Podcast Industry Update | Top 10 UK Shows

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane discuss creative and unconventional ways to monetise your podcast beyond traditional approaches such as sponsorships and affiliates. From using content for investment opportunities to offering exclusive access to back catalogues they outline six innovative strategies they have seen from other successful podcasters. KEY TAKEAWAYS Some podcasters, like Alex Hormozi, use their content to build trust and expertise, enabling them to invest in businesses at favourable terms or acquire equity through consulting. Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast monetises by releasing only a few episodes per year and putting older episodes behind a Patreon paywall, generating over $40,000 monthly. The Lore podcast successfully expanded its intellectual property into books and TV shows, earning its creator an estimated $6 million annually from licensing deals. Some airlines license podcast episodes for in-flight entertainment, providing an additional revenue stream for creators like Steven Bartlett. The Detour podcast offers guided audio tours of cities, combining storytelling with real-world exploration for a unique listener experience. Being a podcast guest can be a monetisation strategy, allowing individuals to reach new audiences and promote their products or services without hosting their own show. Some podcasters charge guests to appear on their shows, particularly in niche markets or for locally focused content. The "Hey Mr. Jim" podcast created a branded physical product – a child-friendly radio that plays only their content, selling for £97 plus shipping. BEST MOMENTS "Dan goes to like, the extreme and he'll do, Three or four episodes a year. They're all about historic event, but they're like PHD level deep dive of one very specific historical event." "So the premise of this podcast is very similar to when you go to a gallery or museum. You put the headphones on and there's a guided tour." "Daniel Priestly does this really well. He guests on all sorts of podcasts and it's increased downloads of his software company score app massively." "Essentially, the way he monetised was marketing agencies or companies that wanted to sell to marketing agencies, basically anything in that ecosystem, they would pay to come on and he would ask them questions." "Kids all over the world wanted their characters to be in the stories and they wanted specific stories for them or they wanted to be in the stories. So because the parents just want their kids to go to bed and get what they want, you paid to join his Patreon." "You could be that trend you have like the opposite... for every like massive veganism group. You've got like the carnivores, right?" VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane do a podcast industry update in quiz form, revealing the top-performing podcasts in the UK right now, Spotify’s new video uploading feature and how to start recognising the value in your podcast audience.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Spotify’s video uploading feature looks exciting at face value but as it doesn’t use an RSS feed there could be negative consequences for podcasters analytics. For every $1 spent in sponsorship in podcasting, they make $5 back! Not all creators are entrepreneurs and it’s common for podcasters to not realise how valuable their audience could be for sponsors and advertisers. Podcast ads perform better than TV and YouTube! BEST MOMENTS "If someone wants to watch podcasts they’ll just go to YouTube” “Why don’t they [Spotify] want me to know how many listeners I’ve got” “It’s so common for podcasters just to not to know how valuable their audience is” “68% of people listen to some or all of the podcast ads in the last episode they listened to” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane talk all things bad podcasting in this episode! They give real-time examples of the worst things you can do when recording, producing and creating your podcast show.  KEY TAKEAWAYS When recording remotely, use software designed for recording such as riverside, not facetime. Actively listen, don’t interrupt guests. Ensure your phone is on do not disturb/silent Your artwork needs to be clear to read Don’t read out a long bio for your guest, it’s unnecessary and boring Intros should be short and relevant to the show If recording video for your podcast, ensure your framing is right and you are recording at a high enough quality. BEST MOMENTS "That’s how you make shit artwork” “What are some of your hardware pet peeves?” “You have to do 4K (video) especially if you’re doing clips of your podcast for social media” “If you have good artwork and good titles people will click (on your show)” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Learn about world of sports podcasting as Ash speaks to Dan Moylan, host of the wildly successful Leeds United podcast, The Square Ball. From humble beginnings to millions of downloads and six-figure income streams, Dan shares invaluable insights on building a loyal audience, monetising content, and navigating the evolving podcast landscape. Learn how authenticity, audience engagement, and smart monetisation strategies can transform your podcast into a thriving business. KEY TAKEAWAYS Know your audience and speak directly to them. Dan emphasises the importance of understanding your listeners' needs and reflecting their experiences in your content. Authenticity is key in podcasting. Be genuine and relatable to build a strong connection with your audience. Diversify income streams. The Square Ball generates revenue through sponsorships, ad networks, merchandise, and memberships. Adapt to your niche. Sports podcasting requires quick turnaround and topical content, so streamline your production process accordingly. Leverage your platform to gain access to high-profile guests. Dan regularly interviews the Leeds United CEO by building relationships and proving the podcast's value. Balance evergreen and topical content. While sports podcasts are often time-sensitive, creating some evergreen content can help attract new listeners and provide long-term value. BEST MOMENTS "People want to hear what you really sound like. You wouldn't go in and say, 'Hi, in 15 minutes, I'm going to tell you what this is.' And so and so, so and so, you know, like that kind of DJ voice." "It's a really interesting space that we kind of, as the gatekeepers have fallen away, like radio and papers and things like that, and the clubs have become more sterile and far removed and elites and all the players are media trained. There's this space in the middle where you can reflect how people feel." "We try and tap into what it feels like to be a Leeds fan on that day in that week. And just completely lean into that. It's all about how it feels. And that's something that the clubs can't do themselves." "Just put the work in to become part of that space. So if there are existing sports podcasts within that space, that's your audience. Go, go after them. Go try and be a guest on that show." