Phone A Fangirl Sets the K-Pop World on Fire with Over 100k Plays in 24hrs, Marks First Podcast in Strategic Development Pipeline Orchestrated by PodcastOne Upcoming Guests Include TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ZEROBASEONE, KAI and Mingyu x S.Coups of SEVENTEEN, Social Following for All Guests Tops 120 Million LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PodcastOne (NASDAQ: PODC), a leading publisher and podcast sales network, today announced a partnership with digital media powerhouse BuzzFeed to launch a brand-n ...

CAMARILLO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salem Media Group, Inc. (OTCQX: SALM) announced today that The Josh Hammer Show, hosted by Newsweek Senior Editor-at-Large Josh Hammer, has joined the Salem Podcast Network (SPN) through a new distribution partnership with Newsweek. Hammer, an accomplished journalist and commentator, is widely recognized for his sharp, engaging perspectives on culture, politics, and faith. Through this partnership, The Josh Hammer Show will now be distributed on the Salem ...

The London-listed media company which produces Formula One motor racing’s official podcast series is exploring a sale following a fresh set of approaches from potential buyers.Sky News has learnt that Audioboom Group is working with advisers to explore the terms of a potential takeover of the company. J Goodwin & Co, a firm founded by prominent media industry banker Jonathan Goodwin, is understood to be overseeing talks with prospective buyers.Audioboom has a market capitalisation of close to £100m, after a ...

Core Insights - PodcastOne announced preliminary financial results for Q2 Fiscal 2026, highlighting significant growth in revenue and adjusted EBITDA [1][5] - The company reported over $14.5 million in revenue, representing a 19% year-over-year increase, and adjusted EBITDA exceeding $1 million, a 348% increase year-over-year [5] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q2 Fiscal 2026 reached $14.5 million, marking a 19% increase compared to the previous year [5] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at over $1 million, reflecting a substantial 348% increase year-over-year [5] - PodcastOne maintained a 9 ranking on Podtrac's Top 10 Publishers rankings for nine consecutive months [5] Company Overview - PodcastOne is a leading podcast platform with over 3.9 billion total downloads and a community of 200 top podcasters [3] - The company has a distribution network that generates over 1 billion monthly impressions across various channels, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts [3] - PodcastOne also offers customizable production packages through its subsidiary, PodcastOne Pro [3]

Core Insights - The Adam Carolla Show has reached a significant milestone of 4,000 episodes, marking it as one of the few podcasts globally to achieve this feat [2][4] - Adam Carolla was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2024, highlighting his influence and contributions to the podcasting industry [2][4] - PodcastOne, the publisher of The Adam Carolla Show, has surpassed 3.9 billion total downloads and has a community of 200 top podcasters [7] Company Achievements - The Adam Carolla Show has been a leading podcast since its launch in 2009, consistently ranking in the Top 20 for over a decade [5] - The show has pioneered the concept of live podcast recordings in front of ticketed audiences, enhancing its popularity and engagement [5] - Adam Carolla has leveraged his podcast success to become a New York Times bestselling author with six published non-fiction books [5] Industry Context - PodcastOne is recognized as a leading podcast platform, providing a comprehensive solution for creators and advertisers in sales, marketing, public relations, production, and distribution [7] - The platform features a diverse range of top-ranked podcasts across various genres, including news, comedy, true crime, sports, and culture [6] - PodcastOne's distribution network reaches over 1 billion monthly impressions across multiple channels, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts [7]

Company Overview - PodcastOne (Nasdaq: PODC) is a leading podcast platform that offers a comprehensive solution in sales, marketing, public relations, production, and distribution for creators and advertisers [2] - The platform has achieved over 3.9 billion total downloads and has a community of 200 top podcasters [2] - PodcastOne's distribution network reaches over 1 billion monthly impressions across various channels, including YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio [2] Financial Guidance - PodcastOne has updated its guidance for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, expecting Adjusted EBITDA of $4.5-6 million on revenue of $55-60 million [1] - LiveOne has acquired an additional 347,000 shares of PodcastOne, increasing its total acquisitions to approximately 2.1 million shares at an average price of $2.11 since PodcastOne went public [1] Non-GAAP Financial Measures - The company presents non-GAAP financial measures such as Contribution Margin and Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate performance, which are not intended to replace GAAP measures [4][5] - Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, excluding certain non-recurring expenses and stock-based compensation [7] - The variability of certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA may significantly impact future GAAP financial results, making a quantitative reconciliation challenging [8]

Core Insights - PodcastOne has become the 9th largest podcast distributor in the US, achieving over 4 billion all-time downloads [1] - The company has entered a multi-year agreement for exclusive sales and distribution rights for the podcast "Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet" and expanded its relationship with "Notsam Wrestling" [1][2] - PodcastOne's total show count has surpassed 200, enhancing its offerings in comedy and sports genres [1] Company Overview - PodcastOne is a leading podcast platform providing a comprehensive solution in sales, marketing, public relations, production, and distribution [6] - The platform has surpassed 3.9 billion total downloads and has a community of 200 top podcasters [6] - PodcastOne's distribution network reaches over 1 billion monthly impressions across various channels, including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts [6] Programming Expansion - The addition of "Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet" strengthens PodcastOne's portfolio of award-winning comedy podcasts [2] - The company continues to expand its diverse slate of premium programming, which includes popular shows like "The Adam Carolla Show" and "The Jordan Harbinger Show" [5] - PodcastOne's shows are accessible on multiple platforms, ensuring broad reach and availability [5]

