Last updated on September 9, 2024 – 11:52 AM
A new year-long program launched today aimed at giving independent podcasters the tools, resources and support they need to succeed.
The program, “The Amplify Accelerator,” is produced by Partnership Group's new production company, Unlocked.
Grassroots podcasters are the backbone of the podcast industry, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd, mainly due to resource limitations.
This “incubator” aims to fill that gap, providing up to four selected independent podcasters with the support they need to grow their listenership and revenue.
By providing resources, expertise and guidance to up to four podcasters per year, the Accelerator aims to foster diverse voices, build sustainable careers and ultimately make the podcasting industry more equitable.
Selected participants will enjoy a wide range of benefits, including:
Access to free studio space in central London Access to a podcast editor Access to editorial support from Unlocked's Head of Podcasts, Leanne Alie Active marketing and press support for your podcast Cross-promotion of Unlocked's original podcasts Access to TPG's talent roster for potential podcast guests Access to TPG's other businesses, including its literary department, live events team and publishing More favorable advertising return Creators retain the IP and rights of their podcast
To apply to the Amplify Accelerator, podcasters must:
The podcast achieves a minimum of 2000-5000+ views per episode per week. The podcast is published weekly (can be seasonal). The podcast is independent, you own the IP and rights, there are no other partners involved (apart from monetisation platforms). The host and podcast have an online social presence. A minimum of 20 episodes are published. You do not need to be based in London, but the studio providing access will be based in central London.
Unlocked is led by Head of Podcasts Leanne Alie, who has extensive experience in production, development and commissioning. She previously worked at the BBC for almost four years working in commissioning, podcast production and development production for BBC Sounds, and founded and led the BBC Sounds Audio Lab.
Leanne says: “It's fantastic that the podcast industry has grown so much over the last few years, but it's becoming increasingly difficult for small, independent shows to succeed.
“As an industry, we need to give more opportunities to home-grown podcasters to help them grow and develop, because that's what's great about this industry.”
“Podcasts are powerful because anyone can publish a show and anyone can share diverse thoughts. And the more diverse stories we have, the more empathy and understanding we can create in society.”
“Coming from my own experience as an independent podcaster, I'm excited to contribute to the podcasting community and help make the industry more fair for those of us who started from the ground up. At the end of the day, it's the bedroom podcasters who have really built and grown this industry.”
For more information about the Amplify Accelerator, including application criteria and how to apply, visit unlockedpodcasts.com.
Participants must submit a 10-minute highlight video of their podcast, social media links and listener data. The deadline for applications is Monday 7th October, when shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with up to four podcasters selected for the first round of programming.
