Somethin' Else and Sony Music announce new podcast venture

London, UK—Somethin’ Else, Britain’s leading independent audio producer, and Sony Music Entertainment today announce they have formed a new global content partnership to expand their development of podcast shows across multiple genres.

Somethin’ Else is the acclaimed production company behind hugely popular series such as David Tennant Does A Podcast With…, Unheard: The Fred & Rose West Tapes and The Sun King with David Dimbleby. The team have produced content across audio, TV and social media for the past 25 years and their previous work has seen them win numerous awards including eight BAFTAs.

Under the agreement, Somethin’ Else will work with Sony Music to expand its leadership position in the UK market. In addition the companies will pursue a range of new international podcasting opportunities including in the US where Somethin’ Else has opened an office in New York.

Newly-launched series that will form part of the Sony Music deal, include How Did We Get Here? with Claudia Winkleman and Professor Tanya Byron, which provides listeners with insight and advice on family and parenting issues. Peaking at no.1 in the UK Apple Podcast Charts at launch, the topics range from parental estrangement, gender identity, mental health issues, and challenging family dynamics amid hardship.

Also included in the partnership is The Last Post, produced with The Bugle, which was at the vanguard of satirical comedy podcasts when it launched in 2007 with John Oliver. The Last Post, which launched Jan 1st 2020, is a daily satirical news fantasy that delivers 366 days of fake news, alternative facts and wildly predicted half-truths hosted by comedian Alice Fraser and guests from the full line up of Bugle co-hosts.

As a partner in podcasting, Sony Music will provide its expertise in content creation, marketing and monetisation to help enhance the scale and scope of Somethin’ Else’s work.

Initial releases for February and beyond will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are extremely excited about entering into this Joint Venture with Sony. It’s a dream combination of our decades of audio production expertise and podcast success with their global reach, market expertise, marketing power and creative nous. This partnership will allow us, together, to rapidly expand our podcast business, reaching new audiences and revenues. Sony’s ambition in this space matches ours and we look forward to playing an even bigger part in the podcast revolution.” - CEO & Founder of Somethin’ Else, Jez Nelson

"We are building a diverse music and entertainment company by working with partners who are the best in their fields. Somethin’ Else have driven so much of the creativity and innovation in British podcasting and we are delighted to help bring their work to a global audience.” - Jason Iley, Chairman & CEO of Sony Music UK & Ireland

Somethin’ Else is an established podcast leader focused on bringing high-quality programming to listeners and we are very impressed with the company Jez Nelson and team have built. Our new partnership will support Somethin’ Else’s continued creative success and expand the reach of its shows to a truly global audience.” - Dennis Kooker, President, Global Digital Business and U.S. Sales, Sony Music Entertainment

About Somethin’ Else

Somethin’ Else is the UK’s largest independent podcast and audio producer releasing its own podcasts as well as shows for the BBC, Netflix, Audible and Spotify. Its hit shows include David Tennant Does A Podcast With…, The Sun King with David Dimbleby, Tom Neenan is Not All Men and Unheard: The Fred and Rose West Tapes. As well as audio, Somethin’ Else also houses significant social media and TV teams producing content for clients such as the BBC, Sky, The BRIT Awards, The Economist and Red Bull.

About Sony Music Entertainment

At Sony Music Entertainment, we fuel the creative journey. We’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 60 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing and independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we’re committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship. Sony Music Entertainment is a member of the Sony family of global companies. Learn more about our artists, creators, and labels here.