Spotify acquires Gimlet and Anchor going all-in on podcasts and audio
Spotify yesterday announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Gimlet and Anchor. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed. With these 2 acquisitions, Spotify says is positioned to become both the premier producer of podcasts and the leading platform for podcast creators. Gimlet will bring to Spotify its best-in-class podcast studio with dedicated IP development, production, and advertising capabilities. Anchor will bring its platform of tools for podcast creators and its established and rapidly growing creator base.
In PPC Land: Anchor Sponsorships is the Adsense for podcasts
“These acquisitions will meaningfully accelerate our path to becoming the world’s leading audio platform, give users around the world access to the best podcast content, and improve the quality of our listening experience as well as enhance the Spotify brand,” said Daniel Ek, Spotify co-founder, and CEO. “We are proud to welcome Gimlet and Anchor to the Spotify team, and we look forward to what we will accomplish together.”
The transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 and subject to customary closing conditions.
Anchor
Anchor enables anyone to create, distribute, and monetize a podcast. Anchor’s end-to-end podcasting platform, available for free on iOS, Android, and web, provides easy-to-use creative tools, unlimited free content hosting, distribution everywhere podcasts are heard, and monetization options built for beginners and pros alike. The company was founded in 2015 in New York City and today powers more than 40 percent of the world’s new podcasts.
Gimlet Media
Gimlet was founded in 2014 and is behind hit series like StartUp, Reply All, Homecoming, and Mogul. Gimlet Creative, the company’s in-house advertising agency, helps brands find their voice in audio and produces official podcasts for brands like eBay, Tinder, Gatorade, and Mastercard. Gimlet Pictures, the company’s film, and television development and production arm, was formalized in 2018 and focuses on bringing Gimlet franchises to the small and big screens. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Gimlet podcasts are listened to in nearly 190 countries worldwide.