Podcast Upfronts 2023

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(Delegates arrival from 13.15)
The Steel Yard, Allhallows Lane, London, EC4R 3UE

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Event Overview

Back for its fifth year, Podcast Upfronts spotlighted the audio innovators and storytellers that we can’t get enough of. More than any other medium, podcasting has captured the zeitgeist and created legions of loyal listeners who are pressing play on everything from solving crime to current affairs to cooking. As well as hearing about all the latest opportunities for advertisers, guests were spoiled for star talent including Spencer Matthews, Anna Williamson, Jon Sopel, Elizabeth Day and more from Audioboom, Fresh Air Production, Global, Octave, Sony Music Entertainment and Wondery. 

Key takeouts from Podcast Upfronts are available here

Agenda

13.15
Delegates arrival

14.00
Sessions start

Sony Music Entertainment’s Global Podcast Division: Where Podcasters are Artists

We are Sony Music Entertainment’s Global Podcast Division - where podcasters are artists. We put creators first and develop premium shows that loyal audiences keep coming back to. Based in London, New York and Los Angeles, we are a team of podcast obsessives covering creative, sales, marketing and business development focused only on one thing: our listeners and the shows we make for them. Join our session to hear directly from the big names in entertainment you already love on the mic and surprise guests you’ll be hearing from soon across our network.

Chris Skinner, VP Entertainment Podcasts, Sony Music Entertainment, Dan Jones, Host of This Is History, Ben Bailey Smith, Host of Shrink The Box & Elizabeth Day, Host of How to Fail & Best Friend Therapy

Wondery, An Amazon Company: More than a story

Wondery is home to the most powerful voices in podcasting. With binge-worthy, award-winning stories that top charts and captivate listeners around the world, Wondery delivers premium podcast experiences for brands and listeners. Take a front row seat as some of the biggest names in audio entertainment reveal Wondery’s content strategy, advertising opportunities and more in this exciting 20-minute session. 

Anna Leong Brophy, Emily Lloyd-Saini, Hosts of Terribly Famous, Nicole Gardner, Head of UK Sales & Jessica Radburn, Head of International Podcast Content at Wondery

Global: Getting To Know You: The Power of Personality in Podcasts

What draws audiences to podcasts – and which pods do they pluck out? It’s a matter of building relationships.

Global’s Faye McDowall and Sarah Ray take you through the research that shows why audiences choose podcasts for regular hits of comedy, news, or escapist drama in their lives. Great chemistry between hosts and guests turns into a great relationship with listeners too. 

Experience the chemistry first-hand as we play a live panel game with podcasters Spencer Matthews (Big Fish), Jon Sopel (The News Agents) and Anna Williamson (LuAnna) hosted by Head of News and Factual Podcasts at Global, Vicky Etchells. You’ll discover what makes an interesting discussion for podcast listeners and what brands gain by being part of the conversation.

Sarah Ray, Head of Podcast Sales, Faye McDowall, Strategy Director, DAX, & Vicky Etchells, Head of News and Factual Podcasts, Global, Jon Sopel, Host of The News Agents, Anna Williamson, Host of LuAnna & Spencer Matthews, Host of Big Fish

Break

Octave: The Age of the Podfluencer

We know from the boom in the market that podcast talent really matters and we’re rapidly moving into theage of the podfluencer, different from your standard influencers who dominate your TikTok or Gram feeds,this kind of influencer has direct access to your eardrums and the unique ability to connect with you on a deeper level.

We believe in the hype. Now let's have a conversation with two podcasters who understand the power the medium holds...

Coco Khan, Host, Pod Save the UK, Chris Hewitt, Host of The Empire Film Pod, Matt Rouse, Podcast Lead, Octave Audio & Nadia Holmes, Head of Business Development, Octave Audio

Fresh Air: The Ultimate Roadmap to Building a Successful Brand Podcast

Join Auto Trader and Fresh Air as they map out the steps they took on their journey to create Show on the Road: the podcast series that matches celebrities with cars and takes them on a customised trip down memory lane. We’ll be taking a look under the bonnet to find out what drove Auto Trader to pick podcasting and how it fueled a creative and ambitious campaign.

We'll then give you the ultimate roadmap for why you should build your own show. What's special, what's rewarding and what are the wrong turns you need to watch out for.

