The Audio Production Awards announce Pay What You Can scheme

AudioUK is delighted to be joining forces with Amazon Music & Wondery once again on the Audio Production Awards’ Pay What You Can scheme, which offers free entry to the awards and to the ceremony, for those who otherwise would not be able to do so due to financial constraints.

The Audio Production Awards are sponsored by Audible and organised by AudioUK, the trade body which provides business support and growth to people who make podcasts, radio and audiobooks.

The Awards, now in their fourteenth year, recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement in audio production across a huge range of audio content: podcasts, audiobooks, sound design, radio, presenting; and are open to talent across the UK.

There are 23 awards ranging from Best Producer in Comedy, Factual, Drama & Fiction, Arts, Music, Entertainment, Lifestyle & Society, Audiobooks, Sound Design and more, plus a variety of on-mic and emerging talent awards, Best Ensemble Cast, and the special AudioUK award - last year awarded to Reform Radio. This year there is a new category, Little Ears Producer, which celebrates the explosion of audio being created for younger audiences.

Winners from the 2023 awards included Anishka Sharma who took the coveted Producer of the Year award; Overcoat Media were the Production Company of the Year; Kwesia AKA City Girl in Nature took home Best New Voice; and Betty Glover, Christian Hewgill and Greg James won Best Ensemble.

As usual, there are awards for Production Company of the Year, Publisher or Network of the Year, as well as the continuation of last year’s addition of Producer of the Year and The Sustainability & Climate Award.

Once again, the Grassroots Production category will celebrate producers, teams and/or organisations working close to their communities, and this category will be free to enter, recognising the particular challenges faced in that part of the sector. 

The Pay What You Can Scheme was first introduced in 2021 to enable those who would find the cost of entry or cost of a ticket for the Awards a barrier to doing so.

Chloe Straw, Managing Director of AudioUK, said:

“The continued support and partnership between AudioUK and Amazon Music and Wondery is key to the success of the Pay What You Can Scheme. We are delighted to be partnering once again. We are committed to the Audio Production Awards being accessible to all, regardless of financial status, and the resulting career progression that awards nominations offer, bringing more equity to the industry.”

Chris Baughen, Head of UK Podcast Content, Wondery, said: “Teaming up with the Audio Production Awards for a third year to support the Pay What You Can Scheme is a real honour for the team and I. We’re proud to help reduce financial barriers for key industry recognition moments, and open up the opportunity to participate for as many creators as possible.”

Contact: katie@audioproductionawards.co.uk to access the scheme.

Entry Information

The Awards are opening for entry earlier this year so applicants will have 12 weeks to enter instead of 9 as in previous years.

Early Bird entry fee is frozen at 2018’s prices of £35+VAT for AudioUK Members and £45+VAT for non-members, and will run for 5 weeks until Wednesday 31st July at 9am. From then on, the standard entry fee will be £50+VAT for AudioUK Members and £60+VAT for non-members until the final deadline on Wednesday 11th September at 2pm (please note: there will be no late extension to the entry deadline).

Go to the website to enter, plus all category descriptions, eligibility criteria, and further details.