Brands
Spotify, Warner Bros and DC announce multi-year partnership to produce original podcast slate
NEW DELHI: In a collaborative and innovative effort to further increase premium content offerings for consumers, Spotify, Warner Bros and DC (the home of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, The Joker and many more iconic DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains) today announced a new multi-year deal to produce and distribute an original slate of narrative scripted podcasts, marking the first pact of its kind between the companies.
Spotify, the world’s leading audio streaming subscription service, is committed to an annual slate of new dramatic and comedic podcasts that Warner Bros. will develop and produce. Under terms of the deal, Spotify will have a first look at original scripted narrative DC podcasts, including new shows based on the vast universe of premier, iconic DC characters. The initial slate of projects under the partnership will also tap into Warner Bros.’ broader collection of timeless titles for additional series.
In addition to producing narratives based on existing characters and established franchises from across Warner Bros. and DC, the companies will also collaborate to create new programming from original intellectual property.
On the Warner Bros. side, the partnership will be managed through a cross-divisional effort led by Peter Girardi and Robert Steele, who will co-develop and produce the programming in collaboration with Spotify, which will be responsible for the marketing, advertising, and distribution of the shows exclusively on its platform. Girardi — executive vice president of Blue Ribbon Content and of alternative programming at Warner Bros. Animation — will serve as the creative lead, and Steele — senior vice president, business strategy and operations, Warner Bros. Digital Networks — will spearhead strategic business aspects of the partnership for the Studio.
“As we continue to see explosive growth in podcasting around the world, we are thrilled to partner with Warner Bros. to build this slate of programming drawn from the worlds of DC and WB,” commented Dawn Ostroff, chief content and advertising business officer, Spotify, who continued: “We could not be more excited to be working with Robert, Peter and the entire Warner Bros. and DC teams to deliver new exclusive stories to the more than 286 million Spotify users.”
“Warner Bros. has been synonymous with compelling and unforgettable storytelling for nearly a century, and we’re continuing to expand that legacy across all types of media platforms for our fans,” said Robert Steele and Peter Girardi, in a joint statement. “Spotify’s deep engagement with its consumers and commitment to prioritizing their podcast vertical makes them an ideal partner in this endeavor. We’re excited to bring beloved characters and franchises from DC and Warner Bros. into this new world and to use our storytelling prowess to redefine what’s possible in the scripted audio space.”
The agreement with Spotify continues Warner Bros.’ commitment to storytelling across all platforms and builds upon a January 2020 first-look deal WBDN announced with Rainy Day Podcasts — a new company formed by Jagged Films partners Mick Jagger & Victoria Pearman (“Shine a Light,” “Get on Up,” “Vinyl,” “Enigma”), producer Steve Bing (“The Polar Express,” “Marley,” “Neil Young: Heart of Gold,” “Shine a Light”), and Oscar®-nominated writer Josh Olson (“A History of Violence”) — to produce a slate of original narrative podcasts.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
