FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Use the links below to jump to specific sections.
Staff Availability
(Working hours, Vacation Scheduling.)
Additional Services
(Additional Equipment Requests, Studio Rentals, Additional Staffing)
Sales
(Monetization, Brand Deal Communications and Recording)
Content Ownership
(Audio/Video Content, Social Media Handles, Websites, etc.)
Legal
(Copyrighted Material Use, Releases, Defamation Protection, etc.)
Production
(Show prep, equipment, recording sessions, episode length, episode turnaround times, etc.)
Show Launch
(Sprints and Process)
Marketing
(Budgets, PR, Guest Bookings, Social Media, Promotion)
PIONAIRE STAFF AVAILABILITY
Working Hours
Pionaire employees are available to produce, record, edit and respond to communication between 9am – 5pm Central Time, Monday – Friday. Availability outside of these days/hours is not guaranteed.
Pionaire Employee Vacation
Employee vacation dates will be provided upon onboarding, and Talent will be given the option to pre-record episodes or go dark during these weeks.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
If Talent desires to hire any outside help with their show, it will be the Talent’s sole financial responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, hiring: social media managers/editors, PR team, additional producers, writers, editors, consultants, assistants, photographers, etc.
Talent is also responsible for the costs associated with booking optional studio time, paying for transportation to and from interviews, marketing outside of Pionaire’s marketing allotment, and paying for guest booking services.
SALES
Who will sell my show?
Pionaire will work diligently with our sales partners to secure advertising opportunities for shows.
How soon can I start making money? Are there certain download numbers I need to hit?
Since podcasting growth and monetization is a marathon, and not a sprint, it is important to manage your expectations. The more downloads your show receives, the more sales opportunities you should receive. Shows receiving less than 20k downloads per episode will generate minimum income through programmatic advertising while shows receiving more than 20k downloads could receive more income through programmatic advertising and Host-Endorsed Ads / Sponsored Ads.
How do I find out about brand deals? How long do I have to respond to them?
Talent is expected to respond to vetting requests within 24 hours for ad sales opportunities. If Sales confirms Talent for a campaign, talent may have anywhere between 48 hours to 2 weeks to record the ad for distribution. Talent must adhere to these deadlines. If there is a mistake in the recorded Ad, Talent must re-record immediately or might be asked to provide a gratis “make good” (free ad) to the advertiser.
Are brand deals just for audio ads? Or are they also for video and social media?
Pionaire helps secure brand deals for audio, video and social media. Some deals may be audio only, others may be video or social only. It depends on the brand, but you will be notified during the vetting process where your ads will be appearing.
CONTENT OWNERSHIP
Talent explicitly owns 100% of their podcast’s intellectual property and, therefore, is 100% responsible for clearing and securing the podcast name, social media handles, website URL, all of the content in each episode, and the entire body of work. Whether Pionaire is involved in the production or editing of the content or not, the Talent is the final decision-maker on what gets published.
LEGAL
Can I use copyrighted songs or videos? Do I need video releases for my guests on camera? What else do I need to watch out for?
Here are some key legal tips for new podcasters to stay protected while recording and publishing their content:
1. Use Copyrighted Material Carefully: Only include music, clips, or content you have rights to or that fall under fair use. Consider licensing music through royalty-free providers or obtaining explicit permissions.
2. Obtain Releases: Get written consent or release forms from guests, interviewees, or anyone appearing on your podcast to use their voice, image, or statements.
3. Avoid Defamation: Be truthful and respectful in your content. Avoid making false statements about individuals or organizations to prevent lawsuits.
4. Disclaimers and Privacy: Include disclaimers where necessary, especially if discussing topics that could have legal implications. Respect privacy and avoid sharing sensitive personal information.
5. Keep Documentation: Maintain records of permissions, releases, and rights to prove your compliance if needed.
6. Consult a Legal Professional: For personalized advice tailored to your content and jurisdiction, consider consulting a lawyer experienced in media or intellectual property law.
As a courtesy to our clients, review our Legal “Best Practices” document that expands on these points, and dives deeper into several other important topics.
PRODUCTION
Who is responsible for show prep?
Talent is expected to prep all content for their episodes including, but not limited to: guest booking, interview questions, segment ideas, questions from fans, etc. Although Pionaire Producers are not responsible for writing the content, they will serve as consultants and creative collaborators.
Who will help me record my podcast video? Will a producer join me during recording sessions?
Pionaire staff works remotely. Once an in-home set-up has been staged, the Producers will be joining Talent on recordings virtually.
Who will provide recording equipment and how do I learn how to use it?
Producers will train Talent on how to operate their equipment. Talent will be expected to manage their own set-up before the scheduled recording start time. Any changes to equipment set up must be approved by the Producer at least one (1) business day before scheduled recording to allow for a technical test. Any equipment that is damaged by Talent will need to be replaced and paid for by Talent. Pionaire does not provide funds for studio rentals, set decoration, props, etc.
What does a recording session look like?
Podcast recordings will be scheduled with the Talent in sixty (60) minute blocks. Talent must communicate with the producer BEFORE the scheduled start time if they are running late or need to re-schedule. If tardiness exceeds 15 minutes, the producer reserves the right to reschedule. The producer will do their best to find a new time, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to reschedule within the same week. We are open to blocking time to “batch record” multiple episodes in one sitting and then editing the episodes on their respective publishing weeks.
How many hours will Pionaire staff work on each of my episodes?
