Mark Goodier heads up new production company Listen

A new production company has been created by the content team at Wisebuddah, with Mark Goodier as Chairman.

Listen will be led by Adam Uytman as Director of Content, Josh Adley as Director of Commercial & Client Relations, and Tim Hammond as Executive Director.

The senior management team – who are departing Wisebuddah to launch Listen – will take over the content production business of Wisebuddah, including the company’s roster of work. It means that the current production, business development, marketing, operations and production finance teams will also be moving over to Listen.

Mark Goodier tells RadioToday: “As the major shareholder, I’m very excited about Listen. We have decided to create Listen so that we can use it as a vehicle to focus our assets and energies on what the team is already famous for – world-class audio content. It is exactly the right time to do this.”

As well as producing across the full range of audio media and across all genres – from podcasting and on-demand, to live and recorded radio – Listen will also offer a consultancy service, working with clients on their audio strategy.

Adam Uytman, Director of Content, Listen, says: “The world of audio is on fire right now and, in particular, podcasting is booming. New technologies, including connected cars and smart speakers, have made it much easier for consumers to listen to audio content which, in turn, creates more opportunities for creators. The UK currently lags behind the US in innovation and investment in this space. However, the next three years will see the UK catching up rapidly. Listen will lead the next wave of audio content creation in the UK for consumption by global audiences and the company will help clients navigate the future of this exciting medium.”

Listen wil be responsible for producing numerous podcasts and radio shows, including The Gemma Collins Podcast for BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 1’s Indie Show with Jack Saunders; The Michael Ball Show, Sounds Of The 80s with Gary Davies, Johnnie Walker’s Sounds of The Seventies, BBC 6 Music’s Huey Morgan, Highly Rated for Scala Radio as well as a host of branded content series for clients including Starbucks, Stylist, Marathonbet, The Sun, Attitude Magazine and the NHS.

Josh Adley says: “Whilst continuing to build on our key relationships with broadcasters, our main focus for growth will be in our podcasting division. The highest possible quality of audio production is a given, but it takes more than that to make a podcast successful. We can guide clients through the whole process – from idea conception to content creation, distribution, monetisation and promotion. We can also advise companies on their wider audio strategy, so that they can maximise commercial opportunities in the burgeoning audio market.”

“We will be working under a variety of commercial models,” adds Adley, “including investing our own funds in original projects; partnering with creatives/talent to collaborate on the production of new original podcasts; and working with brands and their agencies on content that tells their stories in innovative ways. We’ll continue to deliver the very best content to commissioners such as BBC and Audible, whilst working with podcast partners such as Acast, Audioboom and Global.

Tim Hammond adds: “Audio’s boom time is happening right now. Big players across the world are moving into audio in a way that was never anticipated five years ago. The growth of the audience, of brands’ involvement, and the transition of audio content into other forms such as live, books and TV, has all helped solidify audio’s reputation as a fantastic platform for IP creation and exploitation. With over 25 years’ knowledge of the sector, we are streets ahead of many other companies in the marketplace in terms of understanding what the growth of audio means. The audio world is accelerating fast and Listen will guide and inspire clients to make the most of the opportunities it offers.”

All other Wisebuddah businesses (Studios and Jingles) remain unaffected by the launch of Listen. In addition, Wisebuddah’s voice over agency has been acquired by James Thake’s new venture, One Take Voices.