Used well, clips can put even small podcasts in front of new audiences. Used badly, they risk becoming a substitute for the full episode rather than a doorway to it.

To see how creators feel about this trade-off, we ran a survey in our newsletter. 74% of indie podcasters said video clips encourage people to listen to full episodes. 26% believe clips can reduce long-form listening instead.

So clearly, podcasters aren’t massively concerned. But to ensure your video clips deliver, let’s dive into where the potential risks lie, and how to keep your strategy on the right track.

Reasons Video Clips Could Prevent People Listening to Episodes

You’re giving too much away

Short clips are designed to surface the most emotional, controversial, or insightful moments from an episode. For many people who spend their time on short-form platforms, that can be enough. The context is optional.

One survey respondent summed it up neatly. They told us they see short clips as a form of self-editing that surfaces the “good stuff”.

That raises an obvious problem. If the clips contain the most compelling moments, what incentive is left to hear the full episode? Why would someone switch to a listening app when they can consume the highlights alongside memes, pets, and dance clips before they even get out of bed?

These platforms encourage click consumers

TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram reels condition their users to expect rapid stimulation and dopamine hits. Listening to a full podcast episode requires attention, patience and your full engagement. It’s a really different type of content consumption.

Even when someone enjoys a clip, the habit of scrolling makes switching to a long-form listening app feel like friction. People resist leaving the feed, and platforms have no incentive to help them do so.

One podcaster who took our survey said clips “aren’t that effective because very few people (1-2%) are going off platform to consume a totally different medium.”

Short-form platform algorithms reward content that triggers quick emotional reactions, comments, likes, and shares, because those signals keep people scrolling. Content that sends users elsewhere doesn’t.

Some users think highlights ARE the podcast

Some people who consume your video clips on platforms like TikTok and Instagram won’t even think about the fact that they could spend an hour listening to a full episode. Anecdotally, I’ve noticed this can particularly be the case with younger listeners.

If you go heavy on the video clips, this can give the illusion that the podcast is a video clip show. For some consumers, the show simply doesn’t exist beyond the video platform they’re using. These people probably consider themselves loyal followers of your podcast even though they view your content exclusively as clips and have never listened to a full episode.

How to Do Video Clips Right For Your Podcast

Despite the obstacles, video clips remain an excellent way to build your podcast brand and reach totally new audiences. It’s just a matter of having the right strategy and managing your expectations.

Here are some points to think about:

Recognise that there are 2 different audiences

There’s a misconception that more exposure = more listeners, but this is rarely the case. Yes, your video clips build awareness of your podcast name and brand, but video views rarely convert to downloads.

In this sense, working with video clips means managing expectations. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram attract high-volume clip consumers. Long-form podcast platforms attract listeners who are looking for depth.

There is an overlap between those audiences, of course, but in many cases, clips will reach people who are happy to consume highlights and nothing more. For some creators, reaching any of their audience wherever they are is enough, even if they never stay for the full meal.

There are a lot of positives to that “meet them on their own terms” approach. Just be wary that any audience you attract on a social media platform is borrowed, not owned.

Treat it like a funnel tool (even if it doesn’t convert)

Lack of control or ownership means you should still do what you can to funnel clip viewers to your main podcast or newsletter.

Make sure your clips spark curiosity amongst clip consumers, and use an engaging call to action (CTA) to encourage viewers to listen or watch the whole episode (e.g. ‘check episode link in bio to find out what happened’).

But again, even if one of your video clips goes viral, don’t expect to see a spike in downloads. While you’re encouraging conversions, the bigger goal is to continually remind people that you’re not just a highlights show. You’re a podcast with a whole other life outside of these short-form platforms.

Use YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is one video tool that can see high conversions if you also host full episodes on the platform. As Shorts are a YouTube feature, the algorithm doesn’t penalise content that sends viewers to full episodes – provided they stay on YouTube and don’t go anywhere else.

Shorts also support direct links to full episodes, making it possible for viewers to move from a clip to the full show without leaving the app. You can see the button in the image above or watch the clip to see it in action. This gives YouTube a structural advantage over TikTok and Instagram, where promotion relies on asking people to switch platforms.

Run an experiment to see what works

As with any podcast marketing strategy, it’s important to test things out to see what works specifically for your show.

For example, you could try four weeks of publishing self-contained highlights of some of the best parts of your podcast. Then, for the next four weeks, try posting teasers to see if that pushes more people to platforms that convert to downloads. 

These are two quite different ways of using clips with different goals. One is to increase reach and brand awareness, while the other is to tot up more listens and downloads.

Make clips part of a wider strategy

And finally, if you’re doing video clips, it can’t be your only form of marketing. Yes, you might be having success with video clips on a particular platform right now, but algorithms are unreliable. They can change virtually overnight, and your video views plummet.

You still need to make time for all the other components of a broader podcast growth strategy, like collabs, cross-promotion and all the other tactics explored in our guide to podcast growth.

So, DO Video Clips Stop People From Listening to Full Podcast Episodes?

Usually, no. But they’re not a reliable way to increase downloads either. Clips work best as a discovery and branding tool, not as a direct conversion engine.

The real risk is not that clips replace your podcast, it’s treating clips as the product instead of a preview of something deeper.

When clips spark curiosity, clearly point to the full show, and sit within a broader growth strategy, they’re far more likely to help than harm. Use them to open the door, but accept that not everyone who looks inside will stay for the whole conversation.

But the latest data on YouTube podcast consumption reveals something a lot of video creators won’t like to hear:

Most people aren’t watching your video podcast.

They’re listening to it.

Sounds Profitable ran a study on 5,000 American podcast consumers, revealing some really interesting trends about video podcast consumption. The survey showed that while YouTube is now the most popular platform in the US for consuming podcasts, almost half (47%) of those who use YouTube as their primary platform consume most content as audio-only.

Here’s Tom Webster from Sounds Profitable explaining the findings:

This isn’t the only study that’s highlighted this trend recently, either. Another survey by Culmunus Media and Signal Hill found that only 8% of podcast consumers ‘just watch video’.

Which means that if you want to make sure you’re still engaging the other 92% when making a video-first show, there’s one non-negotiable rule:

Your video podcast must still work for people who never actually watch it.

If someone presses play and immediately looks away – to drive, clean, commute, work, or even just scroll another app – your episode should still be completely coherent, engaging, and easy to follow.