Rachel Bickler, Senior Brand Executive, James Sims Williams, Senior Creative, Auto Trader, Neil Cowling, Founder, Richard Blake, Director of Marketing, & Michaela Hallam, Director of Content, Fresh Air

Audioboom: Fish at 500

Since its launch in March 2014, No Such Thing As A Fish has become a bonafide cultural phenomenon. The show has had over 425 million downloads and won multiple awards and as it approaches its 500th episode Audioboom's Mike Newman is joined by hosts James Harkin and Andrew Hunter Murray to explore the secret to their success, how the podcast landscape has changed since their launch and why at 500, they're only just getting started. 

Mike Newman, VP Content & Partnerships, James Harkin and Andrew Hunter Murray, Co-hosts of No Such Thing as a Fish Podcast

17.00
The after party featuring Capital DJ Rio Fredrika – brought to you by Global

19.00
Close

Speakers announced so far...

Terribly Famous

Anna Leong Brophy & Emily Lloyd-Saini

Hosts of Terribly Famous
Terribly Famous

Anna Leong Brophy & Emily Lloyd-Saini

Hosts of Terribly Famous
nicole headshot

Nicole Gardner

Head of UK Sales, Wondery
nicole headshot

Nicole Gardner

Head of UK Sales, Wondery
Jessica

Jessica Radburn

Head of International Podcast Content, Wondery
Jessica

Jessica Radburn

Head of International Podcast Content, Wondery
Faye McDowall

Faye McDowall

Strategy Director, DAX at Global
Faye McDowall

Faye McDowall

Strategy Director, DAX at Global

As DAX Strategy Director at Global, Faye is responsible for defining the role for Digital Audio within communications plans and driving re-appraisal of digital audio across UK, US and Canada. Faye was instrumental to the growth of DAX’s digital audio product; championing new product innovations at DAX including , DAX audiences, gaming and Global’s podcast positioning.

Spencer Matthews

Spencer Matthews

Co-host, Spencer & Vogue
Spencer Matthews

Spencer Matthews

Co-host, Spencer & Vogue

Spencer Matthews is the founder of CleanCo, the largest independent non-alcoholic drinks brand in the UK.  He is the co-host on the hugely successful BBC Sounds Podcast 6 Degrees with Jamie & Spencer.  He also presents Global’s popular podcast, Spencer & Vogue alongside his wife, Vogue Williams. Since its launch the podcast has amassed almost 10 million downloads. In 2022 Spencer also launched his own podcast for Global Player, Big Fish, in which he speaks to leading CEOs, inspiring entrepreneurs, incredible designers and other famous faces to find out what it takes to overcome life’s obstacles and be the best at what they do. In 2022 he filmed a documentary in which he travelled to Everest to find the body of his brother, Michael Matthews, who went missing 23 years ago.  The documentary will be released this year. Spencer is also the director of The Michael Matthews Foundation, which provides education to those who, without help, would be unlikely to receive one at all. MMF also focuses on the construction of durable school buildings, and in particular dormitories for girls – tangible assets which deliver lasting benefits.

anna williamson

Anna Williamson

Co-host, LuAnna: The Podcast
anna williamson

Anna Williamson

Co-host, LuAnna: The Podcast

Anna Williamson is an experienced TV, radio and podcast broadcaster, No1 best selling author, counsellor, life coach and Master NLP practitioner.

Anna is host to the extremely successful LuAnna: The Podcast alongside friend and co-host Luisa Zissman. With millions of listeners, the girl’s honest and frank opinions on all things topical has proven to be a huge hit. Due to popular demand the podcast airs twice weekly with an additional show Totally Extra available every Thursday and voted Top 20 Listeners Choice two years running.

Jon Sopel

Jon Sopel

Host of The News Agents
Jon Sopel

Jon Sopel

Host of The News Agents

From the steps of Downing Street to the inside of the White House press briefing room, Jon Sopel has spent four decades reporting on global events and interviewing the people who tried to shape them.

Described by President Trump as ‘another beauty’ his face has graced just about every news programme on the BBC and his familiar voice has carried across the airwaves of BBC Radio from Paris, Kuwait City, Washington DC and Blackpool.

In February 2022 Jon announced he was leaving the BBC for Global to launch The News Agents podcast alongside Lewis Goodall and Emily Maitlis.  In July 2023 Jon launched with Emily The News Agents USA.

headshot

Vicky Etchells

Head of Factual Podcasts, Global
headshot

Vicky Etchells

Head of Factual Podcasts, Global

Vicky is Head of Factual Podcasts at Global and oversees the most successful daily news podcast in the UK, The News Agents, hosted by Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall. The only truly multimedia daily news offering reaches its audience via podcast, video and social platforms has been downloaded more 50 million times since its launch in August 2022.

