Global Audio Platform Spotify, the Pod Network Launch State-Of-The-Art Podcast Studio in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines — The Pod Network, the leading podcast network in the Philippines, has strengthened its long-running partnership with global audio platform Spotify, launching a co-branded state-of-the-art studio designed to further support the growth of podcasting in the country.

Located in Mandaluyong City, the studio is designed to create a space for local creators to launch high-quality video and audio podcasts, in addition to its regular on-platform programming on Spotify.

The facility is equipped with three professional-grade recording studios, complete video podcast setups with multi-camera options, dedicated event and community activation areas, and integrated data and production workflows, strategically established to cater to the evolving needs of both seasoned and emerging podcasters and creators, while also offering advertisers a premium, brand-safe environment for immersive content experiences.

"This new studio isn’t just about space, but it’s also about scale," said Alan Fontanilla, CEO, The Pod Network. "We're combining creative power, analytics, and distribution to give brands a high-impact way to connect with engaged audiences. With Spotify’s support, we’re creating an ecosystem where Filipino podcasters can thrive, and where advertisers can measure real return on investment."

The new partnership paves the way for more creators in the podcast scene to reach highly engaged Filipino listeners. With over 17 million Filipinos tuning in weekly, podcasting in the Philippines has grown in popularity and shows further growth and evolution. According to the "Beyond the Headphones" study, in collaboration with socio-cultural research firm The Fourth Wall, audiences are not only growing but also shifting toward more dynamic formats, including video podcasts. The study also stated that podcasts surpassed other media platforms, such as online streaming sites, online news portals, and TV, as a preferred source of information for Filipinos.

"At Spotify, we’re committed to empowering Filipino creatives and helping them thrive," said Carl Zuzarte, Head of Studios, Spotify Southeast Asia. "Our partnership with The Pod Network creates a space where creators can push creative boundaries, grow their audiences, and shape culture in the Philippines and beyond. We want creators to see Spotify as a partner in building lasting, meaningful connections with their audiences."

Since 2019, Spotify has been home to The Pod Network's chart-topping favorites like “The KoolPals,” “Lecheng Pag-ibig ‘To with Sam YG and DJ Chacha,” and “Book of Bad Ideas” — each drawing in millions of monthly listeners. The leading podcast network also boasts other popular podcast shows, including “Paano Kung...with Joelle,” “Intellectwalwal with Victor Anastacio,” and “Kwentong Callroom Podcast."

With the studio launch, The Pod Network continues to lead the country’s podcasting movement, balancing entertainment, insight, and community-building while reaffirming its mission to empower Filipino podcasters by providing access to world-class production capabilities and the tools to turn creative passion into sustainable content brands.

The Pod Network announces that it is open for creator bookings, brand campaigns, and collaborative projects. It invites brands, agencies, and creators to shape the next wave of Filipino digital storytelling together.

For more information about The Pod Network, you may visit www.thepodnetwork.com or their Facebook page.

Among entertainment apps, YouTube collects the most data, while Spotify shares the most with third parties

In a revealing study of 100 popular apps, Surfshark's research highlights entertainment apps, particularly Spotify and SoundCloud, share data with third parties the most, while YouTube collects significant amounts of user data. Out of the 10 analyzed entertainment apps, almost half track some of the data points collected across platforms. Research is aided by a free App privacy checker tool where users can select the specific apps they have on their phone and receive a report on the extent of data collection.

“Analyzing 100 popular apps on the App Store, we’ve found a concerning trend: nearly 20% of collected data is used for tracking. Such tracked data can be shared with third-party advertisers or data brokers, who use it to deliver personalized ads targeting the users, or aid companies in market research,” says Agneska Sablovskaja, Lead Researcher at Surfshark. “Understanding an app’s privacy policy is crucial for safeguarding digital autonomy.”

Entertainment apps collect an average number of data points

On average, travel and mobility apps collect 15 out of 32 possible data points. That is the same as the average: 15 collected data points across all 100 examined apps. Moreover, these apps link 94% of collected data points to the user’s identity. Also, 4 out of 10 such apps use collected data points to track users across third-party platforms (Spotify, Soundcloud, Audible, and Wattpad).

