Acast Of Characters: Ten Years of Shaping the Podcasting Industry
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Acast's 10 Year Anniversary
As Acast turns 10, I know it might seem a bit self-indulgent for us to pat ourselves on the back for being around for a decade. But hear me out – this anniversary is not just about us; it's a chance to take a step back and reflect on how far podcasting as a whole has come.
Rewind to 2014 when Acast was born - founded on the invention of dynamic ad insertion in a small room in Stockholm, back when Gangnam Style was just hitting 2 billion views on YouTube. Podcasting was still a niche thing, but our co-founder Johan Billgren saw its potential. We wanted to change the game – build the tech that makes it easier for podcasters to share their work, and earn money from their craft. Create a digital advertising medium. Fast forward to today, and it's mind-blowing to see how podcasting has taken off. Over 424 million people worldwide now listen, and Acast has been right there, partnering with creators of all sizes, introducing advertisers to podcasting’s wonders whilst growing our team across the globe.
It's wild to think about how much things have changed. A decade ago, the idea of an equitable global marketplace for podcasts seemed like a pipe dream. Now, we’ve surpassed $300 million paid out to podcasters, and new doors are continually opening up for creators, listeners and advertisers. Now in my seventh year as CEO of Acast, I’ve had a front seat to many of these innovations, and we're not stopping anytime soon.
There are so many highlights that spring to mind:
- Surpassing that $300 million paid out to creators
- Our successful IPO
- Making acquisitions like Pippa, RadioPublic, and Podchaser that have truly moved the business forward
- Moving to New York to help supercharge our US efforts
- The incredible culture we've created at Acast, full of talented, kind, and tenacious people who love what they do
- Just last month, being named number 1 on Podtrac globally
- Oh, and when My Dad Wrote A Porno first sold out the Sydney Opera House back in 2017 in record time
But here's the thing – this anniversary isn't just a celebration of Acast's wins. It's a celebration of the entire podcasting community. We've watched creators from all walks of life find their voices, build incredible audiences and earn money. We've seen advertisers catch on to the power of podcast advertisers to reach engaged listeners. And we've seen partners - from platforms to tech providers - hustle to support this ecosystem and keep the industry moving forward.
Looking ahead, I genuinely believe that podcasting's future is brighter than ever. As more people discover the magic of podcasts and more creators bring their stories to life - through all mediums available to them beyond just audio - we have the chance to create even deeper connections and truly meaningful experiences.
I'll end with a quote from the brilliant Scroobius Pip - our longest-standing UK podcaster - which perfectly captures the spirit of podcasting, and what we at Acast try to foster: "It feels like a community where we can all be excited about each other - all sharing this space and this beautiful community. What a decade."
Cheers to the past 10 years, and here's to many more. Right, back to work.
Acast's 10 Year Anniversary
As Acast turns 10, I know it might seem a bit self-indulgent for us to pat ourselves on the back for being around for a decade. But hear me out – this anniversary is not just about us; it's a chance to take a step back and reflect on how far podcasting as a whole has come.
Rewind to 2014 when Acast was born - founded on the invention of dynamic ad insertion in a small room in Stockholm, back when Gangnam Style was just hitting 2 billion views on YouTube. Podcasting was still a niche thing, but our co-founder Johan Billgren saw its potential. We wanted to change the game – build the tech that makes it easier for podcasters to share their work, and earn money from their craft. Create a digital advertising medium. Fast forward to today, and it's mind-blowing to see how podcasting has taken off. Over 424 million people worldwide now listen, and Acast has been right there, partnering with creators of all sizes, introducing advertisers to podcasting’s wonders whilst growing our team across the globe.
It's wild to think about how much things have changed. A decade ago, the idea of an equitable global marketplace for podcasts seemed like a pipe dream. Now, we’ve surpassed $300 million paid out to podcasters, and new doors are continually opening up for creators, listeners and advertisers. Now in my seventh year as CEO of Acast, I’ve had a front seat to many of these innovations, and we're not stopping anytime soon.
There are so many highlights that spring to mind:
- Surpassing that $300 million paid out to creators
- Our successful IPO
- Making acquisitions like Pippa, RadioPublic, and Podchaser that have truly moved the business forward
- Moving to New York to help supercharge our US efforts
- The incredible culture we've created at Acast, full of talented, kind, and tenacious people who love what they do
- Just last month, being named number 1 on Podtrac globally
- Oh, and when My Dad Wrote A Porno first sold out the Sydney Opera House back in 2017 in record time
But here's the thing – this anniversary isn't just a celebration of Acast's wins. It's a celebration of the entire podcasting community. We've watched creators from all walks of life find their voices, build incredible audiences and earn money. We've seen advertisers catch on to the power of podcast advertisers to reach engaged listeners. And we've seen partners - from platforms to tech providers - hustle to support this ecosystem and keep the industry moving forward.
Looking ahead, I genuinely believe that podcasting's future is brighter than ever. As more people discover the magic of podcasts and more creators bring their stories to life - through all mediums available to them beyond just audio - we have the chance to create even deeper connections and truly meaningful experiences.
I'll end with a quote from the brilliant Scroobius Pip - our longest-standing UK podcaster - which perfectly captures the spirit of podcasting, and what we at Acast try to foster: "It feels like a community where we can all be excited about each other - all sharing this space and this beautiful community. What a decade."
Cheers to the past 10 years, and here's to many more. Right, back to work.
