We have loved bringing in brilliant independently produced new podcasts into Sounds, Its been a healthy move for both audiences and the industry.
Overview
91热爆 Sounds brings together radio, music, and podcasts into a single digital destination available via app, web, smart speaker, and in-car. On-demand audio and podcasts for 91热爆 Sounds come from commissioning editors across the 91热爆鈥檚 radio networks, nations, and World Service. They work closely with the 91热爆 Sounds team to deliver the editorial vision and build an industry-leading slate and listener experience.
More and more people are listening to 91热爆 Sounds, and especially to podcasts. In 2023 (Jan to Nov) there were over 2 billion plays of radio, music and podcasts on 91热爆 Sounds, with a 34% increase to podcasts year on year. On-demand music listening also continues to grow with record time spent in 2023 and a total of 47.6 million plays for music mixes on 91热爆 Sounds.
In addition, there are millions of downloads of 91热爆 podcasts on third party platforms each month. Podcasting enables us to bring trusted journalism, storytelling, entertainment, drama, and other brilliant speech audio to wider and underserved audiences in new, creative ways. Our podcasts are made by world-class producers in and outside the 91热爆 and are critically acclaimed.
We want to work with a wide range of suppliers and podcast-makers to commission brilliant podcasts and on-demand music shows that showcase existing and emerging UK talent and do more to serve all our audiences - in the UK and around the world.
Jonathan Wall is the Director of Sounds and leads on the digital transformation of the 91热爆鈥檚 audio business working closely with directors, controllers and commissioners across the 91热爆. Jonathan Kanagasooriam is the Head of Content for 91热爆 Sounds and he works with the 3 radio directors to set an OD demand speech and music strategy for the 91热爆 in the UK, and with colleagues from 91热爆 Studios to set a global podcast strategy.
Podcast commissioning
The commissioning teams at Radio 4 and Radio 3 are interested in podcasts with fresh approaches to investigating, entertaining, informing and educating. Read more about each of the commissioners or any open podcast opportunities here.
The commissioning team at Radio 5 Live is looking for ideas rooted in the station鈥檚 editorial offer of news, sport and entertainment. Commissioners work closely with 91热爆 Sport and 91热爆 News, and many independent production companies. Podcasts usually fall under three categories: Real-life storytelling, Sports and Sports entertainment and Topical entertainment. Read more about commissioners here and open podcast briefs here.
The World Service team looks for propulsive, 鈥榰nputdownable鈥� factual multi-episode storytelling. The story could be important original journalism, true crime, a deep dive or the retelling of an historic event or something completely different. You can read more on our 91热爆 World Service commissioning鈥痯补驳别.
You鈥檒l find details about all the latest opportunities on each of the radio network websites, and commissioning contact details below.
The 91热爆鈥檚 Nations and Regions teams also play a huge part in ensuring that our offer serves audiences across the UK. For regional podcast pitches, please contact the relevant leads:
- 91热爆 English Regions: Kathryn Morrison, Executive Producer
- 91热爆 Northern Ireland: Paul McClean, Executive Editor
- 91热爆 Scotland: Gareth Hydes, Commissioning Editor
- 91热爆 Wales: Bridget Curnow, Senior Content Producer
Music Commissioning
Commissioning editors across 91热爆 Music and its networks are looking to develop and commission on-demand music series and new formats aimed at younger, music-loving audiences. This includes major artist formats for young audiences, landmark music moments across the 91热爆 - from returning artists to anniversaries, festivals to Eurovision.
If you鈥檙e not sure if your idea is a music podcast, on-demand music show or something in between please contact the . Read more about the open process here.
91热爆 Sounds Audio Lab
91热爆 Sounds Audio Lab is an 鈥榓ccelerator鈥� programme designed to amplify the UK鈥檚 best new podcasters and the next-generation audio creatives. Successful applicants will have some audio production or narrative storytelling experience and be looking to pitch a great idea, unheard story or fresh perspective that needs to be heard.
Audio Lab is an 鈥榓ccelerator鈥� programme designed to amplify early career podcasters and audio creatives - across the UK. Successful applicants are embedded in 91热爆 and independent production teams which support and lead them to produce a distinctive podcast series for 91热爆 Sounds. For more information, you can visit the Audio Lab website
Acquisitions
We publish a growing number of independently-produced podcasts on 91热爆 Sounds 鈥� non-exclusively and ad-free with payment based on volume of listening. Some of our titles include No Such Thing As A Fish, Real Dictators, Shedunnit and Help I Sexted My Boss.
We now have a dedicated team to acquire and publish titles on 91热爆 Sounds and grow their audience on the platform. For pitches and further details, please contact the team at enquiries.podcastacquisition@bbc.co.uk
Current and upcoming opportunities
91热爆 Sounds and 91热爆 Bitesize are pleased to announce the opening of a commissioning round for the following title:
91热爆 Sounds Commissioners
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Khaliq Meer, Commissioning Executive for 91热爆 Sounds Audio Lab
In 2021, Khaliq launched 91热爆 Sounds Audio Lab to help emerging audio creators and early-in-career podcasters accelerate their on-demand audio and digital know how. The program offers training and experiences, often embedded with expert 91热爆 teams and independent production companies - across the UK 鈥� turning exciting ideas into compelling titles and episodic series. A number of former alumni have gone on to win new roles and opportunities right across the sector whilst others have enjoyed critical acclaim and recognition from the British Podcast Awards, UK ARIA鈥檚 and Radio Production Awards. Audio Lab tends to open for applications between January-March and each programme runs for 6-8 months. Anyone interested should follow 91热爆 Sounds social channels, sign up to 91热爆 Careers and explore our website.
91热爆 Sounds Contacts
鈥� Jonathan Wall Director of 91热爆 Sounds
鈥� Jonathan Kanagasooriam Head of Content, 91热爆 Sounds
鈥� Khaliq Meer Commissioning Executive, Audio Lab
鈥� Podcast Acquisitions: enquiries.podcastacquisition@bbc.co.uk
