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PlayerFM Nov. 5, 2025
Trust, Tech & the Podcast Power Shift
In this episode, we explore the latest podcast industry trends, including insights from Acast’s Podcast Pulse 2025 report on creator influence and audience trust. We break down how podcast creators are reshaping media, why listeners trust them more than traditional influencers, and what that means for brand partnerships and monetization.
Plus, we dive into Triton Digital’s launch of AdBuilder AI, a self-serve audio ad platform built for small businesses and unpack Q3’s podcast ad spend surge—including a 59% spike in gaming ads and the rise of sports podcast sponsorships.
Whether you're a podcaster, marketer, or media strategist, this episode is packed with actionable insights on podcast monetization, creator-led marketing, audio advertising, and the future of digital media influence.
00:00 - Open
00:53 - Podcast Start
01:23 - Magellen Report
02:26 - Acast Overview
03:37 - YouTube: Part 3
05:04 - Triton Digital: AdBuilder AI
06:00 - Closing
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You're listening to Podcasting by the Numbers. Your daily source for facts and stats from the podcasting industry. Each episode will provide you four key insights and indicators that will help maneuver you through the ever-changing podcasting landscape.
Today is November 5th. I'm Gary Spurgeon, podcasting from Jacksonville, Florida. And you know what today is? Podcast creators aren't just influencing, they're rewriting the media playbook. I'll have more from ACAST's Podcast Pulse 2025 report in just a minute. Today, I'm here with your four minutes of daily stats, tips, insights, and numbers to help you better understand what's happening in the world of podcasting. So, let's get into the numbers.
Our first number is 1689. That's the number of brands who advertise for the first time. And that's a 41% increase from last quarter. That's according to Magellan. So, let's talk numbers because Q3 was big. Podcasting ad spend jumped 26% year over year, continuing its steady climb. Nine out of the top ten spenders held ground from Q2. With one brand breaking into the top tier. Ad loads nudged up too, from 8.11% to 8.34%. More ads, more opportunity. And get this, gaming ad spend surged 59% with the heavy hitters like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4, Alienware, and NBA's 2K26 leading the charge. Sports podcasters also getting love. 20% of new brands added them to their media plans. Bottom line, podcasting isn't growing, it's evolving. And if you're not in the mix yet, now is the time to pay attention.
Our next number is 84%. That's the number of listeners who say a podcaster has changed their mind about something they once believed. Podcast creators aren't just influencing, they're rewriting the media playbook. ACAST's Podcast Pulse 2025 report shows that it's not about reach anymore, it's about residence. Listeners choose podcasts intentionally, and that lean-in connection builds trust that traditional influencers just can't touch. That's trust, and that trust, well, it's commercial gold. Podcasters now rank the highest value voice in the media mix, beating out influencers in YouTube and celebs. Audio is the core. 55% of fans say the podcast feed is where the bond is the strongest. And with 72% of daily listeners saying podcasts shape culture, it's clear. Creators are driving the conversation. Podcast ads, well, they work.
60% pay attention, and 85% take action. The bottom line, podcasts isn't just growing, it's leading.
Our next in the YouTube series on how to make money, CPC, CPM, and RPM. YouTube pays creators 55% of ad revenues, but what does that actually mean for your earnings? Here are three terms that matter. CPC, cost per click. Advertisers pay when a viewer clicks on an ad. CPM, cost per thousand. That's cost per thousand impressions. Advertiser pays for every 1,000 ad impressions. Important, a view isn't always an impression. Somebody must watch an ad for 30 seconds or the full ad if it's under 10 seconds. RPM, revenue per thousand. This is your real earnings per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut. Think of it as the number that actually hits your account. Here's a quick example. 5,000 views, 25,000 ad impressions at 10,000 CPM equals $25. 100 ad clicks at 50 cents, CPC, is $50. Total ad revenue, $75. Now YouTube keeps 45%, your share is $41.25. And your RPM is $8.25 per 1,000 views. At 5,000 views a day, that's roughly $1,238 per month. Not bad, but scaling requires time, strategy, and consistency.
And our last number is an insight. Big news in the ad audio world, Triton Digital just dropped AdBuilder AI, and it's a game changer for small business advertising. Here's the deal. It's a self-serve platform that lets small businesses create, book, and pay for audio campaigns. No media experience needed. Just type a quick description and boom, AI generates a broadcast quality ad with voice, music, and multilingual support. For Triton's partners, it's a win-win. They get a fully loaded brand marketplace tapped into a high volume, low-touch buyers, and grow revenue without adding headcount or shifting focus from big accounts. It all plugs into Triton's ad platform, so partners keep full control while AdBuilder handles the creative scheduling and billing. Bottom line, it's fast, scalable, and built for the next wave of audio advertisers.
