Tag: Podcasting

Spotify Unveils New Ava DuVernay Podcast Dedicated to Social Change

February 22, 2021

Earlier this year, we shared news of a multiyear partnership between Spotify and award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who is known for powerful movies and television like Selma and Queen Sugar. Spotify and DuVernay will produce exclusive scripted and unscripted original audio programming through ARRAY, DuVernay’s multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change. ARRAY will partner with Spotify’s Gimlet studio on a number of scripted and unscripted narrative podcasts.

Today at our Stream On event, we shared more details on the first project—an unscripted podcast—that will be launching through the collaboration.

Photo credit: ARRAY

This unscripted podcast is based on ARRAY’S Law Enforcement Accountability Project, launched after the murder of George Floyd by on-duty police officers. The podcast is an investigative series that chronicles officers who commit murder, revealing the alarming truth about the blue wall of silence that protects police after they pull the trigger. The series explores a new case each week, zeroing in on the lack of repercussions and accountability despite fatal wrongdoing. 

Creators and Storytellers Shine Bright at Spotify Stream On

February 22, 2021

At Stream On, Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek was joined by artists, podcasters, and other notable storytellers. We’d like to thank these guests—from all over the world, both established and emerging—for participating in our virtual event earlier today. 

Visit here for more on our commitment to empowering creators—the new, the rising, and the icons—around the world using our unparalleled data, insights, and powerful platform.

Spotify is Proud to Partner with Iconic Creators the Russo Brothers and AGBO

February 22, 2021

Today at our Stream On event, Spotify announced a new partnership with AGBO, Anthony and Joe Russo’s entertainment company. The Russo brothers are the iconic creators behind films like Captain America: Civil War; Avengers: Infinity War; and Avengers: End Game.

Through this multi-year, multi-series deal, AGBO will bring some of its most exciting storytelling universes to Spotify.

The Russo brothers are known for genre-based sagas that connect fans of all ages on a global basis—especially those who love embracing expansive, inter-connected narratives. This partnership is an ideal fit as Spotify embarks on a journey to tell more stories that have the power to span generations and territories.

Stay tuned for more updates as Spotify, the Russo brothers, and AGBO work together to open up a new universe for Spotify listeners.

New Spotify Original Podcast From Sound Up Alum Kacie Willis Pushes the Bounds of Creativity and Anonymity

February 18, 2021

It’s rare for two people to approach the creative process in the same manner. In the new podcast You Heard Me Write, listeners get a peek behind the curtain to hear how different sound designers bring to life the words of writers in an entirely unique way. The show, hosted by Sound Up 2019 participant Kacie Willis, is the latest podcast to come out of Spotify’s Sound Up program, which aims to empower the next generation of podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds through education, workshops, and support.

The first season of You Heard Me Write explores 30 original pieces of prose, music, and sound design. Each episode features artists collaborating on a multimedia group project without having any knowledge about the identities of their counterparts. Only after the project is done are the artists introduced to one another: in a roundtable discussion where they explore the roles of creativity, anonymity, and the power of connection between people from different walks of life. 

For the Record sat down with Kacie to learn more about the podcast.

Spotify’s Sound Up Australia—Amplifying First Nations Voices for a Second Year

February 27, 2020

Update as of May 10, 2021: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sound Up AU program as described below did not occur in 2020. In 2021, we invited Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander podcasters to sign up for The Sound Up 2021 program, which will be facilitated by our new partners Travis De Vries and Brooke Scobie from Awesome Black. Learn more about the 2021 program here.

For Indigenous communities, stories have long been passed down by word of mouth. Podcasting, a much more recent invention, can take the words of storytellers even further. Through Spotify’s Sound Up Australia podcast accelerator program, we’re helping to empower First Nations individuals in Australia to tell their stories using podcasting—and amplifying them across the world. 

Returning for the second year, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, writers, creators, and podcasters are encouraged to apply to our Sound Up accelerator program, a five-day residential podcasting workshop to be held in Sydney from May 11 to 15. Applicants don’t need to have any previous podcasting experience to apply, just something to say, a passion for the medium, and an eagerness to bring a podcast idea to life. 

“First Australians have been passing down their knowledge, culture and history from generation-to-generation through storytelling for tens of thousands of years,” says Natalie Tulloch, Spotify Sound Up Lead. “Spotify wants to harness the power of storytelling and bring it to the next generation through podcasting.”

