Sony Music was also reportedly in the running to acquire US-based podcast maker Wondery, which was eventually sold to Amazon in a $300 million-plus deal late last year.
Now, film critic Mark Kermode and host Simon Mayo has partnered with Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and its Global Podcast Division.
The veteran broadcasters will present Kermode and Mayo’s Take, a twice weekly podcast series focusing on theatrical, streaming and physical film releases, as well as global television in the UK and US beginning Thursday May 5.
Sony says that Kermode and Mayo’s Take will “feature the finest reviews and previews, big guest interviews and a cornucopia of audience correspondence in every episode”.
Kermode will also present his views on serialized fiction.
The news comes shortly after Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO Jason Owen and SME’s Premium Content Division inked a development agreement.
The agreement will see Sandbox and SM produce a slate of original long-form projects across multiple platforms and distributors.
Last year also saw Sony Music buy the UK’s largest independent podcast maker, Somethin’ Else.
“Simon Mayo is quite simply one of the best broadcasters in the word.”
Mark Kermode
Mark Kermode, said: “Simon Mayo is quite simply one of the best broadcasters in the word and I’m thrilled to be teaming up with him again for this new Sony podcast, which will allow us to bicker about movies and tv (and skiffle, obviously) to our hearts’ content.”
“We said it wasn’t the end.”
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo says: “We said it wasn’t the end.
“The sequel is here… this time with sequins’
“Kermode and Mayo have made an incredible impact in UK audio for decades.”
Jez Nelson, Sony Music Entertainment
Jez Nelson, Executive Vice President and Co‑Head of Global Podcasts at Sony Music Entertainment, said: “Kermode and Mayo have made an incredible impact in UK audio for decades.
“They are radio icons but also pioneers of podcasting.
“We are thrilled to welcome them to Sony Music and to now work with them to take their amazing partnership and peerless take on movies to the next level globally.”Music Business Worldwide
