Industry News

More Results from Cumulus’ Podcast Download Report

The latest blog post from Cumulus Media | Westwood One’s Audio Active Group presents more information from the Cumulus Media-Signal Hill Insights Podcast Download Fall 2023 report conducted by MARU/Matchbox. Some of the findings of this survey of 608 weekly podcast consumers include: 1) Podcast consumers connect with their favorite hosts on social platforms. Podcast consumers are lookingim to connect with their favorite hosts and shows on social media. Half of weekly podcasts consumers follow their favorite podcast hosts on one of the social platforms; 2) Younger 18-34 podcast consumers are more likely to follow their favorite hosts on social media. Compared to 35-49 and 50+ podcast consumers, 18-45 podcast consumers are more engaged socially with podcast hosts. 68% of podcast consumers 18-34 follow their favorite hosts on social media. 55% of 35-49s follow favorite hosts on social. 40% of those 50+ follow favorite podcast hosts on social; and 3) YouTube towers as a podcast discovery platform: 19% of weekly podcast consumers use YouTube to find podcasts. When asked which social platform they’ve used to find podcasts, 19% of podcast consumers are turning to YouTube, more than all other social media platforms combined. See the blog post here.

Industry News

WWO: Study Reveals What Ads Resonate with Podcast Listeners

Westwood One’s Audio Active Group blog presents data from the Cumulus Media and Signal Hill Insights Podcast Download report. The companies retained MARU/Matchbox to conduct an in-depth study of 608 weekly podcast consumers in October 2023 and this blog post focuses on podcast ads. The study finds that podcast consumers prefer funny and entertaining ads but 78% say they currently hearim more ads that communicate dry features/benefits. Additionally, research indicates that converting existing demand and creating future demand require different creative/copy approaches and different media strategies. Converting existing demand is most efficiently achieved by tightly targeting those “in the market” with rational messaging of product and price information that persuades them to choose the advertiser’s product over others. Creating future demand is most efficiently achieved by targeting very broad audiences of “all category buyers” with emotional messaging that is designed to stand out and be enjoyed by consumers, creating positive memories of the brand that will influence future purchase decisions. Finally, podcast consumers are invested in the success of their favorite shows. Half of weekly podcasts consumers said they wouldn’t mind a couple of extra ads per show so their favorite podcasts could continue. See the full blog post here.