“Podcast listenership in the United Kingdom (UK) has been increasing year-on-year, reaching an estimated 15.6 million listeners in 2020. As more brands start to see opportunity in this format due to its audience reach and ability to build a following, media publishers are jumping on the bandwagon. Not only that, podcasts (news, interviews, and serialized formats) were named as the top three audio initiatives publishing experts saw as being crucial areas of focus in the year ahead, according to a December 2019 survey.” – stastia.com, Oct 20
55% of people in the US have listened to a Podcast, at least once in 2020. This is up from 51% in 2019 and up from 33% just five years ago. (Source: Infinite Dial 2020)
This year has driven more podcasts and episodes too. Apple says there were more than 63,000 new shows released in March this year compared with just over 25,000 additions in September 2019.
Podcasting is all about giving your freelance business a voice. As we learn, in this episode, the average number of different podcasts that a podcast fan listens to is 6. In this week’s episode, podcast producer and expert, Charles Commins, shares his knowledge on the reasons for starting a podcast, the equipment you need to get going (whether on a budget or not), sponsorship, timings, content ideas, software to use, how to promote your podcast and more.
About Charles Commins
It’s a cliche but Charles really did spend his childhood taping the Top 40 on a Sunday and then using it to make his own radio shows during the week. This started a lifelong love of all things audio and after finishing his A-Levels I moved to Warrington to study Media and Radio Production at the University of Manchester.
Charles quickly established himself as a radio presenter on the campus radio station and went on to work on shows in Warrington and across the North West.
In 2018 he went solo and set up Vibrant Sound Media, Warrington’s first podcast production company, and since then, has gone on to present and produce over 500 podcasts for people all over the world.
Charles has worked on branded podcasts for companies (such as Proofpoint and Malwarebytes), charities (like Human Story Theatre), and independent bedroom podcasters.
He also produces and presents his own podcast about his beloved Northampton Town Football Club called “It’s All Cobblers To Me.”
Connect with Charles on Twitter at @CharlesCommins, and don’t forget the #FreelanceHeroes hashtag. You can also listen to his football podcast at: https://cobblerstome.com/
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