PodMov Daily: Wednesday, January 20

Episode 354: Your Midweek Update

Apple Podcasts Spotlight Will Boost “Singular Voices”

Apple Podcasts Spotlight, a new monthly editorial franchise, boosts the profiles of rising U.S. creators. According to Sarah Perez of TechCrunch, the program will highlight work “from across a range of podcast genres, formats and locations.” The focus will often be on independent and underrepresented voices.

Perks include prominent real estate in Apple Podcasts, promotion across social media, and eventually other channels like “outdoor advertising in major U.S. metros.” Currently there are no specific requirements about a show’s size and reach. The first pick, Chelsea Devantez, has published 10 episodes of Celebrity Book Club.

Perez confirms that Spotlight’s larger goal is to attract new audiences to podcasts. Fresh ears may be the key to competition against Spotify, SiriusXM and Amazon: “Before Apple can effectively monetize podcasts as a subscription service, it needs to help get more people listening to podcasts on a regular basis.”

Community News: The Official Re-Launch of PMU

This week’s update is all about new beginnings. Podcast Movement University has officially re-launched, offering access to weekly live community events, a library of audio and video education, and specialized networking. Take it for a spin with a two-week trial, on us.

On Wednesday, March 10, Podcast Movement will kick off the first SHIFT of 2021. This all-day virtual event is aimed to help podcasters create, grow, and profit from their shows. Registration opens soon, $100 standard admission and free for PMU members.

In other news, registration is on sale for Podcast Movement 2021 in Nashville, TN. Join us in-person or virtually this August for expert keynote talks, 100+ breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and more. The sooner you register, the better the deal.

Memberful: Smarter Podcast Memberships

For podcasters, a strong community and stronger revenue are the dream. Memberful makes it easier than ever to have both. Used by the web’s biggest creators, Memberful is the convenient, safe, and intuitive way to sell memberships to your audience.

There are no hidden steps with Memberful: Just connect your Stripe account, add your podcast, and your listeners can subscribe immediately. Plus, Memberful integrates seamlessly with your favorite tools and works with your existing podcast hosting, so there's no need to change your workflow.

Your listeners already love your content. With Memberful’s features, like custom branding, gift subscriptions, Apple Pay, and free trials, you have even more tools to keep them tuned in. Ready for deeper connections and revenue to match? Get started for free — no credit card required.

Here's what else is going on:

• Family time: Next Tuesday at 8:00 pm CT, the McElroy brothers will celebrate the release of their book Everybody Has a Podcast (Except You). Registration for the free, live event closes on Monday. Pre-orders from a list of indie bookstores across the U.S. will include a signed bookplate.

• Shock jock: Audio cables may not be glamorous, but they’re essential to understand. Matthew Boudreau of The Podcast Host untangles microphone cables, monitor cables, and a range of others used in podcasting. Unsure how to choose the right ones for your setup? Not for long.

• Class act: Hot Docs Podcast Festival is on virtually from January 27-29. Check the full schedule and lineup for deep dives with talent like Roxane Gay, Radiolab, 1619, 99% Invisible. Use promo code PODMOV for 25% off a Festival Pass, including all 25+ events and a month of streaming.

• Bonus round: Tomorrow is the submission deadline for the Shore Scripts Fiction Podcast Contest. Two winners will receive $1,000 and have their pilot episodes produced on a $5,000 budget. Judges include top creators as well as commissioners at Luminary, Wondery, and Audible.