If the experience falls apart without visuals, then it’s not really a podcast at all.

Understanding the Trend: Why Do People Listen to Video Podcasts?

You might be thinking, if most people are consuming audio-only, then why are they consuming video podcasts?

As we’ve explored before, the rise of video consumption in podcasting is more complex than it often seems. The growth of video creation in podcasting has been undeniably huge, but we often conflate consumption with the growth of YouTube, which has been exponential in recent years.

When we’ve asked indie creators in the past about how they’re using YouTube, we learned that the most popular way is to publish the podcast audio with just a static image or audiogram.

We also know that the most popular times people listen to podcasts are when they’re doing chores, on a work commute and when they’re working out. You can’t consume content with your eyes while doing these things.

We’re a multi-tasking bunch that barely sticks to a single screen when watching TV nowadays, and the idea of sitting down to watch a podcast is a bit at odds with this.

So how do you continue creating a video podcast that satisfies everyone’s listening habits, not just that 8% who only watch? Here are some ways to ensure you maximise the best of both worlds.

3 Things to Consider When Creating Video Podcasts

1. Create for listeners first; viewers second

This might sound counterintuitive to recommend you create visual content for listeners, but if only 8% are ‘just watching’, you simply have to create with that other 92% in mind.

When listeners are commuting, cleaning, working, or scrolling another app while consuming your show, then things like clarity, pacing, and audio cues matter a lot more than camera angles. Think about these things when creating your show and this will help your audio stand on its own.

2. If the episode breaks without visuals, it isn’t really a podcast

Any moment that requires watching in order to follow what’s happening – for example, pointing, demonstrating, reacting silently – will instantly lose you the majority of your audience. I’d go as far as saying that if this happens, it’s not really a podcast anymore.

You can solve this by describing what you’re doing, seeing, or showing – either live as you’re recording or you can add an aside in later during the editing process. But be careful of relying too heavily on this strategy, as it can become quite disengaging for listeners, pulling them out of ‘the moment’ of the podcast.

“I’ll describe this for those of you just listening” is a well-meaning statement. But it risks leaving the listener feeling like they’re sitting in the cheap seats rather than part of the “proper” audience.

3. Visuals should enhance, not carry the story

Good video podcasts use visuals to support the story, not to carry it. The opening is your moment to set the scene and give viewers something engaging before many of them switch to audio only. Make this section look good and feel intentional.

After that, the camera becomes secondary. Good angles, solid lighting, and a clean picture help, but they will never matter more than clear audio and strong content. Visuals cannot rescue a flat conversation, and they shouldn’t have to. Focus on what the audience comes for, then let the video enhance it rather than replace it.

Do We Need to Champion Spoken-Word Audio in a World of Video Hype?

Read article called: Do We Need to Champion Spoken-Word Audio in a World of Video Hype?

Make The “Look-Away Test” Your New Quality Standard

To make sure your video works for viewers and pure listeners alike, use the ‘look away test’ as a core part of your process.

If you can look away from the screen for five minutes and still follow everything that’s going on, your podcast passes the only test that actually matters.

YouTube may be part of your distribution plan, whether you publish full video, clips, or audio with a static image. But the principle stays the same. Most people will still be listening, not watching, so your video should always support the audio rather than depend on it.

The data showed interview and solo podcasts neck-and-neck at 31%, while 24% said they create with a co-host.

But the above data doesn’t include responses from podcasters who were still at the planning stage when they took the survey. When I looked at that pre-launcher data separately, a different trend emerged.

You can see from the graph that solo shows were a lot more popular among the pre-launchers. A substaintial 53% of respondents from this group told us they’re planning to host a solo show. This is also up from 43% of new podcasters from a similar survey we ran back in 2022.

Among new podcasters, interviews were the second most popular choice, selected by 28% of respondents, almost the same as in 2022. Only 14% planned to co-host, down from 23% in 2022.

Are Solo Shows The Best Podcasting Format For Beginners?

With so many new podcasters choosing solo shows, it got me thinking about whether this is the most accessible format for new creators. But what’s really interesting about this data is that, in practice, running a solo is probably the most intimidating format a new podcaster could choose.

Getting over the feeling that you’re “talking to yourself” can be a major challenge for new creators. And then of course there’s the knowledge that you’re the “single point of failure”. It’s easy to take a lack of traction personally when you’re the only one involved.

On the other hand, the interview format is often seen as a faster route to growth. The idea is that you “borrow” someone else’s expertise, so they bring the knowledge and value. Then, they promote the episode to their audience, which can help you grow yours.

Granted, there’s a lot more to it than that, and any good interviewer will have spent years honing their craft. But you can see why these assumptions might make the interview format more appealing to new creators.

Added to this, remote recording tools have never been better. Nowadays, it’s so easy to record shows with guests and co-hosts all over the world. It’s not just easy – it will also sound as good as if you were in the same room.

So why are so many podcasters choosing to fly solo rather than create shows with other people? 

Why Are Creators Choosing Solo Podcasting?

There are a number of reasons someone might choose to run their show alone rather than with others.

For a start, maybe as creators, they just prefer to do things alone.  Working alone means you build your reputation as an authority in your niche, you own your content 100% (including any income you make through it), and you have all the creative autonomy you could want.

It also means you don’t need to rely on anyone but yourself when recording and can be as flexible as you need to be. If life gets in the way of your schedule, you can always record your show at 2 am the next day, and no one will know the difference. 

Interestingly, 71% of new podcasters who took our survey also said they plan to do everything alone, suggesting this flexibility might be a major draw for them.

Solo podcasters own their schedule, income, and direction. You can see why that’s a huge draw for many.

3 Insights About the Next Wave of Indie Podcasters

Here are a few more top-level insights about the next wave of independent podcasters, according to our data:

They’re starting a podcast as a branding tool

When we asked new podcasters what their ultimate goal was with creating their podcast, ‘To help and support others’ took the top spot (as it did with existing podcasters).

But interestingly, ‘Promoting a brand or business’ was the 2nd most popular goal for new podcasters. For existing podcasters, this option was much less popular – it came 6th in the list. This suggests that podcasting is becoming a popular branding tool amongst business owners and leaders.

The majority are considering video as well as audio

As much as 64% of new podcasters told us they’re considering making a video component to their podcast. Our data also revealed that in practice, making video podcasts requires a totally different approach and mindset.

