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EXCLUSIVE: UK agency The Partnership Group‘s new podcast company Unlocked is hunting the next generation of creator talent.
The Leanne Alie-led firm has launched The Amplify Accelerator, a year-long program designed to provide up to four indie podcasters with tools, resources and support. It will seek to find diverse voices and build sustainable careers.
The participants will get access to a central London studio space, a podcast editor, editorial support from Unlocked Head of Podcasts Leanne Alie, marketing and press self, cross-promotion on Unlocked’s other podcasts, talent from The Partnership Group businesses such as its literary department and a good ad revenue rate. They will also retain the IP and rights to their podcasts.
Unlocked is searching for podcasters with social media presences who currently achieve between 2,000 and 5,000 listens per episode on an independent weekly show that has run for a minimum of 20 eps. Applicants are being asked to submit a 10-minute highlight real by Monday, October 7. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed for the inaugural round of the program.
Unlocked recently launched as part of The Partnership Group, which was formed in 2021 when The Artists Partnership, Sayle Screen and Sara Putt Associates joined forces. It also houses OWN IT! and offers representation, TV/film development and production services, live events and podcasts under one roof. Former BBC commissioner Alie is running Unlocked and oversee the launch of its first original, The Reggie Yates Podcast.
“As amazing as it is to see the podcast industry grow exponentially over the last few years, it has been harder and harder for smaller independent shows to break through,” said Alie. “As an industry we need to give more opportunities to home grown podcasters to help them grow and develop as this is what is so great about our industry, podcasts are powerful; anyone can publish a show, anyone can share their diversity of thought and the more diverse stories that are out there, the more we can build empathy and understanding within our society.
“I speak to this as having experience as an independent podcaster myself and I’m very excited to be able to give back to the podcasting community and help try and make the industry more equitable for those of us that start from scratch — after all, it is bedroom podcasters that really built and grew this industry.”