A recent report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) showed that businesses operating in America spent a combined $1.9 billion in podcast advertising over one year.
Still, a common question among aspiring creators remains: How much do podcasts make? As a creator, you might wonder whether you can venture into podcasting as a full-time job.
If this question troubles you, or you’re just curious whether podcasts make money, this article is for you. We cover everything you need to know about earning revenue from podcasting.
TL;DR – How Much Do Podcasts Make?
A podcast can make from $0 to thousands of dollars monthly. The actual figures depend on several factors, including:
- Listener count
- Sponsorship/Advertisements
- Affiliate marketing
- Merchandise sales
- Donations
- Live events and recording
- Network distribution deals
- Premium content
Read the full article for a detailed guide on generating podcast revenue.
Looking to launch your podcast or grow your audience to unlock more revenue streams? Join our podcast hosting service – Hello Audio.
Our platform is easy to use and provides in-app tools to optimize, manage, and promote your podcast. Hello Audio lets you repurpose your existing audio and video content into private podcasts, which you can share as premium content to grow your podcast earnings.
Sign up for a 7-day free trial today.
Are Podcasts Profitable?
Yes. Podcasts can be profitable and provide numerous opportunities to generate revenue.
According to a report by IAB, podcast advertising revenues have increased exponentially over the last few years and continue to grow faster than the average internet advertising revenue — 72% vs. 35%.
The statistics prove that podcasts are profitable and explain why some creators now treat podcasting as a full-time job.
List of Highest Paid Podcasters
Here’s a list of the top 5 highest earning podcast creators:
1. Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan, host of The Joe Rogan Experience, has been the highest-paid podcaster for some time.
He is estimated to earn about $800,000 per podcast episode and records at least thrice weekly, earning $9.6 million monthly.
2. Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Karen and Georgia co-host My Favorite Murder, one of the most popular true-crime comedy podcasts.
Forbes estimates that the podcast duo earns about $30 million annually.
3. Dave Ramsey
Dave Ramsey is a veteran radio host and personality who leveraged his popularity to venture into podcasting.
His podcast, The Ramsey Show, earns him approximately $10 million annually.
4. Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard is a famous actor, comedian, and podcaster.
His podcast, Armchair Expert, boasts about 20 million monthly listeners, which earns him an estimated $9 million annually.
5. Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons hosts one of the most popular sports commentary shows, The Bill Simmons Podcast.
The podcast has an estimated 500,000 monthly listeners and earns Bill about $7 million annually.
How Much Do Podcasts Make?
The truth is that there is no specific amount that you should expect to make from your podcast, as the revenue generated depends on multiple factors.
The table below explains how different factors influence how much a podcast makes:
| Factor | Context | Approximate Earnings (Examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Listener Count | The number of active monthly listeners who consume your content. | <1,000 listeners: $0 - $100 per episode 1,000 to 10,000 listeners: $100 to $500 per episode >10,000 listeners: $500 to $10,000+ per episode |
| Sponsorship/Advertisements | This includes pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads. Average cost per mille (CPM) rates range from $10 to $50. | 1,000 listeners = $20 per episode 5,000 listeners = $100 per episode |
| Affiliate Marketing | Earning a commission on sales. Varies from 5% to 30% of sales amount. | 200 sales of a $50 product for a 10% commission (200*50*0.1) = $1,000 |
| Merchandise Sales | Selling branded products like mugs, lighters, caps, and backpacks. The collected revenue depends on profit margins. | Selling 100 mugs over 30 days ($3 margin per mug) = $300 profit |
| Donations | Revenue collected from listeners who donate to support your podcast. | Most donations range from $1 to $50. The total amount will depend on the number of donations. |
| Live Events and Recording | Includes event tickets for listeners to attend a live recording session. Ticket prices vary based on a podcast’s popularity. | 500 guests at $30 a ticket = $15,000 |
| Network Distribution Deals | Joining a podcast network can boost audience reach and unlock collaboration and sponsorship opportunities. However, most networks withhold a commission on the collected ad revenue, reducing your income. | Generated ad revenue = $5,000 Network commission = 15% flatrate Net revenue (0.85* $5,000) = $4,250 |
| Premium Content | Locking exclusive content behind a paywall. Revenue depends on the quoted price and the number of listeners who buy the content. | 200 listeners purchasing premium content at $5 = $1,000 |
Sources: buzzsprout.com, printify.com, fourthwall.com, iwillteachyoutoberich.com
Tips for Starting a Podcast from Scratch
Looking to launch a podcast? Here are some practical tips to help you build your podcast from scratch:
Identify Your Podcast Niche and Theme
Define a specific topic or theme you want to build your podcast around.
This helps you determine your target audience and how to curate your podcast for maximum engagement. It also enables you to establish yourself as a thought leader in a particular field, an effective way to stand out from other podcasters in your category.
