Month: November 2023

CEntrance Ships “The English Channel” Portable Channel Strip

~ jen

CEntrance is now shipping The English Channel, a portable analog channel strip for recording on the road that features a mic pre with dynamics, a parametric EQ, and an audio interface with unique online streaming capabilities. Since 2009, Entrance has enabled artists to deliver projects at such high quality that their clients couldn’t tell they weren’t recorded in a pro studio.

The Company’s new “English Channel” continue that tradition, delivering an audio recorder and a portable streaming studio for podcasters, musicians, journalists, and YouTubers. The new analog production tool is a set of three, premium-quality, signal-processing devices made of tough, lightweight aluminum – to help survive the stress of the road.

The product includes a high-gain mic preamp, an analog dynamics processor, an analog parametric EQ, and an audio interface, all housed inside a small desktop cradle no larger than a book. The compact audio processor connects to laptops, phones, and tablets, and allows content creators to record on the spot, or instantly go live, anywhere in the world. Plus, the built-in 24-bit 48K SD card recorder works without a computer.

The Central English Channel is powered by USB and comes with a lightweight carry case. It all fits in a backpack, perfect for broadcasting from remote scenic locations. The English Channel retails for $1,599. USD, and is available now.

“Our world demands fast content. But you can’t always work in your studio and your phone just doesn’t deliver professional audio results from its built-in-mic,” said Michael Goodman, Entrance’s Founder and CEO. “We bridge that gap and make it easy to produce high-quality audio, away from your studio. Professional podcasters, journalists, and touring artists can now record and broadcast top-quality audio without packing a heavy rack of gear. We help deliver professional results from almost any location, even without a computer, to simplify your rig and let you travel light.”

Centrance specifically chose analog technology for audio quality, road-worthy reliability, and ease of use. The built-in Noise Gate, Compressor, De-Esser, and 3-band ‘British’ Parametric EQ all feature tactile controls – and purposely avoid distracting screens or complicated menus – to help the performer focus on the art. 

The time-proven analog technology means no crashes, reboots, or firmware updates, offering the crucially important simplicity of a high-pressure, one-person show. All knobs can be operated quickly and without looking – a benefit for a busy artist working in less-than-ideal conditions. 

The English Channel allows the artist to use any XLR microphone, reduce background noise, add body and confidence to their sound, and go online from anywhere, all in broadcast quality. The unique combination of “Signal Processor & Audio Interface” lets the user quickly shaper their sound and start live streaming or recording at the touch of a button.

The audio interface at the heart of the English Channel adds benefits to the built-in analog channel strip. Using the three included mic preamps, the host can add mics and set up a two or three-person podcast. The English Channel can record the program to the SD card, while simultaneously streaming it via the connected phone to YouTube Live, Instagram, Facebook, and more.

Centrance offers the choice of either MixerFace or PortCaster as the recording interface in the package, to better suit the needs of Musicians or Podcasters. The three compact devices in the English Channel can be used separately, or together as part of the bundle, secured inside a sleek desktop cradle. As a portable recording interface with a full suite of analog signal processing tools, the English Channel can be a bonus for recording engineers, who may enjoy using it as an analog insert for their DAW.

About CEntrance

Entrance is known for its work with top Hollywood artists and producers and has been perfecting design miniaturization for years. For recording artists who need quality audio without the hassle, Centrance offers virtually indestructible travel gear that is easy to use on the spot. Unlike other bulky, complicated options, Centrance products are designed to minimize distractions and inspire the Power to Create.

By focusing on simplicity and customer service, the company delivers an intuitive experience that removes the barriers to creativity. Famous recording artists, producers, voice-over artists, and journalists endorse Centrance audio solutions. Centrance products are made in Chicago. We provide great customer support and have a passionate following.

Brands Are Safer Than They Think On Podcasts

~ jen

A new study has revealed that consumers are highly accepting and open to podcast advertising despite persistent brand concerns about suitability and safety. 

