Casting wide net for audio ideas

ACAST, the world’s leading podcast technology platform, and award-winning production company Wisebuddah are joining forces to create LaunchPod: the UK’s first ever large-scale podcast competition, in a bid to find the UK’s new podcast star.

The competition, which aims to help talented creators get their podcast idea off the ground, is open to anyone in the UK who thinks they might have the next Serial or My Dad Wrote a Porno up their sleeve.

The winning podcaster will have the opportunity to professionally produce, launch and market their podcast with Wisebuddah and Acast.

To submit their idea, applicants should visit www. launchpod.org before 9pm on June 18. All that’s needed is a description of the idea, an overview of the intended audience, and either a fiveminute audio sample or a short script.

The judges are: Jamie Morton (My Dad Wrote a Porno), Imriel Morgan (ShoutOut Network and host of Wanna Be podcast), Caroline Crampton (head of podcasts at the New Statesman, co-host of their SRSLY podcast and writer of podcast newsletter No Complaints), Clare Chadburn (head of development, Wisebuddah) and Susie Warhurst (UK content director, Acast).

All are looking for original ideas that use the podcast medium to their advantage. It can be audio fiction, a comedy show, a panel show, a real-life investigation, a chat show or a completely new format.

From the entrants, the panel will choose three semi-finalists

who will be invited to work with a team of Wisebuddah and Acast experts to produce a pilot episode. These three pilots will be made available to the public, and listeners will vote for their favourite. The results will be taken into consideration by the judges who will pick an overall winner.

LIZZY POLLOTT, Acast