NEW YORK, July 13, 2020 — Today, Sony Music Group, inclusive of Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, announced it has named prominent non-profit leader Towalame Austin Executive Vice President, Philanthropy and Social Impact. She will be based in Los Angeles and report jointly to Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt and Sony Music Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Kevin Kelleher.

In this newly-created role, Towalame will work closely with Sony Music Group’s Corporate Communications and Human Resources teams to advance its humanitarian efforts through impactful contributions and sustained strategic partnerships. She will work to extend philanthropic programs and activities across the company’s global network, while advising its businesses, artists and songwriters on charitable initiatives reflecting Sony Music Group’s existing commitment to corporate giving.

Recently, Sony Music Group launched a $100 million fund to support social justice and anti-racist initiatives, in addition to participating in Sony Corporation’s $100 million fund for global Covid-19 relief. Sony Music Group also established a recurring “Giving Tuesday” campaign, which matched employee donations to hundreds of civic and charitable organizations.

Sony Music Entertainment Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Kelleher stated, “It is a pleasure to welcome Towalame to this important role at our company as we further develop our strategy in this vital area. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of companies that represent artists and the beneficial influence they can have on social causes aligns well with our growing efforts to positively impact our global society.”

Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Jon Platt stated, “I have known Towalame professionally for many years, and genuinely admire what she has accomplished as a strategic advisor for non-profits.  Through her work with some of the most influential leaders in music and entertainment, Towalame has helped chart a new course for creative companies to authentically give back to the communities they serve. I look forward to her guidance in expanding our impact as a socially-conscious organization.”

Towalame Austin said, “It is an honor to join Sony Music Group and deliver on their promise to meaningfully support communities in need.  I look forward to bringing my expertise to the company to help develop its philanthropic and advocacy efforts globally.”

With over twenty years of experience in the non-profit sector with a focus on charitable initiatives, Towalame most recently held the role of Executive of Philanthropy for Roc Nation. Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z, is known for its dedication to charity, including work with prison reform through Reform Alliance and education through the Shawn Carter Foundation. During Towalame’s time at Roc Nation, she launched Rihanna’s charity venture, The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), which has made a worldwide impact on education, emergency response, and health programs. Towalame also launched the We The Best Foundation, founded by DJ Khaled, and supported the philanthropic efforts of artists such as Big Sean, Mariah Carey, Todd Gurley and Justise Winslow. These efforts have increased global support for education, healthcare, and emergency response programs.

Towalame began her career in the non-profit sector at the Magic Johnson Foundation Inc., whose mission is to support the educational, health and social needs of diverse, underserved communities. During her tenure, she served as EVP and President. From there, she accepted the position of President of the Mourning Family Foundation, which supports disadvantaged youth in Miami. Austin currently sits on the Philanthropic/Advisory Board for her Alma Mater, California State University, Dominguez Hills.

New York, NY – July 1, 2020 – Emmy Award winning and Academy Award nominated storyteller, filmmaker, podcaster and pioneer in telling true crime stories Marc Smerling and Sony Music Entertainment today announced a strategic partnership to develop a slate of original podcast programming through Smerling’s Truth Media, a podcast and television production company.  Smerling has a proven track record for creating popular true crime hits across multiple platforms. In addition to two seasons of his #1 Apple Podcast sensation Crimetown, Smerling is also a creative force behind the hit podcasts The RFK Tapes and The Ballad of Billy Balls, anointed by The Atlantic Monthly as the second best podcast of 2019, the two-time Emmy winning series and Peabody recipient The Jinx:, The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, the Academy Award nominated Capturing the Friedmans, the Sundance Sensation, Catfish, and top-rated TV series CatfishTV, which is now in its eighth season on MTV.

With Sony Music’s help, Truth Media will expand the overall number of podcast series it produces, including several upcoming true-crime shows. The partnership will kick off with Morally (In)Defensible, a companion to Smerling’s new TV docuseries  A Wilderness of Error, which he directed and executive produced with Blumhouse Television and UCP for FX Networks that will air later this year on FX and FX on Hulu. A Wilderness of Error is based on the best-selling book of the same name by documentary filmmaker Errol Morris and tells the story of Green Beret Captain Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, who was convicted of murdering his family more than thirty years ago.  MacDonald is in prison, but maintains his innocence to this day.  Morally (In)Defensible, the podcast, will follow the story of journalist Joe McGinniss in the writing of his smash bestseller “Fatal Vision,” also about the MacDonald murders. It will be released prior to the airing of the docuseries later this year.  

