Art19 Review

ByObeydul Reading Time: 6 minutes

Launched in 2015 and acquired by Amazon’s Wondery in 2021, Art19 has carved a niche for itself by offering professional-grade tools for podcast publishers. With a focus on enterprise-level features like dynamic ad insertion, advanced analytics, and content management, Art19 is not just another podcast hosting platform—it’s a robust ecosystem designed for growth, monetization, and scalability.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll take a detailed look at Art19’s offerings, including its key features, user experience, strengths, drawbacks, pricing, and comparisons with competitors. Whether you’re considering Art19 for your podcast or just exploring your options, this article will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Overview of Art19

Art19 was built with large-scale podcast publishers in mind. Unlike consumer-friendly platforms like Buzzsprout or Podbean, Art19 caters primarily to podcast networks, media companies, and high-traffic independent shows. Its robust infrastructure supports high-volume streaming, dynamic ad insertion, and enterprise-grade analytics.

History and Ownership

Art19 was co-founded by Sean Carr and Matt Belknap. The company quickly gained attention for its technology-forward approach to podcasting. In 2021, Wondery, a podcast network owned by Amazon Music, acquired Art19. This acquisition expanded Art19’s reach and solidified its status as a premium hosting provider, especially for publishers seeking to monetize through Amazon’s advertising ecosystem.

Key Features

Art19 offers an impressive array of tools designed to support podcast growth and monetization. Let’s explore the most critical features:

Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI)

Dynamic Ad Insertion is arguably Art19’s flagship feature. Unlike static ads embedded permanently into a podcast episode, DAI allows publishers to insert, remove, or update ads at any time. This means ads can be geo-targeted, time-sensitive, or personalized, leading to improved ROI for advertisers and revenue for publishers.

Advanced Content Management System

Art19’s CMS is designed for scale. It supports:

  • Multiple shows under one network account
  • Episode scheduling
  • Private feeds
  • Bulk editing and metadata tagging
  • Detailed control over RSS feed management

Enterprise-Grade Hosting Infrastructure

With Amazon behind it, Art19 benefits from world-class infrastructure. This ensures minimal downtime, fast streaming, and scalable delivery even during traffic spikes.

Monetization Through Amazon Ads

Art19 is tightly integrated with Amazon Ads, allowing podcasters to tap into one of the most sophisticated ad networks available. This includes programmatic advertising, ad targeting, and campaign optimization.

API and Developer Tools

Art19 provides extensive API support, which is particularly helpful for large publishers and networks that want to integrate podcasting tools into their own websites or apps.

User Interface

Dashboard Design

Art19’s dashboard has a clean, modern design. Navigation is intuitive, especially for users familiar with enterprise-level tools. It offers quick access to:

  • Episode uploads
  • Ad management
  • Podcast analytics
  • Distribution settings

Ease of Use

While Art19 is powerful, it comes with a steeper learning curve than platforms aimed at beginners. Its abundance of features can overwhelm solo podcasters or those just starting out. However, for professional teams, the interface supports collaboration and efficiency.

Monetization

Dynamic Ads

Art19’s ad insertion technology is among the most advanced in the industry. Publishers can create ad slots and fill them with host-read or programmatic ads, change ads based on seasonality, and remove outdated promotions.

Amazon Ads Integration

This is where Art19 shines post-acquisition. Users can now plug directly into Amazon’s demand-side platform (DSP), opening access to big-brand advertisers. This makes monetization accessible even for mid-size shows with consistent traffic.

Host-Read Campaign Management

For creators who prefer host-read ads, Art19 provides tools to track delivery, impressions, and effectiveness of these campaigns.

Analytics and Reporting

Real-Time Metrics

Art19 offers near real-time analytics, allowing podcasters to monitor trends, spikes, and engagement without delay.

Key Metrics Tracked

  • Total downloads
  • Unique listeners
  • Episode performance
  • Listener geography
  • Playback sources (apps/platforms)
  • Ad impressions and fill rates

Customizable Reports

Publishers can generate custom reports for advertisers or internal use. The data can be exported or integrated with BI tools via API.

