVP, Client Service, Oxford Road) and Neal Lucey (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road). Plus we have the world’s favorite Audio Futurologist, James Cridland (Podnews, Podcast Business Journal). We’re talking: Neil Young getting back together with Spotify, Spotify quiet-quitting the IAB, Audacy’s wide world of sports, and more. Let’s dig in.

“You can say you're compliant, but if there's no auditing, you're judging your own homework.”

  • ‘Young Man’ Takes a Look At His Boycott 👀 - Back in 2022, Neil Young boycotted Spotify to protest Joe Rogan’s vaccine misinformation. Now that Rogan is non-exclusive, the boycott makes a lot less sense, since Young’s music appears on multiple platforms where Rogan’s podcast is also found. The takeaways? 1. Hard to beat a tech giant. 2. Non-exclusive deals spread out risk for controversial hosts.

  • Decertified 🙅 - Spotify quietly lets their IAB certification lapse. They say they’re still compliant, but without a third-party audit, who’s to say? Spotify’s in a position of being bigger than the IAB (which covers a lot more than just podcasts). The IAB has been critical in setting podcasting standards. Maybe it’s time for a separate podcast-focused industry organization.

  • The Next Joe Rogan? 🤔 - Is comedian Theo Von the next Joe Rogan? A recent article in The Atlantic seems to think so, and our panel believes the podcaster who delves into existential themes with his unmistakable southern drawl and charming backwoods wit may have what it takes. But despite parallels with Rogan's format, Von's podcast, This Past Weekend, explores deeper spiritual and philosophical realms, pondering solitude, divine presence, and the allure of darkness.

For full breakdowns of these big moves and a whole lot more, hey hey, my my, catch the full episode by tuning into the links below.

Bianca Gorodinsky