France’s Syndicat des Producteurs Professionnels et Indépendants de l’Audio and the UK’s AudioUK have partnered to launch the International Podcast Alliance, a new transnational coalition representing podcast and audio producers and publishers.
The IPA says its mission is to strengthen international collaboration among industry bodies by sharing market data, promoting best practices, and coordinating advocacy on issues such as fair platform practices, legal recognition for independent producers, and access to public funding.
The Alliance is inviting additional professional podcast organizations and nonprofit representative bodies to join the coalition, with the goal of creating a unified forum to advance the sustainable growth of podcast markets worldwide.
The IPA will meet quarterly online and host annual in-person gatherings rotating between member countries. The group’s first official virtual meeting is set for November 17, to establish its initial priorities and working methods.
Founding members include the PIA (France), AudioUK (UK), Podd-och radioproduktionsbolagen (Sweden), the Association du Balado Indépendant du Québec (Canada), and the Collectif des Producteurs et Productrices Belges Francophones (Belgium).
PIA President Katia Sanerot said, “The podcast is a global phenomenon, growing everywhere with the same creative energy and the same structural challenges — from the lack of legal status to the absence of fair value sharing. Some answers will be found locally, but many of tomorrow’s solutions will have to be built together, at an international level.”
AudioUK CEO Chloe Straw added, “At AudioUK, we believe that collaboration is one of the key drivers of growth in the podcast and audio industry. I’m thrilled that we’re partnering with the PIA to launch this new alliance, alongside representatives from Belgium, Sweden, and Canada, with more to come. Podcasting and audio are truly global formats, unbound by borders or geography.”