Distribution 

One-Click Distribution

Art19 simplifies distribution to major platforms such as:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Google Podcasts
  • Amazon Music
  • Stitcher
  • Overcast and others

Private Feeds

For premium or subscription content, Art19 supports private RSS feeds that can be delivered to paying users securely.

Third-Party Integrations

Art19 integrates with various analytics platforms, ad agencies, and content management systems. Integration options include:

  • Megaphone
  • Chartable
  • Podscribe
  • Supercast
  • Patreon

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade infrastructure
  • Advanced ad insertion technology
  • Amazon Ads integration
  • Comprehensive analytics
  • Developer-friendly API access
  • Private and premium content support

Cons

  • Not ideal for beginners
  • No free plan
  • Limited community and tutorials compared to mainstream platforms
  • Pricing not transparent for the general public

Pricing

Art19 does not publish pricing on its website. Instead, it uses a custom pricing model based on factors like:

  • Number of shows
  • Monthly downloads
  • Ad inventory usage
  • Level of support and services

From industry sources and user reports, Art19 is generally considered a premium hosting solution, with costs often starting in the hundreds per month for enterprise accounts. However, smaller publishers may be able to negotiate lower rates depending on volume.

Final Thoughts

Art19 has firmly established itself as a top-tier podcast hosting and monetization platform. Its enterprise-grade features—especially dynamic ad insertion and deep integration with Amazon Ads—make it a standout choice for professional podcasters and media companies.

While it may not be the right fit for beginners or hobbyists, Art19 is ideal for those looking to scale, monetize effectively, and benefit from real-time insights. If you’re aiming for serious podcast growth and revenue, and you have the resources to invest, Art19 is worth every penny.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Art19

1. Is Art19 suitable for beginner podcasters?

Not really. Art19 is designed primarily for professional podcasters, networks, and media companies. Its feature set, while powerful, can be overwhelming for beginners, and the platform lacks some of the hand-holding features found in more beginner-friendly services like Buzzsprout or Podbean.

2. Does Art19 offer a free plan or trial period?

No, Art19 does not offer a free plan or a self-service trial period. Pricing is customized based on usage, audience size, and features required. If you’re interested in using Art19, you must contact their sales team for a demo and quote.

3. Can I monetize my podcast using Art19 even if I’m not part of a large network?

Yes, but success will depend on your download numbers and audience demographics. Art19’s monetization tools—including Amazon Ads and dynamic ad insertion—work best for shows with a steady stream of downloads. Smaller shows may benefit less from programmatic ads unless they serve a niche that advertisers actively seek.

4. Does Art19 support private podcast feeds for premium content?

Yes. Art19 allows you to create private RSS feeds, which are ideal for subscription-based podcasts, internal corporate communications, or member-only content. These feeds can be delivered securely to select users.

5. What kind of analytics does Art19 provide?

Art19 offers comprehensive analytics, including:

  • Total downloads
  • Unique listeners
  • Listening duration
  • Device and platform data
  • Geographic distribution
  • Ad impressions and campaign performance

These insights help publishers optimize content and advertising strategies.

6. Can I migrate my existing podcast to Art19?

Yes, Art19 supports podcast migration and provides tools to help you transfer your back catalog, RSS feed, and listener base without losing your audience. Their support team can assist with redirects and setup.

7. Does Art19 support video podcasting?

As of now, Art19 is focused on audio podcasting and does not natively support video podcasts. However, you can link your audio podcast to platforms like YouTube manually if you want a visual version of your content.

8. How does Art19 handle dynamic ad insertion?

Art19’s dynamic ad insertion (DAI) allows you to:

  • Insert ads before, during, or after episodes
  • Schedule different ads for different time periods
  • Target listeners by location or device
  • Replace or remove ads at any time

This increases ad inventory value and campaign flexibility.

9. Is there a mobile app for Art19 creators?

No, Art19 currently does not offer a dedicated mobile app for podcasters to manage their shows. All content management and analytics must be accessed through the web dashboard.

10. Who owns Art19, and how does that affect podcasters?

Art19 is owned by Wondery, which in turn is part of Amazon Music. This ownership provides Art19 users with access to Amazon Ads, expanding monetization potential and connecting creators with Amazon’s powerful ad targeting capabilities.

Let me know if you’d like these FAQs formatted in an accordion-style web component or exported as a standalone help page.

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