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YouTube is about to make it much harder for new creators to earn money from advertising. Beginning February 1, 2027, channels applying for ad and YouTube Premium revenue sharing will need either 8,000 qualified public watch hours during the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified public Shorts views within 90 days. Both figures are […]

Podcast growth isn’t about getting more clicks. It’s about keeping your audience engaged long enough to matter. Here’s what successful creators understand about watch time, retention, audience retention, and long-term channel growth. By Christopher Leonard, Founder, OMG Media Partners One of the biggest mistakes I see podcasters make is trying too hard to sound like

Most podcasters think in two formats: the full-length episode and the vertical short. But there’s a third category that many creators completely overlook — and it may be one of the most effective audience growth strategies available today. Christopher Leonard, Founder at OMG Media Partners, calls them “Micro-Cuts.” These are not TikTok-style vertical clips designed

The way audiences consume content has fundamentally changed. Attention spans are shorter. Algorithms move faster. Competition is more aggressive than ever. And creators are no longer competing only against other podcasts or YouTube channels — they’re competing against every piece of content on the internet fighting for a viewer’s next swipe. According to Christopher Leonard,

Most creators rely on surface-level data, leaving powerful growth insights untouched. By moving beyond basic views and exploring advanced metrics, you can uncover hidden opportunities, refine viewer retention, and make smarter content decisions. Data is the most reliable tool for understanding what resonates with your audience and identifying where small tweaks can lead to major gains. 1.

One of the most revealing moments in any podcast is not what is said, but what happens on the face—or in the hands—of the person who is not speaking, whether that person is the host or the co-host. When a host or co-host goes down a rabbit hole—circling a point, layering anecdote upon anecdote, or

For many podcasters, the lure of music is irresistible. A favorite track can open an episode, punctuate a story, or create the emotional hook that keeps listeners coming back. It seems harmless—you are not selling the song itself, just sharing your creativity. But that perception is dangerously incomplete. While platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and

For most of podcasting’s short history, advertising lived comfortably in ambiguity. Hosts spoke conversationally about products they liked. Affiliate links appeared quietly in show notes. Sponsorships blended into commentary, indistinguishable from opinion or storytelling. The system relied on trust—between host and listener, creator and platform, brand and audience. That trust is now being tested, and

You Think Your Podcast Is Safe? Here’s How You’re Already Killing It! Here’s the thing: podcasts don’t die suddenly. They rot. Quietly. Slowly. One ignored question at a time. One recycled topic at a time. One sloppy show at a time. Attention turns into indifference. Indifference becomes silence. By the time you notice, it isn’t

Coming up with a podcast idea might be the easy part—but figuring out what gear you actually need to get started? That can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry—we’ve got your back. Whether you’re launching a passion project or laying the groundwork for a future media empire, this guide breaks down the essential tools (and some helpful