The Great Debate: SiriusXM's Podcast Trends Report
Does video dwarf the audio star?
Video looks to be the next frontier of the podcasting world. But is this shift at the expense of the intimacy of audio that brought listeners to podcasts in the first place? Some see video as a way of deepening listeners’ connections to hosts, but to others, video encroaches on the theater-of-the-mind atmosphere, which fans love, created by podcasts.
Does show size still matter?
A big name or a deep connection? While celebrity hosts lend credibility, prestige, and the spotlight to brand partnerships, niche hosts often create deep, personal bonds with audiences, lending brands an authentic touch while affording them a ground floor opportunity to grow with the show.
Does brand safety help podcasting?
For advertisers, safety and control are paramount—but there’s a fine line between safe and restrictive. On the one hand, safety controls allow advertisers to scale confidently. On the other, overly restrictive controls can quiet underrepresented voices and close brands off from new audiences.
Will podcasting improve in the age of AI?
AI is more than just a buzzy couple of letters at this point. It’s helping creators and advertisers work faster and smarter. But is all this machine learning (and doing) removing the human element from podcasts? And if everyone is using the same tools, will the end results all sound the same?
Is our love of measurement driving down value?
As the podcast industry has exploded, the tools (and need) for measurement have grown along with it. But, to some, judging podcasts by the same standards as other mediums detracts from its inherent values: long-form content, deep engagement, and trust.