This is\u00a0<\/em>Hot Pod,\u00a0<\/em>The Verge\u2019s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for more.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019ve got a bunch of news in podcast world, but first, an announcement: Hot Pod Summit is BACK, baby! We have some really great stuff cooking that I can\u2019t wait to share.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019m excited to announce that Hot Pod Summit<\/a> is returning to Brooklyn on February 28th, 2024, as part of On Air Fest for a day of in-depth talks, intimate conversations, and industry networking. The invite-only summit is our way of kicking off the year in podcasting and talking about what\u2019s on everyone\u2019s minds \u2014 I\u2019m eager to see you all, catch up, and hear what everyone\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n We\u2019ll have more to share about programming in the new year. For now, let us know if you\u2019re interested in attending right here<\/a>. We\u2019ll be sending out our first invitations early next year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The summit will kick off On Air Fest Brooklyn<\/a> and is hosted in conjunction with our friends at work x work<\/a>. Both events will be held at the Wythe Hotel, with On Air Fest running from February 28th through March 1st. (It\u2019s a leap year!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Air Fest has a fantastic lineup planned, including a live story from Twenty Thousand Hertz<\/em> creator Dallas Taylor, The Allusionist<\/em> with Helen Zaltzman, Design Matters<\/em> Live with Debbie Millman, Talkhouse<\/em> Live, Sing for Science<\/em>, and appearances from a bunch of other familiar faces. The festival is also planning sonic art installations, networking moments, and parties \u2014 you can see the full lineup<\/a> and buy tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There will be more details on both Hot Pod Summit and On Air Fest soon. Looking forward to seeing you all next year!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n SiriusXM is simplifying its stock structure as part of its company makeover<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n More changes are coming to SiriusXM as company leaders attempt to drag it into the future. SiriusXM is merging with its largest shareholder, Liberty Media\u2019s SiriusXM tracking stock group, to form a new public company<\/a> with one class of stock and no majority shareholder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Wall Street appears to approve, with the stock up about 4 percent on the news. \u201cWe view the conclusion as constructive to SIRI due to benefits from higher liquidity, lower complexity and potentially future index inclusion,\u201d Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall wrote in a note. There is not much happening in a way that directly impacts consumers, but the move hopefully makes it easier for investors by giving SiriusXM a normal, straightforward structure versus the weirdo setup it has now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It appears to be another attempt by the company to modernize. Last month, SiriusXM previewed a revamped, consolidated app that looks and acts much more like other streaming apps on the market. Having hemorrhaged subscribers this past year, the pressure is on for the company to attract younger, paying customers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Spotify cuts ad and distribution deal with Warner Bros. Discovery<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Good news is hard to come by at Spotify right now, but Megaphone just got a big new client. The podcast host cut a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes TV brands like CNN and HBO that have produced popular podcasts in recent years like All There Is with Anderson Cooper<\/em> and The Official Game of Thrones Podcast: House of the Dragon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n WBD will also use Spotify Audience Network as one of its ad sales partners. The deal includes shows from the WB part of the WBD portfolio, including Turner Classic Movies\u2019 The Plot Thickens<\/em> and WBD Sports\u2019 The Steam Room<\/em>. As The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> notes<\/a>, this announcement comes shortly after WBD cut a deal with Acast<\/a> to host and monetize shows from the brands formerly of Discovery, like Food Network, Travel Channel, and HGTV.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Layoffs at TWiT, buyouts at KCRW<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n