Revolutionizing Content Distribution with Megaphone's Broadcast-to-Podcast Technology
Overview —
At Spotify, we set out to bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and the booming podcast industry. As podcasts surged in popularity, broadcasters struggled to keep pace with evolving listener expectations. Their legacy workflows weren’t built for the on-demand audio landscape, making it difficult to repurpose live content efficiently. Our team designed a groundbreaking solution that streamlined production, enhanced audience engagement, and empowered broadcasters to thrive in the podcasting era—unlocking new opportunities for growth on one of the world’s leading audio platforms.
Problem statement
Traditional broadcasters faced significant barriers in transitioning to the podcast ecosystem due to manual content conversion, inconsistent workflows, and limited audience insights. To stay competitive and reach modern listeners, they needed an intuitive, automated solution that streamlined production, publishing, and engagement across platforms.
To address these challenges, we needed to rethink how broadcasters transitioned from live radio to on-demand audio. Our goal was to create a solution that not only automated content conversion but also provided the tools needed to optimize workflows and better connect with podcast audiences.
Mission statement
Our mission was to empower traditional broadcasters with a seamless, automated solution that transformed radio content into podcast-ready formats. By streamlining workflows, enhancing audience insights, and simplifying distribution, we aimed to bridge the gap between broadcast and digital audio, enabling broadcasters to engage modern listeners with ease.
Read the full case study below, including snapshots of the product design process, artefacts and deliverables.
My contribution
UX strategy and research Design thinking and workshops Product design
The team
1 x engineering manager 2 x senior engineers 1 x lead product manager 1 x senior product manager 1 × product design manager 2 × senior product designers
Date
2023
Process —
We started with in-depth user interviews and stakeholder workshops to understand the needs of broadcasters, publishers, and podcast creators. Insights from this discovery phase highlighted the need for:
- A frictionless way to repurpose existing content.
- A clear and structured user flow that aligns with both live and on-demand content distribution.
- Tools that help broadcasters analyze and monetize content post-podcast.
Think it. Design it. Build it. Test it.
- User Flow and Information Architecture: We began by mapping out the core user journey from live broadcast to podcast distribution, ensuring we addressed key touchpoints (including content scheduling, metadata tagging, episode management, and analytics tracking). A focus was placed on streamlining repetitive tasks through automation.
- Wireframes and Prototyping: We designed wireframes showcasing how users could easily access core features such as:
- Automatic trimming and formatting of broadcast episodes for podcast platforms.
- Integrated ad management and audience analytics.
- Scheduling tools to manage the transition between live broadcasts and podcast releases.
- Leveraging stakeholder feedback, we developed high-fidelity prototypes for usability testing.
- User Testing and Iteration: Usability tests revealed important refinements, including simplifying the podcast scheduling tool and improving the visibility of analytics. Based on feedback, we iterated the design to improve clarity and streamline complex workflows.
Outcome —
The final solution integrated seamlessly with Megaphone’s platform, enabling broadcasters to:
- Increase Engagement: Broadcasters unlocked a new audience and greater reach as they leveraged on-demand podcast distribution, helping them capture both live and post-broadcast audiences.
- Reduce Time to Publish: Automation features significantly reduced the manual workload, allowing broadcasters to focus on content creation rather than technical processes.
- Monetize Content: Integration of ad placements and audience insights enabled publishers to better monetize their content, improving revenue potential.
Reflection
This project challenged us to design with scalability and flexibility in mind, ensuring that broadcasters of all sizes could benefit from the platform. By combining automation with a user-friendly interface, we made it easier for traditional broadcasters to thrive in the digital podcasting space.
Publishers such as FOX News Audio are actively using this technology to easily translate their radio content into podcast content, while also extending their audience reach and creating an additional revenue stream.