Patreon Is Changing How Podcasters Get Paid by Fans
Patreon is retiring its legacy per-creation billing model, requiring podcasters to switch to fixed monthly subscriptions by November 1, 2026. The change could reshape how creators price memberships, structure benefits and communicate value to fans, while giving supporters more predictable payments. Here’s what podcasters and paying members need to know.
Top UK Creators Launch New Creator Alliance
Grace Andrews, Jordan Schwarzenberger and other UK creators have launched a new Creator Alliance focused on giving creators a stronger voice across the industry. The alliance brings creators together to address shared challenges, raise their profile and push for greater recognition of the economic and cultural value they bring to the creative sector.
Oprah’s Multi-Year Amazon Deal Is Bigger Than The Oprah Podcast
Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Entertainment has signed a multi-year deal with Amazon spanning The Oprah Podcast, her TV archive, Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s Favorite Things. The partnership gives Wondery exclusive podcast distribution and advertising rights while connecting Oprah’s wider media empire to Amazon’s audio, video, publishing and commerce businesses.
Steven Bartlett and Authentic Brands Bet $400M on the Creator Economy
Steven Bartlett and Authentic Brands Group have launched OBSN, a new venture aiming to deploy up to $400 million into creator-led businesses. The partnership combines Bartlett’s experience building media companies with Authentic’s global brand and licensing infrastructure, betting that creators can turn their audiences and intellectual property into scalable businesses they own.
Trevor Noah’s SiriusXM Move Wasn’t About Exclusivity
Trevor Noah’s SiriusXM deal was less about exclusivity and more about monetising an audience he had built across decades and multiple media formats. By keeping What Now? widely distributed while SiriusXM controlled advertising, Noah expanded the commercial value of his podcast without sacrificing reach.
Inside Black Effect’s Six-Year Rise
Black Effect Podcast Network marks six years of building a powerful home for Black voices in podcasting. Founded by Charlamagne Tha God and iHeartMedia, the network has grown across shows, talent partnerships, live events, advertising and new formats, establishing a model built around personality, culture, community and audiences that extend beyond the podcast feed.
Alex Cooper’s Biggest Move Wasn’t the $125M Deal
Alex Cooper turned Call Her Daddy from a breakout podcast into the foundation of Unwell, a growing media company now valued at $500 million. Her journey shows how creators can turn audience loyalty into valuable businesses built around talent, advertising, distribution and a wider content ecosystem.
The Podcast That Helped Trigger the NBA’s Biggest Punishment Ever
Pablo Torre’s year-long investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers helped prompt an NBA probe that ended with unprecedented sanctions. The case shows how podcasts are moving beyond commentary to become serious platforms for investigative journalism, capable of putting powerful institutions under scrutiny.
How the Richest Podcasters Make Their Money
Forbes’ first-ever Highest-Paid Podcasters list puts podcasting firmly alongside Hollywood, sport and music as a serious business. Beyond the eye-watering numbers, it reveals the different ways creators are turning audiences into valuable media companies and what those models could mean for podcasters at every level.
European Technology Network raises $1.6 million
The London-based media startup is moving from twice-weekly livestreams to five days a week, betting that Europe’s fragmented technology ecosystem wants a daily place to gather, debate and discover what comes next.