The Download

Reid Mercer breaks down SiriusXM's Q1 numbers and YouTube deal, Amazon's AI podcast experiment gone sideways, the video podcasting arms race, and why Nielsen's new media planning integration is quietly reshaping where ad budgets go.

Reid Mercer breaks down Netflix’s push into prestige podcasts, the rise of AI-first production tools, new data on who is really spending in audio, and what this week’s celebrity moves signal about the future of star-driven shows.

Reid Mercer breaks down Patreon’s $629 million podcast surge, Spotify’s latest discovery gambit, RFK Jr.’s power play with a government-backed show, and how true crime and celebrity deals are quietly rewriting network strategy for 2026.

Reid Mercer breaks down the rumored Vox Media podcast sale, Apple’s video podcast push, the quiet resurgence in ad spend, and why new talent formats matter more for your P&L than the press releases let on.

Reid Mercer breaks down Amazon’s Wondery pivot into Audible, the rising legal and ethical risk of AI in podcasting, the Fox-fueled return of Bill O’Reilly to podcasting, and what new attribution and monetization tools from Magellan AI and Frequency mean for your 2026 revenue plan.

Reid Mercer breaks down iHeart’s podcast-driven earnings bump, the real economics of the video podcast boom, why sports audio is becoming an arms race, and how shifting listener habits are quietly rewriting ad strategies across the industry.

Reid Mercer breaks down the podcast industry's fraught relationship with video—from Apple's new visual experience to Netflix circling creator talent—then stress-tests what celebrity vanity pods and pharma branded content actually signal about where real monetization is headed.