Welcome to Hot Pod, a newsletter about podcasts. This is issue 222, dated August 20, 2019
PodPass: Open vs. closed. It’s becoming increasingly common to monetize podcasts via a direct connection with listeners, whether via merchandise, donations, live events, or bonus or ad-free content. Big networks and publishers are doing it (e.g., Wondery Plus, Stitcher Premium, Slate Plus) and independent creators are too (via Patreon, Memberful, or other solutions).
The tech required to deliver premium podcasts and bonus content alongside a free (often ad-supported) show is, on the surface, relatively simple. You need a second, private podcast feed and some means of authenticating paying users so that only they can access it. A new clutch of startups has sprung up to handle this, from Supporting Cast to Acast Access to the newly seed-financed Glow. Some larger independent shows are even building their own bespoke solutions.
But as anyone who has tried subscribing to a bonus or premium…