YouTube could be named the most data-hungry app within the entertainment apps category, collecting 25 out of 32 data points respectively, and linking all data points to the user's identity, although they don’t use data to track their users across third-party advertising networks.

Spotify and SoundCloud are apps that share the most data points with third parties. 6 data points collected by Spotify are used to track the user, like email address, phone number, product interaction, and advertising data. Soundcloud is 2nd when it comes to user tracking, tracking 5 data points across third-party platforms. Its competitor, Amazon Music, tracks 0 data points out of 16 collected.

Out of the 10 analyzed travel and mobility apps, Libby collects the least data points (3) and doesn’t track users across third-party advertising platforms. 10 popular analyzed travel and mobility apps were YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, SoundCloud, Shazam, Audible, Amazon Kindle, Goodreads, Wattpad, and Libby.

Around half of the 100 analyzed apps collect your search history and precise location

1523 data points are collected across 100 of the most popular apps. Statistically speaking, that's an average of 15 unique data points per app out of the 32 unique data points defined by Apple. Around 90% of the apps collect usage, diagnostic, and identifier data such as product interaction, user ID, device ID, crash, and performance data. Most are essential for their app functionality.

Two-thirds of the apps collect your name and coarse location, and nearly half collect your precise location. Coarse location is a more general estimation of where you are, while precise location is more detailed and accurate. Over a third of the apps collect your contacts, and a fifth collect your emails or text messages and browsing history.

Facebook and Instagram are the two most privacy-invasive apps. Both apps collect all 32 data points defined by Apple and are the only two to do so. Signal is also the only social media and messaging app to make the top 10 most privacy-sensitive list. It is the second least data-hungry app, collecting just 1 data point (phone number) that is not linked to you or used to track you.

Before downloading apps, it is recommended to check the developer's reputation and data retention policies and pay attention to constant permission requests to access the contact list, camera, storage, location, and microphone, and limit the app's access to information only when the app is in use.

METHODOLOGY

We analyzed a total of 100 apps across 10 app categories. The apps for each category were selected from articles that appeared at the top of search engine result pages for "the most popular appCategoryX apps" keyword. The App Store lists 32 unique data points that can be collected across 12 unique data point categories. We analyzed the data set according to the three layers of collected data points: unique data points collected, the number of data that’s linked to the user, and data that’s used to track the user: For the complete research material behind this study, visit here.

Linking is when a service provider associates the collected data with the user’s identity. As per Apple, “data collected from an app is often linked to the user’s identity unless specific privacy protections are put in place before collection to de-identify or anonymize it.” Also, “personal information” or “personal data,” as defined in relevant privacy laws, is usually linked to the user’s identity by default.

Tracking means connecting or associating data gathered from the app about a specific user or device (like a user ID or device ID) with information from sources outside the said app (such as a third-party advertising network). Tracking is used mainly for targeted advertising or advertising measuring purposes. Also, data could be shared with data brokers (companies that collect information). They create detailed data profiles based on demographics, behavior patterns, and interests and then sell the info to various companies and institutions. Collected data may be used for advertising, market research, financial risk assessment, and more.

App Privacy Checker is a free tool developed by Surfshark’s Research Hub to aid this research. Users can select which apps they use and get to know exactly how much data they are giving away, which can be found here. The tool can also be embedded onto your website: https://infogram.com/app-privacy-checker-2023-1h7v4pwojj8886k?live

Globe pioneers new postpaid experience with SIM-only GPlan PLUS and no lockup

Have you always wanted to try subscribing to a postpaid plan but can’t commit to a lockup period? With Globe, you can now enjoy the convenience and benefits of postpaid service without a specific contract time, and get the best value for money.

GPlan PLUS is Globe’s response to evolving customer needs, providing value-laden and versatile connectivity options that won’t tie you to a subscription period.

The SIM-only plan includes a variety of features to cater to the needs of different users such as unlimited all-net calls and texts, and rich GB allocation such as 10GBs for 799 up to 100GB for 2499, with six-month unlimited 5G access* for plans 799 and above.

