![]() This strategy, of course, was completely uprooted by the pandemic. My original marketing plan was to build up listenership (and thus paid subscribers) through in-person relationships and events - largely because I recognized that I was better at turning people into regular listeners in real life. I was perfectly happy with this arrangement and appreciated the way that Podbean swiftly answered all of my questions. And the people at Podbean ensured me that I could carry on a business arrangement whereby a supporter of my show would pay a flat fee of $20 and have indefinite access to the premium feed. I had amicable and detailed telephone conversations and email exchanges. Podbean felt like the mom-and-pop shop that would be a perfectly aligned ally to an independent producer. As a fan of supporting small businesses, I liked that they seemed a little scrappy. In 2020, I did serious research on the companies that could make the premium channel happen. My strategy to recoup some of my investment (while also keeping the show free) was to include a premium channel at a reasonable and affordable price point - something akin to a DVD loaded with special features - whereby a supporter of my show could get early access to episodes, copies of the scripts, and special behind-the-scenes interviews and commentaries for each episode. For the second season, I put three years of my life and thousands of dollars (to ensure that all of my actors were promptly paid I literally paid them cash the very minute that a recording session ended) to make this independent production happen. I run an audio drama called The Gray Area. At a time in which Apple has introduced a special Podcast Subscriptions so that creators and producers can get paid for their labor, it’s pretty clear that Podbean would prefer to decimate any good will established with producers in a desperate effort to survive as a company. For producers who have taken great care to conduct their business with unimpeachable honor, this unannounced shift makes them appear like penny-ante predators. This is not only predatory and unethical, but it also hurts the ability of independent audio producers to maintain good will with their audience and recoup production costs. ![]() Podbean is now gouging podcast listeners, asking them to pay for content with a custom currency called “beans” even when the arrangement between producer and listener never called for this. ![]() This rapacious company of dishonorable thieves is now arbitrarily altering the terms of their business arrangements with producers without even bothering to notify them. If you are a podcaster, do not use Podbean. Pamela Paul, The Gray Lady’s In-House Transphobe.An Angry Copy Editor on a Lonely Wednesday Night.
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