Audiblethe Amazon-owned audiobook and podcast platform, has entered into a multi-year production deal with higher groundthe media company founded by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
The pact announced tuesday signifies the end of the Obamas’ exclusive partnership with Spotify.
Audible said in a press release that a slate of shows will reflect a shared vision with Higher Ground “to tell meaningful and entertaining stories that elevate diverse voices and experiences.”
“At Higher Ground, we have always sought to raise voices that deserve to be heard – and Audible is invested in realizing this vision alongside us,” President Obama said in a statement. “I look forward to partnering with them to tell stories that not only entertain but also inspire.”
Higher Ground produces film and television content exclusively with Netflix and won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019 for the film “American Factory.” Her first podcast, “The Michelle Obama Podcast”, is the most listened to Spotify Original to date.
Other successful podcasts include: “The Big Hit Show,” a series of audio documentaries hosted by Alex Pappademas focusing on elements of popular culture that have defined and changed our culture; “Tell Them I Am,” a collection of universal story podcasts from Muslim voices; “Renegades: Born in the USA,” a series of conversations between President Obama and Bruce Springsteen; and the upcoming “The Sum of Us” podcast series, based on Heather McGhee’s New York Times bestseller “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together.”
Amazon acquired Audible in 2008 for $300 million.
