Visit https://podnews.net/update/signal-awards-focus for all the links, and to get our newsletter. Pod The North takes a deep dive into The Signal Awards, which are run by the same company as The Webbys. There were 600 winners in more than 100 categories. The story says that the judging process is opaque, and that the 177 judges were not compensated for their time. “We really didn't think anyone outside of the United States really would probably be winners,” the former Managing Director for The Signal Awards, Deondric Royster, is quoted as saying. Ouch. From one type of award to another - Podcast growth agency Bumper has analysed 28.5mn Apple Podcasts star ratings (in the US store) to learn how they work. Crime Junkie has the most US ratings, at 344,000; but only 28% of shows have any star ratings at all. (Star ratings have no effect on the recommendation algorithms.) Fanlist, formerly PodInbox, is now supporting premium podcast feeds. You host your show’s premium episodes with them. The service takes a 7% cut from your income. Classifieds - your job or ad hereSwell AI: AI writer for networks & agencies 🤖✍ — Manage multiple shows in one account. Create custom show note templates. Write social posts, newsletters, articles & more for clients. Integrates will Google Drive, Dropbox & more. Sign up for free.💰 Join the High Rollers Club with Supporting Cast — — The Viall Files, The Rest is History, Radiolab, Savage Love, The Tennis Podcast, and other shows will earn six or seven figures this year using the Supporting Cast membership platform.Register for Free to the Brand Podcast Summit '24 — Join Ann Handley, Rand Fishkin and more at the Brand Podcast Virtual Summit on January 24th. Register for FREE and enter our giveaway for a chance to win podcast equipment worth $500!Digiday reports how podcast networks are using AI tools for their ad sales. Happy one-year anniversary to the 604 Podcast Network, which is celebrating with the launch of a number of new shows. Spectral Podcasting is an “AI-powered podcast editing service”. Behind the hood, the service is using Zapier; and is earning $5,000 a month in recurring revenue. Podcaster and host of the 48 Days podcast, Dan Miller, has died of pancreatic canc