The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart Hits #1 (back to back #1 launches!) and 48 Hours Subscription Takes Off
(we are on a roll)
Another big week for Paramount Audio so we’ll dive right into the highlights.
The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart became the #1 Pod on Apple Podcasts this weekend
This marks the second launch in a row for Paramount Audio to hit #1 on the Apple Chart (previously this was held by 48 Hours “Blood is Thicker” Mini-Series
The “Blood is Thicker” mini-series also broke all subscription records for Paramount audio, with a doubling of our yearly subscriptions and a six figure revenue increase
On the subscription side, we continue to partner closely with Apple to lean into how we can super-serve the existing high-affinity 48 Hours fanbase audience. The launch of our Blood Is Thicker Mini-Series drove an 985% increase in subscribers on Apple. Subscription represents a new (but quickly growing and material) revenue stream for Paramount Audio. In the coming months, we will continue to bolster the selection of titles for 48 fans that are available early-access and ad free, bringing in a broader range of content. As we often note, the linear series is the lodestone, the creative DNA of the show, and the beauty of podcasting is the ability to open the aperture a bit. We are actively developing new stories that are very much in the world of 48 while simultaneously exploring areas that can engage new audiences in the podcast space who can then be transitioned over into the linear and streaming worlds. All of this will serve to create a robust pipeline of what the fans love to drive both engagement and financial materiality.
We look forward to announcing this new slate shortly (in addition to two other iconic franchises).
And with that, on to the news!
Nebula Strikes Partners with Spotify to Stream Video Content
The deal will allow the more than 615 million Spotify users to watch a curated selection of Nebula programming via the digital music and podcast service
Creators who are part of the initial Nebula slate include CinemaWins, Charles Cornell, Hello Future Me, Captain Midnight, Tale Foundry, Game Makers ToolKit, Todd in the Shadows, Adam Neely, The Closer Look, FD Signifier, and Kat Blaque
Nebula’s content will be hosted on Spotify for Podcasters and the partnership follows Nebula’s launch of studio arm Nebula Motion Pictures and the company’s 2024 originals slate announcement
“Creators are at the core of everything we do at Spotify, so we are eager to partner with Nebula, a creator-built and creator-operated platform, to bring this content to our users across the globe,” said Jordan Newman, Head of Content Partnerships. “Video greatly deepens our creators’ engagement, growth and retention with their fans—so we are thrilled to introduce such an innovative and diverse slate of video content to our audience”
Wondery Launches E-Commerce Site with Keke Palmer
The new Keke Palmer exclusive online storefront features Keke Palmer-branded apparel and consumer products, including the debut of the inaugural line, the “Keke Says” Collection
The storefront is housed in the Wondery Shop, serving as the exclusive destination for fans of Keke’s podcasts and aligns with the season two debut of Palmer’s audio and video podcast
Nicole Blake, Wondery’s Chief Brand Officer, said in a statement. “Our ongoing collaboration and this expansion of the relationship to include the exclusive Keke Palmer eCommerce Shop demonstrate Wondery’s commitment to being the best home for talent and to going beyond the headphones to engage fans.”
The New York Times Introduces Updates to its News app
The new changes are embracing audio with a new feature, a Listen tab, that will serve as a hub for its audio journalism
Users will find a daily playlist to listen to top stories, culture coverage, and ideas, updated daily by the audio team
Articles can also be read by an automated voice, which lets users listen to articles as soon as they’re published, making a large majority of The Times written news report now available in audio form
The app will now also include a new You tab that will be a personalized, fully customizable space serving as a shortcut to each user’s interests—as well as suggestions based on reading habits
Alex Hardiman, Chief Product Officer of The New York Times says “We’re incredibly excited for our users to explore these new formats and personalized features, as it reflects our continued dedication to get our journalism to audiences in more creative, accessible and direct ways”