Building A Virtual Podcast Network Of Independent Podcasts

 In every other media format in existence, independent creators, artists, performers, producers and technicians are eventually welcomed into the mainstream fold.

Except in podcasting.

In podcasting, large-scale podcast networks seek domination over independent podcasters, who, by the way, built this infrastructure. These aggressive networks attempt to push out the "indies" in favor of their home-grown, often bland, sometimes derivative, and celebrity-laden shows. 

There is one recent exception. That is the Mercury Podcast Network. Under the leadership of Liam Heffernan, Mercury has linked numerous existing independent podcasts into a network.

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.”

“One of the driving forces behind Mercury is being able to level the playing field in our industry, and democratize the resources usually reserved for the big players,” says Mercury founder Liam Heffernan.

“This partnership unlocks major monetization opportunities for our shows, and finally brings these platforms to the creators who can benefit most from them.

Podcasting's future should be one in which creative and unique, independent podcasts dominate the audio landscape. We at Ear Worthy hope that more such networks burst into existence like the chest hugger in Alien, scaring the hell out of large podcast networks and production studios. 

Until that happens with greater frequency, Ear Worthy is creating some "virtual" podcast networks, so everyone can see what a podcast network made up of independent podcasts would look like.

We will be using a strategy formulated by Danny Brown of Captivate, whereby these new networks made up of indie podcasts can utilize the various skills of the indie podcasters in the network. 

"One podcaster who is adept at marketing can support the other podcasts in the network," says Danny. "Or another podcaster who excels in editing can help others. It would be a team effort."

You know, it's "a picture is worth a thousand words" strategy. So, here we go. 

First up, The Thinking Points Podcast Network. This podcast network, run by Ear Worthy board members Jim Driscoll and George Witt, will focus on podcasts that provoke thought and focus on facing life's challenges. No celebrities allowed.

Here is the roster of the Thinking Points Podcast Network.

The Life Shift
Multispective
Preconceived
CooperTalk
Byte-Sized Biographies
'Tis But A Scratch
Undo
Why Wars Happened
Impostrix
Escape: The Underground Railroad (mini-series)
Modern Dadhood

The next podcast network is run by Ear Worthy board members Lashay Jones and Frank Racioppi.

It's called the Make A Connection podcast network. Its focus is on shows that help listeners with their lifestyle choices, including media.

 

 

Salad With A Side Of Fries
Getting Personal About Plant Medicine
Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever
6 Degrees of Cats AND Tails & Tassels
Podcasting Tech
The Connectors
Relationscapes
Grave Matters
Dead And Kind Of Famous
What Went Wrong
Charts & Hearts
Surfing Corporate
Double Take

 Finally, we have a podcast network dedicated to audio fiction -- science fiction, romance, mystery, and dramas.

 Silvertongues
Un(Con)Trolled
Windfall
Metropolis
Hobo Code

We would love to see these podcast networks come to life. We are asking investors to see the value of building a profitable podcast network from existing independent podcasts.

 After all, aren't we tired of these derivative celebrity podcasts where they interview each other? There is one minor celebrity who has been on 15 of these celebrity podcasts owned by large podcast networks! How much more can we take?  

To us, the real celebrities are those brave indie podcast pioneers such as Matt Gilhooly, Jenn Trepeck, Whitney Knox Lee, Ayesha Khan, Mark Steadman, Danny Brown, Mathew Passy, Shane Portman, and hundreds of others whose names you may not know but whose voices have graced your ears.