For the very first time, 11 original podcasts are leaving the Spotify platform. The music streaming giant has made a group cancellation of these pieces following sudden adjustments to the company's podcast staffing.
According to a person who is familiar with the situation, the company will reassign some employees to other podcast segments.
Spotify is Axing 11 Original Podcasts
According to Grey Munford, Spotify spokesperson, "How to Save a Planet," "Medical Murders," and "Crime Show" won't be available anymore for listening to soon.
The Verge reported that Parcast's "Urban Legends," Gimlet's "Little Thing," "Haunted Places," "Mythology," "Female Criminals," "Dictator," and "Crimes of Passions" are expected to leave the next month from the platform.
Another popular podcast from Parcast entitled "Horoscope Today" will be scheduled for departure in Q2 2023. The announcement regarding the group cancellation of podcasts came after Spotify announced that under 5% of its podcast staff will be a part of the new lay-off series.
Spotify Staffing Changes
As for the adjustments regarding the Spotify positions, TechCrunch noted in its report that Nicole Beemsterboer will be the new managing director for Gimlet.
The anonymous source who refused to be named said that the announcement came from the head of US studios and video Julie McNamara and Spotify's chief content officer Dawn Ostroff.
Meanwhile, Parcast will welcome Liliana Kim as its new managing director.
The decision to remove the original lineup of Spotify podcasts could open room for more exclusivity when it comes to content. Possibly, the company might add "The System: The Case of Kevin Keith (Kim Kardashian) and "Batman Unburied" as the newest podcasts on the platform.
In the next few weeks, we expect Spotify to bring new announcements about the fresh podcasts that will replace the original ones.
While the recent move resulted in a slight layoff of podcast workers, Munford clarified that it did not affect those who are working on The Ringer and Spotify Studios.
Related Article: Spotify Audiobook Guide: How to Get Started and What Audiobooks Should You Try Listening
Spotify Acquires Kinzen
Last Wednesday, Oct. 5, Spotify acquired Kinzen so it could quickly weed out content that contains misinformation and hate speech on the audio streaming service.
Before the acquisition took place, the two parties have been discussing the matter for the past two years. Since disinformation is rampant in the platform, Spotify wants to subject suspicious podcasts to a thorough review.
Kinzen said that it incorporates machine learning to detect harmful content regardless of the language used. With that being said, Spotify aims to transform the platform into a safe space for all listeners of music and podcasts.
If the platform is deemed safe, it will attract more engagement from different people and organizations. This is how Spotify projects to achieve in the long run.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
