PodcastOne Revenue Hits Record $15.9M as Amazon ART19 Deal and TV Adaptations Drive Growth
PodcastOne is stepping into 2026 with strong momentum, reporting record quarterly revenue and profit growth, largely fueled by a major advertising agreement with Amazon’s ART19 and a rising wave of podcast-to-TV adaptation deals.
The podcast network delivered its strongest third quarter performance to date, showing how podcasting is no longer just a niche media category—it is rapidly becoming a profitable business model backed by big tech, major advertisers, and Hollywood studios.
With podcast advertising spending accelerating again and streaming platforms aggressively hunting for proven storytelling IP, PodcastOne is benefiting from two of the most powerful media trends shaping the digital entertainment landscape today.
PodcastOne Revenue Surges 25% to a Record $15.9 Million
PodcastOne announced that revenue for its fiscal third quarter ending December 31, 2025 climbed 25% compared to the same quarter last year, reaching a record-breaking $15.9 million.
The company’s performance reflects both improved monetization and growing advertiser confidence in podcast platforms that can deliver engaged audiences at scale.
Quarter performance: highest third-quarter results in company history
The sharp earnings increase indicates PodcastOne is improving operational efficiency while expanding its monetization model through high-value partnerships.
Earnings Jump 516% as PodcastOne Strengthens Profitability
One of the most striking numbers in PodcastOne’s quarterly report was the massive earnings surge.
The company posted $2.8 million in earnings, representing a staggering 516% increase year-over-year. That figure also represents a new record for the company’s fiscal third quarter.
Such a dramatic rise suggests that PodcastOne is successfully balancing content growth with cost management—an increasingly important factor for investors in the media and technology sector.
Amazon ART19 Advertising Deal Becomes a Major Growth Driver
PodcastOne also credited its strong ad sales growth to a three-year advertising deal with Amazon’s ART19, a move that has significantly strengthened the company’s revenue stability.
The agreement includes a $15 million minimum revenue guarantee, giving PodcastOne a reliable base of ad income.
Even more notably, the company now expects the deal will generate more than $20 million per year.
Why the Amazon ART19 Partnership Is a Big Deal
This partnership is important because it gives PodcastOne:
Long-term ad revenue stability
Stronger ad inventory demand through Amazon’s network
A minimum guaranteed revenue floor
Greater investor confidence due to predictable earnings
In today’s volatile media environment, such guaranteed revenue agreements are rare and highly valuable.
PodcastOne Leadership Credits Subscriber Growth and Flagship Shows
PodcastOne President Kit Gray praised the company’s performance and highlighted several growth drivers, including subscriber momentum and content success.
“We’re pleased with PodcastOne’s continued performance this quarter, driven by strong subscriber growth, strategic partnerships, and the continued success of our flagship shows,” Gray said.
His statement reflects the company’s confidence that the revenue surge is not temporary but built on expanding audience engagement.
PodcastOne On Track for Record Annual Revenue After Three Quarters
PodcastOne operates on a fiscal year ending March 31, and after completing three quarters, the company reports it is pacing toward a record-breaking annual performance.
Following the latest quarter:
Total revenue for the fiscal year so far stands at $46 million
That represents a 21% increase year-over-year
Earnings have reached $4.5 million
That represents a 421% year-over-year increase
The company’s trajectory suggests it is not only growing faster than last year but also becoming far more profitable.
PodcastOne Raises Full-Year Guidance for Fiscal 2026
With its third-quarter numbers exceeding expectations, PodcastOne increased its full-year forecast.
The company now expects total revenue between $58 million and $60 million by the time its fiscal year ends on March 31, 2026.
It also raised earnings guidance to $5 million to $6 million.
Updated PodcastOne Forecast (FY Ending March 31, 2026)
Projected revenue: $58M to $60M
Projected earnings: $5M to $6M
This revised guidance signals that management expects continued acceleration into the final quarter.
PodcastOne Adds 25 New Podcasts in Fiscal Year Expansion Push
PodcastOne is also scaling aggressively on the content side, reporting that it has added 25 new podcasts so far in the current fiscal year.
This expansion supports long-term growth by increasing PodcastOne’s:
advertising inventory
genre diversity
audience reach
content ownership opportunities
Adding this many shows in a short period also demonstrates PodcastOne’s ambition to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive podcast market.
PodcastOne Sells Three Podcast Titles for TV and Streaming Adaptations
A major highlight in PodcastOne’s report was its success in converting podcasts into high-value entertainment IP.
The company confirmed that three of its podcast titles have been sold to major television and streaming platforms:
Varnamtown
Vigilante
The Opportunist
This development reinforces the growing trend of streaming platforms turning podcasts into scripted series, documentaries, and limited series projects.
