Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group Launches In-House Podcast Network

~ jen

Warner Music Group (WMG) unveiled its new new podcast network, Interval Presents, which will produce multi-format, culture-forward audio content at the intersection of music, pop culture, and social impact.

Building on WMG’s ever-growing music catalog and its roster of celebrated talent, 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.

Coye said: “Interval Presents allows us to develop and share podcast content that propels fresh, engaging conversations around trending topics and issues that matter to diverse communities – all through a culture-forward lens. This is just the beginning and as we grow, we hope to stay true to our roots in music while also using audio artistry as a vehicle to explore new terrains of storytelling, and ultimately, connect deeply with our audience.”

“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 and breadth of voices and perspectives.”

The first slate of podcasts from Interval Presents, which will roll out throughout the year, will include various formats, including talk shows and narrative-driven episodic shows. Audiences can look forward to shows hosted by award-winning artists such as 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.

Snap Judgement – the production company behind the long running podcast and radio show, Snap Judgement – will produce Nyong’o’s aforementioned show as well as a future content for Interval Presents.

Additionally, Interval Presents has partnered with production company Awfully Nice, who developed Idris and Sabrina Elba’s podcast Coupledom and the Ambie-nominated series The Messenger; as well as audio-first production company Double Elvis, the company behind the award-winning podcasts Disgraceland, About a Girl, Dear Young Rocker, Here Comes the Break, and many more.

Warner Music Group and Spotify Strike Innovative Podcast Development Deal

~ jen

Warner Music Group (WMG) and Spotify announced they have entered into a new partnership which will see the two companies develop a series of original podcasts built around WMG’s vast and diverse artists’ and songwriters’ catalogs featuring some of the biggest names in music. Fans will get to experience the stories behind some of the biggest hit songs and get an inside look at the work of their favorite artists and songwriters.

“The most impactful podcasts share with music the key component of storytelling and personal experience. In partnership with Warner Music Group, we look to develop stories leveraging their unique artists and catalog,” said Courtney Holt, VP Global Studios & Business, Spotify. “We look forward to helping them leverage the power of podcasting to forge a deeper connection with fans.”

“We’re excited to take this step forward with Spotify as we strengthen and deepen our existing partnership. Podcasts provide an opportunity to unlock value for artists and songwriters by delivering fresh and unique stories to music to fans across the globe,” said Oana Ruxandra, EVP, Business Development and Chief Digital Officer, Warner Music Group. “We look forward to working with Spotify to experiment and drive growth in podcasting.”

The news follows Warner Music Group’s recent launch of the BLK In America podcast by Topsify, which sees influential Black artists – like Rico Nasty, Chaka Khan, and Keedron Bryant – discussing what it means to be Black in America. Today, WMG produces various podcasts from across its network including Duran Duran’s WHOOOSH! curated and hosted by Simon Le Bon; the Prince official podcast in collaboration with his estate; Robert Plant’s Digging Deep; the Good Ol Grateful Deadcast hosted by musician Rich Mahan and Relix contributing editor Jesse Jarnow; The Rhino Podcasts, telling stories of legends like Aretha Franklin, Todd Rundgren, and John Densmore of The Doors; Warner Chappell Music’s Final Sessions, a series chronicling the long and fascinating narrative behind the release of Losst and Founnd – the album of final recordings from the late singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson; Grandson’s XXWhy show interviewing other artists and activists; as well as cultural hit show Uproxx’s People’s Party hosted by Talib Kweli.

Spotify is now home to more than two million podcasts including The Michelle Obama Podcast, The Journal, The Joe Rogan Experience, The Bakari Sellers Podcast, Stolen: The Search for Jermain, and the recently launched Renegades: Born in the USA.  It is also the exclusive home of a wide range of Music + Talk shows, the personalized music and podcast mix Daily Drive and innovative programming like The Get Up, which combines music curated for each individual listener with the latest in pop culture, news, entertainment and music from hosts Kat Lazo, Speedy Morman and Xavier “X” Jernigan.