Scorching Pod Summit is again

That is Scorching Pod, The Verge’s publication about podcasting and the audio trade. Enroll right here for extra.

We’ve bought a bunch of stories in podcast world, however first, an announcement: Scorching Pod Summit is BACK, child! We’ve some actually nice stuff cooking that I can’t wait to share. 

I’m excited to announce that Scorching Pod Summit is returning to Brooklyn on February twenty eighth, 2024, as a part of On Air Fest for a day of in-depth talks, intimate conversations, and trade networking. The invite-only summit is our approach of kicking off the 12 months in podcasting and speaking about what’s on everybody’s minds — I’m desirous to see you all, catch up, and listen to what everybody’s pondering.

We’ll have extra to share about programming within the new 12 months. For now, tell us in case you’re inquisitive about attending proper right here. We’ll be sending out our first invites early subsequent 12 months.

The summit will kick off On Air Fest Brooklyn and is hosted together with our pals at work x work. Each occasions will likely be held on the Wythe Resort, with On Air Fest operating from February twenty eighth via March 1st. (It’s a intercalary year!)

On Air Fest has a improbable lineup deliberate, together with a stay story from Twenty Thousand Hertz creator Dallas Taylor, The Allusionist with Helen Zaltzman, Design Issues Reside with Debbie Millman, Talkhouse Reside, Sing for Science, and appearances from a bunch of different acquainted faces. The competition can be planning sonic artwork installations, networking moments, and events — you’ll be able to see the total lineup and purchase tickets right here.

There will likely be extra particulars on each Scorching Pod Summit and On Air Fest quickly. Trying ahead to seeing you all subsequent 12 months!

SiriusXM is simplifying its inventory construction as a part of its firm makeover

Extra modifications are coming to SiriusXM as firm leaders try to tug it into the long run. SiriusXM is merging with its largest shareholder, Liberty Media’s SiriusXM monitoring inventory group, to kind a brand new public firm with one class of inventory and no majority shareholder.

Wall Avenue seems to approve, with the replenish about 4 % on the information. “We view the conclusion as constructive to SIRI resulting from advantages from greater liquidity, decrease complexity and probably future index inclusion,” Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall wrote in a be aware. There’s not a lot taking place in a approach that straight impacts customers, however the transfer hopefully makes it simpler for traders by giving SiriusXM a standard, easy construction versus the weirdo setup it has now.

It seems to be one other try by the corporate to modernize. Final month, SiriusXM previewed a revamped, consolidated app that appears and acts far more like different streaming apps available on the market. Having hemorrhaged subscribers this previous 12 months, the stress is on for the corporate to draw youthful, paying prospects.

Spotify cuts advert and distribution cope with Warner Bros. Discovery

Excellent news is tough to come back by at Spotify proper now, however Megaphone simply bought a giant new shopper. The podcast host minimize a cope with Warner Bros. Discovery, which incorporates TV manufacturers like CNN and HBO which have produced fashionable podcasts in recent times like All There Is with Anderson Cooper and The Official Recreation of Thrones Podcast: Home of the Dragon.

WBD will even use Spotify Viewers Community as considered one of its advert gross sales companions. The deal consists of reveals from the WB a part of the WBD portfolio, together with Turner Traditional Motion pictures’ The Plot Thickens and WBD Sports activities’ The Steam Room. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, this announcement comes shortly after WBD minimize a cope with Acast to host and monetize reveals from the manufacturers previously of Discovery, like Meals Community, Journey Channel, and HGTV.

Layoffs at TWiT, buyouts at KCRW

The trade’s powerful 12 months isn’t over but. Podnews studies that This Week in Tech (TWiT), one of many earliest podcast networks, introduced that it had laid off longtime hosts Jason Howell and Ant Pruitt and editor Victor Bognot. TWiT founder and host Leo Laporte mentioned the community has suffered from a downturn in promoting and had an ominous message for listeners: “Radio bought about 100 years, podcasting bought a decade. That’s about it.”

In the meantime, NPR member station KCRW in Santa Monica is dealing with a $3 million shortfall, in response to the Los Angeles Instances, and is making an attempt to stave off layoffs with voluntary buyouts. Staffers have till December 18th to determine whether or not to take the deal.

As we method the top of this bleak 12 months for podcasting, I’d be shocked if this had been the final of the layoffs.

I’ll be again Thursday for Insiders with an interview with Laporte how we bought right here and what comes subsequent.