PodMov Daily: Wednesday, February 12

Episode 141: Your Midweek Update

PM Evolutions Kicks Off in Los Angeles

The first-ever Podcast Movement Evolutions begins this afternoon at the Millennium Biltmore in downtown LA. We’re excited to share highlights from this week ― it’s all about keeping up with the evolving landscape of audio and podcasting.

All 3 tracks are welcome to join the Attendee Orientation, today at 2:00. With the help of session leaders, PM veterans, and a few hundred new friends, you’ll be an expert in no time. The official schedule kicks off tomorrow, bright ‘n early.

The first of three can’t-miss keynotes will feature Bob Pittman, CEO of iHeartMedia, Conal Byrne, President of iHeart Media, and Misha Euceph. The CEO of Dustlight Productions, Euceph was named Ad Week’s 2019 Producer of the Year.

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Noche de Podcasts Live: Tomorrow in LA

Tomorrow evening in Los Angeles, Studio Ochenta and Locatora Radio will celebrate Latinx storytelling in podcasting around the world. Noche de Podcasts Live will be held at Espacio 1839 from 5:30 to 7:00, a quick hop east from the Millennium Biltmore.

The free event will feature live performances from two shows, Locatora Radio and Mija Podcast. Hosted by Mala Muñoz and Diosa Femme, Locatora Radio is a radiophonic novela archiving the legacies and brilliance of women and femmes of color.

Mija Podcast is an audio novella that tells the story of one family's immigration journey from Colombia to the US. Lory Martinez, the founder of Studio Ochenta and creator of the podcast, will perform as Mija.

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Podcasts, Wellness Apps, and Audio Paywalls

In Hot Pod, Caroline Crampton raises “a perennial question we have in the podcast industry. Will people pay for podcasts?” In great numbers people are paying for audio relaxation and sleep apps like Calm, Headspace, and Meditopia, so what’s the difference?

The answer is largely related to distinct expectations, Crampton posits. Despite “high profile experiments” like Luminary, Castbox, and Glow, consumers are generally resistant to paying for podcasts. However “if it’s part of a package that promises to improve their life in some way,” an audio paywall seems more justified.

Crampton points out that “Even in the age of Netflix, there’s a sense that self-improvement and education are worth paying for, while entertainment should be free.” For better or worse, and regardless of content, ‘free’ is deeply embedded in the podcast schema.

Podcorn: Finding Sponsorships, Empowering Podcasters

Since Podcorn launched the first self-service platform for native podcast advertising, monetization has never been the same. Podcasters finally have transparency, creative freedom, and full control over how they monetize and work with brands.

That’s why Podcorn is sponsoring the Professional Podcaster track at Evolutions. Podcorn empowers podcasters of all sizes to optimize how and what they earn, and streamlines the entire process of finding and working with sponsors.

Get matched to the most relevant opportunities and pitch your podcast directly to brands looking for your niche audience. Browse, choose, and set your own rates — it’s the smartest, most efficient way to monetize, bar none.

Podcasters of all sizes are signing up to Podcorn, and those advancing to the top are getting there faster. Ready to evolve?

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Here's what else is going on:

• Blazing trails: Tim Greiving of the LA Times speaks with longtime podcasters Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci, two of the three co-founders of Earios. The 7-month-old comedy podcast network is “by women, for everyone.”

• Mystery solved: What do Spotify’s expansion plans mean for podcasters? Steven Goldstein, co-founder and CEO of Amplifi Media, decodes commentary from Spotify CEO Daniel Ek during a Q4 conference call.

• Business school: Podcasting will be among panel topics at the Muslim Entrepreneurs in Metro-Detroit expo on March 25. Speakers include Yasmeen Kadouh and Rima Fadlallah, the creators of the podcast Dearborn Girl.

• Globe trotter: Axios reports that Luminary is “expanding its service to three new countries, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland.” The move doubles its international presence following the addition of a new CEO.