🎧 As someone who believes in the power of podcasts, I often encourage companies I work with to start their own. Recently with a client and friend of mine, we created a podcast for his company. I signed off on the second episode of the podcast, considering that the quality will evolve as we progress. Meanwhile, the company leadership did not approve it. They gave harsh but true feedback about the actual production, which facing the truth, was poor. 📈 Recent statistics show that while podcast listenership is still on the rise, the growth pace has slowed. According to a report by Edison Research, the percentage of Americans who listen to podcasts weekly only grew by 1% from 2020 to 2021, compared to a 4% increase the year before. Similarly, a survey by Chartable found that the number of new podcast launches has decreased by 24% since the pandemic's start. 👍 But I believe podcasts' decreasing popularity is a good thing. As the entry barrier for podcasting has become lower and lower, the market has become oversaturated with low-quality shows. In fact, Apple reported that it currently has over 2 million podcasts on its platform. With so many options, it's becoming increasingly difficult for listeners to find shows that truly resonate with them. 🔝 This is another lesson, the quality of the podcast has to be good if you want to attract eyeballs. As the popularity of podcasts wanes, the bar for quality will be raised, and only those who are truly passionate and committed will remain. So, if you're thinking about starting a podcast, don't be deterred by the fact that the medium may not be as trendy as it once was. Use it as an opportunity to do something meaningful and create something that stands out. 🤔 What are your thoughts on the decreasing popularity of podcasts? Do you see it as a positive or negative development for the medium? Let me know in the comments. #podcast #growth #statistics #marketing Graph from Chartr