57% identify as female, and only 33% as male

You only need to look at the charts to see that podcasting is disproportionately white and male. So to see this data imply that the next wave of creators is potentially more female-heavy than male is encouraging.

Our data also raised some concerns about how female creators are disproportionately experiencing burnout during the creation process – but thankfully, this doesn’t seem to be putting women off the idea of launching a show.

If you’re in the very early days of planning your podcast, our free podcast planner will help you get started. Invest 5 minutes answering simple questions and get yourself a personalised step-by-step plan to launch your podcast that will save you days. No guesswork, and no browser tab overload. All you need is an idea and the will to bring it to life!

But I don’t just mean the obvious difference in that one’s a visual medium and the other one is purely audio. I’m seeing evidence that indicates video and audio nurture very different ways of producing content as well as consuming it.

When I separated out the 500+ responses to this year’s Independent Podcaster Survey into two camps – those podcasters who make video components to their show and those who don’t – there were some real notable differences in workflows and outputs.

Ultimately, the data would suggest there’s a difference in mindset behind the edit, too.

Let’s run through some of the clear differences that emerged from our survey data, and what this means for podcasting.

Differences Between Video and Audio-Only Podcasting Workflows

1. Difference in production time

When we asked respondents to our survey how many hours it takes them to produce a single episode, most said either 1-3 hours or 4-5 hours, whether they’re video creators or not.

But when you look at the comparison graph below, you’ll see there’s a trend where audio-only creators tend to invest longer in the process, from planning through to publishing, overall. On that higher end of the scale, 45% of audio-only creators said they spend more than six hours per episode, while 36% of video podcasters said they’d spend this long.

Video can bring a whole load of extra components for creators to think about – like lighting and adding animations, for example – so, at first glance, the idea that video podcasts can take less time to produce than audio-only shows was quite surprising.

But we also know that many audio creators follow a more traditional editing culture, spending extra time refining sound quality and shaping the story, while many newer video chat-style podcasts favour a quick, minimal-production approach. Not every video show works this way, but plenty do.

2. Difference in production costs

The survey data shows a clear difference in spending patterns between full video and audio-only podcasters, too. Again, you can see the trend quite clearly from this comparison graph:

Video podcasters who took our survey tend to spend more: a combined total of 50% of this group invests more than $50 each month, compared to just 28% of audio-only podcasters.

47% of audio-only podcaster respondents report spending $10–$49, compared to 28% of video podcasters in this mid-range expense bracket.

So at this stage, we might take from the data that adding video might not necessarily add more hours to your workflow, but it’s likely to cost you more. Which, of course, makes sense because podcasting software tends to charge more for packages that include video. It’s a format that requires more bells and whistles, as well as the ability to handle huge file sizes.

3. Difference in show formats

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that, amongst the creators who took our survey, solo shows were more popular amongst audio-only podcasters, while interview format shows were more popular among those who like to get in front of the camera.

36% of audio-only respondents told us they’d describe their podcast as a solo show, compared to only 24% of respondents who publish video.

Sustaining a video podcast as a solo show isn’t entirely uncommon, and lots of podcasters do it really well. But it does require a fair bit of editing for a visual audience, adding in extra clips and animations to prevent that intense staring-into-your-audience’s soul for an hour vibe.

DLake took us through his process and spoke about how his solo video show was 3x harder to create than audio, but was worth the extra effort for the return he gets.

On the other hand, recording guest interviews in video format is low-effort but is still engaging. 40% of video podcaster respondents said they run an interview-style show.

You don’t have to think hard to see how this translates to popular shows in the video podcast world right now. Most of the video podcasts that are dominating the charts right now are largely unedited interview-format shows.

4. Difference in publishing schedules

One commonality was pretty clear from the data: a weekly release schedule is most popular for respondents, regardless of whether they’re creating video or not.

But it’s also evident that those who publish video tend to lean towards higher episode output than audio.

Impressively, only 3% of video podcasters said they have no fixed release schedule, compared to 13% of audio podcasters.

This makes sense because in order to feed the algorithm on video-first platforms like YouTube and TikTok, you need to be constantly producing new content.

Compare this to something like audio drama, and a single episode can take months to put together, meaning a fiction podcaster’s release schedule is often “just whenever it’s ready”.

Is There a Problem With Having 2 Types of Podcasting?

If the Independent Podcaster Survey data is anything to go by, there’s a clear difference in mindset behind audio and video: The fast, raw, unedited, high-volume output strategy of video is a very different way of working compared to audio, which favours slower, meticulous, super-edited, highly-produced content.

But is there a problem with this? It’s not a matter of one type of podcasting being ‘better’ than the other, so surely they can happily co-exist?

Well, it’s complicated.

For example, back in July, Tom Webster wrote on the Sounds Profitable blog about how video is changing the landscape, and potentially creating new barriers for audio podcasters. He said:

“[V]ideo podcasting isn’t just changing distribution – it’s creating economic pressure toward specific [less expensive chat-show] formats, and that’s where the real threat lies… This creates genuine risk for audio’s creative diversity. Narrative podcasts, investigative journalism, fiction, experimental sound design – these formats depend on audio’s lower production barriers. If audiences and advertising dollars migrate toward video chat shows, these production-intensive audio formats could become economically unviable.“

It shouldn’t be an either or, he says, and it doesn’t have to be. He continues:

“The industry is big enough for both chat shows and audio documentaries, for YouTube growth and audio intimacy, for mainstream reach and niche artistry. The goal shouldn’t be choosing sides; it’s ensuring that economic forces don’t inadvertently narrow our creative possibilities.”

– Tom Webster at Sounds Profitable

So while the rise of video has and is doing great things for the industry, the risk lies in what we might lose if all the attention and investment go to one particular type of show.

Podcasting’s future will be strongest when its formats remain diverse. As video gains momentum, we should be intentional about preserving the space where audio-first storytelling excels, so the medium doesn’t lose the richness that made it compelling in the first place.

So technically, you can run your podcast month-to-month without spending any money producing it.

But the big question is: can you grow a successful show?

When we asked respondents to our Independent Podcaster Survey (sign up to get the full report soon) how much it costs them per month to run their show, a substantial 17% said they produce on no budget whatsoever.

These podcasters said they ‘spend’ time rather than money. This reminded me of another survey we ran back in 2022, which showed the vast majority of new creators (79%) would prefer to invest time rather than cash when launching and growing their content.

So it’s interesting to see that 17% of our survey respondents are actually managing to do this.

