Amazon Shuts Wondery Studio, Moves Podcasts to Audible

Amazon is dismantling its Wondery podcast studio, resulting in about 110 layoffs and the exit of CEO Jen Sargent, as part of a major restructuring. Narrative-driven podcasts such as 'Dr. Death' and 'Business Wars' will move to Amazon's Audible division, while creator-led shows like 'New Heights' and 'Armchair Expert' are being shifted to a new creator services unit within Talent Services. The Wondery brand will continue only for select creator-led shows and its subscription app, with much of the original team and operations integrated elsewhere in Amazon. This move responds to industry trends favoring video-centric and celebrity-hosted podcasts and comes amid competition from Spotify and YouTube. Amazon acquired Wondery in 2020/2021, but the company acknowledges its podcast strategy has underperformed. The reorganization is intended to better support creators and advertisers as podcast consumption habits evolve.