Warner Music Group is launching an in-house podcast network called Interval Presents. Here’s what you should know.
Warner says the podcast network will produce multi-format, culture-forward audio content “at the intersection of music, pop culture, and social impact.” The network will leverage the power of WMG’s massive catalog and platform to unpack trending conversations, amplify underrepresented voices, and explore the impact of music artistry from diverse perspectives.
WMG Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development, Allan Coye, will oversee Interval Presents as General manager.
“Interval Presents allows us to develop and share podcast content that propels fresh, engaging conversations around trending topics and issues that matter to diverse communities – all through a culture-forward lens,” Coye says about the network.
“This is just the beginning, and as we grow, we hope to stay true to our roots in music while also using artistry as a vehicle to explore new terrains of storytelling, and ultimately, connect deeply with our audience,” Coye adds.
The first slate of podcasts from Interval Presents is due to arrive throughout 2022. They will include shows of various formats, including talk shows and narrative-driven episodic shows.
Actress Lupita Nyong’o will host a show centered on non-fiction cultural storytelling exploring the African diaspora. Singer Jason Derulo will headline a podcast series produced by Clamor that uses vocal performances to tell a fictional noir-inflected romance story. Songwriter Billy Mann will challenge the stigma of failure in a show featuring some of the world’s biggest stars and their stories about confronting adversity.
Interval Presents has also announced a slew of partnerships for producing podcast content. Snap Judgement will produce Nyongo’s podcast as well as a slew of other content. Interval Presents has also partnered with production company Awfully Nice and audio-first production company Double Elvis.
Awfully Nice will produce a docu-series for Interval Presents that explores thought-provoking questions. The first season, hosted by artist Xiuhtezcatl asks, “What if California seceded from the United States?” Double Elvis will also produce two shows launching later this year.
The first is a series about the history of media and the role communities of color played in radio, print, and television. Each season will cover a form of media, and each episode will feature inspirational stories from individuals who made an undeniable impact on their respective industries.
The second Double Elvis produced series will focus on Warner Music artists who defied expectations, defined major cultural moments, and redefined themselves at times when the stakes were the highest. The first season will be based on the life of Atlantic Records artist Aretha Franklin.