Commenting on the new partnership, Smerling said, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with talented people who understand the power of audio storytelling, and have a deep and successful history in creating content.  Our goal together is to expand the genre by telling truly unique stories that dive much deeper and say something larger about who we are and the world we live in.”  

Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content, Sony Music Entertainment said, “From Crimetown to The Jinx to Capturing the Friedmans, Marc Smerling is a master of true crime storytelling whose groundbreaking hits have long captivated audiences. As a best-in-class podcaster and an award-winning film and television producer, he is a dual threat creative talent and we are pleased to be partnering with the team at Truth Media in support of his creative vision.”

Smerling will lead the partnership and Truth Media will manage all creative aspects of the relationship, including podcast writing, production and recording. As a partner in podcasting, Sony Music will provide its expertise in content creation, marketing and monetization to help enhance the scale and scope of Truth Media’s work.  

Smerling announced his new TV and Podcast production company Truth Media in April 2020 with an aim to continue creating engaging crime-based content across platforms.  Truth Media is a Brooklyn based company headquartered in an old factory building now converted into a full service production and post-production facility.

Marc Smerling and Truth Media are represented by UTA. 

ABOUT TRUTH MEDIA 

Truth Media is a production company focused on creating true crime podcasts to develop into television series.  Founded by Marc Smerling, the Emmy award winning and Academy Award nominated producer, writer, director and cinematographer who has been a pioneer in telling true crime stories, Truth Media’s aim is to develop projects that continue to expand how people think of true crime. 

The company’s first project is A Wilderness of Error, a five-part non-fiction series airing on FX and FX on Hulu later this year that Smerling executive produced and directed along with Blumhouse and UCP.  The series features famed filmmaker Errol Morris and is based on his book of the same name, about one of the most publicized true crimes of the past century – the murder of the family of Army surgeon and Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald at Fort Bragg in 1970. A companion podcast, Morally (In)defensible, based on writer Joe McGinniss’s journey in telling the story almost thirty years before Errol Morris, will be released prior to the airing of the series.

Truth Media is a Brooklyn based company headquartered in an old factory building now converted into a full service production and post-production facility.

ABOUT MARC SMERLING 

Marc Smerling is an Emmy Award winning and Academy Award-nominated producer, writer, director and cinematographer and founder of Truth Media, a production company focused on creating true crime podcasts to develop into television series. 

A pioneer in telling true crime stories, Smerling produced the landmark documentary film Capturing the Friedmans, (2003) which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and won 18 major international prizes including the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Festival and the New York Film Critics Circle Best Non-Fiction Film award.  He produced and shot The Jinx – The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, a six-part series about Robert Durst, which aired on HBO in 2015. The series received six Primetime Emmys nominations – including Best Cinematography for Smerling- and won for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. “The Jinx” also won a Peabody Award and lead to the arrest of Mr. Durst for the murder of his best friend in California. Smerling also co-wrote and produced the narrative feature All Good Things (2010) starring Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, and Frank Langella, and produced the acclaimed documentary Catfish (2010) released by Universal Pictures.  He is executive producer of Catfish, the TV series. 

