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From Apple’s year-end charts highlighting 2024’s biggest shows to the launch of DOGEcast, podcasting continues to dominate the cultural conversation. Let’s dive into the stories driving the industry forward.

With gratitude,
Casey Adams, Founder of Listener.com

Apple’s 2024 Podcast Charts Celebrate Listener Favorites

Apple has unveiled its highly anticipated year-end podcast charts for 2024, offering a snapshot of the shows, episodes, and creators that defined the year. The lineup not only reflects the enduring dominance of legacy programs but also celebrates fresh voices breaking into the scene. Here are some highlights:

• Top Shows: The Daily, Crime Junkie, The Joe Rogan Experience, and SmartLess maintain their reign as audience favorites.

• Top New Shows: The Tucker Carlson Show and Three lead a surge of bold, narrative-driven content captivating listeners.

• Top Episodes: Highlights include The Joe Rogan Experience’s conversation with Donald Trump and Crime Junkie’s deep dive into the Alphabet Murders.

• Most Shared Shows: Educational and self-improvement content stands out, with Huberman Lab and Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus dominating this category.

Apple’s curated Shows We Love list, localized across 15 markets, further emphasizes the global reach of podcasts that resonate through compelling narratives and cultural relevance.

The grand finale? On December 3, Apple will crown its Show of the Year. This announcement will shine a spotlight on the creators and formats shaping podcasting’s future, reinforcing the medium’s dynamic growth and cultural significance.

Whether you’re a creator, listener, or advertiser, Apple’s charts make one thing clear: podcasting is bigger, bolder, and more impactful than ever.

Acast Secures Exclusive Partnership with Casefile True Crime

Acast has announced an exclusive deal with Casefile True Crime, one of the world’s most downloaded podcasts:

• Over 800 million listens since its 2016 debut.

• 80 million annual listens added to Acast’s portfolio.

• Known for its anonymous host and meticulously researched storytelling, the podcast remains a gold standard in the true crime genre.

This partnership strengthens Acast’s position as a leader in premium podcasting while offering advertisers unparalleled access to one of the most engaged audiences in the space.

As true crime continues to captivate global listeners, Casefile remains a standout, and this deal reflects Acast’s commitment to delivering top-tier content at scale.

Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO Surpasses 1 Billion Streams and Dominates UK Charts

Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO has achieved an incredible milestone:

• 1 billion streams across Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, as confirmed by his company, Flight Studio.

• UK’s most-downloaded podcast for the third consecutive year, according to Apple.

• Europe’s largest podcast and the second-biggest globally on YouTube.

Since its launch in 2017, the podcast has featured high-profile guests, including:

• Simon Cowell

• Jada Pinkett Smith

• Boris Johnson

• Seth Rogen

• Maisie Williams

• Thierry Henry

• Richard Branson

Reflecting on the success, Bartlett, who is also an investor on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, shared:

This milestone underscores the global impact of The Diary of a CEO and its role as a cultural and business powerhouse in podcasting.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Launch Dogecast

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk are teaming up to launch DOGEcast, a weekly podcast providing updates on their work in the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

This initiative, spearheaded by President-elect Donald Trump, aims to:

• Slash excess regulations.

• Cut wasteful expenditures.

• Restructure Federal Agencies.

Ramaswamy, the former 2024 Republican presidential candidate, and Musk, Tesla CEO and tech innovator, were handpicked by Trump to lead the project. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy described DOGEcast as a unique opportunity to engage listeners:

Dubbed "a once-in-a-generation project," DOGEcast promises to provide unprecedented transparency and insight into the team’s strategies for streamlining government operations. This podcast is poised to redefine how leaders connect with the public on large-scale reform initiatives.

On Air Fest Announces First Wave Lineup and Major Expansion for 2025

On Air Fest, a celebration of audio creativity and innovation, is gearing up for its biggest year yet. The 2025 edition will feature an all-star lineup, including:

• SNL’s James Austin Johnson and the Jokermen

• Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa

• Radiolab Creator Jad Abumrad

• Design Matters’ Debbie Millman

• Modern Love Host Anna Martin

• Hyperfixed’s Alex Goldman

• The Kid Mero, Jenna Wortham, Ronald Young Jr., and more

For the first time, On Air Fest Brooklyn will expand to six+ locations, including Festival HQ at the Wythe Hotel and a new interactive Experience Hall. The festival will spotlight cutting-edge themes like AI in audio, sonic branding, and the intersection of sound and culture. Exclusive programming with NASA, WNYC, WBUR, Talkhouse, Radiotopia/PRX, and others promises to make this a landmark event for the industry.

• Forbes interviews Alex Cooper about her $125M deal and the growth of her multimedia empire.

• Chrissy Teigen launches her new wellness podcast exclusively on Audible.

Follow us on Instagram @listener to stay up to date with all things podcasting news. Have news to share? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected] to get featured!

Partner Spotlight

We are thrilled to introduce our newest partner, Acast, the world’s largest podcast company. Acast connects nearly 125,000 podcasts with audiences globally, offering a diverse catalog of high-quality content.

About Acast

Since 2014, Acast has been creating the world’s most valuable podcast marketplace, building the technology that connects podcast creators, advertisers, and listeners. Its marketplace spans nearly 125,000 podcasts, 2,700 advertisers, and approximately 400 million monthly listens. Crucially, those listens are monetized wherever they happen - across any podcasting app or other listening platform.

The company operates worldwide and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Acast is listed on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (ACAST.ST).

For podcasters looking to grow and monetize their shows, we highly recommend checking out Acast. Their innovative technology and extensive reach make them an invaluable partner in the podcasting world. Learn more.

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