YouTube launched a brand new weekly chart of the most-watched podcasts on its platform because the Alphabet-owned firm ramps up competitors with Spotify and Apple within the quickly evolving audio market.
“The Joe Rogan Experience” topped the debut of the Weekly Prime Podcast Exhibits Chart, which ranks US podcasts primarily based on whole watch time, adopted by “Kill Tony” and “Rotten Mango.”
“Kill Tony” is a dwell comedy podcast hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe. In October, Hinchcliffe confronted important backlash after making controversial remarks at a Donald Trump rally at Madison Sq. Backyard throughout which he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
Different notable podcasts on the chart embrace “48 Hours,” a real crime sequence by CBS Information (No. 4), retired soccer nice Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” (No. 7), “This Past Weekend” starring former MTV “Road Rules” character Theo Von (No. 8), and conservative Sirius/XM host Megyn Kelly (No. 19).
YouTube’s new rating characteristic is anticipated to supply podcasters elevated visibility and assist viewers discover trending content material, mirroring instruments already supplied by competing platforms.
In keeping with Edison Analysis, YouTube has already surpassed Spotify and Apple Podcasts as the highest platform the place Individuals eat podcasts.
The corporate says podcasts generate a couple of billion month-to-month energetic views on the platform.
“YouTube just isn’t a place where you drop your content from other sources,” Ben Meiselas, co-founder of the progressive political present “The MeidasTouch Podcast,” informed CNBC.
“We want to focus on making YouTube a channel the way people watch cable news.”
Meiselas, whose podcast got here in at No. 5 on the chart, emphasised the platform’s financial benefit, noting that YouTube gives higher cost-per-mile (CPM) charges — promoting lingo for price per thousand impressions — than its opponents.
The rise of video podcasts has been one of many defining themes of the 2025 media Upfronts, as platforms compete for advertisers in search of high-engagement codecs.
Spotify has expanded its personal video podcast choices. The Swedish-based streamer reported over 100 million {dollars} in world payouts to podcasters within the first quarter of this 12 months.
Nonetheless, YouTube stays the dominant participant by way of creator income and viewers scale.
