Cadence13

Cadence13
Name	Cadence13
Type	Private
Industry	Podcasting
Founded	2015
Headquarters	New York City, New York, United States
Key people	Christopher Corcoran, Todd Jensen
Parent	Audacy, Inc.

Cadence13 is a major American podcast production and distribution company founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York City. It operates within the media industry alongside digital publishers, radio broadcasters, and streaming platforms and is known for producing, distributing, and monetizing long-form audio series across news, sports, culture, and true crime. The company has worked with high-profile hosts, celebrities, and institutions, shaping podcasting strategies used by legacy broadcasters and digital-native outlets.

History

Cadence13 was established in 2015 by executives with backgrounds at Entercom, Audible, and independent podcast networks, launching during a period marked by rapid growth in podcast listenership driven by platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher. Early signings included talent from The New York Times, NPR, and The Ringer, expanding into partnerships with sports franchises such as the NFL and media brands like Vox Media. In 2017 Cadence13 entered strategic alliances and distribution deals that echoed consolidation trends exemplified by mergers involving SiriusXM, iHeartMedia, and Entercom. The company later became part of a larger corporate family through acquisitions involving major audio companies, aligning it with streaming and broadcast consolidation patterns that included Pandora Radio, TuneIn, and Audacy, Inc..

Corporate Structure and Ownership

Cadence13 operated as a privately held entity with investment and strategic relationships linking it to radio broadcasters, digital media investors, and audio streaming services. Its governance featured executives with prior management roles at CBS Corporation, NBCUniversal, WarnerMedia, and independent labels. Ownership evolved through transactions involving media conglomerates similar to acquisitions by Spotify Technology S.A. and Sirius XM Holdings Inc., and its corporate transactions have been reported alongside deals in which companies such as Entercom Communications Corporation and Audacy, Inc. participated. Board and advisory members have included executives and investors with affiliations to The New York Times Company, ViacomCBS, The Walt Disney Company, and venture firms that also backed startups like Serial Productions and Wondery.

Business Model and Services

Cadence13’s business model combined content production, talent representation, advertising sales, branded content, and distribution services. The company produced original series and co-produced shows with institutions such as The Washington Post, Bloomberg L.P., and The Atlantic, while offering monetization through dynamic ad insertion and programmatic platforms used by DAX (Dynamic Ad Exchange), Art19, and advertising partners including NPR Advertising Revenue buyers. Cadence13 provided audience analytics leveraging metrics similar to those from Triton Digital and measurement initiatives involving IAB Tech Lab standards, and it negotiated licensing and distribution deals with aggregators and platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. Services also encompassed production studios, editorial development, live events coordination with venues such as Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, and strategic partnerships for branded series with advertisers like Procter & Gamble, Amazon, and Nike, Inc..

Notable Podcasts and Partnerships

Cadence13 produced and distributed a range of prominent series hosted by journalists, entertainers, and athletes, including collaborations with figures and organizations such as Barack Obama-adjacent projects, personalities from The New Yorker and Rolling Stone, and sports content tied to the NBA and MLB. Its catalog featured talent who appeared in other media like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ESPN, and Fox Sports. Partnerships extended to production alliances with companies such as iHeartMedia, Wondery, Gimlet Media, and The Ringer, and to talent deals with celebrities who also worked in television at networks like HBO, Showtime, and Netflix. The company’s slate included true crime, investigative journalism, and cultural commentary programs that competed with offerings from Serial Productions, This American Life, and public radio series produced by American Public Media.

Reception and Impact

Industry reception positioned Cadence13 as an influential player in the commercial podcast sector, contributing to shifts in advertising models similar to those catalyzed by Spotify Technology S.A. and NPR. Trade outlets and analysts compared its growth and strategy with networks such as Wondery, Gimlet Media, Slate Digital, and Panoply Media. The company’s work influenced talent-driven podcasting strategies employed by legacy broadcasters like CBS, ABC, and NBC and digital-native publishers including The New York Times, Vox Media, and BuzzFeed. Its series and distribution deals were cited in discussions about media consolidation, audience measurement, and platform power in podcasts dominated by Apple and Spotify.

Controversies and Legal Issues

Cadence13’s operations intersected with industrywide controversies over content moderation, advertiser boycotts, and talent disputes similar to cases involving Spotify, YouTube, and Twitter. Legal and contractual issues in the sector often involved intellectual property claims, defamation allegations, and disputes over host agreements comparable to litigation faced by networks such as Wondery and Gimlet Media. The company navigated negotiations involving rights with publishers like The New York Times Company and broadcasters including Entercom Communications Corporation, and its partnerships occasionally prompted public debate over editorial independence and commercial influence reminiscent of controversies at NPR and The Washington Post.

Category:Podcasting companies