The research, conducted by Alter Agents – an independent market research consultancy – in partnership with Audacy, found that podcasts provide a safe advertising environment for brands, with eight in 10 consumers finding branded podcast messages suitable as long as they are contextually relevant, even when it comes to controversial content. Podcasts garner an engaged listening environment that bolsters attention, with 80% of listeners claiming they listen to ads, most as they enjoy the whole podcast.

The study identified key themes regarding brand safety and suitability in podcast advertising for marketers and consumers. The B2B community listed controllability, genre-specific myths, trade-offs of produced vs host-read advertisements, and the complex categorizations of podcasts. Consumers indicated ads must be a good fit within the content, hosts must be authentic, and controversial topics in the content can be acceptable and even enjoyed as long it is not defamatory towards one group.

Engagement and ad fit are also fairly consistent across genres. Ad parings in potentially controversial genres like true crime and news genres perform similarly to less contentious genres like sports and health/fitness/lifestyle pairings.

Brand fit is not an issue for listeners. Few say they have heard ads unsuitable for the podcasts they listen to but are more likely to call out ads sounding too much like a sales pitch or not being more native to the podcast style as reasons for unsuitability or poor fit.

Foul language is not a top reason for not listening to a podcast, but where content or hosts cross the line is through racist statements. In fact, foul language is accepted in many genres, especially comedy, entertainment/pop culture, music, and true crime.

“This study illustrates that with the right mix of authenticity and awareness, brands have an incredible opportunity to foster trust and loyalty with listeners of all backgrounds in the ever-expanding space,” said Jenna Weiss-Berman, Executive Vice President, Podcast, Audacy. “Today’s podcast listener is open-minded and willing to engage with a wide range of brands on multiple levels as they consume content ranging from true crime to investigative documentaries to comedy, sports, entertainment and beyond.”

“Brand safety is critically important, and there’s a perception in the marketplace that certain genres of podcasts may not be as brand-safe, given the free-form host-driven nature of podcasts. In turn, podcast advertisers have hesitated to leverage the reach and scale of podcasts to remain brand-safe,” said Idil Cakim, Senior Vice President of Research and Insights, Audacy. 

“While brands are smart to assess the risks and rewards of advertising on podcasts, they may be missing out on reaching critical consumers. That’s because podcasts deliver highly engaged audiences, create prime listening environments, and host authenticity offers a strong personal connection to listeners.”

“Audacy’s study does a great job of highlighting that the material qualitative and technical advancements in brand safety and suitability within the podcast industry have mitigated a perceived risk for brands to advertise on podcasts,” said Kurt Kaufer, Co-Founder, Ad Results Media. “It also nicely contextualizes the positive listener perceptions of brands who make podcast ad investments a material part of their marketing mix.”

Methodology:

Audacy partnered with Alter Agents and leading media agencies for this 2023 study to assess brand safety perceptions among media industry executives and frequent podcast listeners. Audacy commissioned the 2023 Alter Agents study. Four audio and podcasting company executives were interviewed. 6,000 respondents were surveyed through a 20-minute online survey collected between July 28 and August 3, 2023. Participants were a nationally representative sample based on age, gender, and ethnicity.

AudioUK Highlights Competition Concerns

~ jen

AudioUK, the trade body for independent audio production companies, has responded to the BBC confirming that it will be moving a significant part of its speech audio production to BBC Studios by April 2024.

This will mean the BBC will be competing against the independent audio production sector to make audio content, including podcasts, for other commissioners such as Amazon, Audible, and Wondery.

This element is not covered by Ofcom requirements in approving the move, which instead focused on a level playing field when Studios competes against production companies for BBC commissions.

AudioUK is therefore calling for further investigation and for all of BBC Radio and Audio’s non-news programme commissions, including BBC Sounds, to be open to competition for external producers, in the event of this key part of BBC speech audio production moving to BBC Studios.

Whereas there is 100% competition for BBC TV programmes, in audio commissioning, the BBC must currently open up 60% of ‘eligible hours’ in its network radio commissions to external competition by the end of this year. This lower target was based on the fact that much of the BBC’s radio and audio production remained in-house and they could not make programmes for other buyers.