From the pool of applicants, 10 people will be selected to attend the residential workshop, which will be facilitated by Marlee Silva, podcaster and co-founder of Tiddas 4 Tiddas, and Rekha Murthy, podcast expert. Participants will learn about the art of podcasting, receive mentoring and practical experience, and meet with podcasting and radio greats who also identify as First Nations people. At the end of the week, three finalists will be awarded a cash grant and all participants will be given equipment and software to produce their podcasts.

Sound Up Australia in 2018 awarded four grants for podcast production. One recipient, Rowdie Walden, used it to create Search Engine Sex, the ultimate sex and relationship podcast, and Spotify Australia’s first Spotify Original investment. 

“Sound Up is an incredible opportunity because it’s so rare in the media industry that you get to sit with the platform, the commissioning editors, and the managing director and develop your idea from the ground up,” says Rowdie. “It gives space to minority groups who otherwise wouldn’t get a foot in the door. Podcasting is such a fast-growing industry that it’s important we keep the push for diversity and inclusion in this space as well.” 

Aspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander podcasters can apply for this year’s Sound Up program here from May 11 – 15 by March 15. Travel and accommodation will be covered for those living outside of Sydney. 

10 Anchor Tools To Help You Make a Great Podcast

June 4, 2019

In February, Spotify announced that we acquired Anchor, a platform that makes quality podcasting easy and fun. We’re excited to increase the number of podcasts and diversity of topics available on Spotify and hope to inspire our users to start creating their own shows.

Luckily, podcasting has never been as simple—or accessible—as it is with Anchor. Whether you’re recording your fourth podcast or your first, check out 10 Anchor tools below that can ease you through the entire process.

1. Record from anywhere—literally.

  • Record episodes wherever you are by using the Anchor mobile app for iPhone, Android, or iPad. Or flip open your laptop and use the desktop website. No other equipment is required—unless you’re feeling fancy, in which case you can use a USB mic. You can also upload audio files to use in your podcast.
  • True story: People have used the mobile feature to record everywhere imaginable, including while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and from a boat in the middle of the ocean.

2. Record with anyone. 

  • Anchor’s Record with Friends feature supports remote recording with up to eight people at once. Talk to people anywhere in the world and record in real time—distance never has to be an obstacle to making your podcast.

3. Edit your audio with a couple of taps.

  • Once you’ve recorded some audio, you can edit it by trimming out any unnecessary pieces or splitting it into multiple segments. Anchor’s editing tools are easy to use even when you’re on mobile.

4. Make it sound beautiful.

  • Anchor has a library of free background music that can be added underneath your audio. The app will even automatically adjust the music’s volume based on the sound of your voice, so it’s a great way to easily add texture to your podcast’s sound.

5. Customize your cover art.

  • Choose from a library of beautiful photos for your podcast cover artwork, thanks to Anchor’s Cover Art Creator (in partnership with Unsplash). Once you select the perfect image, you can add custom text to it right in the Anchor app.

6. Get your show heard everywhere.

  • Anchor takes care of distributing your podcast everywhere people are listening. With just one tap, you can get your podcast on Spotify and more.

7. Transform your words into social-friendly videos.

  • If you want to go beyond soundscapes, select a clip of two minutes or less to turn into a word video. It’s perfect for showcasing your work across social channels.

8. Make your listeners part of your podcast.

  • With Anchor’s Voice Messages, you can collect messages from your listeners and incorporate them right into your episodes. Some creators use this feature to share listener comments on a particular topic, host a listener-inspired episode, or create a Q&A-style show.

9. See how your show is growing.

  • Gain unique insights into when and where your podcast is being heard the loudest. On your Anchor dashboard, you’ll find detailed analytics so you can learn about who’s listening and how your episodes are performing. Analytics are available on mobile and web, so you can track your success no matter where you are.

10. Make money with your podcast.

  • With Anchor Sponsorships and Listener Support, you can make money from your podcast either by including custom ads (we’ll do the work of matching you with a sponsor and helping you record your own ads), or by collecting recurring donations from listeners.

Ready to get started? Sign up for Anchor today.

Everything You Wanted to Know about Podcasts But Were Afraid to Ask

May 28, 2019

Have you ever raved to a friend or family member about a podcast you’re bingeing (say, Stay Free: The Story of the Clash) only to have them ask, “Wait, what’s a podcast?” or even, “How do I listen to it?”

On the other hand, maybe you can talk all day about Game of Thrones finale theories or your feelings about the latest album drop, and you want to share your thoughts with the world. Good news: It’s easier than ever to get the word out.

Whether you’re a podcast aficionado looking to share your passion, or just looking to stay up on the latest trends, this straightforward and shareable Podcast 101 infographic is your one-stop shop for any podcasting questions.

