Spotify had a big month with lot of updates and new features. They even partnered with Netflix to have exclusive video rights to Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast.
In addition, YouTube rolled out some podcast features for premium users, we found out a task force has been tasked with defining podcasts, and a new analytics tool has just launched.

News Articles

• https://creators.spotify.com/resources/news/plays-analytics-updates

• https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-27/podcast-clips-save-share-moments/

• https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/spotify-bans-ai-generated-podcasts-impersonate-verified-badges-1236752944/

• https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-05-21/studio-by-spotify-labs-launch/

• https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/jay-shetty-on-purpose-netflix-spotify-podcast-deal-1236759705/

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/netflix-iheartmedia-martha-stewart-kate-hudson-1236622094/

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/siriusxm-conan-obrien-trevor-noah-podcasts-tubi-1236610492/

• https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/new-youtube-premium-features-podcast-fans/

• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/podcast-industry-taskforce-forms-1236606033/

Resourse

• https://youtu.be/WxBIhhroe_Q

Tool of the Month: Bumper

• https://wearebumper.com

Connect with me

• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgooden

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/

• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgooden

My Other Podcast: Ex-Homeschoolers Club

• Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/exhsclub/

• YouTube: @Ex-HomeschoolersClub

• Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub

Tools and Services I Recommend (some of these are affiliate links)

• Descript: https://get.descript.com/kwut2jvywz7o

• Captivate: https://fas.st/t/6SePhFDC

• Uppbeat: https://share.uppbeat.io/luuq8fyfboom

• Castmagic: https://get.castmagic.io/v3lgk8p9ts49

• ElevenLabs: https://try.elevenlabs.io/d4wruowv22n6

Chapters
00:00 Spotify News Roundup and Tools Deep Dive
00:22 Analytics Updates on Spotify for Creators
02:53 Spotify Rolls Out Podcast Clips Maker
03:48 Spotify Bans AI-Generated Podcasts & Adds Verification Badges
04:55 Studio by Spotify Labs
05:57 More Video Podcasts Are Coming To Streaming
08:19 YouTube Premium Adds Podcast Features
11:15 What Is A Podcast?
12:34 Is Podcasting Cooked? (Resource from The Podcast Show London)
13:57 Tool of the Month: Bumper
15:02 Closing

In this episode of the Podcast Industry Brief, we take a look at the biggest trends shaping the future of podcasting — and one thing is becoming crystal clear: video podcasting is no longer optional for many creators.Jacob explores new research showing that 20% of global internet users are now watching video podcasts, why YouTube continues to dominate the space, and how platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Netflix, and Amazon are all racing to catch up. He also dives into the rise of AI-generated podcasts, the ethics of AI disclosure in content creation, YouTube’s push into television-style programming, and the growing battle for podcast discoverability.Plus, Jacob covers major updates from Spotify for Creators, Apple Podcasts video support, Substack’s new recording studio, and a fascinating new discovery tool called Podspun.*Articles*• https://www.thestreamingwars.tv/insights/video-podcasts-reach-20-of-internet-users-as-youtube-extends-its-engagement-lead/• https://creators.spotify.com/resources/news/expanding-video-partners-and-platforms• https://shouldidisclose.ai/about.html• https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/brandcast-2026-highlights/• https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/new-youtube-series-2026/• https://www.clawcast.dev• https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/908339/spotify-prompted-playlists-podcasts• https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/iheartmedia-siriusxm-merger-talks-azoff-apollo-advising-1236730151/• https://www.instagram.com/p/DXc4pj8D_VQ/?img_index=1&igsh=MWt0ZDkyOGU4NWd4aQ%3D%3D• https://podcasters.apple.com/partner-search• https://on.substack.com/p/introducing-the-substack-recording*Tool of the Month*• Podspun: https://podspun.com• Try my Podspun for the Ex-Homeschoolers Club: https://podspun.com/@Ex-HomeschoolersClub*Connect with me*• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgooden• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgooden• Newsletter: TBD*My Other Podcast: Ex-Homeschoolers Club*• Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/exhsclub/ • YouTube: @Ex-HomeschoolersClub • Newsletter: https://exhsclub.beehiiv.com/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhsclub*Chapters*00:00 Podcast Industry Brief: Video Podcasting Trends00:18 Video Podcasts Reach 20% Of Internet Users 05:58 Spotify for Creators Has New Video Features 07:46 Amazon Alexa+ AI Generated Podcasts10:04 ClawCast for your AI Agent11:10 Should Podcasts Disclose Their AI Usage13:48 YouTube Brandcast17:22 Spotify Prompted Playlists19:21 Crooked Media 20:01 Apple Podcast Video Is Live20:36 Substack Recording Studio21:42 Tool of the Month: Podspun23:37 Closing

In this December 2025 brief, we're breaking down the biggest podcasting and creator economy news heading into 2026. From Netflix making aggressive moves into video podcasting to YouTube cementing itself as the new television, this episode explores how the lines between podcasts, TV, and streaming continue to blur. We also cover major updates from Apple Podcasts, Patreon, iHeartMedia, Descript, YouTube, and emerging tools shaping the future of podcast discovery and analytics.

News Links

• Netflix x Spotify: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/netflix-spotify-video-podcasts
• Netflix x iHeart: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/netflix-doubles-down-on-video-podcasts-with-iheartmedia-deal/
• YouTube is the New TV: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/business/media/youtube-has-a-firm-grip-on-daytime-tv.html#
• YouTube's Big Bets of 2025: https://blog.youtube/inside-youtube/our-big-bets-for-2025/
• Instagram Reels for TV launches on FireTV: https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/instagram-for-tv-reels-videos-1236609143/
• iHeart Radio will support rss feed video content: https://www.iheartmedia.com/press/iheartmedia-offers-creators-and-publishers-unique-new-video-podcast-platform
• Fountain wants to change how we host our podcasts: https://blog.fountain.fm/p/video-podcasts
• Patreon adds public RSS Feeds: https://www.patreon.com/posts/icymi-gifting-144331198
• Apple Podcasts Adds Chapters: https://podcasters.apple.com/support/5482-using-chapters-on-apple-podcasts
• Apple’s Show of the Year: The Rest Is History: https://podnews.net/press-release/apple-podcasts-the-rest-is-history
• Listener.com Launches Listener AI: https://news.listener.com/p/introducing-listener-ai-inventory-management-and-our-new-site
• Descripts Change Log: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZHysHUrtDU
• YouTube Launches A/B Testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRiib3Xzoo

Tool of the Month: https://thepodradar.comShoutout to Arielle Nissenblatt for posting about this: https://www.threads.com/@ariellethisandthat

Connect with me

• Threads:https://www.threads.com/@thejacobgooden
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejacobgooden/
• YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejacobgooden
• Newsletter: TBD

Chapters

00:00 Huge Podcast News In December

00:24 Netflix Is Making Podcasting Moves

01:42 Is Everything Just TV Now?

03:42 Podcast Players Get On Board with Video Podcasts

05:19 Patreon Announces Public RSS Feeds

05:58 Apple Podcasts Adds Chapters

06:33 Listener.com Updates

07:17 Descript Updates

07:45 YouTube A/B Testing Is Here

07:58 Tool of the Month - Pod Radar