In addition, Smerling laid the path for the explosion and popularity of true crime podcasts when he‌ ‌created‌ ‌and‌ ‌hosted‌‌ Crimetown with Zac Stuart-Pontier and Gimlet Media in 2016. ‌ ‌The groundbreaking first season about Providence, Rhode Island expanded the genre beyond plodding murder mysteries and true-crime tropes to deliver a portrait of a city under siege from organized crime and political corruption. The‌ ‌first‌ ‌season‌ of Crimetown ‌landed‌ ‌atop many ‌2017‌ ‌podcast‌ ‌top-ten‌ ‌lists‌, including ‌‌The‌ ‌New‌ ‌York‌ ‌Times‌‌ ‌and‌ ‌‌The‌ ‌Atlantic‌ ‌Monthly‌.‌ ‌‌The‌ ‌Ringer‌ ‌called‌ ‌it‌ ‌“cinema‌ ‌for‌ ‌your‌ ‌ears.”‌ ‌‌Interview‌ ‌Magazine‌‌ ‌called‌ ‌it‌ ‌“an‌ ‌ambitious,‌ ‌anthropological‌ ‌epic.”‌ ‌The‌ ‌second‌ ‌season‌ ‌of‌ ‌“Crimetown”‌ ‌(2019),‌ ‌featured‌ ‌Detroit’s‌ ‌controversial‌ ‌mayor,‌ ‌Kwame‌ ‌Kilpatrick,‌ ‌who‌ ‌is‌ ‌currently‌ ‌serving‌ ‌a‌ ‌28-year‌ ‌sentence‌ ‌in‌ ‌federal‌ ‌prison.‌ ‌Crimetown‌ ‌has‌ almost 100 million ‌downloads‌ ‌worldwide.‌ ‌Smerling‌ ‌also‌ ‌produced‌ ‌The‌ ‌Ballad‌ ‌Of‌ ‌Billy‌ ‌Balls,” ‌ranked‌ ‌No.‌ ‌2‌ ‌on‌ ‌‌The‌ ‌Atlantic‌ ‌Monthly‌’s‌ ‌Top‌ ‌ 100‌ ‌podcasts‌ ‌of‌ ‌2019,‌ ‌and‌ ‌The‌ ‌RFK‌ ‌Tapes.‌ ‌Both‌ ‌Crimetown:‌ ‌Providence‌‌ ‌‌and‌ ‌The‌ ‌Ballad‌ ‌Of‌ ‌Billy‌ ‌Balls‌ ‌are‌ ‌being‌ ‌developed‌ ‌for‌ ‌scripted‌ ‌television‌ ‌series‌ ‌at‌ ‌major‌ ‌studios.‌ ‌For‌ ‌his‌ ‌collective‌ ‌contributions‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌podcast‌ ‌industry,‌ ‌iHeartRadio‌ ‌named‌ ‌Smerling‌ ‌the‌ ‌“Podcast‌ ‌Innovator‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Year”‌ ‌in‌ ‌2019.‌ ‌ 

ABOUT SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT 

At Sony Music Entertainment, we fuel the creative journey. We’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 60 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing and independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we’re committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship. Sony Music Entertainment is a member of the Sony family of global companies.

By Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Honoring African-Americans’ pioneering contributions to the nation’s cultural history, Black Music Month opens today, June 1. With racial strife rumbling across our country as I write this, I am struggling to reconcile the conflicting realities of the universal appreciation of Black music and the devaluation of Black life, George Floyd’s videotaped killing being the latest of recurring tragic examples. 

I have wanted to comment on the events of this past week however, knowing that my voice will be particularly resounding, I was obliged to be especially introspective and unhurried. Why do my words ring unusually louder? Look no farther than my skin and position. 

I am the only Black CEO of a global major music company.

So, to speak out on Mr. Floyd’s senseless murder is my obligation. Not to would be my irresponsibility. But figuring out what to say was a challenge. My own pain has been so paralyzing. For me, stating ‘I stand with the Black community’ would never be enough. But in due time, I found the words.  

For many of my colleagues, in our business dealings, we are targets for unfounded assumptions by people whose unspoken questioning of whether we belong is written on their faces. 

Outside of work, we must cope with debilitating anxiety inflicted by law enforcement, a burden that many in the Black community have shouldered since we were children. Profiling poses a constant threat, multiplying the opportunities for tragic outcomes.  

“New normal” is a reference that has taken hold in society with the global pandemic. But the phrase should be about more than adjustments to our workplaces, commutes and social distancing. It must reflect a reset of respect for each other as human beings.

As a music community, we are anchored at the heart of Black culture, and our industry has an unrivaled role and responsibility to help lead society out of crisis and onto the path of true justice and equality.  

Music companies have rushed to pledge solidarity with the Black community since the atrocity committed against Mr. Floyd. But I often remind my team of a fact that might seem odd for a music man to point out: “People see better than they hear.” Timely action must follow the industry’s lyrics. Otherwise, words are ultimately empty. 

We must create a platform that provides each and every colleague the encouragement for true self-expression. For people of color, this means the comfort to connect, mourn and heal in authentic ways that might be unfamiliar to, or uncomfortable for, some colleagues.  But I encourage you to lean into that discomfort.

Our industry covers every genre of music and is welcoming to new creations. Inside our companies, the workforce should be equally diverse. My dream is for our companies to be an orchestra of races, creeds and colors.

During Black Music Month, we recognize a spectrum of songs from Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ to Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’—tunes rooted in pain, yet lighting a path forward.  Let’s follow their lead.

Weekly episodes available across all major podcast platforms starting Wednesday, June 3.

New York, NY – May 20, 2020 – Leading podcast company Three Uncanny Four today announced that The Passion Economy—the podcast about everyday people who have cracked the code to success in the 21^st century economy—has joined its show roster and will debut weekly episodes starting Wednesday, June 3 for the first time outside a paywall.

