Spotify has been putting a ton of effort into the podcast industry, and this is why it’s a major platform for it. While things seemed to be going up for the streaming service, that might no longer be the case. According to TechCrunch, Spotify canceled 11 of its podcasts and laid off staff.
Unlike with other companies, this move doesn’t seem to be propelled by the current economic state. Several companies including Netflix, T-Mobile, Verizon, Niantic, Twitter, and more needed to lay off staff to reduce costs.
Instead of a company-wide lay-off spree, Spotify is focusing on its podcasting department. The company, a source told TechCrunch, is dropping 11 of the company’s current shows.
Spotify canceled 11 of its podcasts
The streaming service has a whopping 500 original shows. These are produced by studios that the company purchased over time, and two of the studios are Gimlet and Parcast. These are the two studios impacted by this change.
The Gimlet podcasts biting the dust are “Crime Show,” “How to Save a Planet,” and “Every Little Thing”. Those on the Parcast are “Female Criminals,” “Haunted Places,” “Mythology,” “Medical Murders,” “Crimes of Passion,” “Dictator,” and “Urban Legends.”
If you’re a fan of “Horoscope Today”, then you’re not safe either. That show is set to be canceled in the first half of 2023.
Along with these cancellations, there will be lay-offs. We don’t have an exact number, but the source says that it’s about 5% of the company’s podcasting staff.
Last, but not least, there will be some changes in leadership for these two studios. According to an internal memo, Nicole Beemsterboer will be Gimlet’s new managing director. Parcast also has a new managing director, Liliana Kim.
Aside from podcasts, Spotify also has audiobooks
Spotify is looking to take on Amazon in the audiobook space, as it released 300,000 audiobooks to the platform last month. If you want to listen to some books, then they’re available to buy now.
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