Editor’s note: The newsletter will be off next week for a quarterly break, returning Monday, April 4 with your daily headlines, insights, and resources. See you soon!

PodMov Daily: Friday, March 25

Episode 616: Week Download Complete

The First Annual Judgment Day for Podcast Platforms

As podcasting nears its 20th birthday, competition is fierce among major platforms. How are they performing in the eyes of independent publishers? Yesterday was judgment day for Apple, Google, Spotify, and others as Podnews editor James Cridland revealed the results of the first annual industry report card.

In other Podnews-news, EarBuds Podcast Collective has joined the newsletter network. The beloved recommendation newsletter’s founder, Arielle Nissenblatt, is thrilled. “There’s so much incredible content out there that’s not being heard and I hope this brings us closer to helping people find their next favorite show.”

Will Ferrell's Feed Series Is on a Strategic Track

Onstage yesterday morning, actor and comedian Will Ferrell announced plans for a feed-based anthology podcast series. This is exactly what Edison Research SVP Tom Webster advised podcasters to do earlier this month. A themed feed has more brand-building potential than any individual show.

In the face of consolidation, building a network isn’t the only solution for independent producers, Webster said. “Instead, think about what other podcasts in your niche share a similar approach or ethos, and just build a feed that stands for something and delivers on-topic content reliably and frequently.”

Each month, Ferrell’s project The Feed will feature a different comedian hosting as an “original character of their own creation,” as described by Peter White of Deadline. As Conal Byrne put it, “You basically launch an RSS that becomes a stage that you hand over to comedians for weeks at a time.”

Keep Episodes Fresh with Dynamic Content

With Buzzsprout, it’s faster than ever to keep your podcast fresh — and your listeners up-to-date. The Dynamic Content tool lets you easily add and remove short pre-roll (intro) and post-roll (outro) content to your episodes. It's the perfect solution for timely messaging.

Whether you’re promoting a virtual event or giving a special shout-out, Dynamic Content makes it simple to swap, automatically add content to new episodes, or apply it to your existing catalog with a click. Old files are removed and replaced, so there’s no clean-up.

This innovative feature offers more than flexibility. It benefits your audience in more ways than one: Buzzsprout respects your listeners’ privacy. Unlike most Dynamic Ad Insertion, the Dynamic Content tool includes no tracking or targeting. Ready to make the switch?

Here's what else is going on:

• Team spirit: “How to Work with Podcast Advertising Agencies” from SquadCast is this Wednesday, March 30. Shannon Donohue of Ossa Collective will break down the different structures, partnerships, and opportunities available from podcast advertising agencies. Free registration.

• Closer look: The term ‘hobby’ may not fit how casual podcasters see their work, according to The Podcast Host. Some respondents of their Podcaster Cares survey felt that “creative outlet” is a better description. 530+ creators offered their thoughts on motivation, monetization, and other hot topics.

• Genius bar: “Making Radio Ambulante“ from SoundPath is coming up Thursday, March 31. Host and creator Daniel Alarcón will go behind the scenes of his award-winning NPR podcast, telling uniquely Latin American stories in Spanish for nearly a decade. $10 registration for non-AIR members.

• Inside scoop: “New & Noteworthy: Hacking the Algorithm of Podcast Directories” from Podbean is coming up on Tuesday, April 5. Director of Communications Shannon Martin will help creators crack the code to reach that coveted spot on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. and Free registration.