On Air Fest Announces First Wave Line Up and Major Expansion for 2025
The premier sound and storytelling festival will feature 6+ locations in Brooklyn next year from Feb 19-21

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Initial Line Up Includes SNL’s James Austin Johnson and the Jokermen, Latino USA’s Maria Hinojosa, Hyperfixed's Alex Goldman, Design Matters’ Debbie Millman, Modern Love Host Anna Martin, Radiolab Creator Jad Abumrad, The Kid Mero, J(enna) Wortham, Ronald Young Jr, Exclusive Programming from Partners at NASA, WNYC, WBUR, Talkhouse and Radiotopia/PRX, and Much More to Be Revealed Soon

Bloomberg to Co-Host Podcast Business Summit on Feb 19

Early bird tickets available HERE, prices increase Dec 20

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On Air Fest will mark its next era on February 19-21, 2025 when it returns to Brooklyn for a dramatically expanded edition of its annual flagship event. Set to take place in 6+ locations across Brooklyn (including its returning headquarters at Wythe Hotel). On Air Fest 2025 will branch out its programming and physical presence to dive even deeper into audio and the creative mediums that are changing culture through storytelling. Described as “the Coachella of podcast festivals” (Fast Company), On Air Fest’s expanded footprint next year is set to continue its eight-year tradition of bringing together artists, storytellers, and industry leaders for intimate talks, performances, exhibitions, and live podcast tapings, while tapping into its (and the audio industry at large’s) biggest audience yet.

Across three days and four nights, On Air Fest is set to feature 200+ voices and 80+ hours of programming across its 6+ locations. In addition to Wythe Hotel, On Air Fest’s Brooklyn takeover will also feature events for the first time at 74 Wythe’s rooftop (Official Party presented with iHeartPodcasts), The XX Venue (Experience Hall for interactive programming), National Sawdust (Music and Storytelling), Dolby 88 (VIP Film Screening), and more. 

With much more to be revealed soon, the initial line up of the festival, announced today, includes: SNL’s James Austin Johnson and the Jokermen in conversation about NYC’s music history, The Kid Mero hosting his Victory Light Podcast live, Alex Goldman of Hyperfixed (and Reply All), Debbie Millman of Design Matters celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary, Modern Love host Anna Martin, Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad interviewing acclaimed composer and co-founder & Artistic Director of National Sawdust Paola Prestini, the high celebrated ESPN documentary series 30for30 Podcasts, Brian Reed of KCRW’s Question Everything (and S-Town), Latino USA host Maria Hinojosa, iHeart’s Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know in a rare live immersive audio performance, New York Times staff writer, podcast host and sound healer Jenna Wortham, filmmaker/radio producer Bianca Gaiver, Anna Sussman (Snap Judgment), Stars and Stars with Isa, Ronald Young Jr. in a live version of Lemonada Media and BBC’s Pop Culture Debate Club!, a live special with Blank Check powered by Patreon, Max Cutler and creators from PAVE Studios, Ngofeen Mputubwele, and Radiolab Senior Producer Simon Adler (talk and performance). Exact schedule details, and more exclusive programming from media and programming partners at NASA, WNYC, WBUR, Talkhouse and Radiotopia/PRX, will be announced soon.

On February 20th and February 21st, KCRW and On Air Fest will present: KCRWWW, a pop up radio lounge live streaming music, talks, and sonic experiments from the festival. Featuring KCRW’s (On Air Fest 2025’s official radio partner) newly appointed Music Director, Alejandro Cohen, plus musicians, artists, poets, performers, and more, the pop-up will be free and open to the public via dedicated microsite underscoring On Air Fest and KCRW’s commitment to accessible public programming that fuels music discovery, culture, and connection.

Presenting Sponsors for On Air Fest 2025 include iHeartPodcasts, Patreon, Dolby, ESPN 30 for 30, PAVE Studios, Shure and Bumper.

On Wednesday February 19th at Wythe Hotel, Bloomberg with their podcasting and audio reporter Ashley Carman will co-present the hotly-anticipated On Air Fest Podcast Business Summit, an invite-only gathering of business, tech, advertising and publishing executives to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the industry. 

After the Podcast Business Summit, the rest of On Air Fest’s programming will dive deep into the worlds of creativity and innovation, exploring philosophy, technology, new storytelling formats, audio art, the expanding world of creators, AI, sonic branding, the intersection of social media and sound, and how audio is changing the creative arts and live entertainment industries at large. Rooted in sound and storytelling and expanding out through voice, visuals and multi-sensory experiences, the next two days and three nights are set to feature: main stages with visuals, live tapings, intimate listening and screening experiences, an Experience Hall that will allow attendees to interact with sound and art, a Main Stage for big ideas, performances, and poetry, activations with brands, a Music Stage, speakers forecasting trends, sound meditation and mindfulness, and the world’s first ever ASM(bar) for listening to the inside of
your cocktail.

Open call for session, experience, and performance pitches for On Air Fest is open now and closes November 25th - more HERE.

Learn more about On Air Fest 2025, and find tickets HERE

As On Air Fest prepares to enter its biggest year yet, its Brooklyn festival remains the preeminent and most influential destination for creative storytellers and listeners alike. Past talent have included Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Meyers, Norah Jones, Jason Derulo, Audie Cornish, Francis Ford Coppola, Ira Glass, and many more. On Air Fest is produced by work x work – the go-to creative agency that's been powering the podcast revolution, bringing major brands like Meta, Netflix, Sonos, Spotify, Squarespace, Target, Sony Music Entertainment and many more into the audio movement. More information on work x work and On Air Fest are below.

About On Air Fest

On Air Fest is the premier sound and storytelling festival, uplifting the creators and organizations shaping our world. Centering culture and creativity, podcasts are elevated into an art form and expanded through voice, visuals and multi-sensory experiences. For eight years –in Brooklyn & LA– artists, storytellers and culture seekers have come to be challenged, inspired and to be a part of what’s next. 
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About work x work

work x work is a full service creative agency amplifying the world's leading brands through storytelling, design and experiences. Our innovative work has made us the go-to agency for organizations looking to participate in audio culture. In addition to design, strategy and events, we create custom campaigns, original podcasts and produce the premier sound and storytelling festival, On Air Fest.

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