Chloe Straw Managing Director of AudioUK, said:

“While we respect the BBC’s right to explore other opportunities, this does nevertheless have competition implications as it involves moving a production arm built with public funding into the wider commercial market to compete with creative SMEs, a market largely built over the last 20 years by hard work and creativity of those SMEs. This aspect is not covered by Ofcom’s approval requirements and so has not been effectively scrutinized.”

“We are disappointed that the BBC has not taken our concerns on board and we will continue to push for a review of the wider market implications of these plans with the relevant governmental and regulatory authorities. In particular, as we have previously stated, we believe this move should be accompanied by creative SMEs all around the UK being given the opportunity to compete for 100% of BBC audio non-news output.”

Podster Enters Major Deal With RTL Deutschland To Globalize German Podcasts

~ jen

Podster continues to make waves in the podcasting industry with a new licensing agreement. 

 In an exciting milestone, the Danish podcast company is teaming up with Germany’s leading media house, RTL Deutschland, to adapt and distribute high-quality German podcasts to a global audience.

Podster specializes in adapting local podcasts into new formats to reach a larger audience and bring in more revenue for publishers. In its relatively brief existence, the young startup has now inked its first deal with Audio Alliance, the audio unit of leading German entertainment network RTL Deutschland, bolstering its portfolio of international collaborations that already includes BBC Sounds, DPG Media, and Grupo Planeta.

Audio Alliance develops, produces and broadly distributes a diverse portfolio of podcasts, all of them premiering with a first window RTL+, RTL’s all inclusive entertainment product combining premium video and music streaming with a large selection of audiobooks, magazines and podcasts.

“It’s particularly meaningful that as a small startup, we have the chance to take on podcast releases from the industry giants. We approach this partnership with a deep sense of humility, which is also reflected in the way we produce these adaptations,” comments Podster’s CEO Henriette Høj Gharib.

Podster will adapt several RTL+ shows, including Der Letze Sommor von Lady Di, which delves into the final weeks of Princess Diana’s life, along with the gripping and top-performing true crime series Verbrechen von nebenan.  RTL+’s new and intriguing Hollywood Crimes is also part of Podster’s selection. 

Henriette Høj Gharib mentions, “Our work and success at Podster demonstrates that the podcast market is ready to expand high-quality content, mirroring the scaling seen in books, movies, and series over the years.”

“At RTL+, we are enthusiastic about the partnership with Podster. Together, we are set to expand our podcast content’s global footprint, providing diverse, engaging shows to audiences worldwide,” adds Andrea Zuska, SVP Content Strategy at RTL and Managing Director Audio Alliance.

About Podster & RTL Deutschland

Podster is a podcast company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their goal is to introduce best-selling podcasts to new markets by locating amazing podcasts from all over the world and reproduce them to other languages.

RTL Deutschland is Germany’s leading entertainment company, spanning across all types of media: TV and streaming, print and digital, radio and podcasts. It is home to some of the country’s strongest media brands from RTL to Stern, Brigitte to Vox and Geo to NTV, and operates Germany’s largest streaming platform RTL+, with more than 4.5 million subscribers and a cross-media offer including series, films, music, podcasts and audiobooks. RTL Deutschland owns 15 TV channels, 50 premium magazines, a broad podcast portfolio and numerous digital offerings.

Ossa Launches Podcast In Residence Program

~ jen

Since entering the industry, Ossa has set out with a clear objective, to connect podcasters to brands. In an ever growing, ever evolving medium, Issa’s ability to provide technology, optimization and monetization, the company has seen significant growth over the last year. With an established pipeline of agency, brand direct, episodic sponsorship and premium programmatic ad opportunities, Issa’s approach is further extended to more taken and more partners.

Now, Ossa has launched an initiative to further cement its place in the industry, its Podcast In Residence program. Recognizing a need for emerging and otherwise underrepresented podcast creators, the program identifies podcasters with significant growth potential. Once activated in the program show hosts and producers are provided resources and insight from the Ossa team which includes creative insight, audience growth strategy, brand positioning in the marketplace and backend support.

