Max Franke is Managing Director at Axel Springer Audio and in charge of the podcast analytics and media planning platform PODIUS. Previously, he was COO at Media Pioneer and responsible for Axel Springer's digital music portfolio, including brands such as Rolling Stone Germany and Metal Hammer. Prior to that he served as Chief of Staff to Jan Bayer (then President News Media and Member of the Executive Board at Axel Springer). Max graduated with a MBA from IE Business School. Max worked for Amazon, for the Dutch publishing startup Blendle, and for epubli/Holtzbrinck Publishing Group.

Axel Springer Audio is the central unit of publishing group Axel Springer. The unit is responsible for an audio portfolio of over 20 Axel Springer holdings, including radio stations such as Antenne Bayern, Radio Hamburg and Hit Radio FFH, the web radio platform laut.fm and the premium podcast producer Wake Word. Axel Springer Audio is also responsible for the podcast business of media brands such as BILD and WELT.

PODIUS is the analytics tool for podcast professionals, developed by Wake Word. PODIUS aggregates podcast data for around 4 million shows worldwide, including 100,000 German formats, including daily trends, charts and analytics. With the most important KPIs, historicized data and an SEO analysis tool, the platform not only provides a complete market overview, but also shows benchmarks and potential for new and existing formats. PODIUS also offers powerful solutions for the podcast advertising industry with features such as the Sales House Hub and campaign planning. As a result, PODIUS is establishing itself as the new market standard for podcast analysis and monetization in Germany and is making an important contribution to the further development of the market.