Hosted by Adam Davidson, the Peabody-Award winning co-creator of NPR’s Planet Money and a successful journalist and author who covered economics for The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine, The Passion Economy is based on Davidson’s acclaimed 2019 book of the same name and explores how individuals from all walks of life have overcome professional and financial roadblocks and created new paths of fulfillment by channeling their entrepreneurial spirits and pursuing their passions. The trailer is available now. 

Each episode will spotlight the stories of people who push the idea of career and business success beyond the fetishizing of billionaires and Fortune 500 CEOs – a drug dealer turned fitness mogul, a teacher making waves in the fashion industry, farmers with creative vision, a former Iraqi translator who reinvented himself as a D.C.-area limo company operator – to offer lessons that listeners can apply right away to their own life and business.

Said Davidson, “Passion Businesses and Passion Careers often emerge through times of crisis—when an old, familiar way, no longer works. And they also come out of times of self-reflection, periods when people have the time to think and wonder and experiment. This current crisis, for all its real pain, is forcing us time to look at how things are done normally and imagine how they might be done differently. This show is about people who have figured out a way to thrive during a time of chaos and uncertainty by building around their skills and interests. Now is exactly when people need inspiration and clear models of how to succeed in an economy that is operating according to different and much scarier rules.”

Listeners can subscribe to The Passion Economy across all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. Click here to listen to the trailer. The podcast’s companion book, The Passion Economy also outlines Davidson’s perspective on how to thrive in the 21^st century economy and is available now.

About Three Uncanny Four Productions

Three Uncanny Four Productions was co-founded by Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. The company’s first podcast, “Broken: Jeffrey Epstein,” was named one of the 50 best podcasts of 2019 by The Atlantic and has more than three million downloads. Davidson has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and more, and is a leading broadcaster and podcasting voice who cofounded and co-hosted NPR’s Planet Money and served as a frequent contributor to This American Life. His co-reporting on the episode “The Giant Pool of Money” for This American Life received the Peabody, DuPont-Columbia, and Polk Awards and was named one of the top works of journalism of the decade by New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. In addition, he has previously worked with Adam McKay as a co-host of Gimlet Media’s Surprisingly Awesome podcast. Mayer, who started her career in radio as a producer across multiple shows at WNYC New York Public Radio including the Fishko Files and On the Media, is a highly accomplished podcast producer. She previously oversaw all podcast production and launched dozens of shows for Panoply Media and also led the first season of production of Revisionist History. Most recently, she was the Executive Producer for Show Development at Stitcher where she developed and produced numerous projects for the company’s comedy-focused Earwolf network and Stitcher label.

New York, NY – March 23, 2020 – Acclaimed podcast production house Neon Hum today announced the debut of “Telescope,” a new series focused on the personal stories of people all around the world dealing with the profound and wide-raging effects of COVID-19 and social distancing in their day-to-day lives. Hosted by award-winning producer and Neon Hum founder/CEO Jonathan Hirsch, “Telescope” will chronicle the broad spectrum of deeply human moments being lived in the disruptive age of Coronavirus and isolation, and insightfully explore the unique experiences and everyday shared situations playing out underneath the news of the pandemic’s grip. The first episode is available now wherever you listen to podcasts. 

The tri-weekly podcast series will provide an up-close view of the ways the outbreak of the virus has impacted people from all walks of life and share an inside look at the individual journeys many have faced in coming to terms with their current reality and searching for a new sense of normal. Hirsch and the Neon Hum team will speak with people across the world about the challenges and emotions behind coping with self-quarantine, dealing with sickness and health issues, and finding inspiration and personal meaning in response to a global crisis. “Telescope” will tell the stories of struggle, loss, resilience and hope that are driving our society forward at this uncertain moment in history.

Hirsch said, “We are living in a world-changing moment defined by social isolation. ‘Telescope’ will offer a window into our lives in the time of Coronavirus by sharing stories of how people both near to home and far away are getting through this pandemic, so we all feel a little less alone.”

The show is executive produced by Jonathan Hirsch, Vikram Patel, John Asante, Shara Morris and Catherine Saint Louis at Neon Hum.

Listeners can subscribe to “Telescope” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Click here listen to the first episode.  