I wanted to know a bit more about these podcasts: Are they reaching their goals, getting the downloads in and managing to sustain a regular show while keeping costs non-existent?

Let’s find out – can you run a successful podcast on no budget?

Yes, If You Make a Particular Kind of Podcast

Every time we run a new survey, we’re always prepared for the data to show something that contradicts our expectations. But with this particular topic, the data backed up our general thesis that you can run a podcast on no budget, but only a particular kind of podcast.

For a zero-budget podcast to be successful, it would most likely need to be a solo show with an altruistic, hobbyist goal.

Let’s break that down…

1. A solo show

In theory, solo shows are easiest to run for free. They don’t rely on co-hosts, interview guests, or remote recording software, so they’re much easier to squeeze into your free time and sustain as a hobby.

This was reflected in the survey, which showed that the majority of free podcasts (53%) are solo shows. This number dropped to 28% among those who spend under $50 and to 24% among those who spend more than $50/month (where the interview format was much more popular).

65% of the ‘free’ group also said they get no help with running their show, compared to just 35% of the $50+ group.

2. A show with an altruistic goal

One surprising thing: not spending any money running a podcast doesn’t seem to have any impact on whether respondents achieve their goals.

71% of the ‘free’ group said they’re still achieving at least some of their podcast goals. 72% of the sub-$50 group said they were, and 80% of those who spend $50+.

If I’m honest, I was expecting to see far fewer podcasters in the ‘free’ group achieving their goals, so this was initially quite surprising.

But of course, this also has a lot to do with the goals themselves and what ‘success’ looks like to those creators.

Regardless of whether podcasters spend money on producing their show, the top 3 goals remained the same: supporting others, personal enjoyment, and raising awareness about a topic.

However, revenue-related goals (particularly ‘to develop or promote a brand or business’) were more common among those who spend monthly on their podcast.

3. A hobby project

If you’re not spending any money on your podcast, you need to go in with the mindset that you probably won’t make any money from it either.

Comparing the three spending groups suggested that the more you spend, the more likely you are to make a financial return. Only 5% of respondents who make a podcast on no budget reported making any money from their podcast. This climbed to 16% in the sub-$50 and 26% in those who spend over $100 a month.

Overall, just 15% of all of those who took our survey said their podcast makes money. 85% don’t.

BUT Free Podcasts Come With Limitations

So clearly, it is possible to run a successful podcast on no budget. However, not only do you have to be prepared to be limited to a particular type of show, but free shows come with some other limitations, too.

Free podcasts are harder to grow

If there’s one really clear takeaway regarding the ‘success’ of those shows that run on no money, it’s that, unsurprisingly, they’re harder to achieve substantial growth with.

68% of respondents who told us they spend no money producing their podcasts get under 50 downloads per episode in the first week. To be clear: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a podcast that gets under 50 downloads per episode – in fact, it’s a marker of success for most shows.

But there’s an undeniable trend. Download numbers climb the more creators financially invest in their shows. Only 24% of those who spend $100+ get less than 50 downloads per ep.

Free podcasts can be hard to sustain

Another thing I noticed when looking into the data was that 44% of those who create their podcast at no cost have only been running their podcast for less than a year.

This number drops to 33% of sub-$50 and 22% of $50+. Perhaps creators begin their podcasting journey on no budget, but over time, they spend more as their show grows and their needs become more complex.

Similarly, you might take from this that the more you invest in your podcast, the more likely you are to stick it out. Or at least, when you start putting money into it each month, you’re more inclined to show up.

Which takes me to my final point…

Spending keeps you accountable

This example might not ring true to everyone, but hear me out. If I’m paying for a gym membership, I’m likely to make more of an effort to go regularly than if I had free access. There’s just less motivation there to make the effort when I’m not concerned about getting my money’s worth.

The same idea can be applied to podcasting. Our data suggests that those who have an allocated budget for their show tend to put a bit more into the production, too.

For example, there’s a correlation between money spent and time spent. You’d be forgiven for thinking that spending money = less need to spend time. But according to our data, the opposite seems to be true.

12% of podcasters who spend nothing on their shows say they spend less than an hour on each episode. It is hard to imagine creating strong content in under 60 minutes, yet many report doing so.

At the other end of the scale, 19% of those who invest more than $100 per month spend over ten hours producing each episode.

Financial investment also seems to influence how consistently podcasters release new content. 16% of those in the free group have no fixed schedule, compared with 10% of the sub-$50 group and just 4% of those spending $50 or more.

Listeners value consistency, and irregular publishing inevitably affects engagement. Still, it is easy to see why those who podcast for free struggle to maintain a routine. Just like skipping the gym when you’re not paying for a membership – something else always feels more urgent than lacing up your running shoes.

The Under-$50 Sweet Spot

So yes, it’s possible to make a podcast with no budget, but it can be tough and rarely gives you the best shot at growing your show.

You can see from the original graphic that the most popular spending bracket was $10-49 per month (I’ll post it again here to save you scrolling back!).

That’s not an insignificant amount of money, especially with the cost of living these days. But it signifies to your brain that you take your show seriously, and those monthly payments are great for holding you accountable.

What’s more, spending on your show gives you access to better tools, which in turn, helps you create better-sounding content. This opens up the door for monetising your podcast, and with a couple of hundred loyal listeners, you can quickly recoup that monthly spend with something as simple as a Patreon account.

This data was gathered from our Indie Podcasters Report, which will be published in the coming week. Be sure to subscribe to Podcraft Perspectives, and you’ll get it in your inbox the minute it goes live.

Delighted? Disappointed? Indifferent?

While some podcasters might think 100 downloads isn’t a number big enough to aspire to, it might surprise you to hear it’s actually a real marker of success. In fact, landing just 27 downloads in the first week puts you in the top 50% of podcasts on Buzzsprout.

So what didn’t come as a surprise to us is that the vast majority (68%) of podcasters who took this year’s Independent Podcaster Survey (sign up to get the full report to your inbox soon!) fall into the under-100 download mark, too.

In fact, half of all respondents get less than 50.

(Note: we excluded pre-launchers from all the data in this article, for obvious reasons.)

I was interested to know more about the 32% who have crossed that 100-download mark. What are they doing differently, and is there anything we can learn from their workflows?

Here’s what I learned when I dug into the data.