Vicky joined Global in 2012 as Deputy Group Head of News running the largest commercial radio news operation in the country. She went on to lead a team of award-winning journalists and correspondents as Global’s Head of Newsgathering. Prior to joining Global, Vicky spent five years at the Guardian Media Group as News Editor after starting her career as a documentary producer at ITV. 

James H

James Harkin

Co-host, No Such Thing As a Fish
James H

James Harkin

Co-host, No Such Thing As a Fish

James Harkin has been a writer and script editor on 17 series of the UK's hit BBC2 comedy panel show QI, as well as producing, writing and editing four series of the BBC Radio 4 show The Museum of Curiosity. He has co-written 13 books including 1,227 QI Facts to Blow Your Socks Off which was a New York Times bestseller. Alongside Andy, Anna and Dan, James is part of the award-winning, hit podcast No Such Thing As A Fish which has recently enjoyed sell-out tours in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and across mainland Europe.

Andrew

Andrew Hunter Murray

Co-host, No Such Thing As a Fish
Andrew

Andrew Hunter Murray

Co-host, No Such Thing As a Fish

Andrew Hunter Murray was a writer on BBC2's QI for 14 years. Outside his work on the podcast, he's also part of the writing team at Private Eye, Britain's biggest satirical magazine, and he's one of the founding cast members of Austentatious, an award-winning improv show based on the works of Jane Austen. He appears regularly with the others on Zoe Ball's national Radio 2 Breakfast Show, in a segment called The Why Workshop. Andrew's first novel, The Last Day, was published in 2020 and became a Sunday Times bestseller and one of the top 10 fiction debuts of that year. His second novel, The Sanctuary, was published in May 2022.

mike newman

Mike Newman

VP Content & Partnerships, Audioboom
mike newman

Mike Newman

VP Content & Partnerships, Audioboom

Mike joined Audioboom in 2018 and heads up partner relations across their UK & Ireland roster, working with some of the industry's biggest shows to drive audience and revenue growth. 

COCO

Coco Khan

Host, Pod Save the UK
COCO

Coco Khan

Host, Pod Save the UK
Rio Fredrika

Rio Fredrika

Capital DJ
Rio Fredrika

Rio Fredrika

Capital DJ
Matt Rouse

Matt Rouse

Podcast Lead, Octave Audio
Matt Rouse

Matt Rouse

Podcast Lead, Octave Audio
Nadia Holmes

Nadia Holmes

Head of Business Development, Octave Audio
Nadia Holmes

Nadia Holmes

Head of Business Development, Octave Audio
ben

Ben Bailey Smith

Host of Shrink the Box Podcast
ben

Ben Bailey Smith

Host of Shrink the Box Podcast
dan jones

Dan Jones

Host of This Is History
dan jones

Dan Jones

Host of This Is History
chris skinner

Chris Skinner

VP Entertainment Podcasts, Sony Music Entertainment
chris skinner

Chris Skinner

VP Entertainment Podcasts, Sony Music Entertainment
Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day

Host of How to Fail & Best Friend Therapy
Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day

Host of How to Fail & Best Friend Therapy
James Chandler

James Chandler

CMO, IAB UK
James Chandler

James Chandler

CMO, IAB UK

Our partners...

Audioboom
Audioboom
Fresh Air Production
Fresh Air Production
Global
Global
Octave
Octave
Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment
Wondery
Wondery
Katherine Ryan at Podcast Upfronts

Our biggest Upfronts ever

Four weeks of events full of fresh thinking and mega-watt speakers from Amazon Ads, BBC Studios, Snap Inc. and YouTube. You’ll be among the first to hear about brand new ad products and launches from the people at the forefront of digital innovation. 

Alongside Podcast and Gaming Upfronts, this year we're also launching Connected TV and Retail Media Upfronts. Over 20 of the most exciting companies from these quickly-growing channels will let you get up close to the opportunities they offer advertisers and how to make the most of them.

How are we being more sustainable at our events?

We’ve taken steps to ensure we are more sustainable at our events. This includes…

- Opting for fully vegetarian menus

- Printing less one-use items

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How can you be more sustainable when attending our events?

- Where possible walk or travel by public transport

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- If you’re grabbing a hot drink on route – make sure you remember a reusable cup

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