Spotify acquires Gimlet, Anchor
February 6, 2019
Spotify has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Gimlet Media, an independent producer of podcast content, and Anchor, a prominent company in podcast creation, publishing, and monetisation services. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
With these acquisitions, Spotify said it is positioned to become both the premier producer of podcasts and the leading platform for podcast creators. Gimlet will bring to Spotify its podcast studio with dedicated IP development, production and advertising capabilities. Anchor will bring its platform of tools for podcast creators and its established and rapidly growing creator base.
“These acquisitions will meaningfully accelerate our path to becoming the world’s leading audio platform, give users around the world access to the best podcast content, and improve the quality of our listening experience as well as enhance the Spotify brand,” said Daniel Ek, Spotify co-founder and CEO. “We are proud to welcome Gimlet and Anchor to the Spotify team, and we look forward to what we will accomplish together.”
“Spotify is poised to become the largest audio platform in the world and we are excited for Gimlet’s award-winning podcasts to connect with new audiences around the world,” added Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber, co-founders of Gimlet Media. “The medium of audio is uniquely great at creating human connection and understanding. We are thrilled that Gimlet is joining Spotify to do that at a global scale, on the platform and beyond.”
“We are incredibly excited to introduce Anchor’s industry-best podcasting tools to Spotify’s massive user base as we continue our journey, now with even greater resources,” said Michael Mignano, CEO of Anchor. “We look forward to continuing to empower creators all over the world to build an audience, generate revenue, and most importantly, have their voices heard.”
The transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2019 and subject to customary closing conditions.