No Shakeups At The Top: iHeart, NPR Still Lead Triton’s May Podcast Ranker.

The May numbers are in and Triton Digital reports there was lots of stability in its ranker of the biggest podcast sales networks. It says the iHeart Audience Network was again the top sales network last month, with 72.5 million average weekly downloads and 21.1 million average weekly users. It was followed once again by NPR ranking second, with 27.4 million average weekly downloads and 7.2 million average weekly users for the public broadcaster. Audacy ranked third, with 15.3 million average weekly downloads and 5.9 million average weekly users.

They were followed by Audioboom, Cumulus Podcast Network and Paramount. Each held the same position on the ranker in May as they did in both April and March. Soundrise and the BBC each rose one spot in the top ten ranker, while Salem Podcast Network slid back two spots to No. 9. American Public Media remained in tenth place.

This month, Triton Digital also welcomed the Gamut Podcast Network to its U.S. Podcast Ranker. With 258 active podcasts and 1,034,221 average weekly downloads in May, it made a strong debut at No. 11. Gamut Podcast Network is the new dedicated podcast division operated by Hubbard Radio, which is looking to scale up its network of shows and capitalize on the medium’s growth. The broadcaster says it sees podcasting as a “third foundational pillar” of the Hubbard strategy, alongside its broadcast radio stations and its digital marketing arm, 2060 Digital.

Triton Digital’s monthly rankings only include publishers that opt-in.

Triton says during May the top three podcasts based on downloads included NPR News Now and NPR’s Up First, followed by iHeart’s Stuff You Should Know climbed to third place. It was the same top three as in April.

The top three podcasts based on listeners also ranked the same for a second month in a row, led by NPR News Now and Up First, with the Cumulus Podcast Network’s Shawn Ryan Show climbing to third.

There were several debuts for the month of May, including Deep Cover (iHeart Audience Network), Cold (Lemonada Media), Small Town Dicks (Audioboom), The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe (Audioboom) and Amy & T.J. (iHeart Audience Network). 

Download Triton Digital’s latest U.S. Podcast Ranker HERE.