4 Insights from High-Download Indiepodders

1. Have patience to play the long game

Let’s start with something that probably won’t surprise you. One thing that stood out about the 100+ DL club was that they’ve been podcasting for a while. In fact, 36% of that group have been running their podcast for more than 5 years.

Anyone who’s launched a podcast knows that success doesn’t happen overnight. Growth can be slow, but audiences tend to be much more engaged and loyal than consumers of other media.

So having patience to see it through is a lesson to take from these high-download shows. One podcaster from the 100+ club said:

“Stick with it… Don’t try to make an audience. Make great content and let your audience find you.”

Having patience to play the long game was also cited as the most essential ingredient to having success with your podcast in our last Indiepod survey back in 2022.

2. Video isn’t the be-all, end-all

When it comes to engaging your audience, you’d be forgiven for thinking having a video component is a non-negotiable these days. With so much of the discourse around podcasting dominated by video, there’s a lot of pressure to get in front of the camera.

So much pressure, in fact, that ‘adapting to video expectations’ was flagged by our survey respondents as the #3 biggest threat to podcasters in the next 3 years. The only bigger threats respondents flagged were ‘increased competition’ and ‘AI’.

But what I found super interesting when I dug into the 100+DL club data was that only 37% of them actually do video.

Not only this, but 21% said they have no intention of doing video in the future either.

And when I compared this with the segment that gets fewer than 100 downloads, there wasn’t much of a difference.

28% of that group said they publish video episodes, and this number goes up to 34% when I isolated the under-50 download group. So essentially, what the data may suggest here is that adding a video component doesn’t have the guaranteed growth impact we’re led to believe.

Interestingly, many podcasters are still tapping into the video trend without producing video podcasts – and more 100+ podcasters are doing this than sub-100s.

16% of shows with more than 100 downloads use platforms like YouTube to share their audio with static imagery, compared with just 8% of those under the 100-download mark.

3. Longer form is IN

If you ever worry that your podcast episodes are too long, the answer is almost always ‘no’. We’ve explored this topic in-depth before, and it’s great to see the results from our survey back up the theory that long-form is stronger than ever before.

When I compared the sub-100 download group with the 100+ group, there was a notable difference in average episode length.

You can see the general trend from the graphic: the podcasts in our survey that get more downloads per episode are the ones that favour longer-form content. 21% of the 100+DL club have an average episode length of over an hour.

So this idea that no one has the time, patience or concentration span to enjoy long-form audio anymore is once again proven baseless.

4. You get back what you put in

It seems like there’s a new AI tool built to speed up the podcasting process emerging almost daily. But despite this, our survey suggests you still need to put the hours into creating your content if you’re going to cross that 100-download mark.

We asked podcasters who took our survey how much time they spend on average making a single episode of their show, from planning through to publishing.

The most popular option amongst the 100+ group was more than 10 hours, with 24% choosing that option. The most popular option amongst the sub-100 group was 4-5 hours per episode, at 31%.

As you can see from the comparative graph above, while only 8% of sub-100 podcasters spend more than 10 hours on producing an episode, while a meaty 24% of the 100+ club do.

It’s worth noting that we didn’t ask respondents about the promotion stage of their podcast workflow in this question – this is purely the time spent leading up to publishing an episode.

If this data is anything to go by, putting in those extra hours to get your podcast to the next level could really pay off – AI or no AI!

We’ll be releasing a full report of the survey results soon. Sign up to Podcraft Perspectives to be the first to get it straight to your inbox.

We’re stoked that 558 independent podcasters responded to the survey. This has given us a great snapshot of the workflows, wins and challenges that podcasters are experiencing in the current landscape.

We’ll be publishing a full report of the survey findings in the coming weeks (sign up to Podcraft Perspectives to get it straight to your inbox). But in the meantime, I wanted to share an interesting data story that has emerged from the survey results.

When we analysed the survey results, we weren’t looking for gender differences. But a pattern revealed itself that we couldn’t ignore. The results showed that podcast burnout is disproportionately impacting female respondents compared to males.

First of all, the good news. When we asked respondents what, if anything, had ever made them consider quitting their show, a substantial 41% said they’d never even considered giving up.

But of course, it’s not all rosy – 22% said they had considered quitting their podcast due to burnout. 

When we separated the data by gender, the percentage of respondents reporting burnout jumped up to 28% for women, and down to 17% for men. 

One female respondent said:

“I love podcasting but burn out and motivation is a real thing.”

To be clear, I’m not here to speculate on why this gendered pattern exists. That’s not what these kinds of surveys are for. But what I will do is present the data, along with some comments from podcasters who took the survey, and you can take from it what you will. 

The Gender Gap in Podcasting: Understanding Barriers

It wasn’t just the question about reasons for quitting that showed a gender gap related to podcasting barriers. Here are a few patterns we saw elsewhere in the data regarding how female respondents told us they’re experiencing podcast-related challenges at the moment. 

They’re less likely to be reaching their podcasting goals

When we asked respondents if they’re achieving their podcasting goals, there was a notable difference between how male and female creators were achieving what they want to achieve.

Only 15% of women who answered this question said they were achieving most or all of their goals vs 24% of male respondents.

On the other end of the scale, 13% of women who took the survey told us they weren’t achieving any of their goals. Only 7% of men chose this option.

They’re more likely to bring in support 

When we asked respondents if they outsource any additional support when creating their show, 54% of men said they do everything themselves, compared to 49% of women. 

When I looked specifically at which areas people outsource, I noticed that 28% of female respondents said they hire an editor, producer or audio engineer. Only 16% of males reported outsourcing help in this area. 

One female respondent commented:

“I enjoy my podcast…but sure wish I could be more effective with growth and engagement. I grow weary of doing it myself.”

They’re finding it harder to monetise their show 

One thing that’s very clear from the survey is that monetisation is no walk in the park for creators in 2025. 85% of the creators who took our survey reported not making any money from their podcast.

Monetisation was also the second-biggest podcasting challenge people cited, after growing an audience.

And when I separated the data out by gender, there was a notable difference there too. The percentage of those who said monetisation was their biggest challenge jumped up to 49% for females and dropped to 34% amongst males.

They’re more likely to see video as a barrier

When we asked respondents what they saw as the biggest threat to podcasting in the next three years, the most popular options were ‘increased competition’ and ‘AI’. But #3 on the threat list was adapting to video expectations.

Again, when I broke down the data by gender, I noticed another gap. Of those who said adapting to video expectations was the biggest threat to podcasters, 53% were women vs just 37% of men. 

