Podcorn

Podcorn is a marketplace platform that connects podcasters directly with brands for sponsorship deals, making podcast monetization accessible to creators of all sizes — not just shows with massive audiences. Acquired by Audacy, Podcorn eliminates the traditional gatekeeping of podcast ad networks by letting podcasters set their own rates and pitch directly to brands, while giving advertisers access to thousands of niche podcasts for authentic, host-read sponsorship campaigns.

For podcasters, the platform provides a free profile where they can showcase their show, set pricing for different ad formats (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, full episode sponsorships, interviews, reviews), and browse available brand campaigns to pitch for. There are no minimum download requirements — even small podcasts with a few hundred listeners per episode can participate, making it the most accessible podcast monetization platform available. Podcasters keep 90% of earnings (Podcorn takes a 10% platform fee), with quick and reliable payouts.

For brands and advertisers, Podcorn offers a self-service platform to discover podcasts by category, audience demographics, download numbers, and engagement metrics. Brands can post campaigns with their budget and requirements, then review pitches from interested podcasters. The platform provides campaign management tools, secure workrooms for communication, content review and approval rights before episodes air, and detailed performance reporting. This makes podcast advertising accessible to businesses of all sizes, not just those with $50,000+ ad budgets.

Podcorn supports various sponsorship formats including traditional ad reads, product reviews, dedicated episodes, interview features, social media cross-promotion, and newsletter mentions. The platform handles contracts, payments, and content approval workflows, reducing the administrative overhead of managing multiple podcast sponsorships.

Key Features: Direct podcaster-to-brand marketplace, no minimum download requirements, podcaster-set pricing, multiple ad formats (pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll, reviews, interviews), 90/10 revenue split favoring creators, campaign management tools, secure communication workrooms, content review and approval workflows, performance reporting, brand safety controls, podcaster discovery by category/demographics/downloads, self-service campaign creation for brands, automated payments, and 24/7 support.

Pricing: Free to join for both podcasters and brands. Podcorn takes a 10% platform fee from completed sponsorship deals. Brands set their own campaign budgets — typical rates range from $15-$40 for pre-roll/mid-roll ads on smaller shows, and $40-$100+ for custom content like reviews or interviews. CPM rates for larger shows typically range from $15-$50 depending on audience size and niche. No subscription fees, setup costs, or minimum spending requirements.

Use Cases: Podcast monetization for small and mid-size shows, brand-sponsored podcast content, product review episodes, host-read advertising campaigns, niche audience targeting through podcast ads, influencer marketing via podcasts, direct-response advertising, brand awareness campaigns, small business podcast advertising, and cross-promotion between podcasts and brands.