<p>Spotify announces big changes to its revenue machine and Global spends big on Gary Nevile’s network.... Lots of podcast upheaval, but are podcasts at risk of losing money through a bad actor? Thomas Curry, exec at BBC Studios, takes us through the week’s deals.</p><br><p>Also on the show: should we spend double what we do for the World Service? And should the Government pay for it? Rebecca Cooney from Broadcast tells us more.</p><br><p>All that plus: who is playing Huw Edwards in the new Channel 5 drama? What changes are being made at Virgin Radio... and, in the Audio Network Media Quiz, we rundown the biggest charts of the year..&nbsp;</p><br><p>The Media Quiz is sponsored by Audio Network. Alex (who is a real person) selects the music for us to score each episode and she and her team can do it for you too at <a href="https://audionetwork.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://audionetwork.com</a></p><br><p>We record at Podshop Studios - for 25% off your first booking, use the code MEDIACLUB at <a href="https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/services/podcast-studio</a></p><br><p>Become a member for FREE when you sign up for our newsletter at https://themediaclub.com</p><br><p>A <a href="http://rethinkaudio.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rethink Audio</a> production, produced by Matt Hill with post-production from <a href="http://podcastdiscovery.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Podcast Discovery</a>.</p><br><p>What The Media Club has been reading this week:</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/06/global-majority-stake-gary-neville-youtube-the-overlap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Global Buys Gary Nevile's Podcast Network The Overlap</a></p><p><a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-01-07/spotify-partner-program-updates/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz--rFhZKyWt9ey4AOcJiVkUjrxoci0SdKsA2ZQ_ILi-SiH8EoIWkLamHbVFhq39t3i9CjQ0_eoFq5S8XWo5dkQy-DcAa4m5t5Pxjo-BMVB19k06dOD4&amp;_hsmi=397307572" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify launches video podcast API for rival publishers</a></p><p><a href="https://podnews.net/article/podcastadblock-strips-ads-and-sells-shows?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8n-75fkyFtxt_RVL59AcKJAxnidWR7J-RtcidrkWFXbs90h4qMcurDjPrwe7BCSpQiFLs-B8Ci0cV4jO3CjvFyD0LLMg&amp;_hsmi=396966043" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The podcast app stripping ads from your content</a></p><p><a href="https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bbc/bbc-news-top-brass-to-discuss-world-service-funding-with-ministers/5212440.article" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">World Service negotiations</a>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/37841818/martin-clunes-huw-edwards-new-tv-drama/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Martin Clunes IS Huw Edwards&nbsp;</a></p><p><a href="https://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/01/changes-at-virgin-radio-as-huey-morgan-and-geoff-lloyd-join/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virgin Radio schedule changes</a></p><p><a href="https://deadline.com/2026/01/2025-most-watched-celebrity-traitors-kpop-demon-hunters-1236663712/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Most Watched &amp; Streamed Shows Of 2025</a></p><p><a href="https://deadline.com/2025/12/us-politics-americast-bbc-sherlock-holmes-podcast-charts-1236656420/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BBC Sounds Top Shows of 2025</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>