PODCAST STUDIO

------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 people need to hear, in a way that our approach is working: in the WHO WE ARE makes them listen. three short years since our launch we’ve already built an impressive SPG is one of the UK’s leading portfolio of work, having made award independent audio production winning podcasts for some of the companies. We make inspiring story- biggest broadcasters, platforms and first content based on rigorous commercial partners in the world. journalistic principals and meticulous production values. Our team of journalists and programme makers - know what it takes to tell an engaging story and have the skills to deliver an THE exceptional product every time. - DIFFERENCE PROOF THAT BETWEEN WHEN YOU TELL GREAT STORIES, HEARING AND PEOPLE SIT UP LISTENING AND LISTEN. Taking on China - UnHerd - 2017 2 It’s Obscene! - Radio 4 - 2016 FAST-GROWING, WIDE INTERESTS AND RETAINED AUDIENCE APPETITES, SHAPED BY ON-DEMAND BEHAVIOUR

Listen to 10m podcasts every Look for new week 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 champion a brands core messages and values. Apple recently reported that there are week 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 Podcast listeners are eager to engage directly with the advertising brand:

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

*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 work 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, or backstage after shows. The stories that comedy, and drama. Below usually don’t make it to the public. BBC Radio 4 are some examples of the A Hack’s Progress programmes and series we have Audible ’s Jonathan Freedland looks at made recently. The Bureau: Gun Running into how journalists and newspapers have been Mexico depicted in fiction from the advent of the In this first episode of a series for Audible, New mass popular press to the present day

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

Trump and the Evangelicals - UnHerd - 2017

4 OUR COMMERICAL WORK

------BBC Spotify Tate Modern BBC BBC Airbnb Audible BBC Unherd BBC Sounds Gorrilaz Ambassador Wellcome The Society Cannes Lions George at Radio 4 Radio 3 World Theatre Group Collection Prince’s of Asda Service Trust Theatre

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 we were commissioned The series brought the by Jaguar Land Rover to write, adventurous spirit of Land Rover produce and direct a podcast to life, reflecting the brand’s ethos Bronze Award series to excite families and get to get off the beaten track and for Best Branded Content in them out on the road, encouraging discover the wonders of the world Digital Channels them to ‘discover the world on around us. in 2018 Festival of Media Global 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 binaural Packham, it went on to win ‘Most and Original Music Score podcast series that uses 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 making it the perfect adventure a listening copy. whatever the 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 AMBASSADORS THEATRE GROUP - The Auditorium

SPG is about to launch a new, Above all, The Auditorium wants to weekly theatre podcast with promote the act of theatregoing. the major international theatre organisation the Ambassador’s Through our extensive contacts, Theatre Group, presented by we have brought on board talent the Guardian theatre critic Matt such as Christian Slater, Toby Trueman. Jones and Vanessa Kirby from The Crown. The Auditorium will be a regular magazine-show podcast about Please let us know if you would like British theatre. Each episode will a listening copy. offer a range of features about theatre across the UK. The aim is to build excitement about theatre today and, off the back of that, 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 latest original content, Things as he looked into the minds I Like, a podcast collaboration with of some of the world’s most the 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 Lion 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 feel and value about other species and on location, to create the ultimate communicated companion to the of Design, interviewed some of the what this means for the world around Theatreland tour: a personal and French master’s work, featuring expert world’s most celebrated advertising us, including interviews with members revealing history of British theatre voices from around the UK. This guide creatives such as Robert Wong of the public and celebrities focusing by one of its icons. The audio walk is a departure from the Tate’s previous (Google) David Shingy (Oath), Ellie on society’s changing attitudes to also featured a cast of top comedy output in that it has an informal, Norman (Formula 1), Brian Wong (Kiip) the natural world. Working alongside talent for cutaway scenes depicting conversational tone, with the distinct Tom Donaldson & 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 SPG. the field; at home and abroad. We have extensive HOW IT 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 – is designed to establish exactly what we need to of Wimbledon, to dusty Supermax prisons on the deliver, resulting in a detailed plan of action that US-Mexico border; in the deep of the Belarusian covers every aspect of the production. From the countryside, all the way to the searing Egyptian first script meeting all the way to the final edit and heat... Wherever our brief take us, our producers WORKS promotional campaign, you’ll know exactly what will and journalists will be there every step of the way, be happening with your production. recording every interview and session to broadcast SPG will be there through every stage quality, ensuring the raw footage is of the highest of podcast production with the client - standard possible. from initial conception of the story and format, through to scripting, recording, editing, hosting, distribution and marketing. We have broken down this process into four key areas: 3. PRODUCTION 4. PUBLISH No matter how good the concept, how compelling SPG offers our clients the full spectrum needed for the interview or exciting the location, if the post- a modern podcast launch. We can deliver or upload recording production is lacklustre, the end product to all the major hosting platforms, such as iTunes will suffer. At SPG we spend as much time, care and and Spotify; embed the podcast on dedicated pages attention to detail in the production studio as we do of the clients website; liaise with their social media when recording. The full studio experience is on offer, and website managers to ensure a high-impact, with highly professional sound effects and music, top coordinated cross-channel promotion, giving the quality voice-over artists and state of the art sound podcast the best possible chance of reaching its techniques. Throughout the production process we target audience, and help advise on marketing actively seek feedback from our clients, providing campaigns and publicity drives. We don’t see our flexibility and responsiveness to the emerging job as finished just because we’ve completed the programme, responding to the evolving needs of the podcast – SPG are here to help the work succeed on brief. every level.

11 CONTACT A young, hungry production company with an already enviable track record of proven success and award winning output, SPG productions 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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