In 2024, podcasting continued to evolve as a significant medium for content creation, marketing, news, and entertainment. Several key trends and takeaways have emerged that reflect changes in listener behavior, technology, monetization, and the broader media landscape. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from podcasting in 2024:
We Were Reminded That Podcasting Is Still Extremely Relevant
Any doubts about the impact that podcasting has in news, pop culture, etc. were dispelled with what was termed the “podcast election”. Both major candidates in the 2024 presidential election turned to popular podcasts as a way to get their points across. Joe Rogan was a big player, and his podcast served as a key part of the Trump campaign.
AI Continues to Grow, And Isn’t Going Away
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in podcasting saw an uptick in 2024. AI tools can now assist with everything from content generation to editing and even actual podcast audio. Google’s NotebookLM can create actual audio discussions from the information you put into it. Others are following suit, and expect AI to take leaps and bounds in 2025.
The Rise of Video
Podcast saw an increase of being recorded in video format, with shows being released on a platform like YouTube in addition to traditional podcast apps. Case in point…in mid-2024, Spotify reported hosting more than 250,000 video podcasts, up from 100,000 in 2023. Learning video production may not be a bad idea in 2025.
Subscription-Based Content Grew
More podcasters adopted subscription models, offering exclusive content for paying subscribers. This shift was driven by the desire for more sustainable revenue streams outside of ads. Platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify have made it easier for podcasters to monetize their content directly through listener subscriptions.
Podcast Advertising Improved
Advertisers are increasingly using dynamic ad insertion (DAI), which allows for more targeted and personalized ads that can be inserted into podcast episodes at the time of listening, rather than being baked into the audio.
Long-term, multi-episode brand partnerships are becoming more common, where brands align themselves with podcasts for extended periods, rather than one-off ads. Podcasters are also incorporating native advertising, blending sponsored content within the show in a way that feels organic to the format.
What It All Means
This last year proved that the podcast industry clearly isn’t on the decline. 2024 was a dynamic and exciting year for podcasts and don’t expect 2025 to be any different.