Paramount Acquires “Varnamtown” in a Major Content Deal
Among the three sold properties, the most notable was “Varnamtown,” which PodcastOne confirmed has been acquired by Paramount.
Kit Gray described the acquisition as proof of the company’s content strength and its ability to produce premium intellectual property.
“The acquisition of ‘Varnamtown’ by Paramount underscores the value of our content and the strength of our network,” Gray said.
This kind of deal not only generates direct revenue but also raises the network’s overall market value by proving its ability to create commercially attractive IP.
PodcastOne Expands Distribution and Technology Investments
PodcastOne also emphasized that its growth strategy goes beyond content creation. The company is investing in technology and distribution improvements that can support higher monetization and broader audience reach.
Gray stated that ongoing investments in these areas position the company well for future growth.
Key Areas PodcastOne Is Strengthening
advanced monetization tools
improved distribution reach
better audience targeting for advertisers
stronger analytics and performance tracking
scalable infrastructure for future show expansion
These improvements help PodcastOne compete against larger podcast networks backed by Spotify, iHeartMedia, and other major audio players.
LiveOne Reports Strong Revenue as PodcastOne Drives Audio Growth
While PodcastOne posted record results, its parent company LiveOne also released financial results for the quarter ending December 31, 2025.
LiveOne reported total quarterly revenue of $20.3 million, with the majority of that coming from its audio division.
LiveOne Quarterly Revenue Breakdown
Total revenue: $20.3 million
Audio division revenue: $18.6 million
Quarterly earnings: $1.6 million
LiveOne’s audio division includes PodcastOne as well as its streaming music platform Slacker Radio.
LiveOne Cuts Workforce From 350 Employees to 88 in AI Restructuring Move
Despite revenue growth, LiveOne’s report drew major attention due to its dramatic staffing reduction.
The company revealed that “AI-driven efficiencies” allowed it to streamline its workforce from 350 employees to 88.
That means approximately three out of every four employees have been laid off.
What the LiveOne Layoffs Indicate
This downsizing suggests LiveOne may be:
restructuring for profitability
preparing for a strategic sale or merger
reducing overhead costs to increase earnings
relying more heavily on AI-driven operational systems
The move reflects a broader trend in media and technology companies using automation to cut costs, though such layoffs can raise concerns about long-term sustainability.
LiveOne CEO Says Company Is Scaling Efficiently
LiveOne CEO Robert Ellin framed the quarter’s results as a sign of strong execution and scalable growth.
“Our third-quarter results reflect strong execution and profitable growth, highlighted by sustained momentum in our Audio business and the scalability of our platform,” Ellin said.
His comments suggest LiveOne believes its cost reductions will allow it to operate leaner while maintaining growth through PodcastOne and Slacker Radio.
LiveOne Continues Exploring Sale Options for PodcastOne and Slacker Radio
LiveOne also reiterated that it is still reviewing strategic opportunities for its business.
In April, Ellin had stated that the company was exploring options including a potential sale of its podcast division and Slacker Radio.
Now, LiveOne says it is “actively evaluating” several opportunities, including a subsidiary sale.
Why LiveOne Might Sell PodcastOne
A sale could allow LiveOne to:
unlock capital quickly
increase shareholder returns
focus on fewer core operations
leverage PodcastOne’s rising valuation
With PodcastOne’s financial growth accelerating, it could become a highly desirable acquisition target.
LiveOne Expands Share Repurchase Program
LiveOne also disclosed that it has expanded its share repurchase program, with around $6 million remaining under its board-authorized buyback plan.
The company has acquired an additional 771,000 PodcastOne shares at an average price of $1.93 per share during the fiscal year, including 186,636 shares in the most recent quarter.
Ellin said the repurchases demonstrate management confidence in long-term shareholder value.
“Our continued share repurchases at attractive valuations underscore management’s conviction in the long-term value we are building for shareholders,” he said.
PodcastOne’s revenue momentum may be a key sign that podcast advertising is entering a strong rebound cycle.
After years of cautious brand spending and shifting digital ad budgets, advertisers appear increasingly willing to invest in podcast networks that deliver:
premium audience engagement
brand-safe environments
stronger conversion performance than display ads
longer listener attention spans
PodcastOne’s Amazon-backed ad sales momentum strengthens the argument that podcasting is becoming a top-tier advertising channel again.
Why Podcast IP Is Becoming Hollywood’s New Goldmine
PodcastOne’s success with adaptation deals reflects a broader entertainment shift: podcasts are now one of the most reliable pipelines for television and streaming content.
