As podcasting becomes video-oriented, Amazon is shuffling Wondery into Audible and a new “creator services” team while cutting approximately 110 staff members https://t.co/uPLxN1frYP ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 totaled $2.14 billion, down 2% year-over-year, with similar results across subscription and advertising revenue streams [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $668 million, down 5% year-over-year, reflecting a healthy margin of 31% [18] - Free cash flow rose 27% to $402 million, driven by timing of payments, lower capital expenditures, and elimination of prior overhead [18] - The company maintained a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.8 times [25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - SiriusXM revenue was $1.61 billion, down 2% from the prior year, driven by a smaller self-pay subscriber base [22] - Self-pay net subscriber additions were negative 68,000, an improvement of 32,000 compared to the prior year, with a churn rate of 1.5% [23] - In the Pandora and off-platform segment, revenue was $524 million, down 3% year-over-year, with podcast advertising revenue increasing nearly 50% [24][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The advertising market faced challenges due to economic uncertainties, with overall advertising down approximately 2% from Q2 2024 [12][13] - Podcast ad revenue climbed almost 50% year-over-year, indicating strong growth in that segment despite overall advertising declines [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing content offerings and subscriber engagement, with new talent and programming initiatives [6][7] - A new ad-supported subscription plan, SiriusXM Play, is being rolled out, expected to be available in nearly 100 million vehicles by year-end [11] - The company is investing in technology enhancements, including AI capabilities for advertising and customer service [78][79] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term success of the business despite anticipated headwinds in the advertising market [6][27] - The company is closely monitoring macroeconomic trends that could impact advertising revenue [26] - Full-year guidance remains unchanged, with expectations of approximately $8.5 billion in total revenue and $2.6 billion in adjusted EBITDA [26] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $137 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [25] - A comprehensive technology and workforce realignment was undertaken, including a non-cash write-off of $100 million in capitalized software assets [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry on free cash flow guidance and its full-year impact - Management noted a sizable beat in free cash flow for the quarter, attributing it to timing and ongoing cost structure optimization [30][31] Question: Strategy for attracting younger audiences - Management highlighted the success of podcasts and new content aimed at younger demographics, with a focus on monetization in that space [32][34] Question: Podcasting and digital advertising developments - Management reported strong growth in podcasting, with efforts to improve programmatic ad tech capabilities [39][41] Question: Update on G&A expenses and podcast ad revenue strength - Legal expenses impacted G&A, while podcasting revenue growth was attributed to increased marketer adoption and content monetization [58][61] Question: Clarification on net adds and acquisition initiatives - Management confirmed improvements in both acquisition and retention, with ongoing initiatives expected to contribute positively [67][70] Question: AI utilization in advertising and broader business - Management discussed leveraging AI for customer service and advertising, with ongoing improvements in targeting and campaign scaling [78][79] Question: Rollout pace of ad-supported subscription plan - Management outlined a targeted rollout strategy for the new ad-supported plan, aiming for significant vehicle penetration by year-end [90][91]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 totaled $2,140 million, down 2% year over year, with similar results across subscription and advertising revenue streams [16] - Adjusted EBITDA was $668 million, down 5% year over year, reflecting a healthy margin of 31% [17] - Free cash flow rose 27% to $402 million, driven by timing of payments, lower capital expenditures, and elimination of Liberty level overhead from the prior year [17] - The company expects to achieve approximately $200 million in gross savings this year, primarily in operating expenses [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - SiriusXM revenue was $1,610 million, down 2% from the prior year, driven by a smaller self-pay subscriber base [21] - ARPU was flat at $15.22, with a gross margin of 60% [21] - Self-pay net subscriber additions were negative 68,000, an improvement of 32,000 compared to the prior year, reflecting low churn of 1.5% [21] - In the Pandora and off-platform segment, revenue was $524 million, down 3% year over year, with podcast advertising revenue increasing nearly 50% [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The advertising environment remains challenging due to economic uncertainties, with overall advertising down approximately 2% from Q2 2024 [13] - Podcast ad revenue climbed almost 50% year over year, indicating strong growth in that segment [13] - The company is seeing pricing pressure in streaming from excess CTV inventory and competition [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing value for subscribers through new content and programming, including a new agreement with Stephen A. Smith [6][11] - SiriusXM Play, a new ad-supported subscription plan, is being rolled out to target price-sensitive customers [11] - The company is investing in ad tech improvements, including AI voice replicas for scalable campaigns [12] - The strategic focus includes optimizing expenses and enhancing in-car experiences while growing off-platform monetization [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains confident in the long-term success of the business despite anticipated headwinds in the second half of the year [7][9] - The company is closely monitoring macroeconomic trends that could impact advertising revenue [25] - Management reaffirmed full-year guidance of approximately $8.5 billion in total revenue and $1.15 billion in free cash flow [24][25] Other Important Information - The company returned approximately $137 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [23] - A comprehensive technology and workforce realignment was undertaken, including a non-cash write-off of approximately $100 million in capitalized software assets [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry on free cash flow guidance and its full-year impact - Management noted a sizable beat in free cash flow for the quarter, attributing it to timing and ongoing cost structure optimization [29][30] Question: Strategy for attracting younger audiences - The company is leveraging its podcast offerings to attract younger demographics while continuing to monetize content effectively [31][34] Question: Podcasting and digital advertising developments - Podcasting is expected to grow as a portion of total ad revenue, with improvements in targeting and measurement capabilities [40][41] Question: Update on G&A expenses and legal costs - Legal expenses included a $28 million settlement, which skewed G&A expenses for the quarter [60] Question: Conversion trends and customer demographics - The company is seeing a slowing decline in conversion rates for new cars, with ongoing enhancements in acquisition programs [93][94]

