Pioneering Earwolf Podcast Network and Industry-Leading Podcast Advertising Company Combine to Create Midroll Media
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 09, 2014 -- Media consumers want their content on-demand, everywhere they are. Podcasting is growing because it is the ideal medium to deliver information and entertainment on the go. There are now more than 1 billion podcast subscriptions through Apple’s iTunes, and more than half of all podcast listeners are mobile. The medium is poised for a surge with the connected car, as major automakers like GM and Audi add 4G to their models, and Apple sends podcasts directly to the dashboard with CarPlay.
This trend is the catalyst for the launch of Midroll Media, LLC, built from the merger of Earwolf Media, LLC, the pioneering comedy podcast network, and The Mid Roll podcast advertising network. The new company offers a 360-degree suite of production, distribution, and monetization services to artists, entertainers and thought leaders. Advertisers benefit from access to the talented hosts of more than 120 shows and their engaged audiences totaling more than 15 million downloads a month, using the industry's first user-focused, self-service platform.
“I’m very excited to bring together these two companies to create the next generation on-demand media company,” said Jeff Ullrich, founder and CEO of Midroll Media. “These companies are built on the belief that there’s an intensely loyal audience for amazing podcasts that educate, inform, provoke and make you laugh. We have demonstrated this with our success so far. Now we’re ready to empower even more great producers to make new, creative shows, supported by smart advertisers.”
Both Earwolf and The Mid Roll are young, bootstrapped companies that are also very profitable. At just 15 months old, The Mid Roll has seen its revenue grow 3x from the second quarter of 2013 to Q2 of 2014. In the same period Earwolf’s total audience increased 136%, and annual revenue grew 132% from 2012 to 2013.
Earwolf productions consistently rank amongst the top 20 podcasts in the iTunes chart, and are critical favorites. Rolling Stone recently named 4 Earwolf shows in its “20 Best Comedy Podcasts Right Now” feature, including “How Did This Get Made” with actor/comedian Paul Scheer and “Comedy Bang! Bang!,” Earwolf’s first podcast, hosted by company co-founder Scott Aukerman. “Comedy Bang! Bang!” was turned into a popular IFC television series now in its third season.
Responding to growing audiences thirsting for fresh content, more public figures and thought leaders are hosting podcasts because the medium lets them speak directly and candidly with listeners. Midroll Media provides professional advertising representation for these hosts so that they may focus on creating strong programming for their legions of fans.
Midroll Media exclusively represents shows hosted by some of the most respected names in science and journalism, including “StarTalk Radio” with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and “DecodeDC” hosted by former NPR correspondent Andrea Seabrook. Comedian Marc Maron’s breakout podcast “WTF” is also exclusively represented to advertisers by Midroll Media, along with shows from filmmaker Kevin Smith’s Smodcast Network and the influential tech and culture web ‘zine Boing Boing.
As part of the merger The Mid Roll advertising division is now renamed Midroll. A new website featuring more information about Midroll has been launched at http://www.midroll.com. Listen to all of Earwolf’s shows at http://www.earwolf.com, and on iTunes and Stitcher.
For more information please contact Paul Riismandel at 773-359-3054 or paul(at)midroll(dot)com.
About Midroll Media
Midroll Media is a digital media company providing a 360-degree suite of production, distribution, and monetization services to artists, entertainers and thought leaders. The Midroll advertising platform offers the industry's first user-focused, self-service platform for both advertisers and podcasters to buy, sell and manage podcast ad inventory. Advertisers have access to more than 120 of the most well-known and downloaded podcasts on the internet. Midroll is online at http://www.midroll.com.
About Earwolf
Launched in 2010, Earwolf is a pioneering podcast network, producing and distributing many of the most popular comedy podcasts, including “Comedy Bang! Bang!,” “How Did This Get Made,” and “Sklarbro Country.” Earwolf’s shows are downloaded more than 6.7 million times a month and have been recognized for excellence by USA Today, Rolling Stone, and the Onion A/V Club. Learn more and listen to Earwolf shows at http://www.earwolf.com.
Paul Riismandel, Midroll Media, http://midroll.com, +1 773-359-3054, [email protected]
Share this article