SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Audiobook Producer John Marshall Media And Its Newest Division, BOOM Integrated, Partner With SAG-AFTRA To Create SAG-AFTRA Podcast & Smart Speaker Agreements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brands & Content Creators Can Now Use Top Voice Talent to Draw Users
NEW YORK, NY—Brands, studios, and independent content creators looking to create premium podcasts and audio experiences accessible via interfaces like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant can now cast Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television & Radio talent, thanks to new agreements between John Marshall Media | BOOM Integrated and SAG-AFTRA. These landmark agreements stipulate that BOOM will use SAG-AFTRA voice talent, ensuring that BOOM’s human-voiced audio experiences will be built with the work of top-level, professional performers.
A GRAMMY Award-winning SAG-AFTRA signatory and leader in the audiobook world, John Marshall Media recently spun off BOOM Integrated, its new audio venture, encompassing podcasts and smart speaker voice content. As the division was coming together, JMM approached SAG-AFTRA to create agreements that would enable BOOM to hire union voice talent for their podcast and smart speaker audio projects—a critical step in bringing polished and professional products to market.
“JMM is proud to be a SAG-AFTRA signatory, and we’re very excited that this status will extend to the work we’re doing through BOOM Integrated. It’s important to us to approach Voice First media with the same level of acting talent and professionalism that our excellent SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrators currently provide,” said JMM and BOOM co-founder John Marshall Cheary.
According to National Public Media, 32% of Americans listen to podcasts every month, a number that increased by 40% in 2018 and is poised for more record growth in 2019.
“We are encouraged that JMM and BOOM are extending their commitment to using SAG-AFTRA members. They recognize the importance of casting professional talent and paying them fairly,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “We are excited to see how they bring the power of SAG-AFTRA’s excellence to their podcasting and smart speaker content.”
In addition, 21% of Americans age 18+ own a smart speaker (Smart Audio Report); ownership grew by 78% from 2017 to 2018 (Nieman Lab). JMM, BOOM, and SAG-AFTRA are positioned and ready for this new wave of entertainment.
BOOM’s Head of Ideation (and SAG-AFTRA member) Sarah Storm said, “These agreements enable us to adapt to the growing marketplace and accomplish our goal of creating original, engaging, and delightful audio content for our clients, in exactly the way that we want to do business—by playing (and paying) fairly.”
For more information, visit boomintegrated.com; johnmarshallmedia.com; sagaftra.org
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JULY 19, 2019
Audiobook Pioneer John Marshall Media Spins Off BOOM, An Integrated Voice Agency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The most experienced team in Voice brings GRAMMY-winning sound and forward-thinking audio strategy into the Voice First marketplace.
July 19, 2019 at 6:00 AM EDT
NEW YORK, NY—GRAMMY, Audie, and Earphone award-winning audiobook leader John Marshall Media, the studio of choice for Big 5 publishers for over 25 years, is entering the Voice First marketplace with its new venture, BOOM Integrated, which will debut July 22-25 at the 2019 VOICE Summit, the world’s largest voice tech conference.
Seizing on the popularity of audio and massive growth in smart device adoption, BOOM empowers brands to make authentic connections with their customers using voice. Its team of strategists, storytellers, conversation designers and sound engineers create memorable podcasts and interactive brand experiences for Alexa, iOS, and Google Assistant—then, helps them find listener-users.
A world is quickly forming where companies will need an integrated voice strategy to stay relevant. The number of smart speakers in U.S. homes grew by 78% between 2017 and 2018, according to The Smart Audio Report and Edison Research.
“We see countless companies in all sectors leaving customer attention and money on the table when it comes to voice,” says John Marshall Cheary, BOOM’s CEO and Head of Audio Production. “It’s our mission to help businesses see—and hear—the opportunities. The human voice is at the core of all our experiences.”
It’s not only about Echos, Dots, Minis, and Home Pods, though. Edison Research’s 2019 Infinite Dial reports that 84% of the U.S. population over age 12 owns a smartphone. That’s 237 million people with a device that allows them to stream podcasts (some 48 million Americans do so every week for six hours or more), and to take Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa along with them.
In addition to traditional audio storytelling, BOOM’s partnership with Webby Award-winning voice industry tech leader Earplay also enables companies to promote their mission, products and services through interactive, choice-based experiences and open dialogue.
All of BOOM’s narrated projects feature SAG-AFTRA talent, thanks to John Marshall Media’s groundbreaking smart-audio agreement, an industry first. And, it has an expert stable of marketing talent to ensure podcast and experience discoverability.
It’s no longer enough to think vertically about content creation, marketing, and customer touchpoints. Brands have to think horizontally and plan comprehensively. BOOM is positioned to create exceptional screen-free experiences—and bring brands to life through sound.
For more information, visit www.boomintegrated.com.
Media Contact:
Adrien Glover
646.334.9121