Talent Collectives

Podcast Movement Acquires Podcast Trade Association Sounds Profitable In Major Industry Merger

Published on August 20, 2025

Left to right: Dan Franks, Bryan Barletta, and Tom Webster
Image credit: Sounds Profitable

Podcast Movement has acquired podcast industry trade association Sounds Profitable in a seven-figure deal. Under the terms of the acquisition, Podcast Movement will take ownership of Sounds Profitable, which will continue to operate as a trade association while maintaining its research initiatives.

Sounds Profitable founder Bryan Barletta will step into the role of President of Podcast Movement, while remaining a shareholder with partner Tom Webster.

“This merger unites two leading organizations that have, until now, independently been both champions and catalysts, supporting the growth of the entire podcasting industry,” Barletta said in a press release.

The newly combined entity plans to strengthen its presence at major media industry events, including Cannes Lions, SXSW, The Podcast Show London, and Advertising Week. Podcast Movement’s flagship event will be held in New York City for the first time in September 2026, while its Podcast Movement Evolutions event will integrate with SXSW.

Full details of the merger, as well as benefits for Sounds Profitable’s more than 200 partners, will be unveiled at the Podcast Movement event in Dallas, Texas, on August 19, 2025.

The deal coincides with record U.S. podcast consumption. Edison Research reports that 55% of Americans now listen monthly, while 73% of those aged 12 and older have experienced podcast content, underscoring the medium’s mainstream dominance.

Industry Restructuring

The Podcast Movement–Sounds Profitable merger arrives during a period of significant restructuring across the podcasting industry. Earlier this month, Amazon announced a reorganization of its Wondery podcast network, cutting approximately 110 jobs while dividing operations between Audible and a new creator services team.

“The podcast landscape has evolved significantly in the past few years, particularly with the rise of video-forward, creator-led content,” Amazon spokesperson Alice Zhou said in a statement. Edison Research has tracked similar momentum in video podcast consumption.

The Podcast Movement acquisition signals continued consolidation in an industry adapting to shifting consumption patterns and advertising models.