PITCH PARTY 2025

DETAILS

Eligible pitches must focus on narratives that feature the crossing of sovereign borders. We are looking for projects about migration, third cultures, and connections across great distances. Please do not submit chatcasts or true crime. To be considered, your podcast idea must not have been previously published. Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Clarity: Features a focused, compelling vision that would grab a listener’s attention 

2. Originality: Offers an entirely original concept or presents subject matter in a unique way 

3. Reach: Has the potential to attract and retain a broad audience 

4. Impact: Encourages engagement beyond the listening experience  

Timeline

June 17: Submission window opens

July 18: Submission window closes

September 15: Finalists notified

November 8: Live Pitch Party! Three finalists will pitch their ideas in front of a panel of judges and a live audience at the RESONATE Podcast Festival. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the event.

Eligibility

The podcast competition is open to United States residents 18 years of age and older who are able to attend the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival in Richmond, VA, and who are NOT current employees of VPM Media Corporation, the Institute for Contemporary Arts or a named sponsor of the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival, their immediate family members or anyone living in their household. Eligible contributors may submit individually or as a group. Prior experience with audio production is not required but is recommended. 

Selection Process

A jury of podcast industry professionals will select three finalists from the qualifying submissions to advance to the live pitch competition at the RESONATE Podcast Festival on November 8, 2025. Finalists will be notified via email on or around September 15, 2025 and will have 72 hours to confirm their participation in the live competition before their invitation is nullified and an offer is made to an alternate. The grand prize winner and runners-up will be selected at the live event by a panel of judges. 

Prizes

Each finalist will receive complimentary admission to the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival on November 7-8, 2025. Finalists will also be offered virtual mentoring (over email, Zoom, etc.), in which professional producers will help hone pitches in preparation for the live event. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000 from VPM to create a pilot episode of their podcast. Runners-up will also receive a prize, TBD.

2025 RESONATE Pitch Party Terms & Conditions

By participating in the RESONATE Pitch Party Podcast Competition (the “Contest”), participants agree to the terms and conditions set forth herein and the official rules of the Contest (https://www.resonatepodfest.com/pitch-party), and that VPM Media Corporation (“VPM”), RESONATE, ICA and all parties acting in concert with them, including without limitation any producers, sponsors, service providers and affiliates or agents or employees thereof (collectively, the “Contest Entities”) will have no liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting from their use or participation in the call for performances or participation in or utilization of any prizes awarded. Prizes are nontransferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. Each participant agrees to release and hold harmless the Contest Entities from any injury, loss, death, damage, action, claim, demand or other liability that may occur from participant's participation in this Contest or from the acceptance, use or misuse of any prize awarded, or attendance at any event, including the 2025 RESONATE Podcast Festival (the “Festival”). We reserve the right to verify eligibility qualifications of any participant, including the winner of the Contest. There can be no substitutions for a prize of equal or greater value.