The Association Of Independents (AIR) Partners With Tape Syncers United (TSU)

The Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) is excited to announce its new partnership with Tape Syncers United (TSU), strengthening its commitment to fair compensation standards in the audio industry. The collaboration integrates TSU’s tape sync rate recommendations into AIR’s comprehensive rate guide, offering greater transparency and consistent pay standards for audio professionals.

“We are thrilled to adopt the Tape Syncers United Rate Guide as part of our industry resources,” said Erin McGregor, Program Manager at AIR, who is leading the rate guide work. “TSU’s grassroots approach and collective decision-making process provides a dynamic model that ensures rates remain relevant and equitable year after year. This partnership enhances our ability to support audio professionals with up-to-date compensation benchmarks.”

AIR’s Rate Guide has served as a trusted industry resource for producers, editors, sound designers, engineers, mixers, fact-checkers, and entrepreneurs. TSU’s collaborative rate-setting process ensures tape sync rates reflect current market conditions, supporting sustainability and equity.

TSU regularly hosts meetings where members collaborative determine suggested rates. In its most recent update in early 2024, TSU raised the suggested minimum rate for a basic tape sync from $200 to $235, which includes a $35 equipment fee. This annual review reflects TSU’s commitment to fair compensation through collective advocacy. For more details, access the TSU Tape Sync Rate Guide.

“TSU is a proud community of tape syncers and producers from all over the world working together to help ensure both equitable and sustainable rates,” said Cory Choy, steering committee, Tape Syncers United. “Partnering with AIR is a natural and symbiotic step for us, and we are looking forward to everything this collaboration brings.”

About the TSU Rate Guide

The TSU rate Guide was established by a grassroots coalition of audio producers and tape syncers, drawing members from AIR and various public radio, audio, and podcast communities, who recognized the need for more frequent and equitable rate updates in the industry. The guide represents a collective approach to rate-setting, with its global membership voting on changes at least annually.

All TSU members commit to maintaining these established minimum rates, ensuring consistent professional standards across the industry. Through this collective action, TSU has created a living document that responds to market conditions while protecting the sustainability of tape sync services.

About the Association of Independents in Radio (AIR)

AIR supports independent audio professionals through advocacy, resources, and community-building initiatives. With tools like the Rate Guide, AIR empowers creators to build satisfying careers in public and private audio sectors. To learn more, visit airmedia.org.

Members of AIR will Speak at Podcast Movement 2017

Podcast Movement 2017 has announced that some of the members of The Association of Independents in Radio (AIR) will be speakers at the event. There is a special discount code that people can use to get 20% off a one-year AIR membership.

AIR was founded in 1988 by ten independent radio producers at a kitchen table on Murray Street in New York City. Their international network has expanded to 1,100 makers powering public media and podcasting. AIR is based in Boston, and it identifies, cultivates, and deploys storymakers who create innovative work and find resources in digital, broadcasting, and podcasting.

Want to become a member of AIR? There is a special discount code you can use that is on the Podcast Movement 2017 website. It gives you 20% off an AIR one-year individual membership.

Featured AIR Speakers at Podcast Movement 2017:

  • Eric Nuzum – SVP of Original Content, Audible
  • Lauren Ober – host of The Big Listen
  • Samara Freemark – Senior Producer of In The Dark

Recently, Podcast Movement 2017 released a list of Speakers, Panelists, and Session Leaders.  Since then, they have announced that the following people will also be speakers at Podcast Movement 2017:

  • Cathy Heller – Host of Don’t Quit Your Day Job
  • Chuck Bryant – Host of Stuff You Should Know
  • Corey Coats – Co-Founder of PodFly Productions
  • Dan Klass – Host of The Bitterest Pill
  • David Raphael – Founder of Public Media Marketing
  • Elle Martinez – Host of Couple Money Podcast
  • Helen Zaltzman – Host of The Allusionist
  • Jesse Thorn – Host and Founder of Bullseye & MaxFun
  • Joe Saul-Sehy – Host of Stacking Benjamins
  • Josh Lindgren – Touring Agent at Billions Corporation
  • Madeleine Baran – Host of In The Dark
  • Mark Asquith – Founder of Podcast Websites
  • Michelle Jackson – Host of Girl Gone Frugal
  • Nick Loper – Host of The Side Hustle Show
  • Rae Livingston – Producer and Talent Buyer for Another Planet
  • Rockie Thomas – VP of Business Development at Adswizz
  • Ryan Grey – Founder of Meded Media Network
  • Tim Street – VP Influence & Production at Authentic

AIR Establishes Payment Rates for Work on Podcasts

AIR logo podcaster newsPodcasters often find that collaborating with other podcasters is beneficial. Many of us have created segments, or put together stories, for someone else’s podcast. Often, this work is done for free out of friendship or the love of podcasting. But, it doesn’t have to be done for free.

AIR has, for the first time, addressed payment rates for work that is done on podcasts. It has differences from the rates that might apply to freelance writing or graphic design work. This payment rate chart, that is specific to the nature of podcasting, is incredibly useful – especially as podcasting becomes more commercial.

AIR is an advocacy group that was founded in 1988 by 10 independent radio producers. Today, their network has expanded to about 1,000 independent audio producers, multimedia journalists, and public media programs, stations, and networks across 29 countries. AIR is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

AIR Pay rates resized

The pay scale is broken up into three levels: Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced. These levels refer to the expertise of the person creating the podcasting content. A Novice is going to make less than someone who is considered to have Advanced skills.

There are also three levels that describe the type of work being created. For example, Level 1 pieces are the lengthiest and most time-consuming to produce. Things that take less time might be a Level 2 or Level 3 piece. In other words, the effort that goes into creating content is recognized. The more effort it takes – the higher the pay rate.

Other parts of the pay rate chart set rates that podcasters can charge for pilot ideas, tape syncs, pilot production, the production of content from already gathered actualities, and even a day rate.

This is great news for people who produce content for other people’s podcasts, or who have been asked to produce or edit podcast content for another podcaster, a company, or by the boss of their “day job”. Use this chart as a starting point for the pay you should receive for the content that someone else wants you to create for them.

AIR suggests that producers charge for-profit outlets more than nonprofit entities. It also suggests that freelancers producing pieces for on-air broadcast negotiate at least a 5 percent rate increase if the piece you create is then redistributed as a podcast.

One of the great things about the pay scale that AIR has created is that it doesn’t differentiate between whether the person creating the content happens to be male or female. That means podcasting can become a field where women can expect equal pay for equal work.