YouTube now has a podcast chart, and Joe Rogan is on top

The Verge - May 15th, 2025

YouTube has launched a new chart tracking the top 100 podcasts in the United States, with 'The Joe Rogan Experience' securing the number one spot for the week of May 5th to 11th. Other notable mentions include 'Kill Tony,' 'Rotten Mango,' and '48 Hours.' The chart, which will be updated every Wednesday, ranks podcasts based on watchtime and includes playlists specifically designated as 'podcasts' by their creators. This move underscores YouTube's growing influence in the podcasting world, leveraging its massive user base to become a key player in this arena.

YouTube's announcement further highlights its dominance over other podcasting platforms, with more than 1 billion monthly podcast listeners compared to Spotify’s 100 million. As YouTube plans to expand this chart to more regions and introduce additional features, it positions itself as a formidable competitor in the podcasting industry. This development not only reflects the platform's strategic efforts to capitalize on the burgeoning podcast market but also signifies a shift in how audiences consume podcasts, increasingly preferring visual and easily accessible content.

You Tube Podcasts Joe Rogan Experience Steve Mc Lendon Podcast Rankings Media Platforms

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.2

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and largely accurate overview of YouTube's new podcast chart, highlighting its significance in the context of the competitive podcast market. It offers clear and structured information, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the story could benefit from additional sources and perspectives to enhance balance and source quality. While it effectively captures public interest, its potential impact on driving significant societal changes is limited. Overall, the article is a well-rounded piece that informs readers about a relevant development in digital media, with room for deeper exploration of certain aspects to increase engagement and controversy.

Accuracy

The story is largely accurate in its depiction of YouTube's new podcast chart initiative. The claim that YouTube has launched a chart tracking the top 100 podcasts in the US is supported by external sources. The mention of 'The Joe Rogan Experience' being at the top spot during a specific week is verifiable through YouTube's published chart data. However, the story would benefit from direct citations or links to YouTube's official announcements or blog posts for certain claims, such as the update frequency of the chart and the watchtime ranking criteria. The comparison of listener numbers between YouTube and Spotify is another area that requires precise data from official reports to ensure accuracy.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view of YouTube's new feature without evident bias towards or against the platform. It highlights YouTube's position in the podcast market and provides a comparative perspective with Spotify, which is relevant given the competitive landscape. However, the story could include more perspectives, such as commentary from podcast creators or industry experts, to provide a fuller picture of the implications of YouTube's move. This would help address any perceived favoritism towards YouTube by exploring potential challenges or criticisms of the platform's approach.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear language to convey the key points about YouTube's new podcast chart. It logically presents the information, starting with the announcement of the chart and followed by details on its rankings and criteria. The tone is neutral and informative, making it easy for readers to follow the story. However, the inclusion of more detailed explanations of terms like 'watchtime' and the exclusion of 'clips or Shorts' could further improve clarity for readers unfamiliar with YouTube's platform specifics.

Source quality

The article primarily relies on a blog post from YouTube’s Steve McLendon as its source, which is a credible and authoritative source for information about YouTube's initiatives. However, the story would benefit from additional sources to enhance credibility, such as statements from podcast creators or analysts in the media industry. Inclusion of third-party data or reports to substantiate claims about listener numbers across platforms would also improve the reliability of the information presented.

Transparency

The article is transparent in its presentation of YouTube's new podcast chart, clearly stating the source of its information as a blog post from a YouTube representative. However, it lacks detailed explanations of the methodology behind the chart's rankings and the specific criteria used to determine what qualifies as a podcast. Providing more context on these aspects would enhance transparency and help readers understand the basis of the claims made in the story.