Parcast
| Type | Podcast network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
First air date | 2016 |
| Availability | International |
| Owner | Spotify |
| Established | 2016 |
Official website | parcast |
Parcast is a digital media firm and podcast network, which specializes in producing scripted podcasts and audio dramas. It was founded in 2016 by podcaster Max Cutler and his father Ron Cutler in Los Angeles California.[1]
In 2019, it was acquired by Sweden-based media firm and streaming service provider Spotify.[2] Spotify confessed to have spent over $56 million to acquire Parcast, however the total compensation has been reported well above that at over $100 million,[3][4] making Parcast one of the largest podcasting platform mergers in US history and largest single acquisition of Spotify's $400 million acquisition programme.[5]
History
Cutler, a 27-year old graduate of the University of Arizona, launched Parcast in 2016. He was inspired by the hit podcast Serial, itself a spinoff of This American Life. He believed that his network could produce podcasts of comparable quality while saving money on the production of individual episodes.[6]
Parcast's original focus was on producing scripted true crime series, but their scope expanded into the mystery, science fiction, and history genres as well as fictional audiodramas.[7][8]
Parcast currently produces over 40 daily and weekly shows, supported by a team of more than 75 voice actors, producers, and scriptwriters.[7] Unlike competitors such as Wondery or Gimlet Media, Parcast focuses on producing a higher quantity of podcasts.[9]
Audience
According to due diligence performed by Spotify, over 75% of Parcast's audience is female.[10]
Series produced
| Title | Hosts / Cast Members | Genre | Update schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assassinations | Kate Leonard, Bill Thomas | True crime | Mondays |
| Con Artists | Alastair Murden | True crime | Wednesdays |
| Conspiracy Theories | Molly Brandenburg, Carter Roy | Pop history | Wednesdays |
| Crime Bites | Miscellaneous | True crime | Miscellaneous |
| Crimes of Passion | Lanie Hobbs | True crime | Wednesdays |
| Cults | Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson | Pop history/true crime | Tuesdays |
| The Dark Side of... | Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner | Pop history | Mondays |
| Dictators | Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner | Pop history | Mondays |
| Dog Tales | Alastair Murden | Pop history | Mondays |
| Espionage | Carter Roy | Pop history | Mondays |
| Extraterrestrial | Bill Thomas, Tim Johnson | Pop history | Tuesdays |
| Female Criminals | Vanessa Richardson, Sami Nye | True crime | Wednesdays |
| Gone | Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner | True crime | Alternate Mondays |
| Great Women of Business | Vanessa Richardson, Molly Brandenburg | Business documentary | N/A (Limited series) |
| Haunted Places | Greg Polcyn | Parapsychology | Thursdays |
| Historical Figures | Carter Roy, Vanessa Richardson | Pop history | Alternate Wednesdays |
| Hostage | Irma Blanco, Carter Roy | True crime | Thursdays |
| Kingpins | Kate Leonard, Howell Hargest | True crime | Fridays |
| Natural Disasters | Kate Leonard, Bill Thomas | Documentary | Thursdays |
| Medical Mysteries | Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner | Medical documentary | Tuesdays |
| Mind's Eye | N/A | Audiodrama | N/A (Limited series) |
| Mythical Monsters | Vanessa Richardson | Mythology retelling | Mondays |
| Mythology | Vanessa Richardson | Mythology retelling | Tuesdays |
| Not Guilty | Vanessa Richardson | True crime | Mondays |
| Political Scandals | Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner | Political documentary | Tuesdays |
| Secret Societies | Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner | Pop history | Mondays |
| Serial Killers | Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson | True crime | Mondays |
| Secret Societies | Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson | Pop history | Thursdays |
| Supernatural with Ashley Flowers | Ashley Flowers | History/true crime | Wednesdays |
| Survival | Irma Blanco, Tim Johnson | Documentary | Mondays |
| Tales | Vanessa Richardson | Mythological retelling | Wednesdays |
| Today in True Crime | N/A | True crime | Daily |
| Unexplained Mysteries | Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner | Investigative journalism | Thursdays |
| Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories | Carter Roy, Wenndy Mackenzie | True crime | Tuesdays |
| Villains | Alastair Murden | Literary criticism | Fridays |
See also
Citations used
- ^ "Spotify acquires true crime studio Parcast to expand its original podcast content". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ Leach, Kamaron (April 26, 2019). "Spotify's Podcast Bet With Parcast Sets the Stage for Earnings". Bloomberg. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "Spotify Paid $100 Million For Parcast: Report". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
- ^ "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ Sawers, Paul (April 29, 2019). "Spotify confirms it paid $56 million for Parcast, taking its total podcast acquisition value to $400 million". VentureBeat. Internet. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
- ^ Bromwich, Jonengel (April 4, 2018). "Pulp Nonfiction: Podcasts Go Mass-Market". The New York Times. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ a b Coyne, Marley (June 4, 2018). "Parcast Founder Max Cutler On Creating Original Content". Forbes. online. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "About Parcast". Parcast. Parcast. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "The Story Behind Parcast". Podcast Business Journal. online. February 13, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "5 Fast Facts about Spotify's Acquisition of Parcast". March 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.