Airwave Media

What Airwave Media does

Airwave Media is a curated podcast network founded in 2020 that provides monetization, marketing, and hosting services to independent and brand-affiliated podcasters. The company operates more than 180 podcasts and video channels, collectively generating over 100 million listens and views per month, and delivers content through major consumer platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Airwave serves two distinct customer segments: content creators seeking distribution, production support, and audience growth, and advertisers seeking host-read and programmatic ad placements across a curated inventory.

The company's business model is multi-pronged. Revenue is generated through advertising sales (host-read and programmatic), premium consumer subscriptions exemplified by the Airwave History Plus bundle launched in October 2024, and brand expansion services for content partners. Airwave has assembled a roster of high-profile content partnerships including TWiT.tv (signed September 2025), The Motley Fool (November 2023), Carnegie Corporation, and Penguin Random House, and has added specialized sales representation through a True Native Media partnership covering TWiT.tv ad inventory. The platform aggregates long-form audio and video content into a single monetizable network that leverages cross-promotional lift and consolidated audience analytics.

Operationally, Airwave combines in-house original programming (e.g., the Face-Off podcast launched April 2024) with a third-party curation and monetization model. The team is credited with 25+ years of entertainment industry experience, which underpins deal-making access with premium publishers and brand-side advertisers. The advertiser base spans roughly 18 named brands across technology, finance, and entertainment, indicating a distributed buy-side roster despite concentration among a smaller set of marquee content supply partners.

Name

Airwave Media

Legal name

Airwave Media, LLC

Website

https://airwavemedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Airwave Media is a curated podcast network founded in 2020 operating 180+ shows with 100M+ monthly listens. It provides monetization, hosting, and marketing services to podcasters and sells host-read and programmatic ads to brands across Apple and Spotify.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Network and Audio Advertising

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Podcast Ad Sales Networks & Monetization Platforms (MPACADAD), Podcast Hosting Platforms (RSS, Analytics, Distribution) (MPACADAA), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE)

Keywords

• Podcast network
• Audio advertising
• Podcast monetization
• Premium subscriptions
• Digital audio content

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Host-Read Advertising: Authentic host-read spots, feed drops, sponsored episodes, paid interviews, and presenting sponsorships. Airwave matches brands with podcast content for authentic endorsements.
2. Programmatic Advertising: Monetizes podcast catalogs with programmatic CPMs and fill-rates across the entire inventory.
3. Paid Subscriptions: Airwave+ premium subscriptions for ad-free listening. Category-specific bundles like Airwave History Plus offer ad-free content plus bonus, early, and archived episodes.
4. Cross-Platform Sponsorships: Paid sponsorships on YouTube, social media, websites, and newsletters extending beyond podcast episodes.
5. Brand Expansion Services: Opportunities for podcasters to expand into books (via Penguin Random House), television, and live events, creating additional revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Airwave Media operates a curated podcast network aggregating over 180 podcasts and 20 video channels that collectively generate more than 100 million listens and views per month. The company provides independent podcasters with distribution, RSS feed hosting, white-glove host-read and programmatic advertising sales, audience growth tools, analytics, and premium subscription products (such as Airwave History Plus). It also offers brand expansion services connecting podcasters with book publishers (Penguin Random House), television studios, and live events, while selling advertising inventory to brand advertisers across the network.

