Nadia: Down over ninety percent in five years. That's... a story.
Russ: I'm Russ.
Nadia: I'm Nadia. And this is Feed Drop for Friday, November 13th, 2026.
Russ: On the show today, we’re digging into some big stories from the podcast world.
Nadia: iHeartMedia insists its podcast division is not for sale, but we've got some numbers that suggest otherwise.
Russ: Also, we're heading to London—or at least, tickets for The Podcast Show 2027 are on sale, with a new focus that has me rolling my eyes already.
Nadia: And we'll end with something truly special: the last-ever recorded song from Dolly Parton has just been released.
Nadia: Alright, let's start with iHeart. This week, CEO Bob Pittman sent a company-wide memo insisting that the iHeartPodcast Network is absolutely not for sale.
Russ: Which, in corporate speak, usually means they've hired a banker and printed up brochures, right?
Nadia: [laughs] It definitely has a 'lady doth protest too much' vibe. This all comes after a Bloomberg report that they were exploring a sale to raise cash.
Russ: Okay, but why? Aren't they constantly bragging about being the number one podcast publisher in the world?
Nadia: By some metrics, yes. But their parent company, iHeartMedia, has a stock price problem. A huge one. As of this morning, it's trading at just over a dollar a share.
Russ: Wait, a dollar? That's vending machine-level money. So the podcast division is the one crown jewel they could sell?
Nadia: It's their main growth engine. Selling it would be like selling the lifeboats, but it would generate a massive influx of cash. We're talking potentially billions.
Russ: What does that mean for the actual podcasts? If you're a host there, do you start polishing your resume?
Nadia: You should be paying attention. A new owner, whether it's private equity or another media giant, would mean changes. Consolidation, budget reviews, strategy shifts...
Russ: Translation: fewer weird, interesting shows and more celebrity-hosted pap. Got it.
Nadia: It's a cynical take, but not an unfair one. Even the rumor of a sale creates instability. Pittman's memo was pure damage control.
Russ: The numbers don't lie. Ninety percent down. You can't send a memo to fix that.
Russ: Alright, let's shift gears. If you're planning a trip to the UK in, what, 2027... I have some news for you. Tickets for The Podcast Show London are already on sale.
Nadia: Planning way, way ahead. But it shows how much that event has grown. They're already announcing an expanded show floor and, notably, a brand new stage dedicated entirely to video.
Russ: Ugh, the endless pivot to video. So now it's not enough to talk into a mic, you have to look good for the camera while doing it?
Nadia: But you can't deny YouTube's gravity in podcast discovery and consumption. This new stage means the industry is taking video seriously—it's more than just turning on a webcam now.
Russ: Best practices for what? How to angle the lighting so you don't look like you've been living in a basement for six months?
Nadia: [sighs] For creating clips for social, for production value, for using YouTube's features to build community. It's a whole different skillset.
Russ: So, what this means for me, the listener, is that more of my favorite audio shows are going to be bugging me to go 'watch' them on YouTube.
Nadia: Or... it means creators can reach a whole new audience that only watches on video. You have to meet people where they are. This stage is a signal that video isn't just an experiment anymore—it's a core part of the business.
Nadia: And let's end on a major, and very bittersweet, cultural moment. Variety is reporting that Dolly Parton's final recorded vocals have been released.
Russ: Her last words, musically speaking. That's... a lot to process. Where did this come from?
Nadia: It's on U2's just-released album, 'Carnaval de Luz'. The final track is a song called 'Torn,' and it's a duet between Dolly and Bono.
Russ: Is it good? Or is it one of those things that feels like they just found some old demo in a vault?
Nadia: No, it's a very intentional, passionate performance. According to the report, it was a project she deeply wanted to complete. I've listened, and her voice... it's just incredibly moving.
Russ: So it's a planned finale. Wow. Dolly Parton and U2. That's a crossover.
Nadia: It is. And it matters for podcasting because a moment like this, with an icon this huge... it becomes its own content event. People will be making shows about this song, and her legacy, for months.
Russ: It’s the end of an era. Just hearing her voice, knowing it’s the last new recording... that’s something else. A piece of history.
Nadia: Alright, let's do a quick recap.
Russ: iHeart's CEO says the podcast division isn't for sale, but a 90% drop in stock price suggests they need cash from somewhere.
Nadia: The Podcast Show London 2027 is already selling tickets, and they’re adding a whole new stage just for video strategy.
Russ: And Dolly Parton's beautiful final performance has been released on a new U2 album.
Nadia: And before we go, a little chart-watching news for you, Russ.
Russ: Hit me.
Nadia: For the first time in what feels like forever—at least three years—there is not a single true crime show in the Spotify USA Top 5.
Russ: No way. Is that even legal? What's in there instead?
Nadia: All comedy and celebrity interviews. Nature is healing.
Russ: [laughs] Or maybe we just finally ran out of murders.
Nadia: That's our show! Thanks for listening to Feed Drop.
Russ: We'll be back tomorrow. Until then, go listen to that Dolly song. I'm Russ.
Nadia: I'm Nadia. See you next time.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.