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Chris Peterson
Founder & CEO at DWNLOAD Media | Investing in the Future of Audio
Chris Peterson is a seasoned professional in the audio industry with over 15 years of experience, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of DWNLOAD Media. Prior to his current role, Chris held key positions in reputable organizations such as LionTree and iHeartRadio, demonstrating his expertise in developing successful content and business strategies that foster growth and innovation in the industry. With a background in Interdisciplinary Studies, Communications, and Mass Communications from Arizona State University, Chris has a solid educational foundation to complement his extensive professional experience. Throughout his career, he has been involved in notable ventures, including the creation and launch of the iHeart Podcast Network and the successful acquisition of the How Stuff Works podcast network. Chris's commitment to investing in the future of audio through DWNLOAD Media showcases his vision and dedication to advancing the audio landscape.
Highlights
In 2023, we were repeatedly told that the major platforms were pulling back on podcasting... those headlines couldn't have been further from the truth.
Every earnings call from iHeartMedia, Spotify, SiriusXM, Acast, Audacy, Inc., and others has explicitly shared that podcast revenue is one of their fastest growth opportunities. Now, with more than $650 million in content licensing fees, the major players are doubling down on their investment in podcasting.
These investments signal the opportunity they see with advertising revenue growth, as well as opportunities around subscription, international expansion, merchandising, live events, and more. That is why the top podcasters command such high fees.
Next up: more investment in the podcast space and M&A. Podcast companies are now stronger and in a better position to scale smartly, and the audience and revenue growth opportunities make investing in the podcast space the most exciting opportunity in media.
Read more: https://lnkd.in/evdQkFwb
I just published the DWNLOAD Media Q2 Update. I started this (free) quarterly newsletter to share what is actually happening in the podcast industry with a few hundred investors. Since I sent the first update a few months ago, it has grown a bit more, so we'll keep doing it.
Today, we discuss the mega-licensing deals, the digital transformation of audio, earnings updates, and how podcasting continues to be the most undervalued medium.
Also, I haven't posted earnings updates for companies like Acast and Audioboom. This is not a slight, but more that both of these companies are 1) purely podcasting and 2) do a great job of self-reporting, so there's not a ton of reading between the tea leaves, at least right now. With Spotify, SiriusXM, and iHeartMedia, there's more to digest, which I try to do with these updates.
Check it out & feel free to share: https://lnkd.in/evdQkFwb
