PodcastOne (NASDAQ:PODC) reported record fiscal first-quarter 2027 revenue of $16.1 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.6 million as the podcast network expanded its creator roster, advanced in audience rankings and emphasized video distribution and advertising opportunities.
The company’s fiscal year began April 1. Interim Chief Financial Officer Craig Christensen said the first-quarter operating loss was $1.6 million, compared with an operating loss of $1.1 million a year earlier. The increase primarily reflected stock-based compensation within general and administrative expenses.
Content additions and audience ranking
President and Founder Kit Gray said the company entered fiscal 2027 with momentum from content expansion, partnerships, original programming and creator-led franchises. He described PodcastOne’s vertically integrated model as spanning talent development, content creation, distribution, analytics and monetization.
During the quarter, PodcastOne rose to No. 6 in Podtrac’s ranking of U.S. podcast publishers, surpassing Disney, according to Gray. He said the ranking reflected audience growth, programming strength and the work of the company’s creators and employees.
The network added “The Magnificent Others,” hosted by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, as well as “Life Happens with Barb and Michelle.” It also launched the original series “It’s Okay, We’re All Gonna Die with Nurse Julie.”
PodcastOne renewed its relationship with Lindsie Chrisley’s “The Southern Tea,” which Gray said had surpassed 2.5 million downloads across more than 248 episodes. The company also partnered with PAVE Studios on A&E’s “The First 48.”
Gray highlighted guest appearances including Josh Duhamel on “The Adam Carolla Show,” Ezra Sosa on “Off The Vine,” and Mandy Moore on “Yesterdays.” He also pointed to “House of Stassi” on Hulu, where Stassi Schroeder’s podcast “STASSI with Tay” is a central storyline.
Video expands discovery and advertising options
In response to an analyst question, Gray said video has become a significant element of PodcastOne’s strategy and the broader podcast medium. He cited YouTube as a major discovery platform and said YouTube AdSense revenue has benefited certain network shows, including those hosted by Adam Carolla and the creators of “Some More News.”
Gray said Stassi Schroeder and other creators also generate substantial video views beyond YouTube. He said video distribution enables the company to charge higher advertising CPMs when commercials are included in video formats, particularly for host-read promotions featuring products.
Short-form clips distributed through YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are also being used to promote shows and create sponsorship opportunities, Gray said. He described video as especially important for audience discovery.
Gray said “STASSI with Tay” is available on Netflix, characterizing the relationship’s principal benefit as discovery while noting that PodcastOne is running commercials within the programming. He said the Netflix presence allows the company to offer advertisers distribution across Stassi’s audio, video and Netflix channels, supporting premium advertising rates.
The company is in discussions with Netflix about adding more shows, Gray said. He identified Billy Corgan’s video program as a potential fit for broader video distribution over the next six to 12 months.
Advertising demand and audience demographics
Gray said advertisers are increasingly looking beyond direct-response campaigns and that larger brands including Progressive, State Farm, O’Reilly, Lowe’s and Macy’s are entering podcast advertising. He said those advertisers are seeking measurable attribution while also developing deeper integrations with creators’ communities.
For example, Gray said Macy’s campaigns can involve discussing clothing, deals and discounts during programming, extending integrations across audio, video and social media rather than relying only on traditional ad placements.
He said PodcastOne’s position in the Podtrac rankings helps its sales organization gain access to advertisers by demonstrating its scale relative to other major media networks. Higher network consumption also creates more advertising impressions for direct sales, its Amazon relationship and programmatic partners, according to Gray.
Gray said the company was designed to serve a broad range of advertiser demographics. He estimated that much of its consumption comes from women ages 25 to 44, supported by true-crime and entertainment programming such as shows associated with Stassi Schroeder, Kailyn Lowry, LadyGang and The Pop Apologists. He also cited Adam Carolla, Jordan Harbinger and Brendan Schaub as helping the network reach male listeners ages 25 to 54 and older.
M&A outlook and seasonality
Gray said PodcastOne is pursuing multiple growth paths, including acquiring established shows with existing audiences, developing original intellectual property and evaluating broader merger-and-acquisition opportunities. He said management is considering opportunities involving podcast representation, paywall businesses and technology.
He expects acquisition activity across the podcast industry during the next six to 12 months, involving both larger companies and smaller businesses seeking complementary combinations.
On seasonality, Gray said summer is generally slower as listeners spend time on vacation and with family. Consumption tends to increase as schools and workplaces resume activity, he said, while the calendar fourth quarter has historically been PodcastOne’s largest quarter.
Looking ahead, Gray said PodcastOne sees opportunities to develop creator-led content into franchises that can extend across audio, video, television and other formats. He cited “Varnamtown” as an example of content that could become a broader entertainment franchise and said artificial intelligence tools are supporting operational efficiency, audience discovery, trend identification and content monetization.
About PodcastOne (NASDAQ:PODC)
PodcastOne is a leading digital audio network specializing in the development, production and distribution of original podcast programming. The company offers a diverse slate of exclusive shows spanning genres such as entertainment, sports, business, politics and lifestyle. Its content lineup features long-form interviews, narrative series and personality-driven talk formats designed to engage listeners across North America and beyond.
The company’s revenue model centers on advertising and branded content solutions.