About “Telescope”

Welcome to the new normal. For so many of us around the globe, our lives have been forever changed by the coronavirus. And we will never be the same. And yet, locked away in social isolation in our homes, away from our normal routine, we are searching for ways to connect with one another, ways to stay sane during this insane time. On Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays for the foreseeable future, host Jonathan Hirsch will bring you stories of people who are far away…up close. Stories of how each of us are learning to live through this pandemic.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

About Jonathan Hirsch

As an independent producer, reporter, and sound designer, Jonathan Hirsch produced hundreds of longform audio works for NPR, Vox, NBC, Fusion Media Group, and many others. He is a recipient of the Green Eyeshade, Edward R. Murrow and duPont Awards. His 7-part documentary podcast series Dear Franklin Jones debuted #1 on the iTunes podcast charts. In April of 2018, Jonathan launched Neon Hum Media, an LA-based podcast production company, specializing in narrative-driven, high production value, “audio first” documentaries, talk shows, and partner content.

About Neon Hum

Founded by producer, reporter and sound designer Jonathan Hirsch, Los Angeles-based Neon Hum is a podcast production company specializing in narrative-driven, high production value, “audio first” documentaries, talk shows and partner content. In December 2019 Sony Music announced a strategic investment in Neon Hum as part of a new creative partnership between the two companies to expand their development of original podcast content and launch a range of new shows across multiple genres beginning in 2020. 

Los Angeles and New York – March 19, 2020 – Actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter Kumail Nanjiani and producer/screenwriter Emily V. Gordon, veteran pros at being stuck indoors, today announced the debut of a new limited series weekly podcast about making the best of living life under quarantine based on the married couple’s own experiences in dealing with chronic illness. All proceeds from the podcast, “Staying in with Emily and Kumail,” will be donated to charities, including the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Feeding America, and the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation. 

“Staying In with Emily and Kumail” is produced in partnership with Hyperobject Industries and Three Uncanny Four Productions and will offer listeners an empathetic, lighthearted perspective on coping with difficult times. The first episode is available now wherever you listen to podcasts. 

As portrayed in the Oscar-nominated romantic comedy based on their life “The Big Sick,” Gordon’s condition means that both she and Nanjiani have become accustomed to staying indoors for long periods of time, and they want to bring their tips and tricks for surviving being homebound to listeners. From recommendations on movies, books, board games and puzzles to chatting with their funny friends, Gordon and Nanjiani will share their one-of-a-kind insights and observations on hunkering down inside as society faces unprecedented times with the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Do not expect to hear updates on the virus – there are actual journalists for that. Do expect to hear talk about the emotional wear and tear of the unprecedented times we’re in, and about how many ways you can eat frozen waffles. 

Gordon and Nanjiani said, “We won’t have news about the pandemic, but what we can offer is experience in self-quarantining, experience in working from home, and experience consuming media. And the best part? All proceeds are going to charity. Go listen, stay indoors, and wash those hands!” 

Co-founders of Three Uncanny Four Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer said, “Emily and Kumail are two of the funniest and smartest people and we were so excited when we heard they wanted to create a podcast to help us all get through this crazy time. Like everyone, we were so moved by their story in ‘The Big Sick’ and their ability in a moment of potential tragedy to find hilarious humanity that is so warm and optimistic. Their perspective is exactly what we all need right now.” 

The show is executive produced by Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani, Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer at Three Uncanny Four Productions, and Adam McKay, Todd Schulman and Harry Nelson at Hyperobject Industries. 

Listeners can subscribe to “Staying In with Emily and Kumail” on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Click here to listen to the first episode. 

ABOUT “STAYING IN WITH EMILY AND KUMAIL” 

In this podcast — whose profits go to charities helping those affected by Coronavirus — Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani are uniquely qualified to lead you through this forced quarantine situation. They are both writers who work from home. Emily was a therapist and currently is a chronically sick person (see: The Big Sick) who often has to quarantine herself, and Kumail is her main caretaker. Plus, we both just like being at home. Let us advise you on how to stay calm and avoid cabin fever. Let us give you entertainment recommendations. Let us give you constant updates on the squirrel vs. bird war happening right outside our window. Let us not talk about the C word at all. And most of all, let us take all of the proceeds from this podcast and spread it amongst charities that are helping those who are hit hardest by this quarantine. 

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM 

EMILY V. GORDON & KUMAIL NANJIANI 

Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani are Oscar-nominated writers of critically-acclaimed film THE BIG SICK. They also co-created, wrote and executive produced the highly praised Apple TV+ series, LITTLE AMERICA which can currently be streamed. Kumail’s upcoming projects include the romantic comedy, THE LOVEBIRDS, opposite Issa Rae and the highly anticipated Marvel film, THE ETERNALS. It was recently announced that he will star in the political thriller, THE INDEPENDENT. He also starred in HBO’s Emmy Award-winning series, SILICON VALLEY. Emily has written for THE CARMICHAEL SHOW on NBC, ANOTHER PERIOD on Comedy 

Central, and CRASHING on HBO. She is also the author of the funny but genuine self-improvement guide SUPER YOU: RELEASE YOUR INNER SUPERHERO. She created and produced three seasons of THE MELTDOWN WITH JONAH AND KUMAIL on Comedy Central. 

