The roots of the reinvention go back to the early 1980s.
They gave rise to a lateraudio moviestyle and inspired a new generation of independents.
These indie producers pioneered the revival of the medium.
Digitization ofsound-design during the 1990s and 2000sput the means of production back into the hands of hobbyist creatives.
Podcast generation
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Were Alive Nominated in the BBC Audio Drama Awards for Best Podcast.
Up until 2012 new digital productions in the US often drew on audiences familiar with the earlier radio tradition.
However, this was fast-changing.
The surreal comedyWelcome to Night Valetook advantage of this.
These latter intentionally blurred the boundaries of fiction and reality, making the listener a participant in the investigation.
Other companies looked at crossover appeal.
In the US, podcasts like the thrillerHomecomingandLime Townachieved the opposite by making the transition to television.
While sci-fi showsSteal the Starsand The Bright Sessions have been turned intonovelizations.
As a result, on-demand audiobook platforms, like Audible, took notice.
By 2017 audiobooks were the fastest growing strand in publishing and today are recordingyearly growth of 24 percent.
Eco-thriller,Forest 404exemplified this approach, combining talk, drama, and music to capture a younger demographic.
The challenge will be for Sounds to represent the energy of the UKs own thriving podcast scene.
The oldest of the 20, it was a ground-breaking production.
However, it is notable that over half of the podcasts mentioned are from the last ten years.
Most influential audio dramas over the past 50 years, as voted on by radio and podcast drama producers.
The second and third most influential dramas were Welcome to Nightvale and Were Alive.
