Warner Music Group (WMG) today announced its new podcast network, Interval Presents, which will produce multi-format, culture-forward audio content at the intersection of music, pop culture, and social impact. Leveeraging WMG’s artist roster, the network will leverage the power of a major music company to create a platform for artists and cultural movers to “unpack trending conversations, amplify underrepresented voices, and explore the impact of music artistry from diverse perspectives.”
WMG’s Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development, Allan Coye, will oversee Interval Presents in the role of General Manager.
The initiative marks the first major music label to follow in Sony Music’s lead; Sony entered the podcast arena five years ago in May, 2017. (RAIN coverage HERE.)
“Interval Presents is a natural progression of Warner Music Group’s long history of producing generation-defining music, supporting creatives, and driving culture,” added Oana Ruxandra, Chief Digital Officer & EVP of Business Development, WMG. “There’s a hunger for more inclusive and authentic podcast content and, with Allan leading the charge, we’re thrilled to launch an audio platform that will connect with this growing audience and spotlight a breadth of voices and perspectives.”
The first slate of WMG podcasts will roll out throughout the year and will include various formats — talk shows and narrative-driven episodic shows. Named artists participting in the venture include Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o (represented by CAA and Mainstay Entertainment) who will host a show centered on non-fiction cultural storytelling that explores the African diaspora; Grammy-nominated singer Jason Derulo (represented by UTA) who will headline a podcast series produced by Clamor that uses vocal performances to tell a fictional, noir-inflected romance story; and Grammy-nominated songwriter and entrepreneur Billy Mann, who will challenge the stigma around failure in a show featuring some of the world’s biggest stars and their stories about confronting adversity.
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