Sony Music Entertainment (SME) unveiled a robust slate of new original podcast titles and announced the official return of several high-profile series from some of its leading global creative partners during the 2021 IAB Podcast Upfront.

The company, whose podcast monthly downloads monthly downloads have grown more than 200% year over year (in April 2021), showcased several of its chart-topping podcasts from the past year, many of which will return for new seasons starting this summer. SME also previewed a range of upcoming projects from its creative partners around the world while highlighting core genres including kids and family, emerging audiences, true crime, and entertainment superfans.

In the presentation, SME previewed several upcoming true crime series from veteran investigative journalists, including two-time Pulitzer Prize winner John Carreyrou, who will debut Bad Blood: The Final Chapter, a podcast with Three Uncanny Four following the upcoming trial of Teranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and Trevor Aaronson and Vanessa Grigoriadis of Campside Media, who will debut Chameleon: High Rollers, the second season of hit podcast series Chameleon, in June.

The company also previewed season two returns of chart-topping series Smoke Screen and Power, which will return with new seasons soon. Other new shows from SME’s creative partners around the world will debut in coming months across a range of genres, including politics, culture, history, entertainment and more.

Highlights from the presentation included appearances from sixteen-time GRAMMY-winning artist, songwriter and producer Kirk Franklin who announced the return of Good Words with Kirk Franklin. Model, activist and entrepreneur Leomie Anderson also previewed her new podcast Role Model, and Emmy Award winning and Academy Award nominated storyteller, filmmaker and podcaster Marc Smerling discussed his upcoming project Firebug, and the power of true crime storytelling. Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas also shared details about their media company Tinkercast, noting the kids and family genre as one of the fastest-growing podcasting sectors.