FAQs

Multitrack 2021 is open for applications NOW! Please read these FAQs before submitting your application. 

How do I apply for Multitrack 2021?

To apply for the fellowship you need to complete an application and then upload it via a Google Form. The application and a link to the Google Form are both available on our Apply page.

What are the key dates you need to know?

Multitrack 2021 will begin in January, and run for a total of two months (with the option to do the fellowship part time over a longer period). The final start date will be agreed through discussions with the chosen fellows and host companies.

Online information session organised by Rise & Shine 22nd October, 2020 at 7pm – sign up on eventbrite here!

Instagram Live Q&A with The Bring In: 26th October, 2020 at 5.30-6pm (follow @thebringinuk and @multitrackfellowship on Instagram)

Application deadline: 2nd November, 2020 (11:59pm)

Interviews: week commencing 30th November, 2020

Offers made to fellows: week commencing 7th December, 2020

Is this fellowship paid?

Yes, fellows are paid at the Living Wage or London Living Wage (depending on location) for a total of two months (pro rated across a longer period for any fellows who choose to do the fellowship part time). 

Fellows will be paid directly by the companies they work for during the internship. 

Who is this fellowship for?

Multitrack is an entry level fellowship for people who are from groups that are at a disadvantage entering the audio industry based on any of the following factors:

  • Race
  • Disability
  • Socioeconomic background

For background, OFCOM does an annual report called “Diversity and equal opportunities in radio”, which measures diversity among broadcasters using the protected characters set out in the Equalities Act 2010. The 2019 report found that within the UK radio industry: “6% of employees define as having a minority ethnic background” (this is the terminology used by OFCOM) and “6% of people self-define as disabled”.

The report also noted that “Barriers of social class and privilege can prevent the widest pool of people from being able to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background.”

The way we define “entry level” is that if you’re applying for the fellowship, you should have done no more than approximately 2 months of paid audio work in the last 12 months. If you’re already earning the majority of your income from working in audio, this fellowship probably isn’t for you. There is no limit on the amount of voluntary or unpaid experience you may have.

What does an audio producer do?

Being an audio producer involves work like:

  • Coming up with ideas for podcasts and radio programmes
  • Doing research to inform content and identify contributors
  • Doing the organisational and administrative aspects of audio production, including transcribing audio, organising files, creating schedules, booking guests, arranging travel, etc.
  • Interviewing people
  • Recording audio in studios or on location
  • Using editing software to edit podcasts and radio programmes together
  • Doing sound design 

A producer’s role can include all or some of these things. While some producers also host or present programmes, we want to make sure you know that this fellowship is aimed at the production side of podcasting and radio. So if you’re primarily aiming to become a presenter, this fellowship may not be right for you. 

What are some examples of the type of experience you’re looking for from applicants?

As we’ve said, this is an entry level scheme, aimed at people who are not currently earning a substantial proportion of their income from working in audio. However, we are looking for people who can demonstrate their passion for audio, through things they have made or worked on.

Here are a few examples of the types of thing you might have done, which would make you a great fit for this fellowship:

  • Produced a podcast of your own
  • Helped someone else produce a podcast
  • Worked on an oral history project
  • Volunteered at a radio station
  • Hosted your own podcast or radio show
  • Recorded interviews with friends or family
  • Made experimental soundscapes just for fun
  • Started your own YouTube channel
  • Made your own videos / vlogs

What does the fellowship entail?

Multitrack has three main elements (you’ll find detail on each below):

  • Internships
  • Training and networking
  • Commissioned work

Internships

Each fellow will complete a two month internship, split across two different production companies. Your first month will be spent at one production company, and you’ll move to a different company for the second month. Although fellows will be working at separate production companies, you will come together regularly as a group for training and networking.

The following production companies are all confirmed hosts for the internship part of this year’s fellowship (with more likely to be confirmed soon):

We work with our host companies to make sure Multitrack fellows are exposed to as many different aspects of the production process as possible, and that the fellowship offers really valuable opportunities to learn new skills. This may include sometimes shadowing producers or other staff members in their day to day work, as well as completing tasks and projects which will be assigned to you. 

It’s important to remember that because this is an entry level fellowship, it’s likely your role will include a range of appropriate tasks for someone starting out in the industry – things like research, booking travel, transcribing audio, admin tasks, etc.

Training and networking

Once a week, there will be a training session which all fellows attend together. The training sessions are provided by the production companies who are hosting fellows, as well as special guests such as independent producers and people from other production companies. 

