STORIES TOLD THROUGH SOUND

------BBC Spotify Tate Modern BBC BBC Airbnb Audible BBC Unherd BBC Sounds Gorrilaz Radio 4 Radio 3 World Service

1 Great stories speak for themselves; We travel the world in search of they don’t need to be dressed up stories that matter: whether it’s or dumbed down. Tell them with current affairs, health, sport, food, passion, care, commitment and science or religion – if the story integrity and people will listen. So is worth telling, we want to be the that’s what we do – tell the stories ones to do it. And it seems that our people need to hear, in a way that approach is working: in the three WHO WE ARE makes them listen. short years since our launch we’ve built an impressive portfolio of SPG is one of the UK’s leading work, having made award-winning independent audio production podcasts and radio programmes for companies. We make inspiring some of the biggest broadcasters, story-first content based on rigorous platforms and commercial partners in journalistic principles and meticulous the world. production values. Our team of journalists and producers know what - it takes to tell an engaging story and have the skills to deliver an THE exceptional product every time. - DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU BETWEEN TELL GREAT HEARING AND STORIES, LISTENING PEOPLE PAY

Taking on China - UnHerd - 2017 ATTENTION. 2 It’s Obscene! - Radio 4 - 2016 FAST-GROWING, WIDE INTERESTS AND RETAINED AUDIENCE APPETITES, SHAPED BY ON-DEMAND BEHAVIOUR

Podcasts listened 10m to every week Look for new 59% podcasts each WHO IS week

Listen everyday 1.1m COMMITTED, DIGITAL, LISTENING? ON-THE-MOVE Average time YOUNG, DIVERSE spent listening DEMOGRAPHICS 6.7hrs to podcasts each Podcasts are the ideal format to communicate a brand’s core messages and values. Apple recently reported that there week are well over one billion active podcast subscriptions, making them a remarkably effective way of connecting with the public. In the UK, listeners download and stream 10 million podcasts a week and it’s an audience that is still growing of podcasts rapidly. 23% of the UK population have listened to a podcast in the last month, spending an average of 6.7 hours a week listeners are of listening is on listening to podcasts. 45% 15-34yrs 65% a mobile phone Listeners are eager to engage directly with brands that sponsor podcasts:

24% visited the sponsor's website 62% 15% ADS WORK BETTER ON sought more info PODCASTS 18% Male BAME shared info online Podcast listeners 18% take action when 76% they hear a

*Survey demographics: 1,335 male and female online UK residents were surveyed between December 18 and 26, 2017. Podcast listeners are defined as anyone who has listened to a podcast in the past month. Data was weighted to ensure podcast ad online national representative proportions, using age, gender and region. *All data taken from UK audiences

3 OUR EDITORIAL WORK Our award-winning editorial Spotify BBC World Service work for the BBC and others Hip Hop Sidekicks Dying Whispers takes in a wide range of genres Produced for Spotify, Remi from Gorrilaz tells Journalist Sahar Zand explores one of the and formats. We work across the unheard stories of hip-hop. The stories world’s oldest and strangest spiritual customs factual documentary making, that get kicked around in studio control rooms on location in Belarus. investigative journalism, comedy or backstage after shows. The stories that and drama. Below are some usually don’t make it to the public. BBC Radio 4 examples of the programmes and A Hack’s Progress series we have made recently. Audible ’s Jonathan Freedland looks at The Bureau: Gun Running into how journalists and newspapers have been Mexico depicted in fiction from the advent of the

BBC Radio 4 In this first episode of a series for Audible, New mass popular press to the present day Friends and Foes: A Narrative York Times reporter Ioan Grillo exposes how History of Diplomacy guns from America inundate Mexico, arming In this 10 part series for BBC Radio 4, the brutal cartels that have drowned the Professor David Rothkopf discovers how country in blood. modern history has changed the face of Whether we’re making a flagship diplomacy. series for the BBC, a one-off for a BBC Radio 3 new media outlet, or a bespoke piece Real Pretenders for a corporate partner, we bring BBC Radio 4 Film critic Antonia Quirke investigates the the same level of professionalism Five Green Bottles evolution of acting, asking some of Britain’s A fascinating five-part series, in which best actors what makes a spellbinding and craft to the process, never five of the world’s best known wine critics performance. stinting on our production values or offer personal reflections on the personal, commitment to the story we have political and historical stories of bygone BBC Radio 4 been asked to tell. It’s this level of bottles of wine. The Sympathy of Things attention to detail and flexibility that Turner Prize-winning architecture practice has seen our programmes stand Assemble examine our evolving relationship out from the crowd, whoever we are with the material world. making them for.