Those who enroll in GPlan PLUS 799 and up can also convert their excess GBs to Rewards points, which customers can redeem for food and shopping vouchers or donate to their chosen charity.

Plans 999 and higher offer unlimited access to one app of the subscribers’ choice, such as Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Mobile Legends, and more.

"With the reopening of the economy and the need for always-on connectivity, we understand that consumers are looking for offers that give them the best value for money. The no-lockup promo on GPlan PLUS is our way of improving accessibility to a valuable solution for staying connected without breaking the bank," said Coco Domingo, Globe VP for Postpaid and International Business.

 

“Globe is here to empower customers to have more wins in life with a Postpaid plan that is not only reliable but also provides convenience and gives them more value for money,” he added.

 

Learn more about Globe’s new Postpaid plan offers via new.globe.com.ph or head to the nearest Globe store.

 

*To enjoy the unlimited 5G promo, you must be a 5G/LTE SIM user on a 5G device in a 5G serviceable area. Otherwise, your regular data allowance will be consumed when using mobile data.

Comparing YouTube Music and Spotify: Which is the Best Music Streaming Platform for You?

YouTube Music and Spotify are two of the biggest music streaming platforms that offer an extensive library of music and podcast content to listeners. Both services have been around for many years and have been popular choices among music enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. However, there are significant differences between the two platforms, which can make it difficult to choose one over the other. This article will compare and contrast YouTube Music and Spotify, looking at their features, pricing, and music libraries to help you determine which one is the best fit for your needs.

Music Library: One of the most critical factors in determining the quality of a music streaming service is the size and quality of its music library. Both YouTube Music and Spotify offer an extensive library of songs and albums from various genres and artists. However, YouTube Music has a considerable advantage in terms of its music library as it is part of the world's largest video hosting platform. This gives it access to a vast repository of user-generated content, including covers, remixes, and live performances that are not available on Spotify.

Spotify, on the other hand, has a more curated library, and its focus is on official music releases and albums. It also has a strong emphasis on podcasts and has a much larger selection of podcasts compared to YouTube Music. This makes Spotify a great choice for those who are interested in podcasts, as well as music.

Features: Both YouTube Music and Spotify offer similar features, including offline playback, the ability to create playlists, and personal recommendations based on your listening history. However, there are some key differences that set the two platforms apart.

YouTube Music allows users to access its extensive library of music videos and official music releases, as well as user-generated content, such as covers and remixes. It also offers users the ability to view lyrics while they listen to music, making it a great choice for karaoke enthusiasts.

Spotify, on the other hand, has a more robust social feature set, including the ability to share playlists, collaborate on playlists with friends, and discover new music through its extensive network of users. Spotify also has a more advanced recommendation engine that uses machine learning algorithms to provide users with personalized recommendations based on their listening history and playlists.

Pricing: YouTube Music and Spotify both offer free and paid tiers of service. The free version of YouTube Music comes with advertisements and limits on the number of skips you can make per hour. The paid version, called YouTube Music Premium, removes the ads and allows for an unlimited number of skips. It also offers offline playback and the ability to play music in the background while using other apps.

Spotify also offers a free tier, but it is more limited compared to YouTube Music. It includes advertisements, and users are limited to shuffled playlists and only a limited number of skips per hour. The paid version of Spotify, called Spotify Premium, removes the ads and offers offline playback, as well as the ability to play music in the background while using other apps. It also includes a broader selection of features, including personalised recommendations and the ability to listen to podcasts.

In terms of pricing, both YouTube Music and Spotify offer almost similar monthly rates, with YouTube Music Premium starting at PHP 129 per month and Spotify Premium starting at PHP 149 per month. However, Spotify offers a "MINI" plan, which brings the daily rate down to PHP 7 per day.

Conclusion: YouTube Music and Spotify are both excellent music streaming platforms that offer a vast library of music and podcast content to listeners. YouTube Music offers a larger and more diverse library of music, including user-generated content and music videos. It also has a lyrics feature, making it a great choice.