These sessions will provide a chance to learn new skills, spend time with the other fellows, and network with a wide range of people from across the audio industry. 

Commissioned work – TBC

We aim to provide opportunities for fellows to produce professional audio work; for real commissions with broadcasters or publishers. The number of commissions we are able to provide directly through Multitrack may vary and is still being confirmed.

In 2019, there were three BBC Radio 4 documentary slots provided by the BBC specifically for Multitrack fellows. All the fellows on the scheme were invited to pitch an idea, and three of those were then commissioned and made. You can check out all three finished documentaries if you’d like to get an idea of the kind of work the 2019 fellows were able to make:

In 2021, we expect that fellows will once again be invited to pitch ideas during the fellowship for a number of commissioning opportunities which are currently being confirmed. If your idea is chosen, you will be supported and mentored through the process of making it. You will be paid for this work (as a separate fee to your internship payment) and get a producer credit. The production of these works will usually happen after the internship has ended. 

How is Multitrack 2021 being affected by the coronavirus pandemic?

Originally, the next fellowship was planned to run in autumn 2020, but we delayed it to January 2021 because of the pandemic. We have been closely monitoring the situation, in particular how it’s affected the audio industry and our host companies. We’ve done a lot of thinking and talking about how best to proceed with the fellowship during this time (within the Multitrack team and in collaboration with the host companies). 

Because the situation is changing all the time, details of exactly how the fellowship will work will need to be confirmed nearer the time. But we are preparing for the possibility that it will be partly or entirely remote in 2021 (in line with how most of the industry is currently working). We will be working closely with all the host companies and training providers, on how best to ensure the fellowship is both an enjoyable and valuable opportunity, despite the limitations we’re all experiencing in how we can operate audio productions during this time. 

Multitrack and our host companies will always be following government guidelines on workplaces and offices, and we will be prioritising the health and safety of fellows – including working with each fellow to understand any particular considerations around their own vulnerability to the virus, or that of people they live with. 

What support will the fellows get during the fellowship?

At each production company, fellows have a line manager from the company who helps assign them work, provides professional support, monitors their progress and acts as a contact for any work related queries. Each fellow will also be assigned another colleague within the company, who is not their manager, but who they can go to with any questions, issues or other queries they’d prefer to ask a peer rather than a manager. 

We also ensure each fellow has a point of contact from the Multitrack team, who can provide outside support and advice as needed during the fellowship. Fellows will have a weekly check in with this person, and can also ask to speak to them as needed outside of this regular check in. 

Is Multitrack a national scheme?

The companies offering placements as part of Multitrack 2021 are based in London and Manchester. The majority of placements are based in London, but at least one will be based in Manchester. 

It has always been our ambition for Multitrack to operate in as many parts of the UK as possible. However, we can only offer places in locations where we have host companies signed up. We hope and plan to continue to expand the reach of the fellowship in 2021 and beyond. 

If you own or work for an audio production company that might be able to offer a placement outside of London and Manchester, please do contact us. We would love to talk to you. It’s not too late to offer a placement for 2021. Even if you can’t offer a placement this year, we’d love to be in touch about plans for the next fellowship.

Do you need to be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this fellowship?

Yes – you do need to be eligible to work here in order to apply.

How many fellowship places are being offered?

The number of placements we’re able to offer depends on the number of host companies who sign up to be part of the fellowship. We are still accepting host company applications at the moment, which means we cannot confirm the total number of placements yet. But at this time, we know we will be offering a minimum of five fellowships this year. 

Is this a full-time or part-time fellowship?

Fellows will have the choice to either be full or part-time. We will flex the structure of the scheme to accommodate the needs of the fellows who are chosen. However, you will need to be available for the placement element and training sessions for a consistent number of days (to be agreed) during the period of fellowship.

What support is available during the application process?

The application form itself contains guidance for answering each of the questions. We recommend reading this guidance as you’re working on your answers.

We are running an online information session in collaboration with Rise & Shine on October 22nd at 7pm. We will update this page with a link to join soon! The session will be a chance to learn more about the fellowship, and ask any questions you may have, to members of the Multitrack team and alumni from the 2019 fellowship.

We’ll update this page and the News page as any further dates for information sessions are confirmed. 

If you are facing any barriers in applying for this scheme, please get in touch with us. We want to make applications as accessible as possible for everyone.

Do applicants need to send a CV?

No – we aren’t asking to see CVs. You should fill in the application which you can download form the Apply page.