Prestige Podcast Company Pineapple Street Studios Shuts Down
Pineapple Street Studios, the maker of prestigious narrative podcasts that helped shape the post- 'Serial' era of the industry, is shutting down.
Audacy, the radio station owner that acquired the studio in 2019, announced the move on Thursday and said it was part of a strategic shift away from branded podcasts and toward more 'promising growth areas for our podcasting business.'
Founded in 2016 by Jenna Weiss-Berman and Max Linsky, Pineapple quickly established itself as a home for shows hosted by prominent celebrities — at the time a novelty in the medium — like Hillary Clinton and Lena Dunham. Simultaneously, it produced a string of ambitious, limited-run documentary series, including 'Missing Richard Simmons,' 'Heavens Gate' and 'Welcome to Your Fantasy,' which received widespread acclaim.
Pineapple was in many ways a model podcast startup of the 2010s — a time when the blockbuster success of 'Serial,' the true crime investigation from producers of 'This American Life,' triggered a rush of investment and innovation in the industry. (Serial Productions was acquired by The New York Times in 2020.) Pineapple sold adaptation rights for several of its shows to film and television companies. And it built a large roster of companion podcasts for popular TV series like 'House of the Dragon,' 'The Last of Us' and 'Severance.'
The radio station owner, formerly known as Entercom, filed for bankruptcy in 2024, citing a steep decline in advertising revenue. Its assets were sold to the Fund for Policy Reform, a nonprofit group controlled by the billionaire George Soros. Shortly thereafter, Audacy laid off about 25 percent of Pineapple's staff and wound down another of its production studios, Cadence13.
The downturn in advertising that began amid spiking inflation in 2023 has had broad repercussions across the industry. Many companies have pulled back investment in the style of highly produced podcasts for which Pineapple was known, turning instead toward lower-overhead chat shows. A spokesman said Audacy will continue to make podcasts under its Audacy Podcasts brand, which is behind titles like 'We Can Do Hard Things' with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle and 'Fly on the Wall With Dana Carvey and David Spade.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Why Did Diddy's Defense Attorney Discuss 'Handsome' Michael B. Jordan During Closing Arguments?
Diddy's attorney told the jury that Cassie was "a beautiful, sexy person" — and was not sexually victimized by Diddy He brought up the relationship between Cassie and Michael B Jordan He further said Ventura has "sexual confidence," seemingly in attempt to undermine prosecution's claims that she had been coerced into sexual activities with other menSean 'Diddy' Combs' defense attorney attempted to convince the jury that his former girlfriend — and the prosecution's star witness, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura — was not a victim, even referencing actor Michael B. Jordan in his closing arguments. Combs' attorney Marc Agnifilo was animated, often walking back and forth in the courtroom, as he rested his case before a Manhattan jury on Friday, June 27. He pushed back against the prosecution's claims that Ventura and another of Combs' former girlfriends, who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane,' were sex trafficked. He tried to convince the jury that both Ventura and Jane willingly participated in the swinger-style lifestyle, and were not victims of coercion. "God bless her. She's a beautiful, sexy person," Agnifilo said about Ventura. When Ventura wasn't dating Combs, "she was with Michael B. Jordan, the most handsome man in the world," Agnifilo said, further claiming Ventura has "sexual confidence." "She is not clutching her pearls," he added. Combs' high-profile trial, where a jury must decide if he is guilty of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, is nearing its end after weeks of testimony from his personal and professional associates. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Flower Expo Returns to Michigan and Illinois This Summer Following Blockbuster Northeast Event
Two-day cannabis trade events will connect brands, dispensaries, and budtenders for networking, product showcases, and business growth. Attendees engage in networking and enjoy interactive experiences at a Flower Expo event. LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flower Expo, a fast-growing B2B cannabis trade show series in the United States, is expanding its 2025 event schedule with the return of Flower Expo Michigan and a new two-day format for Flower Expo Illinois. Following a successful 2025 kickoff in Illinois on March 25 and its third annual event in Massachusetts on June 4-5 featuring over 100 exhibiting brands and 300 attending dispensaries—Flower Expo is building on its momentum with two Midwest events aimed at fostering industry growth and connection. Flower Expo Michigan will take place August 27-28, 2025, at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Flower Expo Illinois is scheduled for September 23–24, 2025, at The Geraghty in Chicago. Each event will feature two distinct days: Day One focuses on connecting brands with dispensary buyers in a business-oriented environment, while Day Two is designed to engage budtenders through product education, networking, and immersive experiences. 'These upcoming events reflect our continued commitment to providing high-value opportunities for industry stakeholders,' said Jason Bello, CEO of Flower Expo. 'Both venues offer increased capacity, and we look forward to deepening relationships across these two influential markets.' Participating companies will include a mix of national and regional cannabis brands. Notable exhibitors will include STIIIZY, Kiva, MariMed, Wyld, Realeaf Botanicals, Kai Cannabis Co., Grön, and Fernway marking Fernway's debut in the Illinois market. Attendees can also expect panel discussions as part of the event's SESHES speaker series, which highlights thought leaders and emerging voices from across the cannabis supply chain. In addition to networking and deal-making, each event will feature food vendors, branded activations, and shaded outdoor consumption lounges, creating an atmosphere that blends business with community engagement. Exhibiting brands, like Cresco and Garden Society, showcase their products and connect with industry buyers at Flower Expo. The Midwest remains a vital region for the cannabis economy. According to publicly available state data, Michigan and Illinois generated an estimated $3.2 billion and $1.6 billion in legal cannabis sales, respectively, in 2024. Michigan continues to serve as one of the most mature and active cannabis markets in the U.S., while Illinois is among the fastest-growing. Exhibitor booths and sponsorship opportunities are available for licensed operators and ancillary service providers. Applications are now open for qualified dispensary buyers, budtenders, media professionals, and prospective SESHES speakers. General admission passes are available for non-exhibiting industry attendees. For full details on registration, programming, and participation, visit and About Flower ExpoFlower Expo is a leading business-to-business trade show series dedicated to advancing the cannabis industry through curated events, meaningful partnerships, and professional engagement. With a focus on innovation, access, and relationship-building, Flower Expo provides a streamlined platform for brands, buyers, and professionals to connect and grow. Media ContactFlower Expoops@ 524-4888https:// Photos accompanying this announcement are available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fox News
26 minutes ago
- Fox News
Travis Kelce's 'Happy Gilmore 2' co-star, Christopher McDonald, lauds Super Bowl champ's acting skills
Travis Kelce has excelled in football, but this summer he is putting his acting skills on full display. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end will star in the upcoming "Happy Gilmore 2" movie. Hollywood star Christopher McDonald will reprise his role as Shooter McGavin in the sequel. Earlier this week, McDonald spoke to People about how Kelce fared during the filming process. "Travis Kelce has been out there, and I just really liked him as a person. He is really funny. Way too handsome, by the way, but really a good actor actually," the Emmy nominee told the outlet. McDonald continued to praise the three-time Super Bowl winner, saying he is "surprisingly good." McDonald was also complimentary of Kelce's skill on the golf course. "I think he's got game," the actor noted, admitting he "did not" get to play with the NFL star while filming. Earlier this year, Kelce described the opportunity to be a part of the movie as "a dream come true." "I thought SNL was going to be the peak of my acting and showman or entertainment career," Kelce said during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" in January. "Working with Happy Gilmore himself, the Sandman and Happy Productions, it was off the chain." The sequel to the 1996 sports comedy film is scheduled to be released July 25. It will be available on Netflix. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