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane are joined by guest Phil Fraser, host of the Leeds Business Podcast. Phil shares his journey from owning the world's largest online bingo comparison site to becoming a podcaster and business sounding board. Kane, Ash and Phil give valuable advice throughout the episode for anyone looking to start or grow their own podcast. KEY TAKEAWAYS Niche down your podcast topic to become the go-to resource in your field and attract a highly engaged audience Don't be afraid of cold outreach when seeking guests; many will be flattered to be asked and happy to share their expertise Create a process with checklists to stay organised and avoid content decline Focus on putting out quality content consistently rather than obsessing over download numbers Subtly showcase your expertise and offerings through client stories and examples rather than overt self-promotion Consider repurposing content from guest appearances on other shows to highlight your own background and credibility BEST MOMENTS "What's the worst that could happen? You put a podcast out and nobody listens. So what? There's no biggie." "As long as it's trending in the right direction, I think that's the key learning is, you know, you can't guarantee the numbers you're going to get based just on the guest. It's to do with the content, it's to do with people sharing it." "I've still got people, I can look at stats, and I've got people downloading the first ever episode still." "If I'm at a networking event and I'm talking about being a business sounding board, I go, 'Oh, I know you, I've listened to your podcast,' etc. etc. So I think it's a common issue with people that are interview podcasts where you're always talking about the guest is you don't get time to talk about yourself, but there's also nothing worse than an interviewer that only wants to talk about himself." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website https://philfraser.co.uk/ EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Kane and Ash discuss the evolution of a podcast in this episode. With their extensive experience working with numerous podcast clients over the years, they have identified common changes that hosts often make before and after launch, and even years down the line. Through discussion and examples covering various topics such as sponsorships and guest interviews, Ash and Kane provide valuable insights to help you avoid making the same mistakes and what to do instead before you start. KEY TAKEAWAYS Even if you plan on always recording in a studio, it can be a good idea to have a set-up at home that works and you are comfortable with for the times life gets in the way. If you aren’t marketing your podcast well, you can struggle to find high-quality guests in later episodes. If you market well, getting future guests should be simple and easy. As you establish your podcast, you will start to rely less on things such as scripting episodes and guest prep calls which can make everything feel more authentic. Sponsorships aren’t the only way to make money from a podcast, you can monetise your audience quickly and to a high value when you curate your podcast to be a marketing funnel for your own product(s). A bank of content helps you remain consistent. Have at least four episodes recorded in your bank and as you use an episode, replace it. It’s better to have less frequency but remain consistent. Ensure you can commit to the frequency of episodes from the get go. BEST MOMENTS "Things change and you experience new things and you see what works and what doesn’t” “The digital footprint does the work” “Amazing things happen when you do the doing rather than the planning” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. In this episode, Ash and Kane talk about podcast analytics. They review the frequent questions they get asked about analytics and metrics and explain which things you need to be paying attention to and why. They also reveal the bits you don’t need to be spending loads of time on, leaving you to focus on what matters. KEY TAKEAWAYS Even when outsourcing elements of your podcast production, you still need to keep track of your own KPIs. Money gives you the freedom and options to help more people. So even if money isn’t your number one priority, it is the thing you should focus on as it will help you meet other goals. Your downloads per episode in a 30 day period is the industry standard for measuring the success of an episode Looking at all episode downloads in a period of 30 days each month will give you an idea of whether your content is working; there should be an increase in downloads each month Podbean is easy to use and gives good analytics data Avoid using Spotify for podcasters for your analytics as it doesn’t give you the full picture Click-through and then retention are the only things that matter to the YouTube algorithm, this is the only way to go viral Title and thumbnail designs are the most important to get someone to click on your YouTube videos, these are the reasons that someone will choose to watch 99% of the time Retention is how all platforms make money, this is why creators are rewarded with it so much, regardless of the platform Pay attention to what you are drawn to as a consumer of content. This will give you ideas about what works BEST MOMENTS "You should be outsourcing the production of your podcast” “You can help more people if you make more money” “Avoid Spotify for Podcasters” “Someone is twice as likely to click on a thumbnail if it has a face on it” “Retention is important on all platforms”   VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. In this episode, Ash and Kane give an overview of how to create high-quality virtual podcasts. From software recommendations to equipment essentials, they give all the information you need to help you create professional-sounding episodes from anywhere! Including practical tips on creating the ideal recording