Meanwhile, the Podcaster in Residence program spotlights shows that are perceived as having exceptionally high value for brands. These valuable podcast shows can then be leveraged across a multitude of marketing channels, which in turn maximizes their brand exposure, and increases their advertising income. Ossa further elevates these select shows with additional sales representation, a dedicated ad operations team, free hosting and the incorporation of sales in additional formats.

In an effort to celebrate its new program, Ossa unveiled its first group of podcasters on a billboard in Times Square. With the launch of the program, Issa’s initial lineup of podcasts includes shows that represent a wide range of subjects, demographics, and audiences. These include:

Black on Black Cinema, Cubicle to CEO, Kat on the Loose, Serial Napper, Talk about Gay Sex, and Untold Italy.

QUOTES FROM PODCASTERS IN THE PROGRAM

Ellen Yin (Cubicle to CEO) – As a media platform dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voice in business media (particularly women and women of color founders & CEOs), I resonated with Occa’s focus on connecting female-driven brands with female-hosted shows. Ossa has an impressive roster of advertising clients – many of whom were already on our list of dream brands we wanted to partner with – so it was a no-brainer to join Ossa’s Podcaster in Residence Program and have the opportunity to be instantly plugged into that ecosystem.

Jay Jacksonrao (Black on Black Cinema) – Ossa presented themselves a way to not only take our show to the next level audience wise, but also to take our show that we’ve worked some hard on and put it front of advertising opportunities that were out of reach for us. The best aspect so far is the one on one coaching that provided ideas that exposed some blindspots in our pursuit of growing our show.

Nikki Young (Serial Napper) – I truly believe that independent podcasts are the heart and soul of the podcasting world. Its an industry that has seen growth, with celebrities quickly jumping on the bandwagon hoping to cash in – but podcasting goes much deeper than that. It’s a medium that anyone can do, with very little to no start-up costs, meaning it gives a voice to anyone who has something they want to say.

Steve Rodriquez (Talk About Gay Sex) – After six years of podcasting I’m looking for a platform that understands and appreciates our podcast and longevity as well as a network that is available and present to help in future growth. 

I love the enthusiasm of the Ossa team! The team has really listened and offered successful tools that have been exciting to implement: for example, the podcast promo to be included in other Ossa podcasters and the individual coaching we receive to elevate our growth.

Katy Clarke (Untold Italy) – I like to be in control of the editorial process and focus on delivering the best, most relevant content to our listeners. I also wanted to focus on the podcast and my business rather than negotiating advertising deals. Learning and evolving is very important to me and my business.

Mamamia Appoints Natalie Harvey As Chief Revenue Officer

~ jen

Mamamia, Australia’s leading women’s media brand, is delighted to announce the appointment of Natalie Harvey as its new Chief Revenue Officer, replacing the outgoing Tony Prentice.

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades in the media and advertising industry, Natalie brings a wealth of expertise and unmatched market knowledge and understanding to this pivotal role.

Nat began her career at Seven as the Office Assistant to the CEO, later transitioning to the agency side with Medicom. Her career then took her to Brisbane, where she became General Manager at UM. In 2015, she joined SWM in Brisbane, where she created the first combined SWM sales team, uniting Pacific and Seven. Her exceptional track record led her back to Sydney in October 2017, where she took on the role of Sydney Sales Director, eventually earning a promotion to Network Sales Director in 2018.

Regarding her new appointment, Natalie said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at Mamamia. Jason, Mia, and the team have built an incredible business with an inspiring purpose and an incredible connection with millions of Australian women across multiple platforms. It will be an absolute privilege to go to work every day, being part of such an important and powerful voice in the community, and I am so fortunate to move from one incredible media company to another as they continue to grow.”

Jason Lavigne, Mamamia’s Co-Founder and CEO, commented on Natalie’s appointment, saying, “we are delighted to welcome Nat to Mamamia as our Chief Revenue Officer. Her extensive an senior experience in both agency and media, her deep industry connections, will further our ambitious growth plans, and in turn fuel our purpose, of making the world a better place for women and girls.”

