**Project Update** The TWO Podcast Pilots are in, and now it's time for you to let us know what you think! Click here to listen to both our pilots and read the series' synopses, then vote for your favorite podcast (the poll will close at 12pm noon PT on Thursday, 4/12). If you have more to say about the pilots, you are invited to give further feedback on the Project Forum. Thank you!

Everyone and their uncle has a podcast, so why not Tongal? Why. Not. Indeed. 

In today’s crowded podcast landscape, we’d like for you to come up with a show that will stand out and be very entertaining first and foremost. We’re especially interested in Pitches with a strong storytelling hook. Whether your content is fiction or non-fiction, it needs to be compelling and original. Take listeners’ minds on a journey using all the auditory tools and tricks inherent to this particular medium. 

In the end, the focus here should be on developing a podcast that highlights your own creative strengths and will make listeners tune in and take note. While we don’t anticipate selling ad space against your program, we are open to hearing how you could weave the Tongal brand, our projects, and other owned content into your show in a way that feels natural.

What You Need to Know:

• This is an open bid project and you will need to submit your proposed budget per episode along with your treatment. We’re open to a range of budgets, but keep in mind this is a podcast and we’re not trying to go broke. That said, if you can bring in big-name talent and a ready-made audience, we’ll certainly consider it. ;)
• Tongal is open to all different show formats and lengths (between 10-30 minutes) -- from solo-casts to interviews to episodic non/fiction storytelling or a genre mashup of your own design -- so long as the subject will resonate with creative types like yourself. 
• Two Podcast Pitches will each get the green light to produce a Podcast Pilot. At the end of the Podcast Pilot Phase, both Pilots will be uploaded to Tongal for public voting and the Tongal Community will vote to help determine which Pilot will go to Series!
• Non-Winning Pitches: All rights to non-winning Pitches revert back to Creators 90 days after the close of the Pitch Phase.

What to Submit in Your Podcast Pitch:

• Series Title - 50 characters or less proposing your podcast Series title.
• Pitch Synopsis – 500 characters or less synopsizing your Pilot Episode and the Series you intend to create.
• Treatment - A detailed description of your Pilot Episode and at least 5 additional sample episodes, along with the audio equipment you plan to use to produce your series and any tonal references to drive the vibe home. If it’s helpful to you, we’ve provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.
• Bid/Proposed Budget per Episode - Instead of us dictating your budgets, we’re looking for you to let us know the amount you need in order to execute your podcast. Please provide explicitly how much you need per episode and consider the most economical way to produce your podcast.
  
  

The goal of this project is to produce a highly entertaining 10-30 minute audio podcast Pilot for Tongal. Importantly, this pilot must demonstrate a strong potential to be extended into a Series.

--Target Audience: Tongal community members and other creatives, ages 18-45.

--Tone: We are open to a wide range of tones and formats. Show us what you got!

--Exposure: iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play, etc. and Tongal social channels.

This Project will consist of 2 Phases: A Podcast Pitch Phase and a Podcast Pilot Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

The Sponsor will determine whether it will select a winning submission.

PHASE 1: PODCAST PITCH 
Submit your Pitch (What is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Podcast Pilot using:

• Title (REQUIRED): 50 characters or less proposing your Podcast Series title.
  
  

• Pitch Synopsis (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing your Pilot Episode and the Series you intend to create.

• Treatment (REQUIRED): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in your Podcast Pilot and how you plan to produce the Series, along with at least 5 sample episodes. If it's helpful to you, we've provided a Treatment template, which you can find here.
  
  
• Bid/Budget Per Episode (REQUIRED): This is an open bid project, so you’ll get to set your overall budget proposal. Please tell us exactly what you need to produce each episode. 
  
  
• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with Tongal and show us what you're capable of. Let us see your passion for the project and tell us what we can expect should we choose your Pitch. 
  
  
• Additional Materials (Optional): Anything else you'd like to include to show us you've got what it takes. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty, you have the option to submit your full per-episode budget breakdown. Feel free to download and use the Tongal budget template here.

The TWO (2) most compelling Pitches will be selected, and then upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive an agreed upon portion of their approved budget to help create their Podcast Pilot.  For an example of an effective Pitch, check out The Indie Machines winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Podcast Pilot Phase is announced and the Project is complete. 

PHASE 2: PODCAST PILOT 

The Pitch Winners will each create a 10-30 minute audio Podcast Series Pilot based upon their winning Pitch. 

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with three premiere music providers: Jingle Punks, Killer Tracks and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your Podcast Pilot 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 provider’s names above. 

Tongal members interested in a more customized music solution for your project are invited to connect with our partner Score A Score. Email a brief description of your project (timing, creative, budget, etc.), along with any specific music direction and/or references to their creative team at music@scoreascore.com and include “Tongal Project - Your Name” in the subject line.  Their creative team will be in touch within a few minutes to discuss the simple process and options with you. Please note that you will be responsible for the fees associated with using Score A Score. 

If you are selected as a winner and 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 Submission paperwork.

--Podcast Pilot Phase Payout: Upon submitting a Podcast Pilot that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, completing Sponsor notes, providing the necessary release forms, and providing all assets required by the sponsor the Pitch winner will receive a final payment of the remaining portion of the agreed upon budget.

PHASE 3: ASSETS DELIVERY - You must also provide your podcast assets to the following specs in order to submit final payment:

-Audio file delivery: one .WAV file AND one .mp3 file

-Do not use a Variable Bit Rate (VBR). Use a fixed bit rate such as 64Kbps, 96Kbps, 128kbps or larger.

-Use either 22.05kHz or 44.1kHz (44.1kHz is CD quality and recommended) sample rate. 

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

1. The Series Pilot MUST not exceed 30 minutes in length. 

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. BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – 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. Submission must be in the English language.

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 Series Pilot based on their prior work and experience.

13. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Series Pilots without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.

14. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Pitch creators MUST also provide Talent, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Pilots, 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 prize.

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.