PortableVoices which is a Kenyan audio production and podcast startup has opened its first recording studio in Nairobi. The startup, which is focused on producing African spoken word entertainment will work with Kenyan podcasters to produce audio content for the African region.
According to the JWT Intelligence Future 100 report, sound is becoming a key channel alongside watching or streaming TV. It is also being cross-pollinated with other channels creating media ecosystems.
PortableVoices has so far successfully released five new podcasts – Burudani Express, Talanta Viwanjani, Campus Diaries, Africa Startup Roundup, and Motherhood all of which gathered high numbers of online audiences and reviews, which positioned the startup as the first narrative podcast network in Kenya and East Africa. The podcasts are distributed through the company’s website and other streaming platforms like Soundcloud. In 2018, the startup was also able to test its audiobook production capacity by producing a ten-story audiobook (Voices in a Generation).
According to Allan Niongira, the founder of PortableVoices, the studio will serve as an open space for publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, and business information providers to produce high quality encrypted digital audiobooks, podcasts and radio dramas.
Allan also had this to say, ‘’Audio format is proving quite lucrative. It is time for marketers to crystallize the sense that podcasting or audio content is an important and powerful marketing platform.”
Portable Voices has also introduced Creatives Club, a community of audio content creators in Kenya. Members can join the club by paying a monthly fee and will, in turn, get weekly recording sessions, voice acting & podcast training, access to more paying clients and much more. The club is open to both students and freelancers.