The search for iHeartRadio's Next Great Podcast is back, and we want to pump YOUR show into earbuds all across the globe! Submit your pitch for a chance to develop and launch a show on The iHeartPodcast network, funded by iHeartRadio!

Meet The Next Great Podcast Winner!

With the help of head judge Dan Patrick, we reviewed hundreds of amazing podcast pitches and narrowed it down to 10 finalists, but only ONE can be named The Next Great Podcast! 

Drum roll, please... And the winner is… 

"Hookergate: Criminals & Libertines in the South" by Creator Lindsay Byron 

(click above to check out the winner!)

We're so proud of all of this year's entrants and semi-finalists. Stay tuned for more about Hookergate and future podcast opportunities through Tongal!

Last year, we joined forces with iHeartRadio to find The Next Great Podcast. Nearly 1,800 podcast ideas were submitted, 11 finalists received funding to produce pilots, and through fan voting, one incredible podcast was greenlit for a first season.

But why take it from us when you could hear from the 2020 Next Great Podcast winners themselves: 

Excited to get started? Let's go:

iHeartRadio is the #1 Podcaster in America today and produces some of the world’s biggest podcasts. From Stuff You Should Know  to The Ron Burgundy Podcast, Waiting on Reparations to Disgraceland, our shows cover the spectrum from comedy to true crime, politics to pop culture… and the one thing all our podcasts have in common? Listeners can’t get enough of them. 

But we want to grow our roster. We need fresh ideas and we want to support new voices. That’s why iHeartRadio wants to hear from you. Thrill us! Surprise us! Get us hopelessly hooked for your new series! The Next Great Podcast can be any genre, any format… and it should be what you (desperately) want to hear in the world. Make us love your pitch as much as you do. 

What’s the process? 

Once we collect the submissions, pitches will be evaluated by a panel of podcast luminaries, led by head judge Dan Patrick. The panel will choose up to 10 semi finalists, who will then each receive $1,000 towards the production of a 10-minute pilot. iHeartRadio will publish these pilots as part of the Next Great Podcast series, where podcast fans all over the globe will vote for their favorite pilot. The Grand Prize Winner will receive lots of fanfare, a special interview on The Dan Patrick Show and the opportunity to develop their podcast series with iHeartRadio! The final production budget for the winning podcast series will be determined by iHeartRadio and the Grand Prize Winner.

Your podcast can be about any topic and in any format, and it must be a new submission – repeat submissions from the 2020 contest will be disqualified. 2020 entrants are encouraged to submit new podcast ideas for 2021. Whether you're a seasoned podcast producer or you've never even touched a microphone before, we're interested in hearing your great ideas. Submissions can come from anywhere in the world. It just has to get us EXCITED! 

So, pitch us already. We want to get your show out there.

*NOTE: If this is your first time on Tongal, you will need to create an account before submitting your podcast pitch.

PRIZING: 

• Up to ten (10) semi-finalists will be awarded $1,000 towards the production of a 10-minute pilot episode of their podcast.
• One (1) grand prize winner will receive a special interview with Dan Patrick and will work closely with iHeartRadio to develop their idea into a podcast series, to be distributed by The iHeartPodcast Network. 

DETAILS:

• To pitch on this project, you will need to submit the following: 
  • A short synopsis that describes the idea behind your podcast
  • A treatment that outlines your series in more detail (For example, an overview of your podcast series that includes an episode outline, description of your audience, personal bio, and your creative approach.) 
  • Links to your past work/profile 
  • A 1-minute audio trailer for your podcast 
  • Casting boards and/or notes for your host or any voice actors (OPTIONAL)
  • A pitch video to introduce yourself to iHeartRadio (OPTIONAL)
  • Submissions MUST be new – repeat submissions from the 2020 contest will be disqualified.

The iHeartRadio Search for the Next Great Podcast Project is open for submissions from 8:00 am PT on August 24, 2021 to 11:59 am PT on September 17, 2021. Participants must be thirteen years or older at the time of entry. No purchase necessary to enter or win. See Official Rules at https://tongal.com/about/official-rules for eligibility and other requirements.

If you have any issues with your submission, please reach out to us at info@tongal.com at least 2 hours before the deadline.

iHeartRadio is America's #1 audio company, reaching 9 out of 10 Americans every month. The iHeartPodcast Network is the #1 podcast publisher and distributor globally, with over 220MM downloads a month across the network. Some of these many incredible podcasts include:

Stuff You Should Know

The Daily Zeitgeist

Las Culturistas

Stuff You Missed In History Class

Atlanta Monster
The Breakfast Club

The Ron Burgundy Podcast

Missing in Alaska

Forgotten: Women of Juarez

+ 100s more….

iHeartMedia Podcasts: more info

The Dan Patrick Show is a daily radio show by ESPN vet, sportscaster, and radio personality, Dan Patrick. With exclusive insider access, Patrick brings A-list guests from the world of sports and entertainment to the show. Sharing his perspective on pop culture and sports, Patrick also brings a dose of humor to his fans.

RIGHTS & PARTICIPATION: 

• Submissions Not Selected by Sponsor: All rights to pitch submissions that are NOT selected by sponsor will revert back to the submitters six (6) months after the close of the project.

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this podcast.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous podcast/audio work. Please specify your role (producer, host, sound engineer, researcher, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual projects and episodes.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): An overview of your podcast series that includes an episode outline, description of your audience, personal bio, and creative approach. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• AUDIO TRAILER (REQUIRED): A one-minute audio trailer for your podcast.
  
  
• CASTING BOARDS (Optional): Links to relevant past work, casting notes, etc. for your host or any voice actors.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show them what you're capable of. Consider submitting a pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your pitch.  For some examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery. All Pitches will remain private until after the Sponsor gives creator(s) the green light to move forward.

Up to ten of the most compelling pitches will be greenlit, and upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment, the responsible creators will receive funding to create a 10-minute demo. Please note: the payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. 

MUSIC: Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into submissions to this project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above. 

If you choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from third-party catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with your license purchase receipt when you turn in your video paperwork.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and raw audio files in order to submit final payment. You are responsible for the costs associated the hard drive and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production, please click here.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is .wav, .mp4, or, if your audio is in a video container, HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .wav, .mp4, .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable video codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. SUBMISSIONS NOT SELECTED BY SPONSOR: ALL RIGHTS TO PITCH SUBMISSIONS THAT ARE NOT SELECTED BY SPONSOR WILL REVERT BACK TO THE SUBMITTERS SIX (6) MONTHS AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE PROJECT. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
7. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
8. Podcasts must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
9. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
    
10. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
11. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
12. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Podcasts based on their prior work and experience as a podcaster.
    
    
13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Podcasts without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-record so try to get as much coverage as possible.
    
    
14. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Podcast creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Podcasts, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings.
    
    
15. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.