It's a win for independent podcasters today. Liam Heffernan of Mercury is striking back at the podcast network monopolies by starting an indie podcast that brings listeners quality shows.
Mercury, a new UK-based podcast network, has officially launched. It is designed to support the unique needs of independent creators looking to grow and monetize their podcasts. Since onboarding its first show in November, Mercury has already sold over one million ad impressions, and boasts over 500,000 downloads per month.
Additionally, Mercury plans to launch a slate of original titles over the coming year, and is also in development with two prominent
true-crime podcasters on a new show to launch in late 2025.
Mercury’s ambition is to represent the world’s best independent podcasts and creators.
Its offering differs from other networks, with a strong focus on ensuring podcasters keep full control of their content. Benefits include direct involvement in advertising and sponsorship decisions. Mercury also promises a more personalized approach than other networks, prioritizing value over volume.
“We’re going toe to toe with the big networks… and we’re winning!” insists Liam Heffernan, Mercury’s Founder.
Mercury is founded by Liam Heffernan, an award-winning independent podcaster from the UK, whose own shows include America: A History. He has previously worked for companies
including Auddy and The Podcast Boutique, and was featured on Podpod’s 30 Faces to Watch list, touted as a future industry leader.
“As an independent podcaster myself, I know that the biggest challenge facing creators isn’t content; it’s time and resource,” says Liam.
Liam observes: “Current networks are failing to address these needs, and are failing to offer a truly valuable network proposition to those podcasters who are big enough to monetize but need support, and don’t want to surrender control over their show for it. This shouldn’t be a compromise.”
"In Mercury, we have revolutionized what it means to be a podcast network," says Liam. "It places value over volume, it puts content before ads, and it puts creator support at the very heart of its offering. By coming at it from this mindset, we’ve been able to hit the ground running and go toe to toe with the biggest networks for the best independent shows and creators out there…and we’re winning."
"Passion is something you find in abundance in the independent podcasting space. We wouldn't take time out of our busy lives to create podcasts unless we had passion for the subject," says Em McGowan, co-founder of the Independent Podcast Awards and host
of Verbal Diorama. “Film history is mine, and I wouldn't be making episodes almost six years later if I still didn't have that passion. But no-one said it was easy, and it remains just as tough to be an indie podcast as it has ever been.”
Em McGowan continues: "What drew me to Mercury was that passion for independent podcasts. It was clear from the get-go that Liam was eager to have Verbal Diorama aboard, and passionate about increasing its visibility in an often crowded space. As an independent podcaster himself, he understands the issues we face. I have big goals for Verbal Diorama; joining Mercury is one step closer to me achieving them."
Tan, Ryan and Keon, hosts of comedy history podcast PastMaster, are: "delighted to be a part of Mercury. As indie creators, no matter how hard you work, it can be tough to cut through and make the same level of noise as shows with the backing of big brands and corporations. We’re confident Liam’s experience and knowledge of the industry will help us level up and get exposure in the right places to grow."
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CONFIRMED SHOWS
Are you interested in how movies are made? Do you wonder how a film went from conception to completion? If so, Verbal Diorama, hosted by Em, is the award-winning(!) podcast for you! Movies are tough to make, and Verbal Diorama is here to celebrate the coming together of teams of extraordinary cast and crew, bringing us movies that inspire us, delight us, make us laugh, make us cry and frighten us. This podcast discovers the stories behind the scenes, and proves how amazing it is that movies actually exist!
Please note that Verbal Diorama won the Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards in July 2024.
The 40k Lorecast is a weekly dive into all the Lore that surrounds Warhammer 40k. Brad and John will take listeners on a deep dive into everything that is the lore of the Warhammer 40k Universe with their weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the rich lore. Join them as they unravel the mysteries of the 41st millennium.
Could you survive and thrive if you were sent back in time? Would you invent electricity in ancient Rome, or perhaps teach Napoleon rock & roll? Well now you can find out! Join hosts Ryan, Tan and Keon in PastMaster – the time-traveling, history-bending, role-playing show. "It’s simple. We've given an AI the rules of the game, and it acts as our narrator and guide. Each week, we navigate to a different era and find out if we've got what it takes to reshape history."
America: A History is your ultimate guide to the history of the United States of America. Featuring the best academics, experts, and special guests, every week answers a different question about the USA, to understand the people, the places, and the events that shape it.
"This is your ultimate guide to American history from the people who can explain it best. We make the big topics like slavery and civil rights easy to understand, and give you a 101 in all things US history. It's the only podcast you'll ever need," says host Liam Heffernan.
Check out these Mercury podcasts and support independent podcasts. Ask yourself what group would you rather have making podcasts?
Corporations who prioritize profits over people or independent podcasters like Mercury that have a passion for podcasts and love their listeners.
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