Core Insights - Spotify's advertising business is struggling, with CEO Daniel Ek acknowledging the company has been moving too slowly in this area [1][4] - The goal is for advertising to account for 20% of overall revenue, but as of June, it only made up 11%, with second-quarter ad revenue down 0.7% year-over-year [1][5] - Industry analysts are questioning whether Spotify's ad business has plateaued, contrasting with the company's overall strong performance in user growth and stock price [2][3] Advertising Strategy - Spotify's ad efforts have been hindered by a focus on its more lucrative subscription business, leading to a decline in customer service and low ad rates [3][21] - The company has recognized the need for change, leading to the departure of longtime ad head Lee Brown, with a search for new leadership underway [4][5] - Spotify's podcast strategy, which aims to connect advertisers with Premium users, has been described as messy, with inconsistent execution and various pivots [6][9] Financial Performance - Spotify generated $1.9 billion in ad sales last year, but the profitability of its Premium tier is significantly higher, estimated at 15 to 20 times that of the advertising tier [7][8] - The average CPM for digital audio ads was $16.51 in the second quarter, with Spotify claiming its average CPM is "far above" $9 [15][16] Customer Service and Operations - Advertisers have expressed concerns over Spotify's customer service, citing slow response times and high turnover in the ad sales team [21][22] - Issues with ad consistency in podcast streams have been reported, affecting campaign performance [23] Future Outlook - Spotify is optimistic about improving its ad business by 2026, with recent initiatives including the launch of the Spotify Ad Exchange and partnerships with adtech companies [25][26] - The company is also focusing on video content as a potential revenue stream, with a significant increase in video podcast consumption reported [20][19]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 2026 was $15 million, a 14% increase from $13.1 million in the same quarter last year [12] - Operating loss decreased to $1.05 million from $1.4 million year-over-year, primarily due to lower amortization [12] - Net loss improved to $1.05 million or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.4 million or $0.06 per share in the prior year [13] - Adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $600,000, compared to a negative $300,000 in the same quarter last year [13] - The company ended the quarter with zero debt and $1.9 million in cash and cash equivalents [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - PodcastOne launched 14 new podcasts, increasing the total to 206 active shows [10] - Video views surged by 218% year-over-year across multiple platforms, indicating strong audience engagement [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - PodcastOne ranked as a top 10 US podcast publisher for the eighth consecutive month, with a monthly unique US audience of 5.4 million and 20.3 million downloads and streams as of July 2025 [8] - The podcast advertising market is projected to see over $2.4 billion in investments this year, highlighting the industry's growth potential [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - PodcastOne aims to leverage its vertically integrated model to drive long-term value for creators, advertisers, and shareholders [7] - The company is expanding its video production and distribution efforts to enhance audience engagement [11] - PodcastOne is actively exploring M&A opportunities, particularly in acquiring talent and podcast platforms [26][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about building on momentum with high-profile initiatives and events planned for the upcoming months [15] - The company expects full-year revenues to be between $56 million and $60 million, representing at least an 8% increase from the previous fiscal year [14] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year is anticipated to be between $3 million and $5 million [14] Other Important Information - PodcastOne has upgraded its order management system to improve operational efficiency and sales processes [17] - The company is focused on compelling content, strategic monetization, and maintaining trusted relationships with talent and advertisers [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the growth in video views translate into revenue? - Management indicated that current contracts consider both audio and video views, allowing for higher rates per spot due to increased video viewership [21][22] Question: What is the current M&A environment for platforms? - Management noted that the platform side is dominated by a few major players, but there are still interesting opportunities for acquisition [26][29] Question: What factors could drive revenue to the high end of guidance? - Acquiring a company with good revenues could push the numbers higher, while not acquiring would keep it at the lower end [33] Question: How is stock-based compensation affecting cost of sales? - Management confirmed that stock-based compensation is being used to reduce cash payments, which is part of their strategy to manage costs [39][40] Question: How do consumers interact with video podcasts compared to audio-only? - Management noted that video consumption is significant, with many viewers engaging with content actively, while others may listen passively [49][50]

Core Insights - PodcastOne reported record revenue of approximately $15 million for Q1 Fiscal 2026, marking a 14% increase from $13.2 million in Q1 Fiscal 2025 [7][9] - The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $580,000, a significant improvement of 284% year-over-year [9][10] - PodcastOne's guidance for Fiscal 2026 anticipates revenues between $55 million and $60 million, with Adjusted EBITDA projected at $3 million to $5 million [10][9] Management Commentary - Kit Gray, President and Co-Founder, emphasized PodcastOne's legacy in the podcasting industry and its commitment to audio-first entertainment, which has set industry standards [2][6] - The company is well-positioned to leverage relationships with over 500 major advertisers, capitalizing on the growing podcasting market [3][6] Industry Context - The podcasting industry is thriving, with over 4 million podcasts globally and advertising revenues expected to exceed $2.4 billion in the current year [3][6] - PodcastOne has expanded its video production efforts, resulting in a 200% increase in video views year-over-year across platforms like YouTube and TikTok [5][6] Financial Performance - Q1 Fiscal 2026 results showed a net loss of $1.054 million, an improvement from a net loss of $1.366 million in the same quarter last year [7][9] - The company reported a Contribution Margin of approximately $2.4 million, representing a 59% increase from the previous year [9][27] Podcast Offerings - PodcastOne added 14 new podcasts in Q1 Fiscal 2026, bringing the total to over 200 on its network [9][4] - The diverse offerings include popular titles such as LOVE MURDER and Detox Retox, catering to a wide audience [4][5]