Parcast

Parcast is a digital media firm and podcast network, which specializes in producing scripted podcasts and audio dramas. It was founded in 2016 by podcaster Max Cutler and his father Ron Cutler in Los Angeles California.[1]

Parcast
TypePodcast network
Country
United States
First air date
2016 (2016)
AvailabilityInternational
OwnerSpotify
Established2016
Official website
parcast.com

In 2019, it was acquired by Sweden-based media firm and streaming service provider Spotify.[2] Spotify confessed to have spent over $56 million to acquire Parcast, however the total compensation has been reported well above that at over $100 million,[3][4] making Parcast one of the largest podcasting platform mergers in US history and largest single acquisition of Spotify's $400 million acquisition programme.[5]

History

Cutler, a 27-year old graduate of the University of Arizona, launched Parcast in 2016. He was inspired by the hit podcast Serial, itself a spinoff of This American Life. He believed that his network could produce podcasts of comparable quality while saving money on the production of individual episodes.[6]

Parcast's original focus was on producing scripted true crime series, but their scope expanded into the mystery, science fiction, and history genres as well as fictional audiodramas.[7][8]

Parcast currently produces over 40 daily and weekly shows, supported by a team of more than 75 voice actors, producers, and scriptwriters.[7] Unlike competitors such as Wondery or Gimlet Media, Parcast focuses on producing a higher quantity of podcasts.[9]

Audience

According to due diligence performed by Spotify, over 75% of Parcast's audience is female.[10]

Series produced
Title Hosts / Cast Members Genre Update schedule
Assassinations Kate Leonard, Bill Thomas True crime Mondays
Con Artists Alastair Murden True crime Wednesdays
Conspiracy Theories Molly Brandenburg, Carter Roy Pop history Wednesdays
Crime Bites Miscellaneous True crime Miscellaneous
Crimes of Passion Lanie Hobbs True crime Wednesdays
Cults Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson Pop history/true crime Tuesdays
The Dark Side of... Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Mondays
Dictators Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Mondays
Dog Tales Alastair Murden Pop history Mondays
Espionage Carter Roy Pop history Mondays
Extraterrestrial Bill Thomas, Tim Johnson Pop history Tuesdays
Female Criminals Vanessa Richardson, Sami Nye True crime Wednesdays
Gone Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner True crime Alternate Mondays
Great Women of Business Vanessa Richardson, Molly Brandenburg Business documentary N/A (Limited series)
Haunted Places Greg Polcyn Parapsychology Thursdays
Historical Figures Carter Roy, Vanessa Richardson Pop history Alternate Wednesdays
Hostage Irma Blanco, Carter Roy True crime Thursdays
Kingpins Kate Leonard, Howell Hargest True crime Fridays
Natural Disasters Kate Leonard, Bill Thomas Documentary Thursdays
Medical Mysteries Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner Medical documentary Tuesdays
Mind's Eye N/A Audiodrama N/A (Limited series)
Mythical Monsters Vanessa Richardson Mythology retelling Mondays
Mythology Vanessa Richardson Mythology retelling Tuesdays
Not Guilty Vanessa Richardson True crime Mondays
Political Scandals Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Political documentary Tuesdays
Secret Societies Kate Leonard, Richard Rossner Pop history Mondays
Serial Killers Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson True crime Mondays
Secret Societies Greg Polcyn, Vanessa Richardson Pop history Thursdays
Supernatural with Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers History/true crime Wednesdays
Survival Irma Blanco, Tim Johnson Documentary Mondays
Tales Vanessa Richardson Mythological retelling Wednesdays
Today in True Crime N/A True crime Daily
Unexplained Mysteries Molly Brandenburg, Richard Rossner Investigative journalism Thursdays
Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories Carter Roy, Wenndy Mackenzie True crime Tuesdays
Villains Alastair Murden Literary criticism Fridays

See also

Citations used
  1. "Spotify acquires true crime studio Parcast to expand its original podcast content". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  2. Leach, Kamaron (April 26, 2019). "Spotify's Podcast Bet With Parcast Sets the Stage for Earnings". Bloomberg. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. "Spotify Paid $100 Million For Parcast: Report". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  4. "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02. Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. Sawers, Paul (April 29, 2019). "Spotify confirms it paid $56 million for Parcast, taking its total podcast acquisition value to $400 million". VentureBeat. Internet. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. Bromwich, Jonengel (April 4, 2018). "Pulp Nonfiction: Podcasts Go Mass-Market". The New York Times. online. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  7. Coyne, Marley (June 4, 2018). "Parcast Founder Max Cutler On Creating Original Content". Forbes. online. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  8. "About Parcast". Parcast. Parcast. November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  9. "The Story Behind Parcast". Podcast Business Journal. online. February 13, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  10. "5 Fast Facts about Spotify's Acquisition of Parcast". March 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
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