Jason is co-founder of The Podcast Show, London — this interview has been lightly edited for style and readability
Jason Carter: The Podcast Show is getting bigger and bigger as an event. We’re super excited about it.
My personal highlight is seeing the take-up from people across the UK and around the world that really want to come to the show this year, and also in terms of partnerships and new partners on board. We’ve got brilliant retention in terms of the big headliners like iHeart and Global and Bauer coming in for the first time, continuing to have YouTube and BBC Studios and Amazon and Spotify and Audioboom and Acast… and the list goes on.
What people can expect is a fantastic program. We’ve got international speakers from Morten Strunge from Podimo, from Jessica Radburn from ABC Australia, to Greg Glenday from Acast, (ARN’s) Corey Layton, Max Cutler from PAVE… I’m not going to read through 400 speakers!
I should say that good timing here to have this chat because all stages are live today. So if you go on the website, you can see the full picture. We’ve got a really broad set of coverage in terms of content. Really pleased to see new stages such as the international stage, which is sponsored by Podimo. We also have a Creator First stage, which is partnered by Arcade, which is all about the creator economy, and we’ve got some great speakers.
I think in terms of value for people attending, the networking got bigger and bigger. There is a huge amount of networking at the conference itself, from leaders in podcast breakfasts, to freelancers meetups, international meetups, executive dinners in the evenings. Lots of that. I think also what pleases us is the global community is really engaged with the opportunity of coming to this event for everyone to meet each other. There are so many other events that are happening around or during the week of The Podcast Show, and I’m really pleased that we’re a conduit to bringing the whole kind of global community together in London. Networking is the number one reason people come to the event, and they leave with a packed address book full of new contacts and getting business done.
Sam Sethi: That’s generally been my point of view. Yes, I try and get to as many seminars as I can, but it’s also just getting face-to-face time with friends from around the globe. I did ask for a third day! I guess that’s never gonna come.
JC: Never say never, I would say to you, Sam. There’s the launch phase, people buying in and seeing that it’s for real, and then making sure that it stands up, and then being established. We’re now at a point that the industry feels it’s of real value to have The Podcast Show, now we’re at year five. We’re definitely at that point where it’s actually review time. What do we do? What kind of packages do we have? Do we have more days? Do we look at other locations? All of those things. They’re not off the table. And as you know, we’ve been throwing those things around for a year or two, but it’s about making sure that the Jewel in the Crown event, the London show that we do, we get right.
We’re always mindful or thinking about what’s the next iteration of The Podcast Show. And so the day three question is not a never. It’s one that we’re looking at amongst many other things, really. I think the important thing is we’re constantly talking to the industry, whether it’s the hundred partners that we have at the show, or speakers, or people like yourself, or we have an advisory board. The show is there to support the industry. So we take the lead from you guys.
SS: One of the rumors flying around was there might be an international podcast show from you guys?
JC: All I would say is - it’s the same point, really, it’s really important to make sure that we get a perfectly formed event in London first off, and then move to the next stage. In terms of thinking about the wider expansion of the event to support the industry, as I keep saying, it’s not off the table, and it is something that we would continue to consider.
SS: Okay. Most important thing, where’s the parties this year? What parties can people go to?
JC: Like I said, there are so many - there are some that I find out about after the show! Our official party is with Patreon this year. Patreon partnered for the first time last year, and they’ve joined forces with us, and we will be doing a big party on the first day of the show with DJs, rooftop, sunset party, cocktails, all that kind of thing. That would be where I put the flag in the sand as the one to go to - but I would because it’s our official party!
It’s an important year for us as well because it’s the fifth edition of the show. So there are things like we’ve got on the Tuesday, a fifth birthday, drinks, reception. As you will know, there’s some lovely British pubs in Upper Street and Islington where the show’s located. So we’ve taken on board some of those pubs and people can create a meetups and various things like that. There’s so much going on. I’m seeing every day other events that are also happening in the week. We’re really excited about it, Sam. We’re really excited about this year. And we’re beginning to be a better-oiled machine in terms of delivery. So I’m not as manic as I may have been in previous years.
SS: In terms of numbers, have you blown through the numbers this year in terms of attendees?
JC: No, because as I’ve mentioned before, we have 6,000 or just over 6,000 visitors across the two days. I made a decision - I think before the last show - not to go beyond that, because we want to make sure it’s a comfortable experience in the main venue. There was one year, I think it was year two, that I think we pushed that a bit too far. We don’t want to damage the experience for people that are at the show.
But what I will say that our partners coming on board and also our delegate passes are way ahead of last year, and last year was way ahead of previous years, but the ultimate number will remain the same, which is just over 6,000 across the two days of the event. So your point about day three and those kind of things, it is time to begin to think about where we go next and what we do next.
SS: So if I haven’t got a ticket and I still want to get one, where could I go?
JC: So there’s still time. I think the important thing is to go to The Podcast Show London website. This is the final week where if you purchase a pass, you’ll save. It does increase on the 13th May to the final ticket rate. So I’d encourage anyone to do so now if they want to get best value. And yeah, they’re all still available. We’ve got our day gold passes and our platinum two-day passes. Silver passes are sold out, unfortunately. But yeah, tickets still available.
SS: Thank you, Jason. I can’t wait. It’s the most exciting event for me of the year for podcasting. I love it. And um, yeah, me and James are going to be doing a live show as well on the last day. James is doing the kickoff with the Report Card, so lots for us as Podnews and Podcast Business Journal to go and get excited. Look forward to catching up with you.
JC: Yeah, you too. I must say that James Cridland - he’s become an annual thing, in that he kicks off the first morning on the first day of the show, and it’s always a roadblock. He’s doing something right, isn’t he?
Very much looking forward to meeting you guys. We’ll see you very soon.