Product overview

Airwave Media operates a curated podcast network offering a platform-plus-services architecture. The core network includes over 180 podcasts and video channels totaling over 100 million monthly listens and views. Services include free RSS feed hosting, host-read and programmatic advertising sales, Airwave+ paid subscriptions for ad-free listening, and the Airwave History Plus premium bundle for history content. Additional offerings span audience growth tools (Audio Promos, guaranteed impressions), analytics, and brand expansion into books, TV, and live events. The network provides total creative ownership and autonomy to podcasters while handling monetization and promotional support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airwave Podcast Network Curated podcast network providing distribution, monetization, audience growth, and brand expansion services for independent podcasters and content creators across categories including history, science, business, wellness, arts, kids and family, and technology.
• Airwave+ Premium Subscriptions Subscription service allowing podcast listeners to pay a monthly fee for ad-free listening across network podcasts, with plans for category-specific bundled offerings.
• Airwave History Plus Category-specific premium subscription bundle on Apple Podcasts offering ad-free listening for 27 history podcasts including History That Doesn't Suck, Queens Podcast, The History of WWII Podcast, and The Box of Oddities, plus bonus, early, and archived episodes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Many shows double or triple their downloads in less than a year with Airwave's growth system
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TWiT.tvcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2025Airwave signed a distribution, monetization, and marketing deal with TWiT.tv, one of the longest-running technology podcast networks. The deal encompasses TWiT.tv's flagship show This Week in Tech and 12 other tech podcasts including Security Now, MacBreak Weekly, Intelligent Machines, Windows Weekly, and a new daily podcast launching in 2026. Advertising sales for 2026 are represented by Airwave's sales partner True Native Media.
• True Native MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 September 2025True Native Media serves as Airwave's sales partner representing TWiT.tv podcasts for 2026 advertising sales. They specialize in connecting independent podcasters with advertisers through authentic, host-read campaigns.
• The Motley FoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Airwave signed a deal with The Motley Fool for distribution, monetization, marketing, and promotion of Motley Fool Money, the popular daily investing show receiving 5 million downloads per month and appearing as a weekly radio show on over 50 stations.
• Penguin Random HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirwave enables podcasters to expand into book publishing with distribution through Penguin Random House for print, ebooks, and audiobooks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• iHeartPodcasts: Largest U.S. radio broadcaster's podcast network, offering host-read ads, programmatic monetization, and a multi-show publisher model that mirrors Airwave's curation, monetization, and distribution architecture.
• Pushkin Industries: Premium podcast production and publishing company founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, focused on high-quality curated content with host-read advertising and IP expansion. Closely comparable curation-led model with similar affluent audience targeting.
• Lemonada Media: Independent podcast network built around curated, mission-driven shows with host-read advertising and a focus on premium demographics. Comparable to Airwave in network curation and brand-advertiser focus.
• Acast: Global podcast hosting, monetization, and analytics platform with open marketplace for advertisers and a network of independent creators. Directly comparable to Airwave's RSS hosting, programmatic advertising, and cross-promo services.
• Audioboom: Podcast hosting and ad-tech platform that powers monetization for independent creators via programmatic and host-read advertising. Comparable to Airwave's hosting-plus-monetization layer, though Audioboom is platform-first rather than network-first.
• Wondery: Curated podcast network owned by Amazon that produces, monetizes, and distributes premium podcasts with host-read advertising and IP expansion (TV/film adaptations). Most direct comparable to Airwave's network-plus-monetization-plus-IP-expansion model.

Emerging players

• Libsyn: Long-established podcast hosting platform providing RSS hosting, distribution, and monetization tools to independent creators. Comparable to Airwave's hosting and ad-ops layer but does not operate a curated content network.

Broad incumbents

• Spotify: Global audio streaming platform that has aggressively expanded into podcasts (Spotify Originals, exclusive deals, video podcasts). A distribution partner and direct competitor for both creator monetization and listener attention.
• Audacy (Cadence13): Multi-platform audio company combining radio stations with the Cadence13 podcast network. Comparable ad-sales infrastructure and curated network model, but with a much larger terrestrial radio footprint.
• SiriusXM (Stitcher): Large audio entertainment incumbent with satellite radio, streaming, and the Stitcher podcast network. Overlapping capabilities in podcast monetization and distribution but operates at much larger scale across a broader audio portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AirwavePodcasts
• Facebookfacebook.com/Airwave-Media-107513078076053
• Instagraminstagram.com/airwavepodcasts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airwavemedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airwave Media