THREE UNCANNY FOUR PRODUCTIONS was co-founded by Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. Davidson is a contributing writer for The New Yorker and a leading broadcaster and podcasting voice who co-founded and co-hosted NPR’s Planet Money and served as a frequent contributor to This American Life. His co-reporting on the episode “The Giant Pool of Money” for This American Life received the Peabody, DuPont-Columbia, and Polk Awards and was named one of the top works of journalism of the decade by New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. In addition, he has previously worked with Adam McKay as a co-host of Gimlet Media’s Surprisingly Awesome podcast. Mayer, who started her career in radio as a producer across multiple shows at WNYC New York Public Radio including the Fishko Files and On the Media, is a highly accomplished podcast producer. She previously oversaw all podcast production and launched dozens of shows for Panoply Media and also led the first season of production of Revisionist History. Most recently, she was the Executive Producer for Show Development at Stitcher where she developed and produced numerous projects for the company’s comedy-focused Earwolf network and Stitcher label. 

HYPEROBJECT INDUSTRIES is a multi-platform production company from Academy- Award winning writer-director-producer Adam McKay. The company’s name is a shout-out to environmental philosopher Timothy Morton’s use of the term ‘hyperobject’ and his belief that humankind needs to re-evaluate its relationship with nature as a whole. The team includes McKay’s longtime producer Kevin Messick and producers Betsy Koch and Todd Schulman. Hyperobject Industries’ focus is wide ranging from comedies, dramas, horror, documentaries and documentaries-series as well as politically charged and challenging subjects with which McKay has become synonymous. Hyperobject Industries has also teamed with Adam Davidson, Laura Mayer and Sony Music Entertainment’s Three Uncanny Four Productions to develop original podcasts with an initial slate of shows scheduled to launch in 2020. 

Television projects include the previously announced HBO limited series, chronicling the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers and a limited series based on Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown’s upcoming book about Jeffrey Epstein. McKay and Bong Joon Ho are partnering to develop an HBO limited series inspired by Bong Joon Ho’s Academy Award Best Picture Parasite. McKay and Messick continue to serve as Executive Producers on HBO’s critically acclaimed and Golden Globe-winning series Succession, which will head into production this year for its third season. 

McKay and Hyperobject Industries upcoming film feature is the previously announced comedy Don’t Look Up (Netflix), starring Jennifer Lawrence. 

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.

UK-based Broccoli Content to Drive Continued Expansion of Original Podcast Content for Global Audiences

NEW YORK – October 24, 2019 – Award-winning podcast producer Renay Richardson and Sony Music Entertainment today announced the launch of a new multi-genre podcasting joint venture focused on the development and distribution of original programming. Richardson is a producer who has previously worked for leading podcast platforms including Acast, Audible and Panoply and a successful independent podcast creator whose credits include About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge and The Receipts on 1xtra from BBC Radio 1Xtra.

The London-based joint venture, called Broccoli Content, will develop a wide range of original scripted and unscripted podcasts under the leadership of Richardson and drive an expansion of opportunities for unique storytellers around the world to broadly connect with listeners. The agreement further increases Sony Music’s support of the global podcast community and marks its first podcasting production joint venture outside the US.

Commenting on the deal, Richardson stated, “I love how it is possible to carve out your own space in podcasting and that the team at Sony Music shares my vision for building Broccoli Content as a place where passionate people with dynamite ideas can find a way into the industry and succeed. Together we will collaborate to create exciting podcasts from many types of voices and perspectives, and help them find audiences all over the world.”

Kevin Kelleher, Chief Operating Officer, Sony Music Entertainment said, “Renay Richardson is an accomplished producer of thought-provoking, smart and engaging podcast content and we are thrilled to be working with her in this creator-first partnership. Our work together will expand Broccoli’s presence around the world and help its podcasters further grow their commercial and creative reach.”

In addition, the Broccoli team will work closely with 4^th Floor Creative – Sony Music UK’s creative division comprising of Brand Partnerships, Content, Creative, Sync, Podcasting, and Digital and Audience Development – to explore a range of podcasting opportunities originating in the UK market, supporting Sony Music artists and podcasting talent.

Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland said, “We are constantly looking to expand our creative offering. Podcasting has become a major force in our culture, so investing in award-winning innovators like Renay, is a natural move and a priority for us.”

Beginning her podcast career at Acast in 2014, Richardson was the first content manager in the company’s London office, helping acquire some of the platform’s biggest shows including Scroobius Pip’s Distraction Pieces Podcast, Adam Buxton’s Podcast and Arsecast (The Arsenal Podcast).  Moving into production, Richardson developed fashion retailer ASOS’ first podcast My Big Idea and their second These Four Walls before moving to Audible to work in the Original Content team and then onto Brooklyn based Panoply. In 2018, Richardson embarked on a freelance career producing shows both independently and for brands such as Spotify and Pearson, including The Receipts on 1xtra and About Race. She founded Broccoli Content in the summer of 2018 in response to the lack of opportunities both in front of, and behind, the mic for minority talent.

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. 

NEW YORK – September 23, 2019 – Sony Music Entertainment today announced the promotions of Mark Cavell and Per Hauber to lead the Company’s Classical, Jazz, Broadway and non-traditional contemporary music business. Based in New York, Cavell will become President of Sony Masterworks and Hauber will become President of Sony Classical, based in Berlin. They will report to Rob Stringer, Chairman, Sony Music Group and Kevin Kelleher, Chief Operating Officer, Sony Music Entertainment.

As was previously announced, Bogdan Roscic will step down from his post as Head of the Sony Music Classical business to become the Artistic Director of the Vienna State Opera next year. 

In making the announcement, Stringer said, “I want to thank Bogdan for leading our Classical music business for the last 10 years. He has been a great steward of our rich catalog and brought in new artists to the Sony Music family. We all wish him well in the next exciting phase of his career at the Vienna State Opera.

“Mark and Per have a track record of success expanding our Masterworks and Classical division around the world. Their understanding of the importance and evolving nature of the market underscores their commitment to maintaining Sony Music as a home to iconic and developing artists, music experiences, live entertainment and stage soundtracks. I’m pleased they will be at the helm of this next chapter of the company.”

Cavell said, “I’m excited to continue diversifying the Masterworks division on a global basis. We have come a long way in a few years to build a successful Live Event and Entertainment business to complement our rich heritage as a recorded music label, but this is just the beginning of what we can and will achieve for Sony Music.” 

Hauber said, “It is a great privilege and responsibility to oversee the future and heritage of Sony Classical. I look forward to leading the division into the next decade and facing the business’ challenges together with my colleagues around the world. I believe there is a bright future ahead of us as our genre is truly global and so is our unique setup.”

Most recently, Cavell served as U.S. label head and Senior Vice President of Finance at Sony Music Masterworks since 2017, first joining Sony Music in 2009 when he oversaw operations for the label based out of London, Berlin and NYC. He has played a key role in the development of Classical Crossover artists including The Piano Guys and 2CELLOS and has brought new talent to the label such as Chloe Flower, Alexis Ffrench, Hiatus Kaiyote and Naia Izumi. Cavell also has overseen the label’s expansion into new partnerships and ventures including the acquisition of UK-based Promoters Raymond Gubbay Limited and Senbla, as well as the West Coast based soundtrack label Milan Records.

Prior to this promotion, Hauber was Senior Vice President for Sony Classical International, the Company’s Classical repertoire center in Berlin since 2011. He oversaw the repertoire center’s A&R, International Marketing, Catalog and Product Development departments. Hauber has worked closely with top Classical artists including Jonas Kaufmann, Igor Levit and Teodor Currentzis. He was instrumental in bringing to Sony Classical the New Year’s Day Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. He joined Sony Music Entertainment from Universal Music Germany, where he was Director, running the marketing team for the Company’s Classical releases from 2002-2011.

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.

About Sony Music Masterworks

Sony Music Masterworks comprises the imprints Masterworks, Sony Classical, Milan Records, OKeh, Portrait, and Masterworks Broadway. It is a multi-genre label featuring a range of eclectic artists from global icons to newly developing talents in classical, crossover, jazz and contemporary music, with a vast catalog of film, TV and video game soundtracks as well as musical theatre cast recordings from both new and classic Broadway shows. For email updates and information please visit www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/.