This is also reflected in the gender split of who’s publishing video and who isn’t. Only 25% of female respondents said they publish full video episodes of their podcast, while 32% male respondents do.

When I compared this data to the indiepod survey we did back in 2022, it suggested that the gap is growing slightly too. Male respondents were 3% more likely to have a video component in the 2022 survey and 7% more likely in the 2025 survey.

One female respondent commented: 

“The shift to video is a threat because it is setting an expectation to have video – among advertisers and listeners.”

And another:

“Would love to see a delineation between a podcast and video, which feels like that’s a TV show vs. audio. Lots of pressure is placed on doing video for podcasts now.”

Again, I’m not going to make any assumptions about why this gender gap might exist in video podcasting – I’m simply presenting the results of the survey. Also, Lindsay already did a great job of exploring the question of whether video is increasing the gender divide in podcasting in this article.

The Next Wave of Female Podcasters Is Coming

All things considered, let’s end on a positive note. When I looked at the demographics of new podcasters who took the survey (they were excluded from the analysis in this article as they’re yet to launch), it looks like the potential barriers aren’t discouraging future female creators.

57% of those who said they’re yet to launch their show were female, while just 33% were males.

And just last week, Podnews reported that the first female-founded video podcast network launched on a mission to “close the gender gap in podcasting” too.

If these challenges feel all too relatable to you as a creator, there’s support out there. Consider joining a community like the Women Podcasters Club or see if you qualify for any of the funding options available to women creators in this space.

We’ll be publishing more findings from the 2025 survey in the coming weeks, including the full report. Sign up to Podcraft Perspectives or the Podcraft Pointers weekly newsletter to be the first to see the data land in your inbox once it’s live.

But algorithms can be really positive too – especially when it comes to helping us find more content that we’re actually interested in and want more of.

It’s not hard to see how they can be super beneficial to podcasting, for both listeners and creators. However! It’s also easy to see why creators and industry folks are conflicted about the long-term impact of algorithms.

We’ll dive into the reasons why everyone’s so split on this topic in just a sec. But first, let’s quickly clarify how algorithms currently influence how people find and listen to new podcasts.

How Do Algorithms Work in Podcasting?

Some podcast listening platforms (most notably Spotify) use algorithms to recommend new shows to listeners. The technology does this by gathering and analysing large amounts of listening data and using machine learning to direct them towards shows with similar qualities or shows that similar listeners enjoy.

The more podcasts you listen to, the better the algorithm gets to know your interests and tastes and can suggest more of what it knows you like.

When you search for podcasts on an algorithm-driven platform, results are ranked by factors like relevance, popularity, and download numbers, as well as keywords in titles and descriptions.

But it isn’t just about search. Recommendations on a home page or sidebar can be algorithmically-driven, too. How many times have you ended up going down a YouTube rabbit hole on videos or topics you definitely weren’t searching for?

Outside of Spotify and YouTube, algorithms are either much more subtle, or absent altogether. But have they become so ingrained in our online habits that listeners will soon expect them in every app – podcasts included?

Algorithms in podcasting split opinion. Critics say they flatten taste, reduce variety, and erode nuance. Supporters argue that they give creators a better chance to be discovered, go viral, and grow an audience.

We asked a bunch of creators if they think podcast listening platforms should use algorithms more like YouTube does for video content. Here’s what they said:

63% of creators think they should use algorithms more to recommend new content to listeners, while 37% don’t think they should.

But what are the reasons why creators feel the way they do about algorithms in podcasting? Let’s dive in.

Podcast Algorithms: Friend or Foe?

First, here are a few ways algorithms are doing good things for podcasting and why some creators we spoke to want listening platforms to leverage them more in their technology.

Why Algorithms May Be Good For Podcasting

Algorithms solve discovery issues

Podcasting has always had a bit of a discoverability problem. As a listener, it’s not so easy to find your next binge-worthy podcast that ticks all your boxes; for creators, reaching new listeners can be a challenge if you’re not making the charts.

This is why the industry still relies quite heavily on word of mouth to reach the right listeners, which a lot of people find frustrating and archaic.

“Word of mouth isn’t enough. My audio only podcast is 100 times smaller than my YouTube and Spotify is now helping discoverability of my video podcast. It’s great for everyone. Podcasting is like blogs. Stuck in 2005 internet. It needs an upgrade”

– Anonymous podcaster

Algorithms tackle this by hyper-personalising listener searches and using their listening history data to uncover more of what they like. Many of the creators who took our survey think this is the direction podcasting platforms should take.

“[Podcast platforms] should do a better job of categorizing, highlighting, and promoting new, relevant, interest matching, and trending podcasts.“

– Anonymous podcaster

Algorithms democratise access

Theoretically, algorithms can also give smaller, independent creators a new path to finding the right audience.

Podcast charts are completely unreachable for the vast majority of independents, and achieving high growth quickly normally requires a decent marketing budget and/or industry connections to help promote your show.

Algorithms democratise the process by allowing lesser-known shows to potentially gain traction based on things like high engagement and relevance to a listener’s history, rather than how well-promoted they are.

Algorithms improve listener experience

Some believe that algorithms should be used more because they simply improve the listener experience overall.

By recommending a steady stream of new shows, this takes the effort out of digging for new content and potentially wasting time on subpar shows. Some survey respondents also suggested that the algorithm can get to know a listener’s interests better than they know themselves:

“Sometimes people don’t know what they want and AI can Identify interests better than someone may be able to articulate it.“

– Anonymous podcaster

Why Algorithms May Be Bad For Podcasting

While all of the above points carry weight, it’s also worth bearing in mind that algorithms aren’t all rosy. Here are some reasons why many believe there’s a danger in relying too heavily on algorithms for podcast discovery.

Podcasters create for algorithms instead of people

One inevitable issue with algorithms being so effective at delivering content to the right audiences is that creators start creating content for the algorithm instead of for their niche audience or for their own creative expression.

Matthew recently had a really interesting chat about this with Jeremy Enns from Podcast Marketing Academy on this episode of the Podracft Podcast.

“If you want to win at the algorithm game, you’re no longer following your creative energy. You are creating for the algorithm, not for the stuff that lights you up and probably is going to resonate most with your audience.

There’s this whole theory called ‘dead internet theory’, which is basically that the way algorithms are leading us is that everything is just going to be created for algorithms and not for people. This just leads to this morass that nobody actually wants to engage with and so people will opt out.”

