Now Is The Time to Support The Audio Insurgent
These dispatches will always be free to everyone, but now is the time for you to help make that possible.
Welcome to this bowl-in-hand non-dispatch of The Audio Insurgent.
I’m writing to you today with no analysis, ideas, better practices, or thoughts on podcasting, radio, or digital audio. Today is the day I ask for your contribution to make this work possible and accessible to you, and others, in the future.
You can do so for as little as $5. If you’d like to be a supporter, you can do so here.
(Even if your button says, “Subscribed,” you should click it again to switch to paid.)
HOW WE GOT HERE
In late 2020, beloved Mag Noise friend and collaborator Priya Parker gave me some adamant advice: “You should start a newsletter.” She made a powerful case about the need to connect podcasters as a community and provide a place for thought, opinion, and shared experience.
So, kinda on a whim, I put out the first issue of The Audio Insurgent. I thought if I could eventually get 300 subscribers, it would be worth a few hours of my time each month. It grew quickly. I hit my magical 300 subscribers in the first 24 hours. The Audio Insurgent has grown so far beyond my expectations that it's kind of ridiculous. Today, most dispatches are read by about 10,000 readers. There are subscribers in all 50 states and 88 countries (42% of subscribers are from outside the U.S.; strangely my #5 country is Spain). Name a company or organization in the digital audio space, and its executives and prominent creators all read The Audio Insurgent. That growth has been entirely fueled by various forms of word-of-mouth, which is you feeling that what we’ve discussed here has value not just for you, but you feel it is helpful to others. Many people have kindly shared posts and I’ve benefited a lot from recommendations from other newsletters (I’m looking at you, Skye). I get an email notification every time a new subscriber signs up, and trust me, that never gets old.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
I’m very fortunate that writing these dispatches is the easy part. Early mornings are often my reading and writing time, and writing is often how I figure out how I feel about a subject or practice, so it has become a part of my routine a few mornings a month. But as The Audio Insurgent has grown, the work around the publication of new dispatches has grown with it. The email, queries, questions, requests to speak to groups, and comments back take a lot of time–and I consider those interactions just as important as writing and publishing. So, as it has grown, the work involved in The Audio Insurgent has demanded more of me.
WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS?
Substack offers models on what revenue expectations should be, based on readership, engagement, and other under-the-hood factors. In no scenario will I be making very much from this, but the support will help me justify the investment of my time, as well as doing other things I’d like to do, like bringing in other voices (who deserve to be compensated for their contributions). I will also be committing to a more regular publication schedule and opening up a few new options and opportunities for paid subscribers.
Will you or anyone else have a truncated experience if you chose not to be a paid subscriber? No. That’s the great thing. The contributions of others will cover the costs of making this newsletter if you or others aren’t able to make that commitment. I delayed turning on subscriptions waiting for Substack to add a few features to make what I’m doing possible. Paid subscribers will get dispatches early–when I finish them (which is usually a few days to a week in advance of when I publish them). I’m also offering a few subscriber-only short notes as well as an Audio Insurgent subscriber-only Slack channel as well.
WHAT YOU GET
First off, with this financial support, I am committing to a regular publishing schedule of, at minimum, two dispatches a month, plus extra items mentioned below.
All free subscribers will receive all posts from The Audio Insurgent just as always.
All paid subscribers will receive
New posts early
Subscriber-only notes and posts
Access to subscriber-only The Audio Insurgent Slack channel
One free "virtual coffee" chat with Eric per year.
For example, the next dispatch of The Audio Insurgent is about lessons podcasting can take from CNN CEO Mark Thompson’s recent note to his staff about their content strategy. Paid subscribers have access to it right now–sitting there waiting as you read this. Free subscribers will get it via email later this week. Same is true for the next dispatch, which will be an open letter to NPR’s new CEO and another following that on the anatomy of hit-making. Paid subscribers will get it several days before it goes out to free subscribers.
There is also a “Founding Member” option, which also entitles you to the "Friends and Family" rate on consultation plus two free "virtual coffee" chats per year.
WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY
A number of readers have already pledged their support…before I even asked for it, which is amazing. Many left comments explaining why they are choosing to support The Audio Insurgent.
"You, Eric Nuzum, are what the podcast industry needs now and well into the future. Your insight is reasoned and backed up by your combination of history and prophecy. As a broadcaster whose first love was radio, I so enjoy watching this industry travel a somewhat similar path. And I am rooting for it with all my heart!” –Susan
"I want to support this newsletter because it is perhaps the only podcasting newsletter that provides real value and insight. And not just about podcasting - other good insights about other topics as well. Even while being an independent/sidekick podcaster, I find value here. In general I think newsletters are too long, but this one I read in full. Thanks!" –Winnie
"A must read for understanding what is happening in podcasting!" –Becca
"Been following you since your days in public radio; you were the first (in my sphere) to explain how podcasts were different from radio and other media, and you continually provide new insights that amaze me (who knew audio books were bigger than podcasts?). Thank you for what you are doing and I look forward to what’s to come." –David
"Eric's Audio Insurgent is a must read. He's always thinking about how to better navigate our industry. His insights are always deeply thought out, provocative, and with his many years of experience, based in the real world of creative work." –Doug
"I appreciate your thinking and your generosity in this newsletter - would be very happy to support your work. Thank you!" –Kerry
"I want to support you because I trust you. I read your book. I consider you a generous mentor. Thank you." –Carole
YOUR CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTS THIS WORK
This is not a newsletter from a mega-corporation looking to monetize their email distribution strategy. I am pretty much a solo actor, working on my own without a net. I created this and poured a lot of time into it because I care about what happens to the industry I’m a part of.
I sincerely believe that by giving ideas and advice away, advocating for what I think is best for our industry, and trying to connect dots, I’m helping to make others in our industry smarter, make better decisions, and be more thoughtful about their work and how it exists in the world. I believe that comes back to me–a rising tide floats all boats.
I know that when I decide to financially support creators (often who are giving their work away for free) I intend for those contributions to not only indicate financial support–but validation. It is easy to say you enjoy and support work, but if I really value its presence in my world, I need to do more than just say I like something.
If you, like me, believe more is possible with thoughtful, focused thinking, a commitment to constant improvement, and an internal allergy to believing everyone’s bullshit, as well as your own, I hope you’ll consider being a paid subscriber to The Audio Insurgent.
And thanks.
Okay, that’s it for now.
Thousands of people read this newsletter without even a free subscription. If this was forwarded to you or you read this online, would you mind subscribing?
If you are a regular reader of The Audio Insurgent, I hope you’ll consider doing your part by supporting this work with a small donation. And if that’s too much, you are also always welcome to buy my book or (even better) buy me a beer.
Make great things. I’ll be listening.
--Eric