At the same time, Mamamia bids a sad farewell to current CRO, Tony Prentice. Jason Lavigne said, “Tony has played a pivotal role in evolving and transforming our now best in class commercial teams, processes and growth, as our revenue mix has changed markedly over the past five years. We extend our warmest thanks to TP for his significant contribution, and wish him continued success for his next chapter.” 

Natalie Harvey’s appointment as Chief Revenue Officer marks an exciting chapter in Mamamia’s continued growth, and dedication to serving Australian women across various platforms.

About Mamamia

Mamamia is Australia’s #1 women’s media brand, reaching over seven million Australian women monthly across articles, podcasts, social media, live events and online courses. Mamamia’s founding purpose is to make the world a better place for women and girls.

Tenderfoot TV Acquires Resonate Originals

~ jen

Tenderfoot TV, the leading Atlanta-based independent content production studio, announced the acquisition of Resonate Originals, the podcast division of the expansive audio, creative branding, and software company formed by Jacob Bozarth and Mark Minnery in 2019.

Effective immediately, Resonate Originals (formerly Black Mountain Media) will be absorbed by Tenderfoot TV and will operate under Tenderfoot TV leadership and branding. Resonate Recordings as a production services company will continue to operate independently. This milestone marks Tenderfoot TV’s first company acquisition – and since 2016 they have amassed over 800 million downloads across their collective shows and franchises.

Tenderfoot TV, first entered into a working partnership with Resonate Recordings, as a production services company in 2017 for their top-charting series Up and Vanished season one before Resonate expanded into producing original content. During this partnership and 5-show deal, those series have exceeded 40 million downloads in under four years. 

Terms of the acquisition will grant Tenderfoot TV complete ownership of Culpable, Undetermined, This Day in Crime (previously at TF+ exclusive returning for wide release in ’24), Turned Podcaster (TF+ exclusive) among new project series that have not yet been announced.

“For the past seven years, we’ve had a chance to elevate and reimagine the most powerful vessels and tools to tell these stories alongside our partners at Resonate,” says Tenderfoot CEO, Donald Albright. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to have partnered with them and be able to acquire these shows fully, while absorbing phenomenal talent such as Culpable host, writer, creator Dennis Cooper who can help us to continue delivering powerful content that we know our audiences love and expect.”

“Being in a position to be able to acquire Resonate Originals feels like a full circle moment,” says Tenderfoot Founder Payne Lindsey. “Having first worked with Jacob and the Resonate team back in 2017, it was evident that our partnership would go far, it’s always felt like a natural fit.”

“When we were certain about selling the Resonate Original vertical for our brand, we wanted to make sure that the buyer for this were aligned with our values and possessed the creative flare to properly execute across these popular shows, and that’s why we brought the offer to Tenderfoot TV,” said Co-Founder and CEO of Resonate Recordings, Jacob Bozarth. “Over the years, we’ve had a chance to not only create with the Tenderfoot team, but witness firsthand why they stand out amongst the podcast industry, and that is why we’re thrilled that we could make this deal happen.”

The Resonate Originals acquisitions represent a bright and new chapter for Tenderfoot TV, which has grown tremendously across their show content and offerings from spinoffs to new weekly talk shows. Post acquisition, Tenderfoot will acquire all five show series and pending projects, including three new staff members spanning from locations across Florida and Kentucky.

Futuri Launches Futuri AudioAI

~ jen

Futuri, the leader in AI-powered software solutions for the media industry, announced the launch of Futuri AudioAI, formerly known as RadioGPT.

The end-to-end content system, which combines automation system integration, Futuri’s TopicPulse story discovery AI, large language model (LLM) technology, and AI voice, has enhanced multiple features and added new capabilities. In response to industry demand, it’s also now accessible to television broadcasters, digital publishers, streaming stations, and others wanting to capture growth opportunities in live audio.

The new Futuri AudioAI integrates multiple LLMs – beyond the GPT-4 integration that was a component of Radio GPT – to develop content based on up-to-the-minute TopicPulse insights. Using multiple LLMs means the content Futuri AudioAI delivers is even stronger, and it better enables Futuri to improve the system continuously.

