Hot Pod, the popular newsletter from The Verge that covers podcasting and the audio industry, recently featured a Q&A with Chris Morrow, the newly appointed head of audio at Plan B. Plan B is a renowned production company founded by Brad Pitt, known for producing films such as Women Talking, Blonde, and The Big Short. The company recently underwent some changes, including selling 60 percent of its shares to French media conglomerate Mediawan. The acquisition is part of Mediawan’s strategy to expand into English-speaking markets and acquire more intellectual property (IP), with a specific focus on audio.
Despite the changes, Brad Pitt remains involved in Plan B’s leadership, and Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner continue as co-presidents of the production company. In January, Plan B announced a multi-project development deal with Audible, an audio entertainment company owned by Amazon. This partnership aims to create a series of Audible Originals, showcasing Plan B’s unique storytelling abilities within the audio space.
Chris Morrow, with his extensive experience in the audio industry, shared insights on Hollywood’s evolving relationship with audio and what to expect from Plan B’s audio division. When asked about Plan B’s investment in the audio space, Morrow explained that the goal is to expand the scope of their productions and explore how to bring their risky and out-of-the-box storytelling to the audio medium.
In terms of the current audio fiction space, Morrow believes there is still vast potential for growth. While many players in the industry focus on specific genres, Plan B is open to all possibilities and emphasizes supporting creators with unique visions. They are not limited to audio dramas or scripted fiction podcasts but are interested in investing in other kinds of podcasts as well.
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When it comes to the audio-to-TV or audio-to-film pipeline, Morrow expressed that the goal is to acquire strong and innovative IP and use audio as a launching pad. Plan B aims to expand into these areas and sees audio as a fundamental part of their business strategy. However, he emphasized that the ongoing writers’ strike has had a tremendous impact on the industry, but Plan B is respectful and supportive of the process. Morrow’s focus is to collaborate with talented audio professionals and build projects in the current landscape.
Regarding the timing of Plan B’s entry into the audio industry, Morrow acknowledged the challenges faced by the audio industry during the past year. Many companies have faced layoffs and reevaluated their investments in audio due to the pandemic. However, he sees this as an opportunity for Plan B, given their unique position after the acquisition by Mediawan. While he acknowledges the hardships faced by many in the industry, he believes Plan B can continue to move forward and take advantage of the opportunities available.
In other news, SiriusXM is shutting down the podcast app Stitcher in August to make way for its new flagship app, the SXM app. The popular podcast app, along with the podcast network Earwolf and Midroll Media, was acquired by SiriusXM in 2020. The goal is to migrate current Stitcher users to the updated SXM app, which will be released in the fall. Stitcher has a significant user base, with approximately 14 million downloads across the App Store and Google Play stores. The transition to the SXM app aims to consolidate the user experience and take advantage of the wider reach and scale of the SiriusXM platform.
Overall, the audio industry continues to evolve, and industry players like Plan B and SiriusXM are adapting and positioning themselves for future growth. Both companies recognize the potential in the audio space and are making strategic moves to leverage this medium for their respective businesses.
