Today, at my personal blog, I posted news of Wizzard Media’s quarterly earnings.  While they were still almost two million short of being profitable for 2008 fiscal calendar, they showed significant and steady progress towards profitability over past years:

Despite the economic trauma (which even Wizzard fell victim to in Q4 ‘08), the end of year results for Wizzard showed them making steady progress towards profitibility.

For the total year, revenue rose 18 percent, from $5.16 million in 2007 to $6.1 million in 2008.

It’s been difficult watching the slow march towards profitability, but I think it’s been worth it.  I’m certain that a number of those that have followed me from place to place as I’ve faithfully reported the progress wonder why I continue to report the progress of this company.

After all, financial and stock market analysis isn’t exactly my forte.

Given that Wizzard is unique in that it’s one of the largest podcast networks as well as the only one that happens to be publicly traded, they’re one of the best canaries in the coal mines for those of us who are either interested in detecting the directions of the winds of advertising in New Media.

In 2008, Wizzard brought in revenues totaling $6.1 million, a sizeable chunk of ad revenue by any measure.  There are a number of folks at the company that are key influencers at the Association for Downloadable Media, an organization built around the goal of evangelizing podcasting and setting advertising standards for the podcast industry.

I’ve found that by following this company, I get a much more accurate picture of what’s going on in the world of podcasting, whether it be from the perspective of a content producer, or as someone who makes advertising and marketing suggestions for social media savvy clients.

What are your key indicators?  Which ways do you keep your finger to the pulse on the New Media ad world?