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PodcastOne (NASDAQ: PODC), a leading publisher and podcast sales network, announced today certain of its preliminary financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025 ("Q1 FY 2026") and also provided certain key highlights. connection with any such legal proceedings; changes in economic conditions; competition; risks and uncertainties applicable to the businesses of PodcastOne, LiveOne and/or LiveOne's other subsidiaries; and other risks, uncer ...

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Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for H1 2025 reached $135.1 million, showing an increase compared to the previous year, with a focus on delivering higher quality revenue [14] - Gross profit increased by 30% year-on-year to $7.4 million, reflecting the company's strategy to enhance revenue quality [14] - Adjusted EBITDA for H1 2025 was $1.8 million, up 500% from the same period last year, indicating significant operational improvement [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Premium ad product revenue grew by 9% to $19.5 million, while Showcase revenue increased by 24% to $11.6 million [18] - Sonic, the third product, saw a decrease of 43% to $3.9 million, indicating a shift in spending patterns [19] - Showcase continues to be the fastest-growing part of the revenue mix, contributing to a higher gross margin [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Audioboom is now the fifth largest podcast network in the US, with a significant presence in the UK following the acquisition of Abalicious, which positions the company as the second largest podcast network in the UK [34][41] - The UK podcast industry is underinvested compared to the US, with brands investing $1.60 per capita in the UK versus $7 in the US, indicating potential growth opportunities [44] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Abalicious is part of Audioboom's accelerated growth plan and M&A strategy, aimed at consolidating the podcasting market [5][39] - The company aims to leverage its platform to integrate new acquisitions quickly and efficiently, enhancing its market position [50] - Audioboom is focused on expanding its operations in the UK, which has been less prioritized compared to the US market [36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the stability of the advertising market despite macroeconomic uncertainties, noting that advertisers have not significantly pulled back on budgets [75] - The company anticipates continued growth in revenue and EBITDA, with expectations for 2026 revenue reaching $94.5 million [56] - Management highlighted the importance of integrating Abalicious into the existing operations to maximize synergies and revenue potential [53] Other Important Information - The company has maintained a stable operating expense base, with 60% of costs related to salaries and commissions [26] - Cash collection remains strong, with a 103% collection rate in H1 2025, although it dropped to 93% in Q2 due to slower payment terms from new agencies [28] - The acquisition of Abalicious is expected to be immediately earnings accretive, enhancing the company's financial performance from day one [46] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the US ad market in H2? - Management described the current position as stable, with no significant pullback from advertisers despite macroeconomic uncertainties [75] Question: Will there be any improvement in the margins for Abalicious? - Margins for Abalicious are expected to remain around 20%, with slight improvements anticipated across the group due to increased contributions from Showcase [78] Question: What is the rationale behind the recent share placement? - The placement aimed to bolster long-term institutional holdings and reduce volatility, despite some disappointment with the share price [62]

H1 2025 Performance - Audioboom's gross revenue reached $35.1 million, a 3% increase compared to H1 2024[8] - Gross profit increased by 30% to $7.4 million compared to H1 2024[8] - Adjusted EBITDA saw a significant increase of 500% to $1.8 million compared to H1 2024[8] - Showcase revenue grew by 24% year-on-year[9] Updated Outlook & Adelicious Acquisition - Market expectations for 2025 are upgraded to $83.2 million of revenue and $4.9 million adjusted EBITDA following the Adelicious acquisition[9] - The acquisition of Adelicious is expected to add 20 million monthly downloads and 5 million unique listeners to Audioboom[56] - Audioboom expects to recognize $3.2 million of Adelicious's 2025 revenue in FY 2025[33, 53] - Updated 2026 market expectations include revenue of $94.5 million and adjusted EBITDA of $7.2 million[53] Strategic Initiatives - Audioboom initiated its M&A strategy with the acquisition of Adelicious Ltd at a <1X revenue multiple[2] - The acquisition of Adelicious creates the 2nd largest podcast network in the UK[2] - Brand investment in podcasting is 4.5X higher on a per capita basis in the USA than the UK[40]