Studios increasingly prefer podcasts because they already come with:
established listener fanbases
proven story appeal
low development risk
strong episodic storytelling structure
real-world narratives that translate well into docu-series formats
For Hollywood, podcasts act as “tested content,” reducing the uncertainty of investing in completely original scripts.
PodcastOne’s Strategy: Build Audio Hits and Monetize Across Platforms
PodcastOne’s business model is becoming more sophisticated and diversified.
Rather than relying solely on ad revenue, the company is positioning itself to earn income from multiple streams:
PodcastOne’s Growing Revenue Engines
advertising and sponsorship revenue
guaranteed revenue partnerships (Amazon ART19)
IP licensing for television and streaming
expanded podcast portfolio monetization
distribution and syndication opportunities
This multi-channel monetization approach mirrors how major streaming studios operate, making PodcastOne more than just a podcast publisher.
LiveOne Layoffs Highlight the Industry’s Shift Toward AI Automation
While PodcastOne’s success story is positive, LiveOne’s layoffs reveal the changing realities of modern media companies.
Reducing staff by such a massive margin raises industry questions, including:
How much can AI truly replace human operations in media?
Will cost-cutting weaken creative output over time?
Are companies restructuring primarily to look attractive for acquisition?
Will regulators or labor groups push back against AI-driven layoffs?
LiveOne’s decision may become one of the most closely watched examples of how automation impacts media employment.
What Investors Will Watch Next
PodcastOne’s next quarter will be crucial, particularly because it will close out the fiscal year.
Investors and analysts will likely focus on:
whether the company meets its raised guidance
how much the Amazon ART19 deal accelerates revenue
continued podcast expansion performance
additional Hollywood adaptation deals
LiveOne’s next steps regarding a potential sale
With the podcast industry consolidating, PodcastOne may also become a potential acquisition candidate itself if its growth continues at this pace.
Podcast Industry Outlook for 2026: Consolidation and Bigger Ad Deals
PodcastOne’s performance may signal what the broader industry will look like in 2026.
Many smaller networks are struggling with:
ad revenue volatility
creator retention
rising production costs
limited distribution leverage
This could push more mergers, acquisitions, and partnership deals—especially as major platforms like Amazon expand deeper into podcast monetization.
PodcastOne appears well-positioned to benefit from this shift, particularly if it continues growing both its catalog and its Hollywood licensing pipeline.
Conclusion: PodcastOne Strengthens Its Position as a Fast-Rising Podcast Giant
PodcastOne’s latest quarterly report confirms that the company is scaling rapidly and improving profitability at an impressive pace.
With record quarterly revenue, explosive earnings growth, an Amazon-backed advertising pipeline, and major podcast-to-TV licensing wins, the company is increasingly establishing itself as one of the most commercially successful podcast networks in the market.
At the same time, LiveOne’s restructuring and layoffs add uncertainty, though they also indicate that major corporate moves—including potential asset sales—could be on the horizon.
For now, PodcastOne is riding a powerful wave of podcast advertising recovery and Hollywood’s hunger for proven IP, setting the stage for a potentially historic fiscal year finish.
Quick Summary: Key Points at a Glance
PodcastOne posted record quarterly revenue of $15.9 million
Revenue increased 25% year-over-year
Earnings rose 516% to $2.8 million
Amazon ART19 deal includes $15M minimum guarantee
Amazon partnership expected to generate over $20M annually
PodcastOne raised guidance to $58M–$60M revenue
Added 25 new podcasts this fiscal year
Sold three podcast titles for TV/streaming adaptation
Paramount acquired PodcastOne’s “Varnamtown”
LiveOne revenue reached $20.3M, with audio generating $18.6M
LiveOne workforce cut from 350 employees to 88
LiveOne continues exploring subsidiary sale options
LiveOne repurchased 771,000 PodcastOne shares at $1.93 average
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is PodcastOne?
PodcastOne is a podcast network that produces and distributes podcasts and earns revenue mainly through advertising and licensing deals.
Why did PodcastOne revenue increase?
The company benefited from strong ad sales momentum, boosted by its Amazon ART19 advertising agreement and expanding podcast lineup.
What is the Amazon ART19 deal?
It is a three-year advertising partnership that includes a $15 million minimum revenue guarantee and is expected to deliver more than $20 million annually.
Which PodcastOne podcast was acquired by Paramount?
Paramount acquired PodcastOne’s “Varnamtown,” highlighting the growing trend of podcast-to-TV adaptations.
Why did LiveOne lay off employees?
LiveOne said “AI-driven efficiencies” allowed it to reduce its workforce dramatically, cutting staff from 350 to 88.