Marvel’s In-House Podcast Team Has Been Cut in Half
Although Disney has concluded its 7,000 company-wide job cuts, waves from the company reorganization are still being felt today.
According to The Verge, Marvel’s in-house podcast unit of six employees was cut in half during the latest round of Disney layoffs.
The team produced both company podcasts and pop culture podcasts. These shows included Women of Marvel, The History of Marvel, and This Week in Marvel.
Disney Was Involved In the Decision
Of the three employees who were let go, one has already left, while another two will depart by the end of the month.
One former Marvel employee told Hot Pod that Marvel gave no specific reason for the layoffs but mentioned that Disney was involved in the decision.
Previously, the podcast team had already come up with a plan to cut costs that included sunsetting Marvel’s Pull List podcast. This effort, however, was not enough.
“Watching the audio industry implode this past year has been gut-wrenching. So many of my former public radio colleagues, and those working in the private sector lost their jobs. I wasn’t entirely surprised Disney decided to follow suit,” the anonymous employee told Hot Pod.
Marvel’s SirusXM Deal Ends
In 2019, Marvel and SirusXM signed a multi-year agreement in 2019 to launch scripted and unscripted podcasts.
Under the agreement, SiriusXM subscribers got either early or exclusive access to Marvel’s podcasts. The deal between the two companies ended at the end of 2022.
Disney Has Slashed Audio Jobs
Disney’s efforts to cut costs have hit audio properties across the country. Three ABC Audio executives left the company last month, and ESPN Radio and ABC Audio have also been hit hard.
Likewise, National Geographic laid off a number of audio employees in April, including the team behind the popular Overheard podcast. A few months later, the rest of the National Geographic audio team was laid off along with all of its staff writers.
While Marvel podcasting may not have been the company’s golden goose, it is still sad to hear the company cutting back.
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