Core Insights - PodcastOne has announced the relaunch of the popular podcast "Chrisley Confessions" as "Chrisley Confessions 2.0," hosted by Todd and Julie Chrisley, after a two-year hiatus [1][2] - The podcast will focus on themes of faith, family, personal growth, and the couple's journey following their Presidential pardon, aiming to connect with their audience in an unfiltered manner [2][3] - The first episodes of the relaunch debuted on July 16, 2025, featuring guest interviews and listener Q&A segments, maintaining the show's signature humor and authenticity [4] Company Overview - PodcastOne is a leading podcast platform that offers a comprehensive solution in sales, marketing, public relations, production, and distribution, with over 3.9 billion total downloads and a community of 200 top podcasters [5] - The platform reaches over 1 billion monthly impressions across various channels, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, indicating a strong distribution network [5] - PodcastOne's programming includes a diverse range of genres, showcasing its ability to attract a wide audience and advertisers [4][5]

Company Overview - LiveOne is a creator-first music, entertainment, and technology platform headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, focused on delivering premium experiences and content worldwide through memberships and live and virtual events [5] - The company's subsidiaries include Slacker, PodcastOne, PPVOne, Custom Personalization Solutions, LiveXLive, DayOne Music Publishing, Drumify, and Splitmind [5] Public Offering Announcement - LiveOne announced the commencement of an underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock, subject to market conditions [1] - Lucid Capital Markets is acting as the sole book-running manager for the offering, which is made pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC [2] Regulatory Filings - A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 increased 20% to $14.1 million compared to $11.7 million in the same quarter a year ago [11] - Operating loss in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.8 million compared to an operating loss of $1.2 million in the same quarter a year ago, primarily driven by higher non-cash stock compensation expense [11][12] - Net loss in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was $1.8 million or a loss of $0.06 per share compared to a net loss of $1 million or $0.05 per share in the quarter a year ago [12] - Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 was positive $900,000 compared to positive $300,000 in the same quarter a year ago [12] - For the fiscal year 2025, revenue increased 20% to $52.1 million compared to $43.3 million in fiscal year 2024 [12][13] - Operating loss for the fiscal year 2025 was $6.4 million compared to an operating loss of $5 million in fiscal year 2024 [13] - Net loss for the fiscal year 2025 was $6.4 million or $0.27 per share compared to a net loss of $14.7 million or $0.68 per share in fiscal year 2024 [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - PodcastOne renewed several high-performing legacy shows and expanded partnerships, contributing to a 20% year-over-year revenue increase [11][8] - New original titles launched in the quarter included "Kate and Ty," "Break It Down," and "DetoxRetox with Tom Schwartz," each drawing strong early audiences [10] - The migration to Amazon's Art19 platform introduced a new core monetization channel alongside existing revenue streams [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Podcasting industry projected to see over $2.4 billion in advertising investment in 2025, with PodcastOne positioned to capitalize on this growth [6] - PodcastOne ranked as a top 10 US podcast publisher with a monthly unique US audience of 6 billion downloads and streams [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - PodcastOne is focused on diversifying revenue streams and enhancing monetization through partnerships and new content [11][17] - The company is actively evaluating M&A prospects to acquire top content and networks, as well as enhance its platform with production and technology acquisitions [17] - The strategic initiative to enter the crypto space aims to create a new vertical and attract new advertisers [19][55] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the advertising environment, noting higher CPMs and increased advertiser interest [40] - The company is optimistic about future growth, expecting revenues for fiscal year 2026 to be between $55 million and $60 million [15] - Management highlighted the importance of maximizing opportunities with current inventory while acquiring new content producers [61] Other Important Information - PodcastOne completed a renovation of its Beverly Hills studio, enhancing production capabilities [10] - The company ended the fiscal fourth quarter with no debt and $1.1 million in cash and cash equivalents [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Increase in stock-based compensation - Management confirmed that the increase in stock-based compensation is related to initiatives to offer talent a larger component of compensation [25][27] Question: Benefits from the Art19 deal - Management reported operational efficiencies and cost savings from the Art19 deal, with revenue generation exceeding expectations [30][32] Question: Cost of sales as a percentage of revenue - Management indicated that cost of sales improved and is expected to hold steady or improve further [34][35] Question: Advertising environment and advertiser appetite - Management noted a positive advertising environment with higher CPMs and more advertisers entering the space [40] Question: Talent acquisition environment - Management stated that there is still good talent available and the company is in a strong position to negotiate favorable terms [44][46] Question: Terms of the Amazon deal - Management explained the minimum guarantee structure based on impressions, with specific thresholds to meet for revenue increases [49][50] Question: Rationale for entering the crypto space - Management highlighted the passionate community in the crypto space and the potential for new advertisers and content opportunities [53][55] Question: Growth compared to the industry - Management expressed confidence in their growth strategy and emphasized the importance of maximizing current partnerships while acquiring new content [59][61]