SONY'S PODCAST DIVISION EXPANDS WITH SOMETHIN' ELSE

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has acquired leading U.K. audio producer Somethin' Else (SE). The move strengthens Sony's in-house production capabilities and creates a newly expanded Global Podcast division.

SE Chief Content Officer/Vice Chairman Steve Ackerman and SE Founder/Executive Chairman/CEO Jez Nelson will jointly spearhead SME’s global podcast content and business development strategy. Ackerman will take on the new role of EVP, Co-Head Global Podcasts, overseeing operations in New York and Nelson will run the division’s UK-based podcast operations as EVP, Co-Head Global Podcasts.

Both will report directly to SME’s Dennis Kooker, President, Global Digital Business and U.S. Sales and Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content A&R.

Somethin’ Else’s TV and social media business will become an extension of SME UK’s 4th Floor Creative division, enhancing SME UK’s ability to facilitate creative and commercial opportunities for artists, labels and partners.

“Expanding our relationship with SE brings their best-in-class capabilities and production expertise fully into the Sony Music family,” said Kooker. “Our new global podcast division is key to our plans for a fast-paced expansion in the market, diversifying our creative abilities and providing a home for exciting content that will benefit millions of podcast-lovers around the world.”

“Having collaborated with SE on a number of hit podcasts, we know how impactful their work has been on shaping the marketplace”, added Mackay. “Under Steve and Jez’s leadership, we can now provide a range of expanded collaboration opportunities for the podcast community globally and focus on growing a robust slate of new in-house projects.”

We are very excited to announce we are becoming part of @sonymusic https://t.co/Mu6LFsw924

— Somethin' Else (@SomethinElse) June 16, 2021