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Novel, Europe’s Biggest Independent Podcast Company, Signs With UTA As It Eyes Further US Growth

Announces Hirings Of Austin Mitchell (NY Times’ The Daily), Mythili Rao (The Guardian) + Indira Birnie (Penguin Random House)

Novel, Europe’s Biggest Independent Podcast Company, Signs With UTA As It Eyes Further US Growth

Currently Developing Shows With Spotify, Gimlet, Apple + More

Launches New Website Designed By HelloMe (Nike, Red Bull, Warp), Visit HERE

Read More At Deadline

 

Today, Europe’s biggest independent podcast company Novel — the UK-based studio behind an array of acclaimed, award-winning and globally chart-topping podcasts for partners including Spotify, Audible, iHeart, and the Premier League — shares a bevy of announcements, including deepening its relationship with UTA, which has brokered many of its recent deals, as the company looks to expand further into the US, secure new partners, independently develop and distribute new shows, and compete with some of the world’s largest podcast content creators. Though Novel already has a robust presence in the US market, with more than half of its revenue coming from American sources, these new deals and hirings indicate big things to come for the upstart company.

“Novel is a leader in the international marketplace and their premium, wildly popular content has found audiences worldwide,” said Oren Rosenbaum, Head of UTA Audio. “As we’ve been working with this incredible studio, we saw an opportunity to expand their presence in the US and globally in a robust way that will feel fresh to partners and audiences.”

As part of its pursuit of top-level podcast industry talent, Novel has announced several new hires, including Austin Mitchell as Creative Director, Production (formerly of New York Times’ The Daily), Mythili Rao as Managing Editor (formerly of The Guardian’s Today In Focus), and new Head Of Marketing and Communications Indira Birnie (formerly of Penguin Random House). These three are among 45+ new staff Novel has added in the past year to meet the demands of its ambitious repertoire of content planned throughout 2022 and beyond.

“We’re thrilled about all of our plans for 2022 and beyond,” says Novel founder Sean Glynn. “While we’ve experienced phenomenal organic growth from six employees to over 45 in the past two years, UTA have helped us open up doors that we’ve always wanted to go through. We’ve made it a priority to bring in top talent, and we look to continue developing ambitious, compelling shows that speak to listeners around the world."

Says Managing Director Matt O’Mara: “We’ve created a robust slate of over 90 shows that have made people stand up and take notice of what we’re doing. We have a real firm belief in TV- and newspaper-level journalistic development that stands apart from the rest of the market, and, with UTA and so many great new hires on our side, we are prepared to make significant strides in the next year."

Today, Novel also launches an all-new brand identity and website created by the Berlin-based design studio HelloMe, which has worked with innovative brands including Nike, Red Bull, Warp, and many more. Visit Novel’s new website here.

Read about Novel’s new UTA deal, hirings, slate deals, and more at Deadline.

From top to bottom: Austin Mitchell, Mythili Rao, Indira Birnie

 
 

About Novel

Novel is the largest independent podcast production company in Europe. The company produces ambitious original podcasts and award-winning shows for brands like Spotify, Audible, Wondery and iHeart, including an Apple Global #1 (Harsh Reality: The Story Of Miriam Rivera), multiple UK Apple #1s (Fantasy Premier League Podcast, The Bellingcat Podcast), and successful forays into avant comedy (Futile Attempts), music (Charli XCX’s Best Song Ever), and LGBTQ+ culture (Call Me Mother). They have launched over 40 shows, produced over 400 hours of content, and have won 25 awards. 

Their latest new show is The Superhero Complex, a telling of the rise and fall of real-life superhero Phoenix Jones (AKA Benjamin Fodor) hosted by David Weinberg, creator of Welcome To LA, and an Edward R. Murrow-winning contributor for KCRW, Marketplace, and The New York Times. 

Listen to The Superhero Complex here

 

About UTA

UTA unites ideas, opportunities and talent. The company represents some of the world’s most iconic, barrier-breaking artists, creators and changemakers—from actors, athletes and musicians to writers, gamers and digital influencers. One of the most influential companies in global entertainment, UTA’s business spans talent representation, content production, as well as strategic advisory and marketing work with some of the world’s biggest brands. UTA is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, New York and London. More information can be found at unitedtalent.com.