Realm

What Realm does

Realm is a privately held podcast-focused digital media network founded in 2015 and headquartered at 115 Broadway in New York. It operates a catalog of nearly 300 audio series totaling over 6,000 hours of content spanning entertainment, true crime, history, kids & family, gaming, and fiction. The company serves three primary customer segments: brand advertisers and agencies seeking premium podcast audiences, independent podcast creators and labels (e.g., Night Vale Presents, Pinna) needing distribution and monetization infrastructure, and major entertainment-IP holders (including DC Comics, SEGA, AMC, Paramount, Warner Bros., Marvel, Netflix, Blumhouse, and Spotify) requiring high-quality scripted and unscripted audio production.

Realm's technology stack is anchored by Megaphone for worldwide RSS hosting and distribution, with an ad-operations layer integrating Flightpath and Magellan.AI analytics alongside proprietary software that supports host-read ads, baked-in and dynamic ad insertion (DAI), Run-of-Network (RON) campaigns, programmatic buying, and VAST. Production capabilities include SAG-compliant casting, full-service scripting, Dolby Atmos-capable scoring and sound design, mixing and mastering, and video production. The 2023 acquisitions of Pinna (a kids podcast network) and Lipstick & Vinyl (podcast representation) extend the network into children and family programming, while the multi-year Night Vale Presents partnership adds a flagship independent label slate.

The company monetizes through four streams: podcast advertising sales (custom host-read ads, exclusive sponsorships with share-of-voice options, RON campaigns, and 360 packages combining audio with social, video, and display); fee-based production services covering content development through final delivery; a subscription and digital product layer selling eBooks and audiobooks via the Realm platform; and live events representation for network partners. Realm has raised over $20 million cumulatively from investors including Forerunner Ventures, Graham Holdings Co., Boat Rocker Media, Rethink Impact, Eudemian Ventures, Uzabase, AAFM, and XRM Media; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The corporate family includes Realm of Possibility Holdings Corp. (parent), Realm Publishing, Inc. (California-incorporated operator), and Realm of Possibility, Inc. (New York-listed entity at the office address).

Name

Realm

Legal name

Realm Publishing, Inc.

Website

https://realm.fm

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Realm is a privately held, New York-based independent podcast network operating nearly 300 audio series totaling 6,000+ hours, serving brand advertisers, independent podcasters, and major entertainment-IP holders through production, distribution, and monetization services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Production and Distribution

NAICS

Music Publishers (51223), Music Publishers (512230), Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Sound Recording Studios (51224), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Hosting & Enterprise Solutions (Private/Branded Podcasts) (MPACADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Podcast Distribution Directories & Listening Apps (MPACADAC), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD), Podcast Hosting & Distribution Platforms (MPAIADAB), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)

Keywords

• Podcast network
• Audio drama production
• Podcast advertising sales
• Digital audio content
• Media distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Podcast advertising sales: Core revenue stream driven by an in-house sales team selling custom host-read ads (baked-in and DAI), unique sponsorships with exclusivity/SOV options, and Run-of-Network (RON) campaigns across the Realm network.
2. 360 and non-traditional campaign packages: Wraparound sponsorship packages combining podcast audio with social, video, display and live activations, often delivered through marketing/branding firms in addition to audio media buyers.
3. End-to-end podcast production services: Fee-based production services covering content development, production management, casting, scripting, recording, mixing/mastering, sound design and video production for entertainment IP holders.
4. Subscription and digital product sales: Subscription service plus direct sale of eBooks and audiobooks delivered via the Realm platform, with payments processed through third-party PCI-compliant payment processors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Realm operates an independent podcast network of nearly 300 audio series and provides end-to-end podcast production, distribution, advertising monetization, and marketing services to brand advertisers, agencies, entertainment IP holders, and independent podcast creators. Its service modules cover casting, scripting, Dolby Atmos sound design, RSS hosting via Megaphone, in-house ad sales (host-read, DAI, RON, programmatic, VAST), 360 sponsorship campaigns, launch PR, and platform pitching. Realm also sells subscriptions and digital products (eBooks, audiobooks) directly to consumers through realm.fm.