Plan Your Episodes
Plan your episodes, including defining the structure and length of each episode.
We also recommend determining how many episodes you intend to publish over a specified period.
For example, some podcasts organize their episodes into seasons, each focusing on one theme. In contrast, you can have a podcast with numbered episodes and no seasons.
Use Quality Recording Equipment
Invest in the right podcasting equipment to make the recording and production process seamless. The equipment you need depends on the number of hosts and guests, episode length, and budget.
However, if you cannot afford to set up a whole podcast studio, start simple. Learn how to record and publish your audio content from your smartphone and upgrade as your podcast grows.
Pick the Right Podcast Hosting Service
Join a podcast-hosting service that meets your publishing and monetization needs.
If you want to repurpose past content and share it as podcast episodes, use our hosting service, Hello Audio, which converts webinars, behind-the-scenes interviews, coaching sessions, and online courses into private podcasts in minutes.
Promote Your Content
Leverage your social media presence to hype your podcast show. Share snippets of upcoming episodes and teasers to build anticipation among potential listeners.
You can also embed podcast episodes or players on your website to boost engagement and attract potential listeners. You can also generate episode transcripts to accommodate audiences with hearing impairments and boost your podcast’s SEO.
Strategies to Maximize the Podcast Revenue
Below, we highlight effective ways to boost your existing podcast’s revenue as your audience grows:
- Create membership plans: Create tiered membership plans and encourage listeners to subscribe to your podcast.
- Partner with brands to sponsor your episodes: Secure sponsorships and advertising deals with companies related to your podcast niche.
- Syndicate your content posted on other platforms: Easily repurpose content with private podcasts and share it with premium members.
- Offer merchandise: Convert your podcast logo, artwork, and tagline into sellable merch like mugs, caps, t-shirts, etc. Selling merchandise allows you to earn extra revenue while marketing your podcast to new audiences.
- Become a consultant/public speaker: If you are a thought leader in your podcast category, leverage your popularity and know-how to establish yourself as a paid consultant or guest speaker in your sector.
- Join an affiliate marketing program: Include an affiliate link in your episode description or notes to earn passive income from your podcast.
- Entice listeners to donate: Ask your fanbase to crowdfund or donate to sustain your podcasts.
Use Hello Audio for Private Podcasting
Unfortunately, many creators do not know what is a private podcast, and how it can help them diversify their income streams. Private podcasting lets you share exclusive content with your listeners. However, you need the right podcast hosting service — Hello Audio!
Our platform allows you to create and manage access to your private podcasts. You can control how listeners access your content, including granting and revoking listening permissions.
Additionally, Hello Audio lets you repurpose old content. If you have recordings of past tutorials, webinars, and live events, use our built-in software to convert the files into podcast episodes in minutes.
With your private podcasts ready, use either or both of these ways to monetize the content:
- Option 1: Lock the private feed behind a paywall that requires listeners to make a one-time payment to access the content.
- Option 2: Offer the exclusive content as an incentive for listeners to buy a subscription plan.
Curious to learn how to monetize your podcast?
Check out our instant demo for a tutorial on using Hello Audio to create private podcasts and generate revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Looking for additional information on maximizing your podcast revenue? Below, we answer the most commonly asked questions.
How Long Does it Take for a Podcast to Make Money?
There is no specific timeline for how long a podcast should take to earn revenue. The period varies from 3 to 18 months, depending on consistency, content relevance, production quality, and promotion strategies.
Hello Audio helps you fast-track your podcast growth so you can start monetizing your content as soon as possible. Our platform uses simple monetization methods, so you can quickly learn to insert ads and sell membership plans.
How Many Listeners Do You Need to Make Money on a Podcast?
You need about 1,000 monthly listeners to generate podcast revenue. However, your monetization success depends entirely on how engaged your listeners are.
This means 1000 active subscribers could offer more revenue-generating potential than 2,000 casual listeners.
How Much Do Podcasters Make Per Episode?
An average podcaster makes from $0 to $1,000 per episode, depending on their listener count, sponsorships, and monetization strategies. Use Hello Audio to streamline your monetization process and grow your revenue.
Our platform supports Stripe, allowing you to request donations from listeners. Also, you can integrate ThriveCart and create checkout pages for your private podcasts, increasing your revenue.
Conclusion
Podcast income depends on multiple factors beyond audience size. You must also promote your podcast and incorporate monetization strategies for maximum revenue.
Hello Audio lets you optimize and promote your content to attract new listeners, creating opportunities to generate revenue. Use our platform to convert your exclusive content into private podcasts you can monetize. Our hosting service also lets you leverage dynamic ad and content insertions to generate revenue from brands and sponsors.
Join thousands of podcasters who use Hello Audio to grow their income. Sign up for our free 7-day trial!
