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Adam Sachs – Reformatting an Industry

April 13, 2017 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Free

Keynote Talk – Reformatting an Industry: The Rise Podcasting as a Cultural Form and Business
Thurs. April 13, 4:00-5:30pm in Elvehjem L140

Ever since the term “podcasting” was selected as the word of the year in 2005 by the New Oxford American Dictionary, podcasting has been full of promise, as both a cultural form and a new media industry. But it took until Serial’s break out in 2014 as the fastest-downloaded podcast ever and the emergence of a ‘‘thriving mini-industry’’ made up of advertisers, venture capitalists, and tech start-ups to spark renewed attention to this not-so-new media form. While it has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a largely amateur and hobbyist activity, podcasting still sits uneasily at the intersection of professionalized industry and critical and accessible public outlet for new voices. In this talk, Adam Sachs, former CEO of Midroll Media and founder/host of the Wolf Den podcast, will discuss his experiences in this burgeoning industry, and the implications it has for free-enterprise in the United States. Sachs will address questions such as: “How has increasing industrialization affected podcasting over the last decade?”, “How has podcasting’s professionalization affected its cultural impact and potential?” and “What does the future of podcasting look like?”

Adam Sachs is currently the Entrepreneur in Residence at The Chernin Group and the former CEO of Midroll Media, a leading podcast network that produces and monetizes some of the world’s most popular podcasts, including “WTF with Marc Maron” and “Comedy Bang! Bang!” Midroll is the parent company of Earwolf, home to top-ranked comedy podcasts, the recently launched “Katie Couric”, and the country’s top parenting show, “The Longest Shortest Time.” Sachs led the business through bootstrapped growth and innovation, including the launch of the podcast industry’s first premium subscription service, howl.fm, and he hosted his own podcast, “The Wolf Den,” about the future of podcasting and digital media. He was named one of Inc. Magazine’s top “30 Entrepreneurs Under 30” in 2011.

This event is sponsored and supported by The University Lectures Committee Fitch Fund, The Department of Communication Arts, The School of Journalism & Mass Communication, The Center for the Humanities and the Sound Studies Borghesi-Mellon Interdisciplinary Workshop in the Humanities, with support from Nancy and David Borghesi and the A. W. Mellon Foundation.

Details

Date:
April 13, 2017
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Cost:
Free

Organizer

Borghesi-Mellon Sound Studies Workshop
Website:
http://soundstudies.wisc.edu

Venue

Elvehjem 140, Chazen Museum of Art
750 University Ave,
Madison, WI 53706 United States
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Website:
http://www.chazen.wisc.edu