Amazon is shutting down its Wondery podcast studio, which it acquired in late 2020, and cutting 110 jobs as part of a broader reorganization of its audio business. According to reports, the company plans to move existing Wondery series under its Audible banner or to a new “creator services” team, which will focus on personality-driven shows like the podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce.
Steve Boom, Amazon’s vice president of audio, Twitch, and games, explained the decision in a staff memo, stating that the podcast landscape has changed significantly in recent years. He noted that the rise of video has blurred the lines of what it means to be a podcast creator, signaling a shift in how content is consumed.
These changes suggest that Amazon’s push into podcasting has not gone as planned. Despite securing high-profile talent, the company is now adjusting its strategy to better compete with rivals like Spotify and YouTube, as the industry increasingly embraces video formats.