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

Cumulus, Zimmer Urge FCC to End Radio Ownership Caps

Cumulus Media and Zimmer Radio

Cumulus Media and Zimmer Radio of Mid-Missouri are urging the Federal Communications Commission to eliminate its local radio ownership limits, arguing in separate ex parte meetings that rules unchanged since 1996 no longer reflect today's competitive audio and advertising marketplace. The filings come as More

Tyah Sartler Named GM of Saga Milwaukee

Tyah Sartler

Saga Communications has promoted Tyah Sartler to Vice President and General Manager of its Milwaukee Media Group, succeeding longtime executive Bob Bellini, who has retired after more than 36 years with the cluster. Sartler moves into the top Milwaukee post after 25 years with the company. She joined More

FCC Seeks Comment on Political Ad Rate Challenge

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comment on an application asking the agency to overturn Media Bureau guidance concerning which political advertisers are entitled to broadcasters' lowest unit charge rates. The challenge was filed by Democratic candidates Sherrod Brown, Jon Ossoff, More

Gemini XIII Adds Kelly Parker, Yea Podcast Slate

Kelly Parker

Gemini XIII is expanding its audio sales operation with the addition of veteran media executive Kelly Parker as Senior Vice President of Sales. Parker joins the company from Yea Networks. As part of the move, Gemini XIII will become the exclusive advertising sales representative for Yea Networks' podcast More

Tracy Walker Named 2026 MIW Speak Up! Mentee

Tracy Walker

Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio (MIW) has named Tracy Walker, General Sales Manager for Connoisseur Media in Saginaw, MI, as the 2026 mentee for its Speak Up! Mentorship Program. Developed in partnership with Media Staffing Network and the late Laurie Kahn, Speak Up! is a year-long program for More

RAB Launches Audio Marketing Certification Program

Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)

RAB has launched Audio Marketing Professional (AMP), a new professional education and certification program designed to help marketers, agency professionals, media planners and buyers better understand and use radio and audio advertising. The self-paced program provides training on planning, buying, 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 ^®