Pionaire will dedicate up to eight (8) hours of total combined staff time per episode for Standard shows and up to ten (10) hours of total combined staff time per episode for Premium shows. This time allotment includes scheduling, content prep, recording, editing, uploading and downloading files, social clip creation, thumbnail design and publishing.
Is there a standard episode length? What if my podcast runs longer than an hour?
Pionaire will publish one (1) episode per week that is optimized between 30 – 60 minutes in total length. If recording sessions run longer than 75 minutes, the Producer will discuss with Talent whether to cut parts out of the episode to make it less than 60 minutes or to split the recording into two different weekly episodes (“Part 2” airing the week after “Part 1”).
Editing: will Pionaire’s editors match my brand/show’s style?
Pionaire Editors will make their best effort to match Talent’s style preferences, where possible. While it’s our Editors’ job to protect Hosts and Guests and help them sound as authentic and natural as possible, to hit deadlines, our editors will not do “micro-edits”; taking out “um”s, filler words, or slight pauses.
What’s the turnaround time for an episode to be edited?
Pionaire staff will need a minimum of two (2) business days from recording to turn around the first draft of an episode. Any additional edits requested by Talent will add an additional one (+1) business day turnaround. Ex. Talent records on Monday, the episode will be ready to be published on Thursday after receiving Talent’s approval. If Talent requests additional edits, the episode will be available to be published on Friday.
What’s the expectation around communication?
Talent and staff are expected to be responsive to emails, texts or phone calls in a timely manner and have respectful communication towards one another. Inflammatory language or disrespectful comments toward staff will not be tolerated.
MULTICAM (Premium Only)
Pionaire’s signature style relies on a one (1) camera setup, shooting in 4K, that has the ability to punch in for a multicam feel. Should Talent opt for a true multicam setup (3 cameras max), please be advised that the recording will be live-switched remotely by the producer and there will be no way to re-cut what was recorded live to tape or change camera angles in post production.
SHOW LAUNCH
What is a “Sprint” and why are they important for my launch?
Pionaire launches a show in 4 sprints. Shows will not move to the next sprint until all elements of that sprint have been successfully completed. The sprints are as follows:
Pilot – Producers and Talent will ideate on show content, test equipment, and start recording. Recording will continue until both Producers and Talent mutually agree on a trailer and usable launch episodes.
Marketing – Talent will then collaborate with the Pionaire team on show branding, artwork, graphics, choosing a launch date and developing a launch promotion plan.
Launch – Show will launch with intentional and frequent promotion by Talent.
Growth – Once staff feels that all elements of the launch plan have been effectively completed, and after gathering data from the organic launch, we will then strategize with Talent on a growth plan, set goals, and share best practices.
MARKETING
Who books guests for my show? Is there a PR team?
Pionare will do our best to use our network of relationships to help find guests for shows. However we do not offer in-house guest booking services, we are not a PR agency and cannot guarantee any press or opportunities to guest on other podcasts. Talent is expected to book their own guests. Once guests agree to be on the show, Producers are available to help coordinate recording times.
Is there a marketing budget to help me grow my show?
Pionaire will provide a marketing budget for Podcasts depending on partnership level as follows: up to $500 for sales only partners, $1,000 for standard production partners, and $1,500 for premium production partners. Pionaire will collaborate with Talent on how these funds should be most effectively allocated. This investment includes, but is not limited to: Launch Promotion, Google Ads, Paid Marketing Campaigns, Social Media Boosts, Photography, Podcast Artwork Design, etc.
Will I receive social media clips from my episodes? Who will post it?
Pionaire Editors will create social media content for Talent according to partnership level, but will not post content for Talent, nor manage any social media accounts, websites, or fan pages. If talent is unhappy with the social media clips provided, Talent must communicate this immediately in order to align on creative. For privacy concerns, Pionaire staff will not be permitted to log into talent’s social media accounts.
Do I need to promote my podcast?
Talent is expected to promote every episode of their podcast on their main social media platforms.
QUARTERLY CHECK-INS
Pionaire is committed to providing consistent support and feedback to help shows grow. We offer a 1 hour check in every quarter with shows to review analytics and address any pain points. Talent is expected to participate in these regular calls and collaborate with our team on setting and achieving agreed upon goals.
PAYMENTS
When will I get paid?
Payments will be made to the parties listed in the agreement and mailed to the respective addresses listed in the W-9s provided to Pionaire. Payments will be sent approximately 45 days after the end of the month (allowing us time to receive revenue reports from our hosting platforms and process payments).
AGREEMENT TERMINATION PROCESS
I’ve decided to stop podcasting. How do I terminate my contract?
Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible for everyone. Upon agreement termination by either party, Pionaire will notify our sales and hosting platform immediately and un-publish your audio.
How do I keep accessing my show? Can I transfer it so I can keep my content?
If you’d like to transfer your podcast to another hosting platform and receive all of your assets, reach out to our Chief Digital Officer, Cassandra Young, at cassie@pionairepodcasting.com and she’ll assist you.
How long will my content stay “live”?
Unless otherwise requested, following the immediate unpublishing of your catalog, all of your podcast content will be permanently deleted from our audio hosting platform and drives three (3) months after the agreement is terminated.
Do I owe anything for the equipment Pionaire gave me?
If there is an equipment loan with an outstanding balance, Talent must either return the equipment or pay the remaining balance in full. For more information, reach out to VP of Podcast Operations, Kacey Spivey, at kacey@pionairepodcasting.com.