The enhancement also benefits Futuri AudioAI’s weather report capabilities, which enable stations to strengthen their live and local positioning by running sponsorable weather reports with live conditions around the clock – even overnights and weekends.

Futuri has also partnered with a network of powerhouse voice AI companies to augment its in-house AI voices, including ElevenLabs, PlayHT, and Resemble AI, to make voices from their portfolios available alongside those powered by in-house Future voice AI. These selections are all housed in Future’s Voice Choice Library, giving users access to a broad array of best-in-class options all in one place. Futuri AudioAI users can continue to clone their own talent to add to their own AI voice libraries.

“AI is evolving at warp speed, as are Futuri’s capabilities,” said Futuri CEO and Founder Daniel Anstangdig. “Futuri AudioAI takes the best of RadioGPT, which has received an extraordinary worldwide response, and makes its core features more powerful. Plus, adding these esteemed AI voice partners to our Voice Choice Library gives our users unparalleled options to differentiate their sound. Futuri is proud to lead the way in AI innovation for media companies and content creators.”

Anstandig and other members of the Futuri team have recently delivered keynote addresses on the power of AI at conferences in London, Zurich, Oslo, Toronto, Copenhagen, Kuala Lumpur, and more, and Anstangid recently led a discussion on AI capabilities at the NAB Show New York’s Radio Insights: Executive Seminar.

The launch of Futuri AudioAI follows the July launch of SpotOn, the state-of-the-art AI solution that delivers end-to-end production – original scripts, music, and voiceover – for radio and television broadcasters looking to streamline the production of promos, spec spots, and commercials. In its first three months, SpotOn has generated more than 150,000 different pieces of custom audio with original, never reused scripts for its partners.

 

Winners Of The First Ever Independent Podcast Awards 2023

~ jen

The winners of the first ever Independent Podcast Awards were revealed on Monday 30th October, with Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did taking home the top prize. The podcast’s host is Genevieve Hassen. 

The winner of the Independent Podcast of the Year category was chosen from the winners of all the other categories. Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did was crowned the winner in the Best Film & TV category, before going on to win the night’s most coveted prize.

The judges said that what the podcast host, Genevieve Hassan, has been able to do with this show is an incredible testament to the power of podcasts; the power of persistence; and the power, creativity and passion of the independent podcast community in the UK and Ireland today.

The awards were launched by why now Media in conjunction with the Verbal Diorama podcast – itself an indie – and seek to celebrate the truly independent talent of UK-based podcasters who don’t have the financial backing of brands to support them.

Em McGowan, Co-Founder of the Independent Podcast Awards and host of Verbal Diorama said: “What started as a throwaway conversation with a friend has become this great event that has showcased some of the brightest talent in indie podcasting. Congratulations to all the winners and our nominees.”

Emma Turner, Head of Events & Publicity at why now, added: “Creating this event has been a joy. Uncovering so many amazing indie podcasts has been incredible, and I hope that everyone will go and listen to our wonderful nominees and winners and find their new favorite podcast among them.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Best Arts & Culture Podcast: Folk on Foot

From: Matthew Bannister

Hosted by: Podbean

Best Podcast Artwork: Clown Sex

From: Natasha Sutton Williams

Hosted by: Squarespace

Best Podcast Jingle: BRKIN Bread

From: Lateral Theory

Hosted by: Spotify for Podcasters

Best Books Podcast: The Bestseller Experiment

From: Bestseller Experiment

Hosted by: Libsyn

Best Business Podcast: Bring Your Product Idea to Life

From: Vicki Weinberg

Hosted by: Captivate

Best Children & Young Adults Podcast: Bust or Trust: A Kids’ Mystery Podcast

From: Small Wardour

Hosted by: Megaphone

Best Comedy Podcast: Jackie the Ripper

From: Stak

Hosted by: Acast

Best Educational Podcast: Media Storm

From: Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia

Hosted by: Acast

Best Fiction Podcast: Eliza: A Robot Story

From: Crowd Network

Hosted by: Megaphone

Best Film & TV Podcast: Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

From: Genevieve Hassan

Hosted by: Libsyn

Best Gaming Podcast: The Apocalypse Players

From: The Apocalypse Players (D Allen, D McAllen, M Chance, D Wheeler)