Product overview

Realm is a podcast-focused digital media network operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core Realm Podcast Network delivers global distribution, award-winning production, and multi-channel monetization across nearly 300 audio series totaling over 6,000 hours of content spanning entertainment, lifestyle, true crime, history, kids and family, gaming, and fiction. Acquired brands Pinna (a kids podcast network) and Lipstick & Vinyl (a podcast-plus-representation company) extend the network into the children and family programming space, while the Night Vale Presents slate operates under a multi-year partnership covering ad sales, distribution, and live events. Notable in-house productions include Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles (produced with SEGA) and DC High Volume: Batman (produced with DC Comics). The Platform (realm.fm website plus mobile app) hosts listener-facing content and a commerce layer for products such as eBooks and audiobooks via subscription, layered with three service modules: Realm Development & Production Services (casting, scripting, scoring and sound design with Dolby Atmos support, mixing, recording, video production), Realm Distribution & Monetization Services (in-house sales, advertising waterfall, RSS hosting via Megaphone with partner analytics dashboards, Run-of-Network campaigns), and Realm Marketing & Strategy Services (launch press, PR, cross-promo, platform pitching, social media management, bespoke activations).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Realm Podcast Network

Quantifiable outcome

• 92%+ listen-through rate across the network
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• SEGA of AmericaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026SEGA and Realm announced the first-ever Sonic the Hedgehog audio drama series, Sonic Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles. Realm produces and distributes the show across all major podcast platforms and represents it for ad sales. The show reached nearly 2 million downloads in less than six weeks across 120+ countries.
• Night Vale PresentsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Multi-year partnership under which the pioneering independent podcast label founded by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor joined the Realm Network. Realm will oversee ad sales, distribution, and live events representation for the full Night Vale Presents slate, including the flagship Welcome to Night Vale series.
• PinnacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Realm acquired kids podcast network Pinna as part of its expansion into kids and family programming, adding unscripted shows and increasing Realm's catalog to over 6,000 hours and nearly 300 audio series.
• Lipstick & VinylcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 August 2023Realm acquired podcast-plus-representation company Lipstick & Vinyl alongside Pinna, expanding into kids and family podcasts and contributing to Realm's growth past 6,000 hours and ~300 series.
• Rebel GirlsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Realm partnered with Rebel Girls (alongside GoKidGo) to introduce advertisements around content that was previously subscriber-only, expanding its monetization footprint in kids and family programming.
• GoKidGominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Realm partnered with GoKidGo to monetize previously subscription-only kids and family programming through new advertising partnerships.
• Megaphone (Spotify)coreTechnology or IntegrationRealm hosts its podcast catalog on Megaphone, leveraging its worldwide RSS distribution, white-glove service and partner analytics dashboards. Megaphone is referenced as Realm's RSS hosting platform within its distribution & monetization services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wondery: Wondery (owned by Amazon) is a leading podcast network producing high-quality IP-driven narrative and franchise podcasts with premium host-read advertising. Directly comparable to Realm in business model — production, distribution, monetization — and in marquee IP partnerships.
• Acast: Acast is a global independent podcast hosting and monetization platform serving independent creators and networks with dynamic ad insertion, programmatic and a marketplace. Closely mirrors Realm's distribution + monetization stack and independent-network positioning.
• Audioboom: Audioboom is an independent podcast network and hosting platform with an advertising-led monetization model and content partnerships. Comparable to Realm as a publicly listed independent podcast network competing in the same host-read and programmatic advertising space.
• Pushkin Industries: Pushkin Industries is a premium podcast production company (founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg) producing IP-quality narrative and non-fiction podcasts with major host-read advertising. Closely comparable to Realm's production-first, brand-IP approach.
• The Roost: The Roost is an independent podcast network specializing in pop-culture, fandom and entertainment IP podcasts, with monetization via advertising and partner distribution. Directly overlaps Realm's fandom and IP-driven positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Stitcher (SiriusXM): SiriusXM's podcast division (formerly Stitcher) operates a major podcast network and hosting platform with broad monetization capabilities. Larger, well-capitalized incumbent competing in the same host-read and IP-driven podcast advertising space as Realm.
• iHeartPodcasts: iHeartPodcasts is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster's podcast arm, offering a massive podcast network plus ad-tech (SmartAudio) and IP-driven original content. Competes broadly with Realm across advertising, distribution and original IP production.
• Spotify (Podcasts): Spotify's podcast division owns Megaphone (Realm's hosting platform) and produces/exclusives major IP-driven podcasts, making it both a critical partner and a direct competitor. Largest strategic threat given control of Realm's distribution rails.
• Cadence13 / Audacy: Cadence13 (now part of Audacy) is a leading independent podcast publisher and network producing IP-driven shows for premium brands. A larger, better-capitalized incumbent operating a similar end-to-end production-and-monetization model.

Emerging players

• Lemonada Media: Lemonada Media is a fast-growing independent podcast network focused on premium narrative and lifestyle content with brand-IP partnerships. Closely comparable to Realm as a scaling indie podcast network pursuing brand-driven content verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/realmmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/RealmMediaFM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/serial-box

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Realm