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• An arrest has been made in connection with a murder in Australia 27 years ago, in the Port Cartwright cliffs in Queensland (above). Police have confirmed to Meshel Laurie, the host of Australian True Crime, that it was a listener to her podcast who provided information leading to the arrest last Thursday of Keith Lees, now aged 72. Lees was the subject of an Australian True Crime episode released on Dec 23: he had gone on the run after being questioned by police in June. The show has been with Acast since 2020.
• At CES, microphone manufacturer Shure has released the MV7i - a new USB microphone which allows you to plug in a second XLR microphone of your choice.
• More than 60 billion minutes of podcast content was downloaded through the Audioboom platform in 2024, according to the company’s review of the year. The company made $60mn for its creators.

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• It’s not just where you say it (podcasts!) it’s how you say it (the creative!) and Cumulus Media and Westwood One have published a best practice creative handbook to help advertisers know what works, and what doesn’t. Great creative can drive 3-4x more ROI, according to the data.
• Ausha has added two updates to its Podcast Search Optimisation control panel - keyword rankings and competitor benchmarking. The new tools are available to all podcasters, whether they’re hosted with Ausha or not.
• Audacy and Claritas announced a partnership at CES to deliver enhanced measurement capabilities for advertising clients. The tool works with both broadcast and digital audio campaigns.
• After NPR switched to using Megaphone to host its podcasts in 2023, NPR itself is no longer listed as being a podcast host that is compliant with the IAB podcast measurement guidelines.. Megaphone is v2.2 compliant.
  • The IAB requires annual recertification, yet four companies still appearing in the IAB’s list were last certified in 2021 - three from iHeart (Omny Studio, Spreaker and Voxnest); and the German podcast host Audiorella.
• Found a new, random podcast app, and want to check what the user agent is? Here’s how to check - thanks to the power of OP3.
  • Talking of which: the iHeart app is now using new useragents following a redesign just before Christmas. The OPAWG list is already updated, of course.

Tips and tricks

• Want to check out Apple Podcasts, but only have an Android phone? You’re in luck - you can now install Apple Podcasts on Android. Handy for checking reviews (in your country), and checking Apple’s justifiably well-regarded curation.

Podcast News

• New on Airwave: Problem Solvers with Jason Feifer features business owners and CEO’s who went through a crippling business problem and came out the other side happy, wealthy, and growing. Feifer, Entrepreneur’s Editor in Chief, pulls these stories out so other business can avoid the same crippling problems.
• We Didn’t Turn Out OK with Jennie Monness has joined the fwd. network. We Didn’t Turn Out OK describes itself as a fresh take on the parenting podcast genre, offering an authentic and supportive space for parents to share their everyday challenges, struggles, and victories.
• The penultimate episode of COLD TAPES has just dropped: a murdery mystery with a difference - if you're in the UK, you could receive the prestigious award of Super Sleuth of the Year at CrimeCon 2025 and a £10,000 reward. The show is on Wondery+.
• After more than four years, Looking Forward is releasing an ebook, repurposing some of the content presented by several of the podcast's most outstanding guest experts. The report is available for $9.99 from the podcast's host, Jeff Ostroff.
• Zipless launches today - a new podcast that explores the luscious, literary (and often illicit) sounds and stories behind romance novels and audiobooks. In interviews with bestselling romance authors, host Allie Martina explores how romance novels change and reflect women’s lives on and off the page.

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