Amazon Echo Dot speaker
CNBC | Richard Washington
Amazon announced Wednesday that it would acquire podcasting company Wondery, expanding its catalog of original audio content.
As part of the deal, Wondery will join Amazon Music, the e-commerce giant’s music streaming business. In September, Amazon Music added podcasts to its platform, seeking to gain a share of the increasingly competitive podcast market, in which Spotify, Apple and others have gained ground.
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. An Amazon spokesman declined to comment. Wondery declined to comment.
Wondery, founded in 2016, has produced some of the most popular podcasts in recent years, including true crime series like “Dirty John,” “Dr. Death” and “Over My Dead Body.” The producer and podcast chain says it has more than 10 million unique listeners each month.
Speculation about the deal had been building since earlier this month, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon was in talks to acquire the podcaster. Bloomberg reported in September that Wondery was exploring a sale.
The deal comes at a time when Spotify, Apple and others continue to play to dominate the podcasting market. Amazon, Apple and Spotify have tried to add podcasts to their streaming services, as the medium has become the most popular way to listen to music and allows them to differentiate their services from original podcasts.
Spotify has invested heavily in the production of original podcasts, including, more recently, an agreement with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. It has also acquired four companies to expand its library, including The Ringer, Gimlet Media, Anchor and Parcast. Meanwhile, Apple has slowly expanded its original podcast efforts and its Podcast app is installed by default on iPhones.
Amazon has a foothold in audio content beyond Amazon Music. The company also has Audible, which hosts audiobooks and podcasts. The service has expanded its original audio content in recent years, as well as bolstering its list of free podcasts, including the popular “This American Life”, “Pod Save America” and “You’re Wrong” programs. About “.