 “Broken: Jeffrey Epstein” To Be Hosted by the New Yorker Magazine’s Ariel Levy and Feature Contributions from Julie K. Brown of the Miami Herald

NEW YORK – September 4, 2019 – Adam McKay, the Academy Award-winning writer/director/producer, and the team at Three Uncanny Four Productions today announced they are launching a new investigative podcast exploring the case of Jeffrey Epstein titled Broken: Jeffrey Epstein. This is the first series from Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer at Three Uncanny Four Productions who will Executive Produce the podcast with McKay and Kevin Messick along with Julie K. Brown from the Miami Herald, who also will serve as a Special Correspondent.

Hosted by journalist and bestselling author writer Ariel Levy, the podcast will explore what happened before and after Epstein’s most recent arrest, who was involved, and where the victims go from here in the wake of his unexpected death.

Broken will dig deeply into how some of the world’s most powerful politicians and billionaires apparently shared a common interest in trafficking girls, teenagers and young women, and thoughtfully look at how the case reflects our society.

Subscribe to Broken: Jeffrey Epstein wherever you listen to podcasts. The first episode will be available Thursday, September 5, 2019 with subsequent new episodes posting on a weekly basis.

A trailer for the series can be found here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM

ADAM MCKAY is an Academy Award-winning writer/director/producer. His most recent feature, the subversively comedic Vice, received eight Academy Award, six BAFTA and five Golden Globe nominations. In addition, McKay received DGA and WGA nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. For TV, McKay executive produced and directed the HBO pilot Succession for which he won the 2018 DGA Award for Drama Series. Written by Jesse Armstrong, the critically-acclaimed series, which was recently renewed for a third season, has been nominated for 5 Emmy Awards, including directing for McKay. In 2015, McKay and Charles Randolph’s film adaptation of The Big Short, Michael Lewis’s New York Times best-seller about the 2007/2008 financial crisis, went on to receive Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture and won the 2016 PGA for Best Picture. McKay earned Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Director, and he and Randolph won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards, BAFTA, WGA and USC Scripter Awards. McKay’s next directorial project is the upcoming limited series Showtime for HBO, chronicling the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers. Initially, McKay made his name in the comedy world. He is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade and a former head writer of Saturday Night Live. While at SNL, he began a successful collaboration with Will Ferrell that later extended into now classic films including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), and Step Brothers (2008). He has also written, directed and produced numerous other films, written for TV projects such as Michael Moore’s The Awful Truth, directed and produced on HBO’s Eastbound and Down, and produced the Emmy-nominated Drunk History. On Broadway, he directed the Tony-nominated You’re Welcome America.

THREE UNCANNY FOUR PRODUCTIONS was co-founded by Adam Davidson and Laura Mayer in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment. Davidson is a contributing writer for The New Yorker and a leading broadcaster and podcasting voice who co-founded and co-hosted NPR’s Planet Money and served as a frequent contributor to This American Life.  His co-reporting on the episode “The Giant Pool of Money” for This American Life received the Peabody, DuPont-Columbia, and Polk Awards and was named one of the top works of journalism of the decade by New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. In addition, he has previously worked with Adam McKay as a co-host of Gimlet Media’s Surprisingly Awesome podcast. Mayer, who started her career in radio as a producer across multiple shows at WNYC New York Public Radio including the Fishko Files and On the Media, is a highly accomplished podcast producer. She previously oversaw all podcast production and launched dozens of shows for Panoply Media and also led the first season of production of Revisionist History. Most recently, she was the Executive Producer for Show Development at Stitcher where she developed and produced numerous projects for the company’s comedy-focused Earwolf network and Stitcher label.

ARIEL LEVY joins the project as the host of Broken. A staff writer at The New Yorker for over a decade, Levy received the National Magazine Award in 2013. Previously, she was a contributing editor at New York magazine for twelve years. She is the author of the memoir The Rules do Not Apply; her first book, Female Chauvinist Pigs, and much of her reporting, has been focused on the shifting meaning of gender in American society.

JULIE K. BROWN is an investigative reporter with the Miami Herald. During her 25-year career, she has worked for a number of newspapers as a general assignment reporter, crime and courts reporter, education reporter, night city editor and enterprise editor. Since 2013, she has been a member of the Herald’s investigative team. She won a Polk Award for justice reporting for “Perversion of Justice,” a series about how a federal prosecutor in President Trump’s cabinet helped a wealthy sexual predator avoid a lengthy prison sentence in Florida. In 2014, she won an earlier Polk Award for her 2014 series about abuse and corruption in Florida prisons, which also garnered the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights story of the year. Prior to the Herald, she worked for the Philadelphia Daily News. She is a graduate of Temple University.

###