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Podcasts have experienced a <a href="https://www.podcastinsights.com/podcast-statistics/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">boom in popularity this year</a>, with an increase of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/business/media/podcast-growth.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">20 million weekly listeners</a>. According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/business/media/podcast-growth.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, nearly half of the people in the United States have listened to at least one podcast. The explosively popular true-crime podcast Serial revolutionized the genre, leading to a <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/beyond-serial-10-true-crime-podcasts-you-need-to-follow-93729/true-crime-garage-99476/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">number of copycats</a>, one of which was McDonald&rsquo;s.

If there is an opportunity for successful marketing, brands will find it. Last year, McDonald&rsquo;s released <a href="https://www.marketingdive.com/news/mcdonalds-dips-into-podcasts-for-another-szechuan-sauce-promo/517472/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">&ldquo;The Sauce&rdquo;</a>, a three-episode investigative podcast that was meant to dive into the company&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.marketingdive.com/news/update-mcdonalds-gets-burned-by-rick-and-morty-fans-as-sauce-promo-back/506797/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Szechuan sauce debacle</a>. In a stroke of marketing genius, McDonald&rsquo;s beat other podcasters to the punch, leading to a viral, entertaining increase in brand awareness and followers. In fact, within a day of its release, &ldquo;The Sauce&rdquo; broke into the iTunes top-100 podcast chart.&nbsp;

Many brands in the fitness and wellness segment are also getting into podcasting, bringing their self-help and motivation skills into the listener&rsquo;s ears. Morgan Kline, the founder of <a href="https://burnbootcamp.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Burn Boot Camp</a>, hosts a podcast named <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-kettlebells/id1370122914?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Coffee &amp; Kettlebells</a> to discuss hot topics in nutrition, fitness, health and self-love.&nbsp;

Of course, there are also plenty of unbranded podcasts that feature in-depth analysis of the branded, franchising world, including 1851&rsquo;s very own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxLihJCwGTJGBMFM7rAAZbg?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Live to Tell podcast</a>.&nbsp;

Before you know it, your favorite pizza chain may be providing the entertainment for your daily commute.

To read the recent New York Times article on the subject, click <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/business/media/branded-podcasts.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-mcpod-are-branded-podcasts-the-next-big-thing-2710805" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">here</a>.

The McPod: Are Branded Podcasts the Next Big Thing?

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It was only a matter of time before brands jumped aboard the podcast train, creating ads people actually want to listen to. 

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The McPod: Are Branded Podcasts the Next Big Thing?

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