How celebrity podcasts are tuning up brand narratives in India

Celebrity-hosted podcasts in India are carving out a unique space in digital media, allowing brands to leverage the authenticity, relatability, and influence that these platforms provide. Popular celebrity podcasts like 'What Women Want' by Kareena Kapoor, featuring brand collaborations such as Dabur’s association, and 'So Positive' by Ananya Panday for Plum BodyLovin', showcase how unscripted conversations resonate with listeners on a personal level.

'Woice' by Ankur Warikoo, known for its insightful business and life lessons, and 'The Ranveer Show' by Ranveer Allahbadia, which covers a wide range of self-improvement and wellness topics, have also become popular platforms that brands are exploring to engage audiences in a conversational, organic way. Other celebrity-hosted podcasts include 'What the hell Navya' with Navya Naveli Nanda powered by Bumble, 'No Filter Neha' with Neha Dhupia in association with RelianceJio TV, and 'Ruk Jana Nahi' with Rajkumar Rao during COVID 19.

With the ability to dive into genuine discussions, these podcasts allow celebrities to share candid stories and insights, bridging the gap between their public image and personal lives. For brands, this means a rare opportunity to connect with consumers in a format emphasising storytelling over direct advertising, creating a lasting impact.

As brands recognize the growing potential of celebrity-hosted podcasts, they're increasingly partnering with hosts to target specific audiences more effectively. These partnerships offer brands several advantages, including access to a loyal fan base, an intimate engagement format, and the trust that fans place in celebrities they admire.

Industry experts like Dr Sandeep Goyal, Chairman of Rediffusion, point out that celebrity-hosted podcasts often cultivate a "loyal and dedicated audience over a much longer period of time than most other digital media channels." This loyalty is an invaluable asset, as it drives a deeper and more sustained level of engagement than many other platforms.

Another key advantage of celebrity-hosted podcasts is the unique blend of credibility and relatability that they bring to the brand’s message. With their conversational, unscripted nature, these podcasts allow for nuanced storytelling that is difficult to achieve on channels where content is more polished and rehearsed. N. Chandramouli, CEO of TRA Research, notes that podcasts "enhance brand trust and authenticity," as audiences value the intimate, personal connection that the format enables. When a celebrity discusses a brand in the context of a podcast, it doesn’t feel like a traditional ad but rather a genuine endorsement, which helps to build a stronger bond with the audience.

To measure the success of these collaborations, brands use a variety of metrics to assess impact and effectiveness. In addition to looking at listener engagement metrics such as downloads, listens, and retention rates, brands also analyze social media mentions, brand sentiment, and qualitative feedback from listeners. According to Dr Goyal, brands evaluate these partnerships by "the current overall popularity of the celebrity, the size of the audience for the podcast, and their level of engagement." By combining quantitative metrics with qualitative insights, brands can better understand how effectively a podcast collaboration is driving a positive association and resonating with its target audience.

However, working with celebrity-hosted podcasts comes with its own set of challenges. One of the main concerns is the risk of the celebrity overshadowing the brand. While the celebrity’s influence can elevate the brand, it can also result in the brand message being lost if the content skews too much towards the celebrity’s persona rather than the brand's values. Additionally, brands must navigate the potential volatility of a celebrity’s public image; a scandal or controversy can have negative repercussions for the brand. Dr. Goyal highlights these challenges, noting that brands sometimes find themselves "hostage to the celebrity’s fluctuating popularity." To manage these risks, brands can implement stricter controls and contractual agreements to ensure that the content aligns with their message.

Finding the right fit between the brand and celebrity host is essential for success in podcast partnerships. The values and personality of the celebrity need to align with the brand’s attributes to avoid any sense of inauthenticity. As Dr Goyal suggests, "Brands need to find the right celebrity to match their brand attributes, or else the messaging looks forced and somewhat out-of-context." This alignment ensures that the message feels natural within the podcast, enhancing its effectiveness. Samit Sinha, Founder of Alchemist Brand Consulting, adds that context is equally important; what the celebrity discusses needs to harmonize with the brand message for the collaboration to resonate.

Looking forward, experts anticipate that the trend of celebrity-hosted podcasts will only continue to grow in the Indian market. As the medium matures, brands are likely to experiment with new formats, enhanced social media integrations, and possibly more data-driven targeting to refine their messaging for niche audiences. Dr Goyal sees this format as helping to "turn minor celebrities into major ones" if their podcasts gain popularity, while N. Chandramouli foresees brands adopting celebrity-hosted podcasts as a central component of their digital storytelling strategy.

Ultimately, celebrity-hosted podcasts offer a powerful tool for brands to engage with consumers in an authentic, relatable way that transcends traditional advertising. By carefully selecting the right partnerships, focusing on alignment between the brand and the host, and measuring engagement through qualitative and quantitative means, brands can harness this format to foster a stronger, more personal connection with their audience. As this medium continues to evolve, it holds the potential to shape the future of brand storytelling in India, setting a new standard for how brands and celebrities collaborate to engage consumers.