Following its rollout of a targeted advertising marketplace last year, Art19 is launching a new division that will provide direct sales for podcast publishers and individual shows as well as offer audio production series. Art19 Media will focus on podcast production, show-specific advertising deals, and voiced reads.
“Art19 Media means we can now sell host- and producer-voiced spots on a curated selection of incredible podcasts,” said Korri Kolesa, CEO of the new division. “Coupling direct podcast ads with ART19’s best-in-class targeting offers publishers and advertisers the most robust options for monetization and reach,” she said.
Art19 is also launching Misfit Toys, a comedy network featuring podcasts from comedians Jimmy Pardo, Doug Benson, Jen Kirkman, Mike Schmidt and Todd Glass. The company said Pardo and Matt Belknap, a co-founder of Art18, are building Misfit Toys to help other comedians grow their audiences as they focus on creating their shows, leaving the logistics and business side of the equation to Art19 Media.
The catalogue for Misfit Toys at launch includes podcasts such as Pardo’s Never Not Funny, Doug Benson’s Wide World of Dougs and Doug Loves Movies, Jen Kirkman’s Having Funlessness, Mike Schmidt’s The 40 Year Old Boy, and The Todd Glass Show.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Art19,” said Pardo, a regular on late night television. “When they asked me to curate a comedy podcast co-op, I immediately said yes, and then immediately asked what ‘curate’ means.”
Art19’s ad sales team will sell host-voiced ads for the podcasts in the comedy network and include those shows in the company’s targeted marketplace as well.