– Jeremy Enns, Podcast Marketing Academy

Algorithms can create bubbles and echo chambers

And while being recommended more of what you like is certainly not a bad thing, what about the unexpected gems that sit outside of your listening history trends?

Algorithms can create content bubbles and echo chambers, where listeners are constantly fed a single perspective that can lead them down a particular path of thinking. This is quite contra to the concept of podcasts as a tool for educating listeners and providing diverse perspectives.

One pre-launch podcaster told us she has reservations about this:

“I think rabbit holes are unhelpful and result in the potential for narrowing horizons and breadth of awareness.”

– Claire MacLeod, Gen Z Career Coach

Algorithms can be manipulated

As with any technology that brings content creators success, it’s not unusual for podcast algorithms to be gamed or manipulated for an ulterior motive (to make more money or push a particular political perspective, for example).

For this reason, many podcasters and industry folks think there’s a danger in podcast platforms relying too heavily on algorithms.

As one anonymous podcaster in the survey put it:

“Social media algorithms have been responsible for promoting and normalizing the disastrous trends of the past decade.”

And not everyone’s convinced that YouTube’s algorithm is as democratic as we’re led to believe:

“I intensely dislike YouTube’s UI and would be surprised if their algorithm is revenue agnostic.”

– Anonymous podcaster

What Does This All Mean for You?

Whether you’re pro, anti, or indifferent to algorithms, most of this is outside of your control. You’ll have little influence on whether platforms choose to fully embrace them.

The one thing you can control is your content, and your approach to podcast discovery.

There are loads of things you can do to make your podcast more discoverable. Our SCALE framework contains no fewer than 30 ways to promote your podcast, but here are some low-hanging fruit pointers to get you up and running:

• Collaborate with other podcasters in your niche. Swap trailers and episodes, run co-hosted and montage pieces.
• Optimise your show’s essential details. Are your podcast name, description, and episode titles the best they possibly could be?
• Create content that others can’t help but share. Think lists, comparisons, reviews, costs, how-tos, and case studies for starters.

Maybe there is a podcast discovery problem, soon to be magically solved by a benevolent machine God. But, to play devil’s advocate, why would an algorithm favour your show in particular? There are more than four million podcasts out there.

Some podcasters reject the claim that there’s a widespread discovery problem in podcasting. After all, people discover new podcasts every single day. Discovery problems can exist for individual shows, but the great news is that this empowers you to do something about it. You don’t need to hope or wait on a tech company to do it for you.

That is, at least, according to entertainment journalist James Hibberd in a recent piece for the Hollywood Reporter.

James is entitled to his opinion, of course. But exaggerated claims like this can mislead and harm the industry. Not only are they about as reliable as licking your finger to see what way the wind is blowing, but they also push creators to second-guess themselves or even stop making the work they enjoy.

Debates over video versus audio in podcasting have been loud this past year, but hard numbers have been scarce. Recently, however, Rob Walch of Libsyn and Tom Webster of Sounds Profitable shared data that challenges much of the narrative. Here are the key takeaways.

Dynamic Video is Only Essential at the Very Top Tier

In episode 300 of Libsyn’s podcast, The Feed, Rob did some data digging to test the Hollywood Reporter’s claim that a podcast has “got to be on video to break through.”

When looking at the top 50 shows on Libsyn, Rob learned that, in reality, dynamic video was only needed at the very (very!) top.

Yes, the shows reaching a 300k+ audience per episode required live-action video, but those between 50k and 300k saw no clear difference between having no video, static video, or dynamic video. 

Remember, you only need about 27 downloads to put you in the top 50% of podcasts, so these are all elite-level numbers that most of us can only dream of. The real takeaway? Lessons from blockbuster shows don’t automatically translate to indie podcasters. What works at the very top doesn’t necessarily work for everyone else.

YouTube Is Just One Part of The Picture 

YouTube is undeniably making its mark as a major new podcast consumption platform, but it’s still only one part of the picture.

Yes, YouTube consumption is growing, but one of the best aspects of RSS distribution is that listeners are free to choose from many different platforms to access podcasts.

And the data shows that people still do. Rob’s research showed the largest proportion of the top 50 podcasts still got less than 2% of their audience from YouTube, and only 16% got more than half of their audience from the platform. 

Loads of the Top Podcasts Still Don’t Use Video 

Of course, it’s undeniable that many of the top podcasts have a video component. But to suit the hype narrative, we often ignore a really important point: a huge amount of them don’t. 

In Rob’s research, he also found that when looking at the top 25 new shows in just the last year on Podtrac, only 5 (20%) had video. The same amount used a static image when publishing to YouTube, and 60% (15/25) had no YouTube presence at all. 

When we look back again at the top 50 US shows (which includes shows that didn’t just launch in 2024), the number of shows with dynamic video is higher, but not by as much as you might think. 

While 66% of the top 50 shows have a video accompaniment, 24% just post audio with a static image to leverage the platform, and 10% of the top shows again have no YouTube presence at all.

Half of Those Who Consume Podcasts on YouTube Only Listen 

Tom Webster from Sounds Profitable also recently presented some data from their Podcast Landscape Report. 

They found that almost half of those listeners they surveyed who said they consume podcasts on YouTube only listen – they don’t watch – even when it’s a video podcast. 

Here’s a point often missed in the video trend: if you produce video for podcasts, it also has to work in audio. It is not just about repurposing audio for video.

Last year, we ran a study that suggested YouTube’s growth as a platform for podcasts isn’t synonymous with the rise of video podcasts, as a lot of people like to claim. In reality, it’s simply an indicator of the growth in popularity of YouTube more generally as a platform for watching OR listening. Sounds Profitable’s data paints a similar picture.

Audio-Heavy Deep Dives Remain Strong 

Contrary to the Hollywood Reporter’s claim that ‘investigative deep dives are out,’ the numbers suggest otherwise.

18 out of 25 (72%) of the top new shows of 2024 were true crime or long-form investigations, according to Podtrac.

Interestingly, the claim isn’t supported in the article either. Beyond that opening sentence claiming investigative true crime was out of fashion, there’s nothing in the article to substantiate it. 

Listeners Want Flexibility – But Not at the Expense of Your Show

A final takeaway from Sounds Profitable’s Podcasting Landscape report is a growth in public perception that a podcast may be either video or audio. 

