Senior UK radio execs launch Podcast Live

A new venture producing live shows by popular factual podcasters, Podcast Live, launches today in the UK.

Podcast Live – led by Heart FM founder and former LBC boss Phil Riley (chairman) and British Podcast Awards creator Matt Deegan (creative director) – will stage interactive versions of some of Britain’s leading podcasts in front of a live audience. Events will be both single and multi-day, covering topics including politics, sports, lifestyle and health/wellness.

The other co-founders are finance director Michael Connole, formerly of Chrysalis Group and Global Radio, and John Myers, ex-CEO of Guardian Media Group Radio.

The first Podcast Live Event will take place on 7 April at the Light (1,000-cap.) at Friends House in London, and feature ten politics-themed podcasts, including Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith’s For the Many, Matt Chorley’s the Times Red Box, James Delingpole’s the Delingpod, How I Found My Voice by Intelligence Squared and anti-Brexit show Remainiacs.

“I’m thrilled that Podcast Live is going to help push the medium further”

“Podcast Live is an exciting new concept, allowing creators to feed off a live audience as well as giving fans a chance to meet their favourite hosts in the flesh,” says Riley. “Demand for amazing podcast content is soaring and I’m thrilled that Podcast Live is going to help push the medium further.”

Deegan adds: “We know the most successful podcasters want to do more for their audiences. Podcast Live will be an easy way for them to put on live shows up and down the country.

“As well as meeting their own fans, it will expose them to new audiences and provide creatives with an additional revenue stream.”

Several live music businesses are investing in podcasting, including UTA, which partially owns ART19, and promoter Kilimanjaro Live, which seeks to grow its live podcast output.

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