Fixing the Charts: James Cridland Chats with a “Podcast Promoter”

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PodMov Daily: Thursday, April 30

Episode 195: Your Thursday Podthoughts

Fixing the Charts: James Cridland Chats with a “Podcast Promoter”

“Podcast promoters” are paid to game the Apple Podcasts Charts. Podnews editor James Cridland, a determined advocate of the even playing field, isn’t a fan of this practice. When a promoter reached out via LinkedIn to offer “real human traffic” to inflate downloads, Cridland decided to ask a few questions.

The resulting blog post describes the current state of chart manipulation (“not illegal itself, but it’s not particularly ethical either”) and how it operates. The promoter dubiously billed as “Gary” goes into detail that sheds light on both sides of the operation: Gary just wants to make a living. Gary’s clients just want to appear successful.

Cridland’s snapshot of a sketchy, frustrating practice is a true editorial, complete with strong opinions, anonymous callouts of the unscrupulous, and genuine passion from its author. Those paying their way up may feel accomplished, he asserts, but ”the only people they’re ripping off is themselves.”


Vote for Podcasts: Nominees for The Webby People's Voice Awards

Many outstanding podcasts are among the newly announced nominees for The Webby People’s Voice Awards. The “leading international award honoring excellence on the internet,” The Webby Awards have recognized the best of the ‘net since 1996. 10 years later, podcasts earned a spot at the table.

This year’s podcast category includes 32 awards. 7 are dedicated to ‘features’ (e.g., Best Host, Best Original Music), 17 for ‘general series’ by genre, and 8 are for ‘individual episodes, mini-series, and specials.' Have You Heard George’s Podcast?, star of the 2019 British Podcast Awards, is a contender for Best Series.

Run by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), the Awards this year received “nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries.” Now’s the time to speak up — public voting closes next Thursday, May 7. Winners will be named at the ‘Webbys from Home’ on May 19.

Podcast Magazine Special Feature: The Top 50 Moms In Podcasting!

If you’re a fan of podcasts, you’ll love Podcast Magazine.

Each month, Podcast Magazine takes you “Beyond The Microphone” and into the lives of today's leading podcasters and introduces you to dozens of shows you've likely never heard of, but should be listening to.

It offers independent ratings and reviews, top picks of the month in Off The Charts, and releases the Podcast Magazine Hot 50 — the only monthly chart created by fans for fans.

This month’s issue features interviews with Jenna Kutcher of The Goal Digger, Jasmine Star of The Jasmine Star Show, Kathy Wakile of Eat, Love, Live, Indulge, Jennifer Allwood of The Jennifer Allwood Show, and more. Plus, they reveal the first annual Top 50 Moms In Podcasting!

As a reader of PodMov Daily, you can receive a FREE lifetime subscription until June 1.

Podcast Magazine — the only magazine dedicated to podcast fans, covering the world of podcasts and podcast culture.


We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

Here's what else is going on:

  • Voice < reason: Rob Rosenthal asks, “When you produce a story or a podcast and send it out into the world, why? What do you stand for?” In a poignant post, the teacher, producer, and HowSound host encourages honest introspection during this “Great Pause.”
  • Sign here: Last year, Al Jazeera “came out strong” with the Arab world’s first daily news podcast. A new “strategic partnership” between the media network and Wondery focuses on the expanding market. Wondery's hit Business Wars is now available in Arabic.
  • Key change: In late 2018, Paul Critz began teaching an audio journalism class at California's Pelican Bay State Prison. The resulting podcast, Unlocked, is created by inmates telling stories in their own words. T. William Wallin goes behind the scenes of an interview.
  • Sporting goods: LA Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling and co-host Cooper Surles created The Big Swing podcast to connect athletes and fans. In a feature from MXL Microphones, the two discuss how their preferred audio equipment has enhanced on-the-go recording.

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