Listen, the leading British podcast production agency, has launched a new division that is focused on helping companies strategize their podcast development and launch. Having produced and launched hundreds of audio and video podcasts over the past four years with millions of downloads, it says Listen Labs is a way for brands to take advantage of what the company has learned in the process.
“Labs is something that has evolved organically over the past nine months. Launching a podcast in 2024 is a totally different prospect from 18 months ago,” said Josh Adley, Managing Director at Listen, which has develop shows with clients including Netflix, Audible, Spotify, Wondery, BMW, Vodafone, MTV, Comedy Central, and the U.K. newspaper The Telegraph, social influencer Patricia Bright and radio personality Edith Bowman, among others.
“Having launched hundreds of shows we have continually refined our approach across editorial and marketing. No two shows should be approached in the same way and through Labs we’re championing that,” Adley said. “It has quickly become clear that in such a competitive landscape, there is a huge demand for strategic guidance, and the results from our team’s work for the likes of Netflix and The Telegraph speaks for itself."
Listen says Labs will work with clients on things like editorial content development, marketing, amplification and commercial strategy. It is what they have already been doing for clients on an informal basis.
Netflix Global Podcast Lead Rae Vott said they worked with Listen to develop new series from concept through a pilot period. “As we're a small team, their outside input was invaluable as thought leaders in the audio world,” Vott said. “They went above and beyond to help us think both long and short term about our launch and how to make the most out of the new podcast within our ecosystem.”
For Listen, the expanded focus also helps grow its business at a time when the pace of new show launches has slowed compared to the furious pace of the past few years.