Trump and the Evangelicals - UnHerd - 2017

4 OUR COMMERICAL WORK

------Spotify Tate Modern Deezer Airbnb Audible BBC Unherd Gorrilaz Ambassador Wellcome The Prince’s Society of Cannes Lions George at World Theatre Group Collection Trust The- Asda Service atre

5 AWARDS Gold Award LAND ROVER for Best Branded Content - at 2018 British Podcast Awards Gold Award for Most Original Podcast The Discovery at 2018 British Podcast Awards Adventures Bronze Award for Best Fiction at 2018 British Podcast Awards In 2017 our producers were The series brought the commissioned by Jaguar Land adventurous spirit of Land Rover Rover to write, produce and direct to life, reflecting the brand’s ethos Bronze Award a podcast series to excite families to get off the beaten track and for Best Branded Content in and get them out on the road, discover the wonders of the world Digital Channels encouraging them to ‘discover the around us. in 2018 Festival of Media Global world on their doorstep’. Starring Alexander Armstrong, Webby Award The seven-part series was the Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Chris for 2018 Best Sound Design first ever family-friendly binaurally Packham, it went on to win ‘Most and Original Music Score recorded podcast and used the Original Podcast’ award at The immersive experience of 3D sound British Podcast Awards 2018, to encourage adventurers of all alongside a raft of other awards. Gold Award ages to get out and experience a for Best Entertainment Podcast British outdoor adventure by car, Please let us know if you would like at The Lovie Awards a perfect expedition whatever the a listening copy. weather. Silver Award for Best Podcast Series at The Lovie Awards

The Rise and Fall of the Meritocracy - Radio 4 - 2017

6 Real Pretenders - Radio 3 - 2016 AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP - The Auditorium

SPG is about to launch a new, Above all, The Auditorium will weekly podcast with the major promote the act of theatregoing. international theatre organisation the Ambassador Theatre Group, Through our extensive contacts, presented by the Guardian theatre we have brought on board talent critic Matt Trueman. such as Christian Slater, Toby Jones and Vanessa Kirby from The The Auditorium will be a magazine- Crown. show podcast about British theatre. Each episode will offer a Please let us know if you would like range of features about theatre a listening copy. across the UK. The aim is to build excitement about the latest shows and encourage an increase in audience attendance.

7 DEEZER - Gorillaz present ‘Things I Like’

Last year we teamed up with music The podcast series centred on streaming service Deezer to launch Gorillaz’ drummer Russel Hobbs their original content, Things I Like, as he looked into the minds a podcast collaboration with the of some of the world’s most world’s most successful virtual creative, innovative and influential band Gorillaz. musicians. Joined by a stellar list of Gorillaz friends including Jehnny Beth, De La Soul’s Pos, Peven Everett, Little Simz and Cheick Tidiane Seck this is an exploration of the past, the future and everything in between: music, art, life and the afterlife - while not forgetting a subject very close to the heart of this man mountain... his dinner plans.

8 AirBnB George At Asda The Prince’s Trust OTHER COMMERCIAL WORK

In 2016 we began producing a We have written and produced a In 2018 we produced a series of number of audio walks and site- number of adverts for George at Asda, podcasts about The Trust’s Young specific documentaries for Airbnb. most recently for their ‘World Book Ambassadors - young people who have These podcasts are immersive, Day’ and ‘Back To School’ campaigns. been helped by The Trust and now location-aware journeys through We draw on real stories of parents volunteer for it. The aim of the series some of Airbnb’s most fascinating and their kids to give the scripts an was to create intimate sound portraits neighbourhoods. On each walk authentic feel, and we approach the of young people who have faced listeners meet a series of locals sound design for these short ads unimaginable hardship. As a result, — residents, business owners, with the same degree of thought and the series is a study in resilience and local heroes, etc. — who take them creativity that has garnered awards for hope. The listener is beckoned into the by the hand and show them the our long-form work. subject’s inner world, thereby forging neighbourhood they know best. You a personal connection in the way that can find these audio walks featured in only audio can. the ‘Experiences’ section of the Airbnb app.

