Amazon’s Wondery has terminated its operations in Mexico and Brazil, affecting key staff members. This decision was announced during a brief meeting and comes despite recent nominations for Wondery Mexico’s shows. Christy Mirabal has founded a marketing agency for podcasts, and there have been several new developments in podcast technology and awards to celebrate creativity within the industry.
Amazon’s Wondery has officially ceased operations in Mexico and Brazil, as revealed during a brief staff meeting this week. This closure impacts key personnel, including Sarah Barrett, the Head of Mexico Podcast Content. Notably, this announcement coincides with Wondery Mexico’s shows being nominated for the Ondas Globales awards and the LATAM unit’s success in accumulating over 500,000 YouTube subscribers.
In a statement to Podnews, Amazon explained, “After a careful review of our priorities and customers’ needs, we’ve made the difficult decision to close Wondery’s Brazil and Mexico original content operations. This decision wasn’t made quickly or easily, and we remain committed to developing immersive storytelling and audio content for audiences.” This demonstrates a significant shift in priorities for Wondery amidst industry challenges.
Christy Mirabal, a veteran in the podcast industry, has launched The Listening Party Agency, a new marketing consultancy in collaboration with Imelda Vergara-Skinder, aimed at enhancing the visibility of podcast creators across various platforms. Meanwhile, Transistor has implemented a feature for podcast comments via the Bluesky social platform, allowing comments to synchronize with podcast websites.
A new multilingual AI-powered dubbing platform named Panjaya was introduced by former Apple TV and Meta executives. This innovative service aims to offer authentic dubbing by synchronizing voice, lip movements, and gestures, supporting 29 languages, crucial given that a significant portion of Spotify’s audience is non-English speaking.
In celebration of creativity, Headliner has introduced a design contest for template designs, providing an opportunity for promotion and a free Headliner Pro account for winners. Furthermore, the Golden Lobes, a new comedy podcast awards show, has opened entries inviting comedians worldwide to participate across a variety of categories, with awards to be held in London on May 7th.
In summary, Wondery has shut down operations in Mexico and Brazil, impacting key personnel amid recent accolades. Amazon cites a reevaluation of priorities as the reason for this decision. Meanwhile, new initiatives within the podcast industry include The Listening Party Agency, advanced dubbing technology, and unique opportunities for podcasters to compete in awards and showcase their creative talents. These developments highlight the evolving landscape of podcasting and the continuous push to innovate.
Original Source: podnews.net
