App Development comes up in 6 chapters across 5 episodes of Podcasting 2.0, from April 2026 to August 2026, with guests John Spurlock and Mike Dell.
The hosts discuss recent developments in Apple's fee structures and the need for better user interfaces in podcast apps. They argue that "donate" buttons should be as prominent as "unsubscribe" buttons to ensure that creators and app developers can successfully monetize through direct support.
The hosts analyze the technical specifications of the AMP document, noting it places a heavy reporting burden on independent app developers. They highlight potential legal risks regarding GDPR and California privacy laws due to the requirement for first-party reporting of listener data and hashed email addresses.
The hosts discuss the need for financial incentives to keep independent apps like Podverse and Fountain sustainable. They argue that if the Data Collective can generate even small amounts of revenue for these developers, it will encourage more growth and innovation within the independent ecosystem.
The Adam Accords Proposal for App Developer Compensation
Adam Curry proposes the "Adam Accords" as a counter-solution to industry measurement problems, suggesting that advertisers should pay app developers for first-party data. He argues that if developers received a 5% to 15% cut of ad revenue, they would willingly provide the playback metrics advertisers crave. This model would treat podcast apps like radio or TV stations that receive a portion of the advertising spend for delivering the audience.
Adam Curry makes a final pitch for the "Adam Accords," envisioning a summit where app developers and advertisers meet to finalize a data-sharing and compensation model. He suggests that this open approach will eventually outperform the secret industry groups. The episode concludes with a thank you to Mike Dell and a reminder to visit podcastindex.org for more information.
Podcast App Editorial Curation, Podcast Index and User Discovery
The discussion shifts to why more independent podcast app developers do not utilize editorial curation to delight users. While Apple and Spotify use editorial teams to push specific shows, most other apps remain neutral, which the hosts believe limits discovery. They briefly consider whether the Podcast Index should provide its own editorial suggestions or highlights to help users find quality content.
