It’s an exciting day at Simplecast–here’s why.
Our aim at Simplecast has always been to build the best tools for publishing and insights so podcast creators can thrive–whether that means scaling their audience, generating revenue, reaching a specific niche, or any other goal they set their sights on when they launched their show.
Today, Simplecast is joining the SiriusXM–Pandora family, where we’ll be able to help podcasters and their shows go even further. We’ll be joining forces with AdsWizz and Pandora, which means not only new, unique distribution opportunities, but also exciting new revenue-generating tools from AdsWizz, available in your Simplecast dashboard. It’ll be easier than ever for advertisers to reach you, making your path to monetization seamless.
More resources and our new teammates will allow us to improve our product and execute against our roadmap faster than ever before. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve got in store!
We’ve bottled up this excitement for some time now, and we have much to share with you on the exciting opportunities ahead. Big things are to come! In the meantime, we know you probably have questions, so we’ve done our best to answer a few below.
Big picture, what’s changing?
Honestly, not much. We’ll be gaining a mountain of new resources from our new teammates at SiriusXM, AdsWizz, and Pandora, but we’ll continue to be the same Simplecast team you’ve known all the while.
Does this alter Simplecast’s mission, product vision & roadmap?
Only in that we’ll be driving through it much faster! The fundamental purpose of Simplecast is the same–we’re here to help podcast creators publish, understand, and grow their show, backed by the best analytics in the business. We won’t be deviating from any plans, we’ll just be adding to them (like an ad marketplace, for those who are asking for it).
Are your plans changing?
Also nope. Your plan and your price stays the same.
Are you putting ads in my show?
Absolutely not–unless you want them! (And if you do, we’ll be sharing more about our AdsWizz family soon, and how their marketplace and vast suite of monetization tools will soon integrate with our new dynamic audio product, MAE.)
You can read our full press release below, and we’re excited to share even more detail soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please reach out!
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SiriusXM Acquires Podcast Management and Analytics Platform Simplecast
With SiriusXM AdTech Subsidiary AdsWizz, Acquisition Enables End-to-End Offering forPodcasters on One Platform, from Creation to Monetization
June 17, 2020, NEW YORK, NY - SiriusXM announced today the acquisition of Simplecast, a leading podcast management platform that enables podcasters to publish, manage, and measure their content. The Simplecast solution, paired with the award-winning monetization platform of AdsWizz, the adtech subsidiary of SiriusXM, creates an end-to-end solution that enables creators to publish and generate revenue from their podcasts, all in one place.
Led by Founder & CEO, Brad Smith, the Simplecast platform, with its leading content management, audience analytics, and dynamic audio toolset, MAE (Moveable Audio Engine), has attracted some of the largest and most highly respected brands and publishers including Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Netflix, Maximum Fun, Cloud10, QCODE, Anna Faris is Unqualified, Blue Wire, and Revision Path. The Simplecast platform is employed by a wide range of creators, from enterprise-level publishers and networks to independent niche podcasters.
Simplecast and AdsWizz will form SiriusXM’s publisher solution business, a full-service platform designed to meet the needs of podcast creators of all sizes. The acquisition expands and strengthens SiriusXM’s and Pandora’s tools and monetization services for podcasters and publishers. Through AdsWizz, SiriusXM offers a leading adtech solution for podcasters and networks, from dynamic ad insertion to ad serving, new programmatic solutions for podcasting, and the AdsWizz Podcast Marketplace, PodWave.Through Pandora for Podcasters, creators can easily submit their podcasts to reach Pandora’s millions of users and get access to data analytics tools and useful audience insights.
“Our goal is to provide audio publishers with state-of-the-art platforms and give them everything they need to be successful,” said Alexis van de Wyer, CEO of AdsWizz. “Empowering podcasters of any size to create, distribute, analyze, and monetize their work is the next natural step in pursuing our vision.”
“From the beginning, Simplecast’s mantra and mission was to remain laser-focused on podcast creators–building the best tools for publishing and insights,” said Brad Smith, the Founder & CEO of Simplecast. “The opportunity and alignment with AdsWizz allows our product–and our customers–access to a powerful monetization platform. Two best-in-class platforms are now able to align with the shared mission of helping publishers succeed, while each team continues to focus on their respective areas of expertise.”
With the integration between AdsWizz and Simplecast’s MAE, podcast publishers are able to take advantage of the integrated solution starting today.
SiriusXM was represented by Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP as counsel. Simplecast was represented by Telos Advisors, LLC as exclusive financial advisor and Sullivan & Worcester LLP as counsel.
About SiriusXM
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in the U.S., and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM and Pandora together reach more than 100 million people each month with their audio products. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers and directly to consumers through aftermarket devices. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.
About Simplecast
Simplecast is a leading podcast management and analytics platform, powering podcasts from some of the world’s most well-respected creators and brands — delivering nearly a billion audio requests last year. Featuring both the industry’s preeminent analytics platform and dynamic audio toolset, MAE, (Moveable Audio Engine), Simplecast has more metrics and more unique insights than any other podcast technology company. Since 2013, the Simplecast suite of tools has made it effortless for podcasters of all sizes to distribute their podcasts anywhere people listen, and grow, understand, and better connect with their audiences. For more about Simplecast, please visit simplecast.com