This means the real issue is not format but freedom. Listeners want the option to engage however they prefer, on the platforms they choose. If you can offer both video and audio, that is great. But never at the cost of being sustainable and consistent.

Can I Still Make an Audio-Only Podcast in 2025?

As James Cridland of Podnews puts it, a podcast works best when it gives the ears something to do while the eyes are busy. With that principle in place, your show can thrive on any platform, regardless of whether the audience is watching a screen.

Video will always remain an option for later. If and when you feel ready and capable, you can expand into it without forcing it too soon.

The Hollywood Reporter piece said that: “Breaking through as an independent act has never been tougher.” It’s a fair point. But chasing video content you do not want to make will not fix that. Focusing on the podcast you can sustain will.

In ‘The Power of Podcast Titles‘, the agency outlined three key components to the perfect podcast artwork:

• The name of the show
• A publisher logo
• An image of the host

But is this the right formula for every podcast?

If you’re an independent podcaster, you’re instantly going to spot an issue with this formula. For one thing, indies by definition don’t work with networks, so that rules out a publisher logo.

But another thing that didn’t sit so well with me: a photo of the host isn’t always the right choice for your cover art.

In fact, we surveyed a bunch of independent podcasters and learned that 71% of them don’t include themselves in their cover art – and for a whole variety of different reasons.

So let’s take a look at some reasons and situations where adding your photo to your cover art could be a good idea – and when it’s best avoided.

When a Host Photo Is a Good Idea

For some podcasts, adding a host photo to the cover art makes perfect sense. Let’s see if yours is one of them.

You use a fitting format

The most obvious clue would be if you run a solo show or interview-based podcast where you’re the ‘common thread’ throughout the series.

Including a photo of yourself as the host of an interview series helps build consistency, familiarity, and connection with your audience. This matters even more because your guests change every episode. As one early-stage podcaster in our survey put it:

 “I’ve heard a lot of more experienced podcasters advise to share more of yourself from the beginning since you are the common thread throughout every episode and they should be getting to know you as well [as your guests].”

– Briana Ottoboni, The Trades Show Podcast

You’re building a personal brand

If your podcast’s goal is to build your personal brand, a photo in the cover art can reinforce it.

This is why host-name-based podcast names tend to be popular in business podcasts, too. These shows are all about building brand recognition, so the more elements you can add to brand-building, the better.

By including your photo in your cover art, you’re building a full-circle brand for yourself that, over time, will make you more recognisable to your audience.

One podcaster told us:

“To boost name and brand recognition, I include my full name in my podcast title and all graphic assets. Several images contain my photo to offer potential followers an opportunity to possibly resonate with me visually. Many listeners have told me that seeing my picture helped them connect with me and want to follow me.”

Charlotte Spicer, Spiritual Insights with Charlotte Spicer – Spirituality & Metaphysics Talk Radio

Your goal is to build trust

There are some podcast topics and categories where building your authority as an expert, or a voice your listeners can trust, is crucial to the success of your show.

This is particularly the case for health and fitness podcasts, parenting podcasts, or any other types of shows where listeners are taking advice from you rather than listening for entertainment.

When a Host Photo Is a Bad Idea

There are some situations where including a photo just won’t be right for your podcast, whether it’s part of the ‘perfect artwork formula’ or not. If any of the following ring true to you, your artwork will work just fine without one.

You don’t want to use one

This is probably the most important point of this debate: No matter what the data or industry advice is telling you, if you’re not comfortable having your photo in your cover art, don’t include it.

Some creators enjoy the anonymity of listeners not knowing what they look like, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

In our survey, some respondents argued that audio-only podcasts should include host images so listeners can “put a face to a voice.” I disagree. Would we have said the same thing ten years ago, when video wasn’t so tied to podcasting?

The rise of video podcasting has created a new pressure to always be on camera, and that risks putting some creators off making great content. If you don’t want to be in front of the camera, then don’t.

Your podcast isn’t personality-driven

Sometimes, decentring yourself as host feels like the right decision for your podcast. In these situations, it definitely wouldn’t make sense to include a photo in your cover art.

For example, maybe the topic of your show makes host photos feel a bit inappropriate. One podcaster spoke about how a photo would be incongruent with her show, which is about practising Buddhism:

“I don’t have my photo on the cover art because I don’t want to make it about me, but about the Dharma I’m sharing. As a Buddhist podcaster, I am focusing on less attention to myself. I am not trying to be a guru or influencer.”

– Wendy Shinyo Haylett, Everyday Buddhism: Making Everyday Better

This might also be the case if you’re running a fiction or drama podcast. It might even confuse listeners to include your photo, as they could conflate you with one of your characters.

“I run a fiction (actual play) podcast, so I want the art to focus on our characters and setting. My other podcast is about creating art with the listener(s), so it didn’t feel right to have the art focus on me as the host.” – Anonymous podcaster

Your audience is kids and adolescents

The one area where listener demographics do come into the argument here is that kids and adolescents don’t need to see host photos. For younger listeners, recognition and trust in a host matters less.

As one kids podcaster suggests, host photos are better for website ‘about’ pages, whereas cover art is for drawing listeners in with fun and eye-catching imagery.

“My pic is on my about page. I use colorful and punchy artwork to appeal to adolescents and young adults which is my target audience “

– Mark Taylor, Headstraight Podcast

Another podcaster, Dean Bowler, told us he used AI to create cartoon versions of the hosts instead: “We have used ChatGPT to formulate characters of ourselves, so it is us, just in cartoon form!”

So, Should I Use My Photo in My Cover Art?

There’s no right or wrong approach here; only what works for you, your content, and your audience.

Remember that adding a photo to your cover art might benefit you. But it guarentees nothing. It isn’t a silver bullet hack for podcast growth. Nothing is.

Adding a photo could even hamper your growth if done poorly. If you go down this route, make sure your pic is recent and high quality. Stick to a headshot rather than a full-body picture, too, because podcast artwork appears small in apps and a close-up makes the strongest impact.

For most podcasters, choosing whether to include a photo of yourself in your cover art is a real gut-feel decision. You just know it is or isn’t the right choice. But if you’ve been on the fence about it, hopefully this article has been food for thought.

If you’re looking for more detailed guidance on creating the right art for your show (headshot or not!), check out our guide to podcast cover art for some more great tips. And if at this stage, you still can’t decide? Let this cover art quiz from Earbuds decide for you.