Spotify is moving its podcast expansion plans up a gear – and it’s looking for an experienced senior executive to help ‘achieve its vision of becoming the world’s top audio network’.
A job post spotted by MBW is advertising for a Global Head of Podcast Business Affairs to join the company’s content Licensing team in either Los Angeles (preferred) or New York.
The new Global Head of Podcast Business Affairs will work directly with Spotify’s Chief Content Officer Dawn Ostroff and the Content leadership team.
According to the ad, this person’s ‘work will significantly impact the podcast content strategy and Spotify’s efforts to grow audience and monetization’.
This individual will be tasked with securing a global slate of original and exclusively licensed podcasts.
In order to do this, they will need to be a ‘skilled negotiator willing and able to close deals, having closed multiple agreements with commitments of $20 million or more’.
The successful candidate for this role will need to have at least 20 years’ work experience in entertainment, with at least 15 years’ working on the licensing of video, audio and/or podcast content.
They will also need to have an exceptional network of contacts in the entertainment industry, including relationships with talent agents, producers and senior industry executives.
Continues the ad: ‘You have an in-depth understanding of the roles played across the media company value chain (production companies, technology companies, talent agencies, record labels), as well as the current and emerging cross-media platforms.’
The past 12 months have seen the world’s leading music streaming platform invest millions in podcast companies, plus original podcast content, and executives.
Spotify spent $375 million in cash on buying podcast companies Gimlet Media, Anchor and Parcast – across three deals with a total value of $404m.
The company has also been on an original content talent recruitment drive since at least October 2018.
Last month Spotify hired former CBS News President David Rhodes as an original news content consultant, and former Facebook exec Amy Hudson as Sports Lead, Podcasts.Music Business Worldwide
