Talking Podcasts 2

We preview five new audio pilots in a timely conversation about building a stronger pipeline for original UK audio IP.

Since its launch in 2023, Pilot Season has supported new formats, fresh voices and bold creative teams, helping ideas progress from concept to market-tested pilot. This panel explores what the campaign has demonstrated so far, what success looks like now, and how public-facing pilots can reduce risk for brands, broadcasters, platforms and investors.

With a growing slate of award-winning and industry-recognised projects, Pilot Season has demonstrated how audio can serve as a development engine for talent, storytelling and scalable IP. This year’s theme, Pipeline, looks beyond one-off commissions and closer at collaborations and partnerships, including Content Is Queen Micro-grants and Spotify’s Sound Up. It asks how the industry can create clearer paths from discovery to production, from pilot to series, and from a promising idea to a practical, long-term creative business.

Join us for a frank discussion on access, ownership, audience insights and the future of podcast development.