Silt Verses Coded.

PSA for podcast and audio drama creators:

If you publish a new episode of your show and it never shows up on Spotify, *do not panic*.

If you're using any kind of background music, it might've gotten flagged by their copyrighted content scanner. If it has, they do not notify you directly about it. Instead, they will notify your podcast hosting platform (i.e. Buzzsprout, Acast, Podbean, etc.)

If your new episode doesn't show up on Spotify within an hour or two (as it normally does), here's what you should do:

Create a video of your podcast and upload it privately to YouTube.

Check the 'Restrictions' column of the Content page in YouTube Studio. If the video you uploaded has 'Copyright' in this column, something was flagged and this is the problem. (In my experience, YouTube and Spotify's scanners are aligned).

Hover over where it says 'Copyright' and click the 'See Details' button. This will tell you what got flagged.

Confirm whether this content was legitimately flagged or not. If it was (meaning you can't prove that you have rights to use the music), it's time to replace the track and reupload your episode. (You'll still want to do the following steps after you do that). If wasn't, it's time to document why the flagging was in error. In Metropolis' case, we use a lot of pre-1924 music that is in the public domain per Title II of the US Music Modernization Act of 2018. But rights holders are notorious for not removing things that have aged into the public domain from their claims list. That means we have clear rights to use the music (as does anybody: again, public domain!), but we still have to go through the appeals process.

Contact your hosting provider to get the notice email from Spotify Content Protection. You need to ask their support team if they've received an email for your show from Spotify with a Subject line of "Possibly Infringing - Notification Warning - Claim xxx - ref:_xxx". It usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour for them to receive that notification from when the episode was uploaded. Within the email, there's a unique link to appeal the decision. Note that you only get five days to appeal - procrastination is definitely not your friend here!

Use the Appeal Link from the Email to file an Appeal Notice If you click the link, it will take you to a form to appeal the decision not to post the episode. This is where you need to present your case by either that you've replaced the music in question, or that you have a right to use it. If it's the latter - make sure you present the case as thoroughly and completely as possible (with links and references). (You'll also want to confirm that the track that YouTube spotted is the one that Spotify flagged.)

From my experience, Spotify will usually respond 24-36 hours.

If you took the right steps, it'll usually be a short note that they've published the episode and you're in the clear.

Cheers, and happy creating!

be careful with what series you watch/read during emotional points in your life because they will forever contain a ghost of your past self within it now

The audio drama community really be like “this podcast emotionally wrecked me, I have no tears left, I will never be the same again, these characters yeah they go through terrible shit and cant be happy for over a minute, i am in severe emotional turmoil, so go listen to this podcast 11/10 do recommend” and I love it

For anyone interested we have kicked up a Discord Server for folks to talk about the show, show off some gothic artwork, share some music, whatever!

Heartglass has bandcamp

Come check out some of the phenomenal music associated with our upcoming show.

Last but not least, the chorus. These people provided voices for minor characters, making the soundscape of Haven that much richer. Big thanks to Alex, @wastedarkcell, @dead-west-podcast, Jack, Loggerhead, Katrina, Ashlee, @starplanes, J.E. and @superhumanfoods for lending their voices to this project.

as it turns out, trying to write your own audio drama is about 30% character creation, 20% world building, and 50% coming up with a list of fucked up pizzas that monsters might enjoy. this is fun lol

me in the coal mine: oh no i lost my canary because it's so dark in here and i can't hear her singing :( i better light a match so i can find my little songbird!

#i love gushing about this show #genuinely a great listen #please go give them a shot and be sure to rate and review them

Come join us this Monday, Nov 25th when Devin Steffens of the @dead-west-podcast shares the love for @grottopod on the newest episode of Podmash! Available wherever your podcasts are castpodded.

Alive and thriving! Some recommendations but know there are dozens if not hundreds of amazing shows being produced TODAY. It is a great time to dive in and find a new favorite and follow along. Hi Nay: Supernatural horror fiction podcast with a Filipina protagonist and Filipino supernatural elements. It has multiple BIPOC LGBTQ+ characters, and primarily takes place in Toronto

The Grotto: a liminal horror podcast with original music and a full cast that explores the thin line between grief, pain, mourning, and loss. Follow Matt who turns to spelunking for solace. As Matt battles grief, he questions if the caves are playing tricks or if something else lurks within Re:Dracula: takes the famous horror tale, breaks it up chronologically (every entry of this epistolary novel has a date), and sends the story directly to your podcatcher as it happens. Every time something happens to the characters, Re: Dracula will publish an episode, in real time. Some entries will be brief, and others will be long and intense.

Silt Verses: In this horror/fantasy serial drama, Carpenter and Faulkner, two worshippers of an outlawed god, travel up the length of their deity’s great black river, searching for holy revelations. Dead West (self promo): a horror fiction podcast that blends folk horror and weird western themes told in a re-imagined American Wild West. Follow Conrad as he sheds light on the creatures that lurk in the shadows.

Malevolent: Arkham Private Investigator Arthur Lester wakes up with no memory of who he is or what has happened, only a nameless, eerie voice guiding him through the darkness.

Are audio drama podcasts, horror podcasts, etc still in vogue?

I remember them being everywhere in college, TBT, Tannis, Limetown, White Vault, King Falls, Bright Sessions etc but i feel like, at least in my friend group, there's been no discussion of anything new in years.