Wisebuddah creatives exit to launch audio production venture Listen

L-R: Listen team Josh Adley, Adam Uytman, Tim Hammond

The creative team behind audio outfit Wisebuddah have departed to launch a new audio-focused production venture. 

Listen will be led by Adam Uytman as director of content, Josh Adley as director of commercial and client relations, and Tim Hammond as executive director. Meanwhile, Wisebuddah founder, Mark Goodier, becomes chair of the Listen board.

The senior management team, all of whom have exited Wisebuddah, combines experience across the audio, TV, advertising and media industries.

Listen is the latest in a string of recent audio production ventures. As reported by TBI, the last fortnight alone has seen the launch of two international audio ventures, including Paradiso and Asylum Entertainment Group’s Audity.

Launched to help TV content companies navigate the future of audio, Listen’s audio studio will produce across the full range of audio media and across all genres – from podcasting and on-demand, to live and recorded radio. The business will also offer a consultancy service, working with clients on their audio strategy. In addition, Listen is looking to establish a catalogue of formats that can be adapted into TV series or feature films.

As part of the new venture, Listen is acquiring the content production business of Wisebuddah, including the company’s roster of work. The current production, business development, marketing, operations and production finance teams will also shift to Listen.

The slate includes podcasts and audio-on-demand series such as the recently-launched The Gemma Collins Podcast for BBC Sounds;  true crime hit Beyond Reasonable Doubt which was nominated for a British Podcast Award; and The Greatest Dancer Podcast which accompanied the Syco format for BBC One.

While Wisebuddah’s content production business has shifted under Listen, other Wisebuddah businesses such as Studios and Jingles, remain unaffected by the new business.

Adam Uytman, director of content for Listen, said: “The world of audio is on fire right now and, in particular, podcasting is booming. New technologies, including connected cars and smart speakers, have made it much easier for consumers to listen to audio content which, in turn, creates more opportunities for creators.

“The UK currently lags behind the US in innovation and investment in this space. However, the next three years will see the UK catching up rapidly. Listen will lead the next wave of audio content creation in the UK for consumption by global audiences. The convergence of TV and audio – and the opportunities for TV companies in the audio space – are exploding, so we are there to help our clients navigate the future of this exciting medium.”

Josh Adley, director of commercial and client relations for Listen, added: “Whilst continuing to build on our key relationships with broadcasters our main focus for growth will be in our podcasting division.  The highest possible quality of audio production is a given, but it takes more than that to make a podcast successful.  We can guide clients through the whole process – from idea conception to content creation, distribution, monetisation and promotion.  We can also advise companies on their wider audio strategy, so that they can maximise commercial opportunities in the burgeoning audio market.”

Tim Hammond, executive director for Listen, said: “Audio’s boom time is happening right now. Big players across the world are moving into audio in a way that was never anticipated five years ago. The growth of the audience, of brands’ involvement, and the transition of audio content into other forms such as live, books and TV, has all helped solidify audio’s reputation as a fantastic platform for IP creation and exploitation. With over 25 years’ knowledge of the sector, we are streets ahead of many other companies in the marketplace in terms of understanding what the growth of audio means. The audio world is accelerating fast and Listen will guide and inspire clients to make the most of the opportunities it offers.”