environment, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will take your virtual podcasting game to the next level. KEY TAKEAWAYS Riverside is the recommended software for high-quality virtual podcast recording, maintaining audio and video quality better than alternatives like Zoom. Ideal equipment setup includes a dynamic microphone (XLR or USB), ring lights or softboxes for lighting, and using your phone as the camera for the best video quality. Both the host and guest should wear headphones to prevent audio bleed and echoing during the recording. Record in a quiet, indoor space with soft furnishings to improve sound quality and use a plain background for a professional look. Position yourself properly on camera, leaving adequate headspace and space on both sides for optimal framing in video clips. Minor details like fake plants, bookshelves, or acoustic panelling can enhance the visual appeal of your recording space. BEST MOMENTS "If you want the very best quality, you would get a dynamic microphone, like an XLR mic, like a Shure one that plugs into an external recorder, like a PodTrack P4, which is what we use in our studios, that then plugs into the computer, but it saves locally to the PodTrack, that's for the very best quality." "No green screens, no virtual backgrounds. Yeah, that was all sarcasm, by the way. In case you couldn't tell. For those American listeners, it was us joking. So the idea is make it as plain and boring as possible." "If you have animals or worse, children, tell them to f*ck off. That's a clip. Right? They can go. Please don't do it in a bathroom, conservatory, or kitchen or when you're getting your hair done. Or on a building site, or on a beach. We're definitely not listing places that clients have sent us recordings from." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash & Kane discuss unique and creative ways to market a podcast, going beyond traditional methods. They explore various examples, such as Joe Rogan's use of YouTube clips to break down long-form interviews into shorter segments, the interactive approach of the true-crime podcast "Serial," and the innovative strategies employed by Hey Mr. Jim in engaging with their audience. They also touch on the success of "Call Her Daddy" and "Lore" in expanding their podcast content into other mediums like TV shows, books, and live tours. Kane shares insights on leveraging partnerships with other podcasts, utilising public speaking opportunities, and engaging with listeners to enhance podcast marketing efforts. KEY TAKEAWAYS You can provide resources to go along with your episodes, for example, a true crime podcast might give maps, documents and other evidence on their website. There are clever ways to build communities and USPs to help market your podcast, Serial podcast has a phone in number for people to give their verdict on crimes for example which helped them go viral. As people can’t comment on your podcast, it can make it more challenging to build a community but what you can do is guide them to engage with you via a review! Think of unique ways you can engage your audience with each episode, how can you include them and make them part of the show? Always think about how you can reuse content to help you market your show Be smart with how you introduce guests on your show, can you have them talk about being on your show in your episode to reuse later for your marketing? BEST MOMENTS “I don’t get why true crime podcasts are so big” “That did help this show go really viral because it was unique” "Sometimes you have to reevaluate what your content is” VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]

Try Riverside free now: https://creators.riverside.fm/PodcastersPodcast & Use code: Podcast15 for an exclusive 15% off. Ash and Kane talk all about guest interviews in this episode, sharing their top tips and tricks for getting the most out of your guests. They discuss using high-quality software like Riverside.fm and the importance of making your guests feel at ease. This episode is a must-listen for any podcaster looking to improve their interviewing skills and create engaging content. KEY TAKEAWAYS Using high-quality software like Riverside.fm can help you impress your guests and create better content for social media. Making your guests feel comfortable is key to getting the best out of them. Be accommodating, especially if they're new to podcasting. Avoid using release forms or contracts, as they can put off potential guests. Instead, communicate clearly about what topics are off-limits. During virtual interviews, try to make eye contact by looking at the lens and positioning the guest's video box near the camera. Practice active listening and use non-verbal responses to encourage your guest to share more. Avoid interrupting with audible responses. Research trending topics and ask questions that prompt your guest to discuss them or name-drop relevant people. BEST MOMENTS "If you want to impress your guest, but most importantly you want to get the most out of them, creating good content with name drops and quotes... from your guests that you can clip up and post to social media." "If someone's completely new to it, there's a good chance they're going to be stumbling and be like, 'Oh, I messed that up,' instead of just getting on with it." "If you want a good named guest and you want to get the most out of them, i.e., they're doing the marketing and they're sharing, if you create them content where they look or sound good or say something funny or insightful, they're much more likely to share it." VALUABLE RESOURCES Website EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Comparing Podcast Production Options | using AI? Building a High Ticket Offer | The Best Way to Monetise a Podcast ABOUT THE HOSTS Kane Baron & Ashley Morris run the UK's first and largest Podcast Agency, Progressive Media. They specialise in planning, launching, and Growing Podcasts that Generate Leads, Revenue and Business opportunities as well as helping Experts and Entrepreneurs improve Credibility and Positioning within their niche to Scale their Personal Brand and Business. Kane and Ashley manage over 100 Podcasters every week Including Rob Moore, Kevin Clifton and Dapper Laughs. They have supported hundreds of Podcasts in generating tens of Millions in combined Revenue. Progressive Media have provided Production, Marketing and Consultancy services to help creators Launch, Scale & Monetise their Podcast for over 7 years. CONNECT & CONTACT Instagram LinkedIn Email: [email protected]