The Podcast Show - the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting - returns to London

The Podcast Show, the biggest international festival for the business of podcasting, is back for a third year. The one-of-a-kind event will bring together industry leaders, brands, platforms and the sharpest new creators from across the globe to celebrate and help shape the future of podcasting. The festival will take place across two days at The Business Design Centre in Islington, London on 22 & 23 May 2024, in the heart of the city’s media district.

In May 2023, the show brought together over 10,000+ visitors (day and night) from the audio industry globally, to learn, do business and network. It was an extraordinary international celebration of the industry, with 40% of visitors coming from outside the UK. Over 40 countries were represented including: the US, Germany, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Australia, Canada, Spain, Denmark, South Korea, Brazil and more. The show featured some of the most recognisable names in podcasting including: Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel & Lewis Goodall (Hosts, The News Agents), Katherine Ryan (Host, Telling Everybody Everything), Adam Buxton (Host, The Adam Buxton Podcast), Ashley Flowers (Host, Crime Junkie), Nish Kumar (Host, Pod Save the UK), Hannah Maguire & Suruthi Bala (Hosts, RedHanded & Filthy Ritual) and Danny Robins (Host, Uncanny).

This year, The Podcast Show is bigger and more ambitious – with even more global industry partners, more networking opportunities and parties, more content, and more of the biggest names in the industry. Jason Carter, The Podcast Show Co-Founder, said, “As The Podcast Show returns for its third year this coming May, it’s shaping up to be the best yet. We have been simply overwhelmed by the international interest in the show. With 6,500+ attendees expected at the day-time conference alone, it is truly set to be the ‘one-stop shop’ for the global podcast community.”

The Podcast Show will host 130+ in-person panels and sessions with industry leaders, creators and internationally renowned speakers. So far, the speaker line-up includes:

The Traitors: Uncloaked (including The Traitors winner Harry Clark), The News Agents, Fearne Cotton (Host, Happy Place), Hala Taha (CEO, YAP Media), The Sports Agents, Raphael Rowe (Host, Second Chance), Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire (Co-Founders & Hosts, RedHanded), Yasmin Evans (TV & Radio Presenter) Gemma Atkinson (Host, The Overshare), Nihal Arthanayake (Broadcaster, BBC 5 Live), Elizabeth Day (Host, How To Fail), Miranda Sawyer (Journalist, The Observer), Ross Adams (CEO, Acast), Tiffany Ashitey (Managing Director. The Americas, Acast ), Dan Fierman (Head of Audio, Higher Ground), Jenna Weiss-Berman (Co-Founde, Audacy and Pineapple Street Studios), Peter Mandelson (Co-founder and Chairman of Global Counsel), Grace Beverley (Host, Working Hard, Hardly Working), Remel London (Host, The Mainstream), GK Barry (Host, Saving Grace), Ray Paul (Creative Director, Playmaker Group), Fatima Zaidi (Founder & CEO, Quill Inc.), Corey Layton (Head of Digital Audio, ARN), Bernard P Achampong (Founder & Creative Director, Unedited), Callum Airey (CEO, The Fellas Studios), Elliot Hackney (COO, The Fellas Studios), Rosie Pye (Creative Director, Blanchard House), Rusty Quill, Will Malnati (CEO, At Will Media), James Cridland (Editor, Podnews), Arielle Nissenblatt (Founder & Head Curator, Earbuds Podcast Collective), Justine Benjamin (Senior Director Global Marketing, AdsWizz & Simplecast), Jennifer Litherland (Senior Global Advertising & Media Manager, TUI), Rory Sutherland (Deputy Chair, Ogilvy), Jake Warren (CEO & Founder, Message Heard) with more to be announced.

New for this year, The Creator Village in association with Spreaker, will be a vibrant, multifaceted space offering a ‘Pitch Your Podcast’ booth by Spreaker, a Tileyard pop-up podcast studio recording live throughout the 2 days, a business advice and feedback hub where independent creators can have one-to-one meetings with industry wide professionals, and many more features that bring the creator community together, whilst also giving them face-to-face access to the biggest players in the business of podcasting. Spreaker will also host a Creator Stage programmed with interactive masterclasses, ‘how to’ sessions and informative workshops.

