Acast vs Spotify

Podcast Day 2026: Spotify, Acast Reveal Audio-Video Trends

On International Podcast Day, new reports from Spotify and Acast highlight the growing convergence of audio and video in podcasting. Spotify's Culture Next 2026 report, focusing on Gen Z, reveals a 55% increase in video share among 14-18 year olds in Germany over 18 months, coining the trend 'Eye Pods'. Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 survey, covering 4,500 fans across 13 markets, shows 88% of listeners also watch podcasts as video, and 63% switch formats mid-episode. Both studies emphasize the importance of social media clips for discovery, with 51% of fans finding new shows via social clips. Additionally, a brand podcast guide advises companies on strategic planning, resource allocation, and long-term commitment, emphasizing relationship-building over short-term metrics.

• Spotify's Culture Next 2026 report shows a 55% increase in video share of podcast streams among 14-18 year olds in Germany over 18 months.
• Acast's Podcast Pulse 2026 survey of 4,500 podcast fans across 13 markets found that 88% also watch podcasts as video.
• 63% of podcast fans have started an episode in one format and continued in another, with 75% switching apps or platforms.

Acast appoints Liv Sandberg as EVP, Europe

Senior commercial leader joins from TikTok to run Acast's European business. Announced September 9, 2026.

Taste is dying because we stopped feeding it

This article argues that in the age of AI and curation, the development of 'taste'—the ability to judge quality and spot potential—is being neglected. The author, a design director, contends that current tools and practices lead to homogeneity and de-risking. She proposes methods to develop taste, including embracing friction, studying disliked things, tracing origins, creating instinctively, seeking human interaction, and keeping a taste journal. The piece also advises design leaders on influencing stakeholders by translating taste into consequences and anchoring choices in brand narrative. The underlying message is that taste, not AI, is the last human advantage that must be intentionally cultivated.

• The article was published on October 5, 2026.
• The author is Nicole Alexandra Michaelis, a Design Director based in Stockholm.
• The article references a talk by the author on design judgment at Future Product Days.

Podcast Impression Lacks Viewability: Buyers Demand Transparency

The article discusses the impending 'viewability moment' for podcast advertising, drawing parallels to the display advertising crisis of the early 2010s. Krystina Rubino and Lindsay Piper Shaw of Right Side Up argue that the podcast impression is losing its value as a proxy for consumption, especially after Spotify's test of skippable ads. They emphasize that an impression no longer guarantees listener engagement, and buyers are beginning to demand greater platform transparency regarding inventory delivery, consumption opportunities, and engagement data. The authors call for a move away from flat CPMs towards more nuanced, transparent metrics, warning that without better measurement, the podcast ad market risks a 'race to the bottom.' They advocate for creators to be more involved in understanding how their inventory is sold and monetized, and suggest that 2027 should be the inflection point for change.

• Spotify is testing skippable podcast ads, causing industry concern.
• Right Side Up has invested over $300 million in podcast advertising in the last eight years.
• The IAB and MRC set viewability standards for display ads in the early 2010s.

6-K Financial Filing Analysis for Spotify (2026-09-03)

On September 3, 2026, Spotify Technology S.A. reported the departure of Heidi O'Neill from its Board of Directors, effective immediately on September 3, 2026. Ms. O'Neill served on Spotify's Board for nearly nine years, predating the company's direct public listing. The filing confirms that her resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the company, its management, or its operations, and coincides with her executive leadership role at Lululemon.

• Board member Heidi O'Neill resigned from Spotify's Board of Directors effective September 3, 2026.
• O'Neill served on Spotify's Board for nearly nine years, beginning prior to the company going public.
• The departure involves no disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to operations, policies, or practices.