Podcasting May 14, 2020

Alan Jones’ podcast enters Top 20 on the latest Podcast Ranker

Outgoing 2GB breakfast host Alan Jones has hit new heights on the Australian Podcast Ranker, climbing nine spots in April, entering the Top 20 at #16.

Jones confirmed he would be “retiring from radio” at the end of May, on doctors’ orders, marking the end of a 35-year career behind the microphone.

The latest podcast data, released today by Commercial Radio Australia, show downloads of the Top 100 podcasts hit a new average weekly high of 5.5 million last month.

That’s an increase of 14% on March results, and evidence of the medium’s growth during the lockdown as consumers look for new ways to remain engaged and entertained.

For the first time, the April ranker includes shows from the American podcast network Wondery, NBC News and independent Australian publisher Wavelength Creative.

Wondery produced the Joe Exotic: Tiger King podcast that inspired the Netflix series and also features The Dollop, a long-running history and comedy podcast from ATC.

Australian sales representation for Wondery and NBC News is provided by Ranieri & Co.

The All-Australian Top 100 reached 3.9 million average weekly downloads, up 10%.

Wavelength Creative has also joined the ranker, with their Saving Apollo 13 podcast, about the spacecraft that failed en route to the moon, debuting on the All-Australian Top 100.

Australian radio show catch-up podcasts accounted for 11 of the ranker’s top 20 most downloaded and listened to podcasts in the All-Australian list.

A report by Deloitte released in February predicted Australian podcasting revenue would see double-digit growth through 2020 as consumers and advertisers embrace the medium.