Topic: Libsyn

The Alliance for Measurement in Podcasting (AMP) held a secret off-site to establish the "AMP Accords," a new framework for podcasting metrics. Major players like Spotify, SiriusXM, and Libsyn are attempting to standardize data to compete for advertising dollars currently going to YouTube. The hosts argue that these efforts will fail unless they include podcast app developers who hold the actual "first-party" listener data.

The discussion explores how Apple's move into podcast hosting was a fear-based response to Spotify's market expansion. The hosts warn that Apple's lack of customer support and potential use of DRM in hosted files threatens the open nature of the medium.

Dave Jackson of the School of Podcasting and Libsyn recommended the No Agenda Show and Congressional Dish as trustworthy sources for information not found on mainstream television. Jackson highlighted the extensive show notes and the collaborative search for truth as key differentiators from traditional media.

Patreon secured $60 million in Series B funding, raising concerns about future fee increases and creator independence. Meanwhile, hosting provider Libsyn is updating its statistics reporting to comply with new IAB standards, which may result in lower reported download numbers for many podcasts.