9 Society of London Tate Modern Cannes Lions Wellcome Collection Theatre

In 2018 we were commissioned to make In 2017 we were commissioned to make We have made a series of audio pieces In 2016 we produced an audio walk an audio guide for the Tate Modern’s a podcast series for the Cannes Lions for the museum and library Wellcome around the West End, starring Sir upcoming exhibition on the French International Festival of Creativity. We Collection’s Understanding Nature Ian McKellen. We spent two days artist Pierre Bonnard. The guide is spent five days at the festival and, in exhibition. Examining what we think, interviewing Sir Ian in the studio and a meticulously researched, clearly collaboration with the Parsons School of feel and value about other species and on location, to create the ultimate communicated companion to the Design, interviewed some of the world’s what this means for the world around Theatreland tour: a personal and French master’s work, featuring expert most celebrated advertising creatives us, including interviews with members revealing history of British theatre voices from around the UK. This guide such as Robert Wong (Google), David of the public and celebrities focusing by one of its icons. The audio walk is a departure from the Tate’s previous Shingy (Oath), Ellie Norman (Formula on society’s changing attitudes to also featured a cast of top comedy output in that it has an informal, 1), Brian Wong (Kiip) and Tom Donaldson the natural world. Working alongside talent for cutaway scenes depicting conversational tone, with the distinct and Jill Wilfert (Lego). the exhibitions curators to produce significant moments in the history of feel of a podcast. the audio content for the exhibition, theatre. it was a fascinating and successful collaboration.

10 CONSULTATION AND 1. PRE-PRODUCTION 2. RECORD We take the time to make sure we understand exactly We go where the brief takes us, from the studio to what each of our clients wants and needs from the field; at home and abroad. We have extensive HOW IT SPG. No mere box-ticking exercise or off-the-shelf experience of recording in every type of location process, each consultation session – or sessions you can imagine, from the verdant centre court of – is designed to establish exactly what we need to Wimbledon, to dusty Supermax prisons on the US- deliver, resulting in a detailed plan of action covering Mexico border; in the deep forest of the Belarusian every aspect of the production. From the first script countryside, all the way to the searing Egyptian meeting, all the way to the final edit and promotional heat... Wherever our brief take us, our producers WORKS campaign, you’ll know exactly what will be happening and journalists will be there every step of the way, with your production. recording every interview and session to broadcast SPG will be there through every stage quality, ensuring the audio captured is of the highest of podcast production with the client - standard possible. from initial conception of the story and format, through to recording, editing, scripting, distribution and marketing. We have broken down this process into four key areas: 3. EDIT 4. PUBLISH No matter how good the concept, how compelling SPG offers our clients everything they need to launch the interview or exciting the location, if the post- their podcast. We can deliver or upload to all the production is lacklustre, the end product will suffer. major hosting platforms, such as iTunes and Spotify; At SPG our editors dedicate as much time, care embed the podcast on dedicated pages of the clients’ and attention to detail in the studio as we do when website; liaise with their social media and website recording. We are able to offer state of the art sound managers to ensure a high-impact, coordinated design, originally composed music, top quality voice- cross-channel promotion, giving the podcast the over artists and audio wizardry that will make your best possible chance of reaching its target audience, project shine. Throughout the editing process we and advise on marketing campaigns and publicity actively seek feedback from our clients, providing drives. We don’t see our job as finished just because flexibility and responsiveness, responding to the we’ve completed the podcast – SPG are here to help evolving needs of the brief so as to deliver a final your project succeed on every level. product with impact.

11 CONTACT A young, hungry production company with an already enviable track record of award winning output, SPG offers the highest quality work, tailor made to fit the needs of our clients, no matter how large or how small, how specific or how unique. We know how to get the best results for your organisation and how to make sure your podcast stands out from the crowd.

If you have a project you need to get started, or even if you’re only at the early stages and want advice about feasibility, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with us at [email protected] and let’s start the conversation about how we can help bring your plans to life. [email protected]

How Dead-End Jobs Killed Small Time Pride - 2017 - UnHerd Economics 101 - 2018 - Radio 4

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