Amazon is revamping its audio entertainment division, consolidating production across its podcast brands Wondery and Audible in a move that signals a deeper integration of its audio assets. As part of the shake-up, Wondery CEO Jen Sargent is exiting her role after a four-year tenure leading one of the podcast industry’s most prominent studios.
The restructuring was announced internally via a memo from Steve Boom, Amazon’s VP of audio, Twitch, and games. The overhaul will include approximately 100 layoffs, as Amazon shifts its focus to better align with current podcast trends and listening habits.
While the Wondery brand will continue to spotlight high-profile, celebrity-driven podcasts like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert and the recently inked deal with sports legends LeBron James and Travis and Jason Kelce, its more narrative-driven series will now be housed under Audible. This includes true crime hits such as Dr. Death and Dirty John, signaling a clearer division between personality-led and story-driven productions.
Amazon, which acquired Wondery in 2020, described the changes as a strategic realignment to keep pace with a rapidly evolving podcast market.
“The podcast landscape has evolved significantly in the past few years, particularly with the rise of video-forward, creator-led content. These changes reflect that evolution and will streamline how Wondery integrates further into Amazon,” the company said in a statement.
The move aims to optimize monetization opportunities for creators, enhance brand-building efforts, and simplify advertiser engagement—while making content more accessible to listeners across platforms.
“By making these changes, we can better support creators in monetizing their content across multiple channels, help them expand their brand IP, and simplify the process for advertisers while making content more accessible to audiences wherever they prefer to consume it,” Amazon added. “This evolution builds on Wondery’s early success with video-forward shows and positions us to better serve creators, customers, and advertisers,” it said.
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