PodMov Daily: Thursday, November 11

Episode 537: Your Thursday Podthoughts

Navigating the Wide World of Podcast Festivals

Thanks to passion and hard work over the last two years, industry festivals, awards, and conferences have managed to flourish. Next Thursday, November 18, PRX and the Google Podcasts creator program will explore podcast events, how they function, and how creators and audiences can make the most of them.

Leaders in the space will offer insights into what makes these events special: Jess Kupferman, CEO and Co-Founder of She Podcasts; Emily Kennedy and Maya Goldberg-Safir, Co-Directors of Third Coast; Melissa Mbugua, Co-Director of Africa Podfest; and our own Dan Franks, President and Co-founder of Podcast Movement.

Podcast events help creators build momentum and discover new ideas. PM is proud to play an active role in podcasting outside the studio, away from the desk, and out in the world. Thursday’s free webinar is a valuable opportunity to learn about the landscape and plan for your next adventure — in-person or virtual.

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Know Your IP Rights, Expand Your Creative Universe

Knowing the importance of intellectual property is a must for any podcaster hoping to expand with a partner. For Sean Williams of Gideon Media, balanced IP rights have allowed his company’s sci-fi and horror podcasts to become audiobooks and even a novel — all while retaining ownership of those universes.

Derivative rights have enormous value that creators must protect, Williams says. “Know that what you’re building is as real and as fungible — as economically movable — as building a chair or creating a piece of pottery. You sell it, someone else owns it, and then they can sell it for whatever profit they want.”

While the dream of podcast adaptations is more alluring than ever, “Don’t sign over the derivatives until you’re ready, until you feel the price is worth losing them for.” Williams tells Acast’s Grace Ross about how he approached a partnership with a major publisher, offering terrific advice for those shopping their shows.

Pod People: Better Podcasts Start with the Perfect Team 

When audio projects meet the right professionals, it’s magic. Pod People’s Matchmaking services offer white-glove staffing for contract-to-hire roles across the industry. With a global community of nearly 2,000 creators, finding ideal candidates is simple, fast, and reliable.

Pod People specializes in sourcing the best Producers, Journalists, Editors, Engineers, Sound Designers, and more across the audio industry. Each step of the process ensures a perfect fit, starting with a curated shortlist of candidates for each role.

For audio professionals, Pod People’s free community is a world of opportunity. Perks include resources, events, mentorship, networking — and the ears of companies like Spotify, Netflix, and Wondery. Ready to meet your match? Whether you’re looking to hire or be hired, better partnerships start here.

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Here's what else is going on:

• Thumb war: YouTube has removed the public “dislike” count on all videos. Viewers can still click the thumbs down icon, but only creators can see those numbers. The company says that smaller channels have been unfairly targeted by ‘dislike attacks,’ a form of group harassment.

• Quick draw: Sometimes a ‘minimum effective’ approach to editing is your best bet. Colin Gray of The Podcast Host explains how to “take as little time as you can to get out a decent product, and you can keep doing it, week after week, growing your audience exponentially as you go.”

• Binge mode: Reality TV’s repeatable, dramatic format is famously addictive. Geoff Siskind, a producer in that field before moving to podcasts, finds that programs like “Mythbusters” are structured just like sticky podcasts. The result? “A super high octane show that is also a ton of fun.”

• Club sandwich: AIR (the Association of Independents in Radio) keeps a list of global podcast and radio listening groups. There are regional groups in the United States, Europe, and Australia as well as virtual. Visitors can suggest additions, and the organization welcomes tips.