Mercury launches game-changing new podcast network for independent creators

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 monetise 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.

Its initial roster represents independent shows across entertainment, history and leisure ranging from four to six-figure 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 personalised approach than other networks, prioritising ‘value over volume’.

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. “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 monetise 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 revolutionised what it means to be a podcast network. 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.”

“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.”

Confirmed Shows (subject to change)

The 40k Lorecast is a weekly dive into all the Lore that

Leisure and Fiction
From: Warhammmer 40k
Hosted by: Megaphone
surrounds Warhammer 40k. Brad and John will take you 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 us as we unravel the mysteries of the 41st millennium! #1 on Spotify (UK leisure podcasts); #1 on Spotify (Australia leisure podcasts); #3 on Spotify (USA leisure podcasts)
• 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 our hosts Ryan, Tan and Keon in PastMaster – the

Comedy
From: PastMaster
Hosted by: Megaphone
time-travelling, 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.
• Are you interested in how movies are made? Do you wonder
  

  how a film went from conception to completion? If so, Verbal
  

  TV & Film

  From: Verbal Diorama
  Hosted by: Captivate
  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!

Trailer America: A History is your ultimate guide to the history of the

Culture
From: Liam Heffernan
Hosted by: Captivate
United States of America. Featuring the best academics, experts, and special guests, every week answers a different questions 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 need!

Trailer The essential podcast for TV addicts, Bingewatch selects and

TV & Film
From: Hannah Fernando & Ian MacEwan
Hosted by: Captivate
previews the very best films and TV shows for you to watch on UK streaming platforms. Journalists Hannah Fernando and Ian MacEwan round up the new releases, bring you the latest news about what’s in production, find out what celebrities like to binge watch, and chew the fat about all things TV-related. It’s your essential guide through the ever-increasing amount of content available on TV streaming services – so you can spend more time watching, and less time searching!
• A MERCURY ORIGINAL COMING SOON: turn off the lights, lock the doors, and wrap up tight for Beth’s Spooky Story Time. These short, spine-tingling short stories will even give Freddy Krueger nightmares. Launching early 2025.

The above list of podcasts is available as an OPML file for your podcast player