Daisy Buchanan (presenter) and Dale Shaw (producer) – You’re Booked!
Contact: WHYBOOKED@gmail.com
Both are authors and have flexibility with their guests as not beholden to anyone else
Daisy ‘The Book Inspector’ Buchanan goes snooping around authors’ shelves, discussing the books
that mean most to them.
Needs to be a reader – someone with a strong association with books – some non-fic authors haven’t
worked as well if they aren’t big readers outside of their subject.
Not necessarily someone on the promo trail – they are happy to interview authors out of touring
season and prefer not to see them pop up over multiple podcasts as there is a lot of crossover in their listenership
Not debuts, really, unless have a profile
Needs to be at home so that they have access to the bookshelves
Planning a US trip in the autumn so would go and see those – again needs to be the right person with a profile For e.g. of taste: Maria Semple as an ideal US guest
Listen to the podcast please before pitching!
Non-interview slot in the middle – Steal of the week – book that Daisy loves and reviews
Work far in advance
Both based in Margate so prefer not to schedule meetings
Do continue to send proofs
Keen for more food writers, travel writers, Comedians
Clarissa Pabi – Acast Content Manager, previously in publishing, also looks after Mostly Lit podcast herself
Contact: Clarissa@acast.com
World’s biggest podcast agency
Any device, and format
Also works with Guardian on their podcasts & with book publishers on branded podcast
The audio revolution: integrated campaigns including using Alexa and Google to set up audio prompts/commands
2019: the year podcasts go BIG
- launch of BBC Sounds making them mainstream
- Love Island podcast – key crossover with cultural zeitgeist
- My Dad Wrote a Porno partnership with HBO
Rapid growth globally
Fasted growth among young people 18-25
Audience characteristics:
- affluence (83% above nat average)
- Top interests books and literature, followed by tv
- Spending habits: shopping for technology, for clothes, for books
Current podcast landscape:
- More women
- More inclusive
- Influencers
- Comedians do really well
- Regional spread of listeners
Real impact in audio landscape comes with marketing spend
- Invite podcasters to your events & showcases
- Create a podcast with acast
- Pitch books and authors by listening to podcasts (maybe ask work experience to start listening to new podcasts while doing mailings!)
- amplify your PR with branded content, advertising and sponsorship
Joe Kenyon – producer, Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd
Contact: joel@cheerfulpodcast.com
Currently on episode 85-86
A podcast dedicated to progressive policy ideas
Each week they focus on one area of public policy and shape the episode around it
Launching non-fic book club dedicated to big ideas to change the world
Would like to see books that focus on one clear idea and with practical recommendations, which can build a place of movement
Mostly non-fiction, although happy to consider fiction with a big practical idea at the core
Will be testing the Cheerful Book Club with existing brand and platforms, as bonus episodes
Not tied to release schedules
Open to revisiting books already published
Ben Walker – Simon Mayo’s Podcast, also runs Dermot O’Leary’s production company
Contact: Ben.walker@labora.tv
Approx 7,000,000 downloads since launch last June
Use Dermot’s twitter feed to promote as well as Simon’s
40-60 year olds – the original Radio 2 audience
Passionate and engaged – spend money on books
Record two shows concurrently
One about the book in depth
Simon always reads book!
Previous guests include: Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Antony Horowitz, Kate Atkinson
Happy to do first time authors too
Simon loves – history, big biogs
Aim for 50-50 split between fic and non fic
Keep pitching brief & let them know if they are appearing elsewhere
Short vid of author interviewing is helpful
Don’t pitch at short notice – 4-6 weeks ahead or longer
Helps if author has listened to show
Need an hour, usually mid-afternoon, mid-week
No breakfast meetings, please (lives outside of London)
Future plans:
- Looking to do live audience shows
- Launching interview strand with Dermot O’Leary in the autumn