Amazon Cuts 110 Jobs, Shifts Wondery Podcasts to Audible in Reorganization

Amazon is restructuring its Wondery podcast studio, eliminating roughly 110 positions and redistributing the unit’s shows across other parts of its audio business, according to an internal memo confirmed by the company. Narrative series such as “Business Wars,” “Dr. Death,” and subscription service Wondery+ will be folded into Audible, while creator-led programs including “Armchair Expert,” “New Heights” and LeBron James’s “Mind the Game” will be overseen by a newly formed Creator Services team. Wondery Chief Executive Officer Jen Sargent will leave after a transition period, Amazon said. Steve Boom, the vice-president who oversees audio, Twitch and games, told employees the move is intended to align with the growing popularity of video-integrated, personality-driven podcasts that require different discovery and monetization strategies than Wondery’s traditional, audio-first fare. Amazon bought Wondery in 2021 for about $300 million during a broader push into original audio content. The latest overhaul underscores how competition from YouTube, Spotify and other video-centric platforms is reshaping the economics of podcasting. Amazon said the Wondery brand will continue for select creator-led shows, but denied reports it is closing the studio outright.