**Amazon Restructures Wondery Podcast Studio, Lays Off Employees**
Amazon is undergoing a significant restructuring of its Wondery podcast studio, transitioning its acclaimed narrative podcasts, including “Business Wars,” to Audible. This move is part of a broader strategy to consolidate creator-led shows into a new unit. According to an internal memo, approximately 110 employees will be laid off during this transition, although many Wondery staff members will be reassigned to other areas within Amazon.
Following a transition period, Wondery CEO Jen Sargent will leave the company. The restructuring comes amid fierce competition in the podcast industry and a growing emphasis on creator-led video content. Companies like Spotify are diversifying their podcast offerings to reduce costs and attract a larger user base.
Steve Boom, Amazon’s vice president of audio, Twitch, and games, noted in the memo that the rise of video podcasting has highlighted the differing needs of audiences for creator-led, video-integrated shows compared to audio-first narrative series.
Since its acquisition by Amazon in 2021, Wondery has seen its podcast revenue quadruple, expanding its offerings to include video podcasts and creator-driven series. Under the new structure, Wondery’s narrative podcast studio, which produces popular shows like “Dr. Death” and “American Scandal,” will be integrated into Audible, Amazon’s audio platform. Meanwhile, the team responsible for creator-focused podcasts, including “Mind the Game,” “New Heights,” and “Armchair Expert,” will be incorporated into a new Creator Services group within Amazon’s Talent Services division. This team will continue to operate under the Wondery brand.
Amazon stated that these changes aim to better support creators in monetizing their content across various channels. The restructuring reflects the evolving landscape of the podcast industry and the need for companies to adapt to new audience preferences and consumption habits.
**FAQ**
**What is the reason behind Amazon’s restructuring of Wondery?**
Amazon is restructuring Wondery to better align its podcast offerings with the growing demand for creator-led video content and to streamline operations, which includes transitioning narrative podcasts to Audible and consolidating creator-focused shows.
