Joyride, the service that focuses on distributing podcasts, is introducing new capabilities on behalf of content producers. Rather than relying upon traditional advertising, podcasters can launch in-app fundraising and rewards. Simply put: “advertising doesn’t cut it” about the current revenue model in the podcast industry. That is what Joyride CEO Jeff Chen had to say. The service is working with podcasters to compose custom fundraising campaigns that are approachable for users. Joyride users then pay a monthly cost to support a podcast and receive rewards accordingly.
Google selected Joyride as a launch partner for Android Auto.
Hit the break for the full press release.
Joyride: The Missing Link in Podcast Monetization
Joyride Offers 100K+ Podcasts New Ways to Monetize with In-App Fundraising & Rewards
Podcast Listeners Gain One-Stop to Discover and Support Premium Audio Shows
PALO ALTO, CA—December 17, 2014—Making money with podcasting shouldn’t be hard. With Joyride for Podcasts, it won’t be.
Today, Joyride announces its new platform that makes it dead simple for podcasters to bring creative shows to their listeners, and just as easy for those listeners to financially support their favorite podcasts, interact with other listeners around those podcasts, and receive exclusive, in-app content and rewards. Alongside tools to discover and listen to more than 100,000 podcasts, Joyride works with podcasters to create custom fundraising campaigns that reach users at the best time and place possible: while they’re listening — from the Joyride app or website they’re listening on, and with a couple taps of a button.
“Forty million Americans listen to a podcast at least once a month and with the ‘Connected Car’ on its way that number is going to skyrocket,” said Joyride Co-Founder and CEO Jeff Chen. “There’s just one problem: advertising doesn’t cut it. Even with 100,000 monthly listeners, independent podcast creators can’t break even. With Joyride, they’ll be able to reach out to their most ardent supporters and build a community that generates recurring funding to support and improve their shows.”
Unlike Kickstarter or other crowdfunding apps, Joyride listeners will provide support on a monthly, recurring basis and receive ongoing rewards directly through the Joyride app and website. For example, all supporters of any tier will gain access to that podcast’s Studio in the Joyride app and website, where they will be able to socialize and interact with other listeners and the podcast creators themselves. Supporters will also gain access to exclusive rewards according to their selected tiers such as Google Hangouts, exclusive content, and early access. Personalized RSS feeds are also available to access content rewards on any podcast player.
For its debut, Joyride has signed with a number of initial podcast partners, including Clarkesworld Magazine, Storynory, 5 Minutes With Dad and more. Here’s what they have to say about working with Joyride:
Neil Clarke, Clarkesworld : “What sold me on Joyride is that they are forward-looking. Between this current program that helps provide listener support opportunities for podcasters to their involvement in the Android Auto platform, Joyride seems like a company that views the future the same way we do… as an opportunity.”
Hugh Fraser, Storynory : “As podcasters we are not necessarily good at channeling our creative energy into business. Pitching is not really our strong point. Joyride really helped us by structuring our pitch for donations, with examples of how we might set goals, and explain to people how their money would be spent. They even helped us with a video. I found all this really enlightening and useful.”
Nick Pavlidis, 5 Minutes With Dad : “Even before our first subscriber signed up partnering with Joyride helped me plan and frame the show in a different way. And when we got our first subscriber it was like a virtual high five. Community is powerful.”
Joyride is available as an Android app, HTML5 mobile site for iOS and on the web at http://www.getjoyride.com. An iOS app will be available in early 2015.
About Joyride
Joyride is a monetization and distribution platform for more than 100,000 podcasts that aims to make it easy for listeners to instantly discover, listen, and support audio shows they love. Joyride is currently available for Android and soon to be launched with Android Auto. Find out more about Joyride at: http://www.getjoyride.com.
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