Hosted by: Podbean

Best Health & Wellness Podcast: The Wellberg Rebellion

From: Ngozi Weller & Obehi Alofoje

Hosted by: Captivate

Best History Podcast: Beneath The Skin

From: Beneath The Skin

Hosted by: Podbean

Best Horror & Supernatural Podcast: The Apocalypse Players

From: The Apocalypse Players (D Allen, D McAllen, M Chance, D Wheeler

Hosted by: Podbean

Best Music Podcast: Sodajerker On Songwriting

From: Sodajerker

Hosted by: Libsyn

Best News & Politics Podcast: Wood for the Trees

From: Cait Macleod

Hosted by: Buzzsprout

Best Self Improvement Podcast: Teenagers Untangled

From: Rachael Richars and Susie Aldi

Hosted by: Buzzsprout

Best Sexuality & Relationships Podcast: Queer Roots and Routes

From: Aunt Nell

Hosted by: Acast

Best Sports Podcast: Spindrift Podcast

From: Spindrift / Aoife Glass

Hosted by: Podbean

Best Technology Podcast: The Future of You

From: Tracey Follows

Hosted by: Buzzsprout

Best True Crime Podcast: Drunk Women Solving Crime

From: Drunk Women Solving Crime

Hosted by: Acast

Independent Podcast of the Year: Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did

From: Genevieve Hassan

Hosted by: Libsyn

Airwave Signs Deal With Economics Explained

~ jen

Airwave podcast network has signed a deal with Economics Explained, a leading economics digital IP owned and operated by Lunar X. The deal will include distribution, monetization, marketing, and promotion of the global media company’s proprietary and affiliated education podcasts including Economics Explained, The Red Line, and a new spinoff podcast from Economics Explained.

Ben Mathis, Head of Content and Partnership for Airwave, says “Listeners are more aware of and interested in geopolitics than ever before. Economics Explained and The Red Line thoughtfully explain complex ideas and current events in ways that the average person can understand and appreciate. Both shows embrace the ‘constantly curious’ spirit of Airwave. We couldn’t be happier to work with the creative and innovative team at Lunar X.”

Economics Explained – Hosted by economist Michael Burnand, Economics Explained sparks curiosity about economics with documentary style, entertaining videos on trending topics from the POV of an economist. The YouTube channel for Economics Explained receives over 6 million views per month and the Economics Explained podcast receives 200,000 downloads per month.

The Red Line – Michael Hillard, an esteemed geopolitics consultant, hosts a panel of international experts diving into the biggest geopolitical stories shaping the news.

Economics Everywhere – Economics Everywhere will be a new podcast from Economics Explained hosted by Abigail Basset, an award-winning journalist. Economics Everywhere will feature interviews with world-leading experts to unpack the economics of everyday life.

About Airwave

With over 100 shows, Airwave is the curated podcast network for the “constantly curious” listener. From history, arts, and science to wellness, kids, and business, Airwave partners with the show that make us better, smarter humans. Airwave combines everything that podcasters love about being independent with all of the creative, strategic, and financial support of a podcast network. Airwave partners with select content creators to deliver the most aggressive audience growth, host-read and programmatic ad sales, paid subscriptions, and brand expansion into live events and other media. Visit www.airwavemedia.com for more information.

About Lunar X

Lunar X is a future-forward media company, dedicated to investing in and elevating digital content brands into globally loved franchises. The company is focused on connecting global communities through engaging storytelling on the most prominent digital platforms to provide content and experiences that are educational, innovative, and entertaining. 

Lunar X has big ambitions for the future. It intends to grow its portfolio of world-leading new brands and franchises through organic activity and acquisition, with the management team looking at a raft of exciting opportunities next year. Go to www.lunar-x.com to learn more.