• by Ray Schultz , June 19, 2023

Acast has had a busy month, introducing two products that it says can help podcast producers monetize their shows.

On Monday, the company launched Acast+ Access, a tool through which news publishers can integrate their paywalls with platforms like Apple Podcasts and offer podcasts as a members-only benefit, Press Gazette writes. 

The solution will enable publishers to own the audience, says Alexandra Fuller, senior partnerships manager for Acast, according to Press Gazette.

And, earlier this month, Acast partnered with Podchaser to develop an AI targeting product called Collections+.

Collections+.is now available to hosting providers, at platforms and marketplaces. 

According to Podchaser, data on podcasters and their audiences is pulled from a range of sources, including the hosting platform’s data, Podchaser’s first-party data, Apple Podcasts and Spotify category and chart data, IAB categories, surveys and transcriptions.: 

“Bringing together Podchaser's refined data sets with the Acast Marketplace will help us scale up ad sales and monetize more shows, especially those mid-sized ones with lots of untapped potential,” says Ross Adams, CEO of Acast.

Adams adds, “By leveraging Acast and Podchaser data, we will also decrease our reliance on third-party data providers, which translates to cost efficiencies.” 

Podcchaser claims that Collections+ has enabled Acast to monetize 5% more shows in the first seven weeks of testing.

“We’re turning what was once the art of podcast buying into a true science using everyone’s best friend, AI,” boasts Bradley Davis, CEO at Podchaser.