Francesco Baschieri (CEO of Spreaker) said, “Partnering with an event that has swiftly become a cornerstone in the podcast industry is truly exciting for us. As the podcasting landscape continues to flourish, we are particularly delighted to support an event in Europe, where the business industry is experiencing significant growth. At Spreaker, we are committed to supporting creators in every facet of their journey. Sponsoring the Creator Village aligns perfectly with our core values, reflecting our unwavering dedication to empowering and championing creators worldwide. We look forward to connecting with fellow industry enthusiasts and contributing to the vibrant podcasting community at The Podcast Show in London.”

Acast returns to sponsor the hugely popular Talking Podcasts series at the show focusing on the Podcast ‘Business’ track, as well as hosting networking drinks at the end of each show day in their ‘Acast Arms’ bar venue adjacent to the show’s main entrance. Ross Adams (CEO, Acast) said, “The Podcast Show has cemented itself as one of the not-to-be-missed events in the industry’s calendar. This year we can’t wait to bring Acast experts - including our tech pros - and some of our biggest local and global creators to the show. We’ll be sharing our collective podcasting knowledge, and celebrating all that we’ve achieved in the past year with our industry colleagues.”

Amazon Music and Wondery will rejoin The Podcast Show 2024 as official ‘Welcome Partners’; they will be contributing to hosting creator meet ups, as well as meeting delegates within the conference in the main show hall.

Following their presence at the 2023 show, BBC Sounds will have a dedicated stage on the main show floor for the first time, giving even more access to sessions with commissioners, top talent, and the key players behind some of their hit podcasts. Jonathan Wall (Director of BBC Sounds) said, “The Podcast Show is a great event that always delivers a rich mix of talent and ideas that leaves us all enthused about the possibilities and creative ambition of this industry. We’re delighted to return as a partner and are increasing our commitment with a stage on the main show floor which will be the perfect space to meet and collaborate with other talented individuals and production companies, whilst showcasing some of the best and brightest things we have to offer at BBC Sounds.”

Mike Newman, VP, UK Content and Partnerships at Audioboom, another of the show’s official partners, added, “The Podcast Show brings together the best and brightest of our industry, all under one roof and the energy in the room is infectious. It’s fast become a high-point in the industry calendar and Audioboom is thrilled to once again be a partner.”

With a huge turnout out of over 800+ brands and media agencies attending the Show in 2023 to meet the podcast industry, the conference will be uplifting its efforts to engage both sectors with even more delegates expected to attend from the advertising industry in 2024. Global will present the Brand Works Stage in association with IAB UK in a brand new 250 capacity theatre space, with a programme reflecting the huge growth and high demand from brands and media agencies to engage with the podcast industry. This venue will also include daily ‘brands-meet-industry’ networking receptions and industry leadership get-togethers.

James Hickman (Chief Digital Product Officer for Global) added, “This is an exciting time in podcasts for Global and Global Player. In a huge year for sport and opportunities with Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games, we’re delighted to introduce one at The Podcast Show; The Sports Agents, hosted by legendary broadcasters Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan. It’s great to share our podcasts at one of the biggest events in the podcast calendar with fans, brands, and fellow audio experts. I’m personally looking forward to catching up with industry colleagues, enjoying the latest podcast content and discovering new creators all in one place.”

Further partners include Audible, The Telegraph, Sony Music Entertainment, Tortoise Media, Dolby, BetterHelp, Podnews, Insanity, Sounds Profitable, Adtonos, IAB UK, Audio UK, The Radio Academy. International partners and exhibitors include; Triton Digital, Canon, Framedrop, Hindenburg Systems, Quill, YourPodcast, StreamYard, Audi-on, SoundCast, PodcastAI, DHD Audio and The Podcast Academy.

By night, The Podcast Show LIVE will host a week-long live podcast festival of live podcasts taking place around London from 20 - 26 May, celebrating world-class talent and bringing some favourite voices to the stage. The first shows will be announced very soon. The Show is also delivering a new venue, 21 Soho, to create opportunities for new and emerging podcasters to take their shows live as part of the evening LIVE festival.

The Business Design Centre is a stone’s throw away from King’s Cross train station and the Eurostar. ‘First Release’ best rate Day Passes are now on sale. Prices start from only £49 (Silver - Day Pass) £69/£125 (Gold - Day or 2 Day Pass), £195 (Platinum- 2 Day Pass) with rates going up from 4 March. Discounted Group (8+) rates are available as well as payment plan options via Klarna. The Podcast Show has created a bursary making available a number of 2 Day Gold Passes for ‘Early Career’ professionals. Delegates can apply via our website once passes are live.

Produced by AV Media & Events (AVME), a joint venture between SME London and GetOnMedia.