Study: All Podcast Ad Formats Are Extraordinarily Effective

Cumulus Media

So which podcast ads work best? Live reads, talent pre-recorded ads or pre-produced programmatic executions? A new study from Tom Webster and Bryan Barletta of Sounds Profitable called "After These Messages" looks at these ad formats and answers the question. This week's Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group blog outlines the findings.

Sounds Profitable podcast ad format study: All perform well while talent-read ads (live or recorded) do the best, justifying the premium nature of podcast host reads.
The podcast ad frequency problem: "Remind the many, don't lecture the few." Podsights, the podcast attribution firm, recently released their Q3 2022 Benchmark Report, and while podcast ad frequency levels improved in Q2, they are still a concern, negatively impacting conversion rates. In Q2 2022, podcast conversion rates improved slightly but are still below recent quarters.
Three strategies to grow podcast campaign reach: Buy more shows and genres than the "obvious fit" podcasts, purchase genres and shows based on reach among category buyers, not index, and spread impressions further down the ranker and buy more than just top shows.

Latest Radio Stories

Urban One Dallas Realigns Three-Station Lineup

Urban One

Urban One Dallas has announced a programming realignment across its three-station Dallas-Fort Worth cluster, including new and returning personalities at KBFB (97.9 The Beat) and KKDA (K104) and a new music direction for 105.7 KRNB. At 97.9 The Beat, Radio Hall of Famer Rickey More

K-Love Closes $2M Purchase of Former KBAY-FM

K-Love

K-Love Inc. has closed on its $2 million acquisition of the 94.5 FM signal in Gilroy, CA, serving San Jose from Connoisseur Media, completing a transaction first announced in July. The former KBAY-FM has adopted the new call letters KJNV-FM. K-Love acquired the signal to expand its Christian radio service in More

Study: Broad Ad Reach Key to Driving Brand Growth

Cumulus Media | Westwood One

New marketing research suggests advertisers looking for long-term growth should focus on reaching a broad audience rather than concentrating heavily on consumers who are already in the market to buy. The findings are highlighted in a new Cumulus Media | Westwood One Audio Active Group analysis from Pierre More

Mary Louise Kelly Stepping Down as NPR Host

Mary Louise Kelly (photo credit: Mike Morgan, NPR)

Mary Louise Kelly is stepping down as co-host of NPR's "All Things Considered" and host of the network's "Sources & Methods" podcast after more than eight years in the ATC anchor chair. The week of November 2 will be Kelly's final week as co-host of "All Things Considered," while she will sign off from More

MIW, NABLF Expand LAUNCH Mentorship Eligibility

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW)

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) and the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF) will open applications October 6 for the 2026 LAUNCH Mentorship Program, with eligibility expanded this year to women working for broadcast technology partners and vendors. The More

Billy Brown Returns to WKWS as Morning Host

Billy Brown

Billy Brown has returned to WKWS-FM (Superstar Country 96.1 KWS) in Charleston, WV, as morning host. The move marks a return to the station for Brown, who previously spent five years at WKWS from 2017 through 2022. Most recently, he was part of the on-air lineup at crosstown WQBE. "I'm really glad to More

Return to Menu

Study: All Podcast Ad Formats Are Extraordinarily Effective

Latest Radio Stories

Follow us on:

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ^®

Study: All Podcast Ad Formats Are Extraordinarily Effective

Latest Radio Stories

Follow us on:

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ®

Copyright © 1989-2026 RADIO ONLINE ^®