This year’s midterm elections have already dominated the headlines, and with a lot at stake, political advertising is expected to see another record spend. An analysis in  Westwood One’s blog  makes a strong argument for moving some of that ad spend from YouTube and connected TV to AM/FM radio. “Because 2026 political spending is projected to reach a record $11.2 billion, mirroring the intensity of a presidential year, costs are already nearly double the standard platform ave

Podcast advertising hit its strongest month of the year in March, with the medium’s top advertisers collectively increasing their investment even as the leaderboard continued to shift beneath a stable top tier. New data from Podscribe shows the top 10 podcast advertisers spent a combined $45.6 million in March, the highest monthly total of 2026 so far. Leading the way once again was BetterHelp, which remained the No. 1 advertiser for a third consecutive month with an estimate

Former iHeartMedia CMO Gayle Troberman is stepping back into the spotlight with a new venture that blends podcasting, live events and brand collaboration. She is teaming with media executive David Alberts to launch Bubbler Media — a company built around a simple premise: marketing needs more meaningful conversation. Positioned as a “conversation company,” Bubbler Media is designed to create what its founders describe as modern-day “water cooler moments” for the marketing indu

As AI seeps into nearly every aspect of audio media, there is understandable concern that the technology will replace the human touch, especially when it comes to host-read ads on radio or podcasts. Not so, says  new analysis  from the ad agency Ad Results Media. “AI is not stepping in to take over the role of creators,” the report says. “The human host remains the centerpiece as the voice listeners trust, the storyteller who builds emotional connection, and the reason audien