Members of Good Egg Audio and Mumble Media will explore the business structure, challenges, and benefits of operating as a worker cooperative during a live webinar on July 16.
The discussion will cover the foundational steps to establishing a cooperative, the realities of maintaining democratic workplaces without traditional hierarchical management, and how this structure affects workers, clients, and audiences. Both organizations will share lessons learned and address common misconceptions about cooperative business models in the audio production industry.
Good Egg Audio is an independent worker cooperative with decades of collaborative experience across brands, major media networks, academic institutions, and independent studios. Mumble Media is a full-service audio entertainment production company founded on principles of trust, transparency, and fairness.
Panelists include Jayme Catsouphes, Mumble Media co-founder and producer; Lee Mengistu, Mumble Media CEO and director; Nicki Stein, senior producer and head of story at Good Egg Audio; and Carl Nellis, senior producer and head of community at Good Egg Audio.
During the 60-minute session, attendees will learn how worker cooperatives operate on a daily basis, discover benefits of forming a cooperative compared to freelancing independently, understand the interpersonal and professional aspects of transitioning to a cooperative business model, and identify the specific steps required to establish a worker cooperative.
The webinar is designed for independent audio makers considering team-based work without hierarchical structures. Participants will gain insights into sustainable team-building and the full spectrum of audio production, including pre- and post-production, finance, client relations, and audience engagement.
The event is free for AIR members and costs $50 for non-members. Registration is available through the SoundPath website. The live webinar will be recorded and made available to AIR members and ticket holders following the broadcast.
SoundPath, a project of AIR (Association of Independents in Radio), organizes the webinar as part of its ongoing educational programming for audio professionals.