Now that you can safely explain podcasts, why not find a new favorite? Or easily start your own by using Anchor or Soundtrap for Storytellers.

References:

  1. Edison Infinite Dial 2019
  2. Edison Infinite Dial 2019
  3. Nielson Podcast Insights: A Marketer’s Guide to Podcasting. Q1 2018
  4. Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2018
  5. Edison Infinite Dial 2019

Soundtrap for Storytellers Helps Podcasters Take Their Shows to the Next Level

May 14, 2019

Last year, seven million people in the US produced podcasts—and even more people consumed them. But the process of recording, editing, transcribing, and adding sound effects isn’t always easy. That’s why Soundtrap, a Spotify company, was inspired to create Soundtrap for Storytellers, a cloud-based one-stop shop for podcast creation that helps podcasters share their stories in a powerful and efficient way.

Soundtrap for Storytellers is a comprehensive podcast creation tool that offers recording, remote multi-track interviewing with video chat, smart editing of audio as a text document, full audio production, direct-to-Spotify publishing of the podcast, and transcript publishing to optimize SEO all in one service.

To celebrate the launch of Soundtrap for Storytellers, we brought the hosts of nine beloved podcasts together at Spotify’s NYC office for a hands-on “Pod Camp” demo of Soundtrap for Storytellers. We talked to the founders (and voices) behind favorites such as Berning in Hell, Girls Gotta Eat, Journey to Launch, and more about their favorite parts of podcasting—and what they’re excited for with Soundtrap for Storytellers.

Soundtrap demo at the Spotify office

Hannah Berner, Founder/Host: Berning in Hell

Favorite part of podcasting: “The freedom of speech. My podcast creates an opportunity for an extremely intimate experience between two people with no boundaries that I get to then share with the world.”

Why Soundtrap excites Hannah: “I think a lot of podcasters don’t have any knowledge about the importance of SEO, or getting found in unique ways, besides just promoting on our social media. So having a transcript of what you’re saying that also helps with SEO is incredible.”

Lindsey Metselaar, Founder/Host: We Met at Acme

Favorite part of podcasting: “I love getting to know someone. You can get away with asking a few questions when you first meet someone, but you can’t just sit there and grill them for an hour. As a curious person, it gives me an excuse to be able to literally do that.”

Why Soundtrap excites Lindsey: “The fact that you can record with someone when they’re not physically with you is huge. I’m not able to do that right now because the sound quality is just not the same with other programs or over the phone. But Soundtrap allows two computers to have the same recording situation set up. That’s huge for podcasting.”

Jamila Souffrant, Founder/Host: Journey to Launch

Favorite part of podcasting: “Connecting with the guests and interviewing. Honestly, when I’m in the moment interviewing, I’m just in it. So when I actually hear the final product, I’m like, ‘Wow. That was a good episode.’”

Why Soundtrap excites Jamila: “Right now, I record the interview on my computer. Then I’ve got to download the track, then upload it so my editor can take it. Soundtrap eliminates the steps and makes it easier for me just to record.”

The crew of The Need to Know Podcast

Savon, Steph, Alex, Co-Hosts: The Need to Know Podcast

Savon’s favorite part of podcasting: “I got into podcasting not just because it was innovative, but also because it was very personable. A lot of media is not personable, you know? So listening to somebody and feeling like you’re connected with them was the main draw for me. Also, just doing it with smart people whom you learn from.”

Why Soundtrap excites Steph: “Schedule-wise, we’re all super busy. Sometimes one of us might not be able to make it, or be physically there. So the fact that we can still record is very important. Listeners look for our content every week. And they will hunt us down.”

Rayna Greenberg, Ashley Hesseltine, Co-Hosts: Girls Gotta Eat

Rayna’s favorite part of podcasting: “We love conceptualizing the episodes, we love polling our audience for what they’re really looking for, and we try to pull in all of their advice. We love all the emails we get asking for certain topics, and we love trying to figure out who the next guest will be that’s so great for that, and how we can create a show around them that’s really interesting and different.”

Why Soundtrap excites Ashley: “I like that it normalizes the levels as it’s recording, and then again after. Because right now, it records all onto one track. So if someone was just way too quiet or too loud, I can go in there and do it manually, but it would take forever. So I have to use an external program. I like that Soundtrap is pretty much doing that for you.”

Try Soundtrap for Storytellers, available today online and on iOS and Android, with pricing starting at $14.99/month and an annual plan starting at $11.99/month. Or if you’re more of a listener, check out the rest of the podcasts on Spotify.