Comedian and media producer Will Ferrell is partnering with iHeartRadio to make a new podcast network with an opening slate of six shows. “The iHeartPodcast Network really knows how to make a podcast.” said Ferrell. The new group is called Big Money Players Network. Click through for show notes. Continue Reading
The New York Times has acquired Serial Productions, home to legendary podcast Serial. Both organizations have attained critical, audience, and monetary success with sparse portfolios. the Times promises to grow the Serial Productions catalog, which currently contains two active podcasts according to Podtrac. Click through for more analysis and acquisition details. Continue Reading
PRX is partnering with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (created by Congress) and the National Park Service, and a cast of celebrities, to create new podcasts inspired by the suffragists throughout U.S. history who have worked to secure women’s right to vote. PRX notes that 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Click through for show details. Continue Reading
UK-based podcast network Audioboom is announcing today the acquisition of three existing podcasts, and the renewal of two others already in the network. Audioboom claims a premium network of 250 podcasts. The company also produces the Audioboom Originals Network. Continue Reading
What was previously a Rumor Fact(ory) item is today finalized and confirmed: SiriusXM is buying Stitcher from Scripps. We received press releases from both SiriusXM (via the PR office of subsidiary Pandora) and E.W.Scripps. From Scripps, the news is about that company’s profitable investment in Stitcher over five years. for sirius, the vision gets big, fast, and the company isn’t shy about claiming preeminence in podcasting. Continue Reading
We received a note from PRX with the news that the audio network has scored distribution rights for Latino USA, a national news and cultural affairs program, for release to 220 public radio stations across the U.S. The Latino USA podcast (see it HERE) will join PRX’s portfolio of on-demand audio. The program is anchored by journalist and Futuro Media Group founder Maria Hinojosa. Continue Reading
E.W.Scripps, the media behemoth and parent company of Stitcher, is reported to be shopping the podcast company to potential buyers. Click through for a history of Scripps ownership, and how the Stitcher organization has changed during this time. Continue Reading
SiriusXM is hitting the nets this morning with a smart acquisition. The satellite radio and digital audio holding company is buying podcast host Simplecast. That’s the short story. The bigger picture is a full-on podcast distribution and monetization system for podcast creators at all levels. Continue Reading
PodcastOne has been acquired by LiveXLive. The podcast network includes shows from Adam Carolla, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Shaquille O’Neal, Kaitlyn Bristown, and more. The purchase is reportedly an all-stock deal valued at about $18 million. Continue Reading
8tracks, the venerable, crowdsourced, highly differentiated streaming music service which shut off at the end of 2019 is back. Thanks to a new investor who acquired some of 8tracks’ assets, the web app has reopened, with a promise to activate mobile apps next. Jeff Treichel is the new CEO — he has a Harvard MBA and a varied background in investing and board directorship. Continue Reading
Content network Evergreen Podcasts is announcing a second investment from Lake Effect Radio in Ohio. The $500,000 fundraising follows a previous investment by Lake Effect Radio of $2-million. Continue Reading
The New York Times Company has acquired Audm, a startup that creates audio versions of long-form journalism for subscription access. Founders Ryan Wegner, the director of spoken word audio production, and Christian Brink, director of product, will join the Times Company along with the rest of the Audm team. Continue Reading