And there you have it, your numbers for Wednesday, November 5th. I'm Gary Spurgeon, and I'll be back tomorrow with more podcasting by the numbers. And join us tomorrow, where we'll have the fourth installment on how to make money with YouTube. Hey, and recommend our podcasts to everyone, your friends, family, and your colleagues. Also, you can hear us on Apple, Spotify, and every major podcasting outlet. And remember, you're just one podcast away from changing your world. Make it a great day. Thank you.
Stream more. Share more. Do more. Without the stress. Visit your local Verizon store or Verizon.com to find the perfect plan for your life. Verizon. It's the network you can count on.
You're listening to Podcasting by the Numbers. Your daily source for facts and stats from the podcasting industry. Each episode will provide you four key insights and indicators that will help maneuver you through the ever-changing podcasting landscape.
Today is November 5th. I'm Gary Spurgeon, podcasting from Jacksonville, Florida. And you know what today is? Podcast creators aren't just influencing, they're rewriting the media playbook. I'll have more from ACAST's Podcast Pulse 2025 report in just a minute. Today, I'm here with your four minutes of daily stats, tips, insights, and numbers to help you better understand what's happening in the world of podcasting. So, let's get into the numbers.
Our first number is 1689. That's the number of brands who advertise for the first time. And that's a 41% increase from last quarter. That's according to Magellan. So, let's talk numbers because Q3 was big. Podcasting ad spend jumped 26% year over year, continuing its steady climb. Nine out of the top ten spenders held ground from Q2. With one brand breaking into the top tier. Ad loads nudged up too, from 8.11% to 8.34%. More ads, more opportunity. And get this, gaming ad spend surged 59% with the heavy hitters like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4, Alienware, and NBA's 2K26 leading the charge. Sports podcasters also getting love. 20% of new brands added them to their media plans. Bottom line, podcasting isn't growing, it's evolving. And if you're not in the mix yet, now is the time to pay attention.
Our next number is 84%. That's the number of listeners who say a podcaster has changed their mind about something they once believed. Podcast creators aren't just influencing, they're rewriting the media playbook. ACAST's Podcast Pulse 2025 report shows that it's not about reach anymore, it's about residence. Listeners choose podcasts intentionally, and that lean-in connection builds trust that traditional influencers just can't touch. That's trust, and that trust, well, it's commercial gold. Podcasters now rank the highest value voice in the media mix, beating out influencers in YouTube and celebs. Audio is the core. 55% of fans say the podcast feed is where the bond is the strongest. And with 72% of daily listeners saying podcasts shape culture, it's clear. Creators are driving the conversation. Podcast ads, well, they work.
60% pay attention, and 85% take action. The bottom line, podcasts isn't just growing, it's leading.
Our next in the YouTube series on how to make money, CPC, CPM, and RPM. YouTube pays creators 55% of ad revenues, but what does that actually mean for your earnings? Here are three terms that matter. CPC, cost per click. Advertisers pay when a viewer clicks on an ad. CPM, cost per thousand. That's cost per thousand impressions. Advertiser pays for every 1,000 ad impressions. Important, a view isn't always an impression. Somebody must watch an ad for 30 seconds or the full ad if it's under 10 seconds. RPM, revenue per thousand. This is your real earnings per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut. Think of it as the number that actually hits your account. Here's a quick example. 5,000 views, 25,000 ad impressions at 10,000 CPM equals $25. 100 ad clicks at 50 cents, CPC, is $50. Total ad revenue, $75. Now YouTube keeps 45%, your share is $41.25. And your RPM is $8.25 per 1,000 views. At 5,000 views a day, that's roughly $1,238 per month. Not bad, but scaling requires time, strategy, and consistency.
And our last number is an insight. Big news in the ad audio world, Triton Digital just dropped AdBuilder AI, and it's a game changer for small business advertising. Here's the deal. It's a self-serve platform that lets small businesses create, book, and pay for audio campaigns. No media experience needed. Just type a quick description and boom, AI generates a broadcast quality ad with voice, music, and multilingual support. For Triton's partners, it's a win-win. They get a fully loaded brand marketplace tapped into a high volume, low-touch buyers, and grow revenue without adding headcount or shifting focus from big accounts. It all plugs into Triton's ad platform, so partners keep full control while AdBuilder handles the creative scheduling and billing. Bottom line, it's fast, scalable, and built for the next wave of audio advertisers.
And there you have it, your numbers for Wednesday, November 5th. I'm Gary Spurgeon, and I'll be back tomorrow with more podcasting by the numbers. And join us tomorrow, where we'll have the fourth installment on how to make money with YouTube. Hey, and recommend our podcasts to everyone, your friends, family, and your colleagues. Also, you can hear us on Apple, Spotify, and every major podcasting outlet. And remember, you're just one podcast away from changing your world. Make it a great day. Thank you.