Power Score™ is a 0-100 metric that evaluates a podcast’s overall popularity and influence. It’s calculated using Podchaser’s proprietary algorithm, which analyzes over 30 data points. This score provides a clear and comparative measure of a podcast’s standing within the broader podcasting ecosystem, making it easier for users to identify influential shows and assess their relative impact.
Where it’s used: Podchaser Pro users can view Power Score directly on podcast pages, while browsing the site, or when filtering and sorting podcasts by influence.
How Power Score works
Power Score is a proprietary metric designed to provide a snapshot of a podcast’s influence. While the exact algorithm is confidential, it factors in several key data points, including:
Reach
Subscriber and follower counts
Cross-platform engagement, including chart rankings
Release schedule and active status
Additional factors
Each data point is weighted, normalized, and standardized across the entire database of podcasts. The result is a reliable 0-100 metric that captures the relative popularity and influence of a podcast compared to others.
How does a Power Score compare to Reach?
Both Power Score and Reach can be used to gauge a podcast’s popularity, but they serve different purposes:
Power Score: A 0-100 rating that considers multiple factors to indicate both popularity and influence (ex: 87).
Reach: A directional estimate of the number of listeners for a podcast or episode, presented as a range (ex: 35,000 to 48,000). [See: Demographics and Reach]
While Reach is one of the key factors used to calculate Power Score, it’s not a 1:1 comparison. Power Score accounts for other factors like engagement, subscriber activity, and recent releases to provide a broader view of a podcast’s standing in the industry.
Power Score and Expected Reach Estimate Range
Although Power Score™ and Reach don’t have a direct correlation, podcasts with higher listener reach tend to have higher Power Scores. Below is a general guide to help you understand the relationship:
Please note these tiers are approximate and should be used as a broad guideline rather than a precise rule.
10-30 Power Score: Reach in the hundreds
30-60 Power Score: Reach between 1,000 to 10,000
60-70 Power Score: Reach between 10,000 to 100,000
70-80 Power Score: Reach between 100,000 to 500,000
80+ Power Score: Reach exceeding 500,000
Why Power Score matters
Power Score™ simplifies the process of identifying influential podcasts, making it a valuable tool for advertisers, researchers, and industry professionals looking to understand podcast impact at a glance.
Tip: Use Power Score™ to compare podcasts and prioritize outreach efforts for campaigns or partnerships based on influence and audience size.
Related articles:
Demographics and Reach
Understanding Monthly Reach and Episode Reach on Podchaser
Calculating and improving the Power Score for a podcast
Have more questions?
For any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]!