Daily Satirical News Podcast “The Topical” to Launch in January 2020

NEW YORK and CHICAGO—NOVEMBER 5, 2019—The Onion, the leading comedy and news satire brand, and Sony Music Entertainment today announced a strategic partnership to develop original podcast content. The companies will co-create a new daily satirical podcast focused on current events called “The Topical,” which is set to launch in January 2020.

This partnership will bring to comedy fans a whole new way to experience The Onion’s distinctive voice and insightful commentary on a daily basis across a wide variety of platforms. The Onion will oversee all creative aspects of the podcast, including writing, production and recording.

Commenting on the announcement, Jordan LaFlure, Executive Editor at The Onion said, “The Onion is thrilled to have found a stalwart ally in Sony Music Entertainment to help it dominate yet another medium in the world of journalism. A daily news podcast provides an opportunity for The Onion to access and inform billions of presumably illiterate people previously deprived of the finest reporting the world has ever known.”

Tom Mackay, President, Film & TV A&R, Sony Music Entertainment said, “The Onion is synonymous with great topical and cultural satire and we are thrilled to be working with them to further expand their presence in podcasting. We look forward to bringing their highly impactful brand of humor and commentary to fans everywhere and maximizing the commercial opportunities for this exciting new comedy podcast format.” 

The agreement further advances Sony Music’s creator-first approach to collaborating with unique creative talent. As a partner in podcasting, Sony Music provides its expertise in content creation, marketing and new technology monetization to help storytellers enhance the scale and scope of their work.

United Talent Agency (UTA) represented The Onion in the agreement.

Oren Rosenbaum, UTA’s Head of Emerging Platforms said, “We found the perfect partner in Sony Music Entertainment and are confident in our shared vision. Also, the fact that The Onion will now have its own daily news podcast literally brings tears to my eyes.”

About The Onion

Onion Inc. is a Chicago-based digital media company composed of America’s Finest News Source, The Onion; pop-culture sister publication, The A.V. Club; internet culture satire website ClickHole; food coverage website The Takeout; and creative services agency, Onion Labs. Founded in 1988, The Onion has become America’s most recognizable and prominent source of comedy, with daily coverage of politics, technology, sports, business, entertainment and more.

Onion, Inc. is a part of G/O Media which reaches more than a third of all Americans online each month with about 100 million unique visitors, including its extended network. This collection of digital-first brands serve young, diverse influencers with content that reflects their shared values and passions, including category-leading sites focused on technology (Gizmodo), car culture (Jalopnik), modern women’s interests (Jezebel), sports (Deadspin), lifestyle (Lifehacker), gaming (Kotaku), and African American news and culture (The Root), as well as ecommerce (The Inventory), and The Onion, which includes The A.V. Club and ClickHole.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Records, Arista Nashville, Beach Street Records, Black Butter Records, BPG Music, Bystorm Entertainment, Century Media, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Descendant Records, Disruptor Records, District 18 Entertainment, Epic Records, Essential Records, Essential Worship, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, House of Iona Records, Insanity Records, Keep Cool, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Masterworks Broadway, Ministry of Sound Recordings, Monument Records, OKeh, Palm Tree Records, Polo Grounds Music, Portrait, RCA Inspiration, RCA Nashville, RCA Records Relentless Records, Reunion Records, Same Plate Entertainment, Six Course Music Group, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music, Verity Records and Visionary Records. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.