amazon acquires podcast network wondery

Amazon has recently revealed its acquisition of Wondery, the production company responsible for popular podcasts such as “Dirty John” and “Dr. Death.”
Wondery will be integrated into Amazon Music, which began offering podcast support – including its own exclusive series – in September. The announcement also assures listeners that no changes will occur for them, and Wondery’s podcasts will remain accessible through multiple platforms.
Numerous media organizations and streaming services are heavily investing in the podcasting industry, exemplified by Spotify’s acquisitions, including Gimlet, SiriusXM’s purchase of Stitcher, and The New York Times’ acquisition of Serial Productions. While Amazon is a newer entrant to this space, it will now benefit from the backing of a well-established podcast creator as it strives to gain ground.
According to Amazon, “Wondery will be positioned to deliver even greater volumes of exceptional, groundbreaking content and to further its commitment to delivering entertainment and information to listeners, regardless of their preferred listening method.”
The financial details of the deal have not been made public. Prior reporting by The Wall Street Journal indicated that discussions were underway, with a potential valuation of approximately $300 million for Wondery.
The company was established in 2016 by Hernan Lopez, a former executive at Fox, who is presently facing federal corruption allegations related to his previous role at Fox. Data from Podtrac indicates Wondery was the fourth-largest podcast publisher in November, reaching over 9 million unique listeners in the United States.
Crunchbase reports that Wondery secured a total of $15 million in funding from investors including Advancit Capital, BDMI, Greycroft, Lerer Hippeau, and others.