Amazon’s Wondery Shuts Down Operations in Mexico and Brazil…

Amazon’s Wondery has ceased operations in Mexico and Brazil, affecting staff including Sarah Barrett. The firm cited a review of priorities in their decision. Concurrently, the podcast industry sees new initiatives such as The Listening Party Agency and Panjaya’s AI dubbing service. The Golden Lobes awards have opened entries for comedic podcasts, whereas strategic advice is shared for podcast titles.

Amazon’s Wondery has announced the cessation of its operations in Mexico and Brazil, as confirmed in a recent staff meeting. Among those affected by this decision is Sarah Barrett, the Head of Mexico Podcast Content. This announcement coincided with a week during which several shows from Wondery Mexico were nominated for the esteemed Ondas Globales awards, even as the LATAM division boasts a successful YouTube channel with over 500,000 subscribers.

In an official statement, Amazon remarked, “After a careful review of our priorities and customers’ needs, we’ve made the difficult decision to close Wondery’s Brazil and Mexico original content operations.” The company emphasized that this conclusion was reached after considerable deliberation and acknowledged its commitment to crafting engaging storytelling and audio content for listeners.

In other industry news, podcast veteran Christy Mirabal has launched The Listening Party Agency alongside Imelda Vergara-Skinder. The agency aims to enhance the visibility of podcast creators and operates from locations in New York and Los Angeles. Additionally, Transistor has integrated a commenting feature that syncs with the Bluesky social media platform, allowing seamless interaction on podcast websites.

A new multilingual AI-powered dubbing platform called Panjaya has been introduced, specifically created for podcast publishers by former executives from Apple TV and Meta. This innovative platform promises to maintain authenticity through synchronized voice and gesture syncing, catering to a diverse range of 29 languages, addressing the needs of Spotify’s 60% non-English speaking listeners. Users can test the platform for free for clips up to one minute in length.

The Golden Lobes, an inaugural Comedy Podcast Awards event, has opened entries to celebrate excellence in comedic podcasts worldwide. With a straightforward entry process and only a £25 fee, podcasters can compete across various categories, ranging from Best Blooper to the fan-voted Listener Lobe. Victors will receive not only accolades but also numerous prizes, emphasizing the recognition of laughter in audio formats.

For podcasters considering titling their shows, it is advisable to refrain from including the term “podcast” to avoid unnecessary competition among the 700,000 existing titles. This and more insights are available in a recent article.

In summary, Amazon’s Wondery has shut down its operations in Mexico and Brazil, impacting key personnel and recognizing its achievements in the region. The podcast industry continues to innovate with new agencies, platforms, and award opportunities aimed at enhancing creator visibility and celebrating comedic talent. Podcasters are also encouraged to think strategically about their branding.

Original Source: podnews.net