• Podcast community to launch The Golden Mic Awards
  • Awards to honour and recognise excellence in podcasting
  • “This is an imperative move in podcasting,” says founding member

Podcasting

Podcasting: The first Golden Mic Awards are planned for early 2021

Podcast industry leaders have united to launch the Podcast Academy, an annual podcast program awards to celebrate the popular audio format. 

The first Golden Mic Awards are planned for early 2021 based on a peer-reviewed and membership organisation of independent podcasters and industry professionals.

The dedicated awards aim to elevate the awareness and excitement of the podcasting community “as a major media category and advancing knowledge and relationships in and around the business.”

Podcast Academy founding member and Wondery chief executive Hernan Lopez said: “Film, Television, Music – all other major forms of art have long-ago established a member-based Academy with the goal of fostering and celebrating creative excellence. It’s time for Podcasts to establish their own.

“I am delighted to be joined by a diverse group of people who really care about excellence, from across the country, representing all kinds of podcasts, from public radio to independents and networks.”

The not-for-profit Academy will confer on the annual peer-based awards of merit in recognition of outstanding achievements in podcasting.

Supporters of the Podcast Academy’s launch include many of the world’s top producers and independents, led by founding members Donald Albright (Tenderfoot TV), Erik Diehn (Stitcher), Anya Grundman (NPR), Kerri Hoffman (PRX), Courtney Holt (Spotify), Hernan Lopez (Wondery), Christy Mirabal (Sony Music), Rekha Murthy (Independent), Lauren Spohrer (Criminal), and Alia Tavakolian (Spoke Media).

Tenderfoot TV co-founder Donald Albright said: “As an independent content creator and podcast producer myself, I’m honoured to join my peers from all areas of our industry on the Board of Governors of the Podcast Academy.

“This is an imperative move in podcasting, allowing us to recognise those who continue to elevate all sides of the industry.”

The Podcast Academy will also host monthly webinars on industry topics, networking events in Los Angeles and New York City as well as publish whitepapers on best practices.

Additionally, the Academy will host a searchable directory of members, giving everyone the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the podcast field.

The Academy will be overseen by a board of governors, who will set the strategic vision, while members of The Podcast Academy are individual professionals within the podcast industry, each with voting rights for The Golden Mics.

Members will be sorted into Peer Groups; each Peer Group will vote on its respective category for The Golden Mics and will oversee thought leadership in each respective area of the industry.

Professionals interested in joining the organisation can register to receive updates here.

The Podcast Academy expects to start accepting applications in the Spring of 2020.

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