What Frequency Machine does

Frequency Machine is a Los Angeles-based, privately-held multi-format production company founded in 2018 by award-winning film and television veterans, including the producing team behind the critically acclaimed Detour app. The company operates with a small founding team of fewer than 10 people and specializes in immersive audio and video podcasts, branded content production, and select film and TV development. Its portfolio comprises more than 18 owned podcast series split between narrative content (true crime, fiction drama, sports, history, and advocacy) and travel guides covering major cities worldwide, distributed under its own brand and the related Cerca Travel brand.

The company operates as a boutique content studio with end-to-end production capabilities — script writing, casting, field recording, sound design, editing, and cross-platform distribution — and distributes content via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Audible Plus, YouTube, Realm.fm, and standard RSS feeds, using Megaphone and Art19 as podcast hosting platforms. Revenue is generated through four streams: branded podcast production for enterprise clients, co-production and licensing deals with studios and networks, platform revenue sharing and subscription exclusives (Audible Plus), and turnkey podcast production services for outside brands and individuals.

Pricing for branded work is quote-based and project-specific, with no public rate card. Distribution is anchored by long-term co-production partnerships with Audible, Vox Media Podcast Network, The Athletic, True Crime News, AnitaB.org, and Arlan Was Here Productions, supplemented by owned city-guide travel shows. The company monetizes primarily through B2B enterprise relationships and B2C content licensing, with portfolio shows having charted and been covered by the New York Times, Washington Post, Variety, and Vanity Fair.

Name

Frequency Machine

Legal name

Frequency Machine Inc.

Website

https://frequencymachine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Frequency Machine is a Los Angeles-based, privately-held podcast and branded-content production studio founded in 2018. It produces 18+ owned audio and video podcast series and creates end-to-end branded podcast campaigns for enterprise clients including Hulu, Nike, and Airbnb.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Branded Content Production: Frequency Machine creates branded podcasts and video podcasts for companies and institutions (e.g., Hulu, CBS Studios, Nike, Airbnb, AnitaB.org). These are paid engagements where the client funds content production, often in exchange for association with storytelling. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific.
2. Co-Production with Studios and Networks: FM co-produces original series with studios, streaming platforms, and media networks. Examples include Audible Originals (In the Gap), Vox Media Podcast Network (Chicano Squad), True Crime News (American Hustlers), and The Athletic (Finance of Football). Revenue comes from production deals, licensing, and royalty arrangements.
3. Podcast Subscription / Platform Revenue: The company distributes podcasts via Audible Plus (exclusive content), Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms. Some shows are available free with advertising, while others are exclusive to subscription tiers. Platform revenue share and advertising support this stream.
4. Podcast Production Services for Third Parties: FM offers turnkey podcast production services to outside brands and individuals, handling consulting, development, production, editing, sound design, and marketing strategy for clients who want their own podcasts.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Frequency Machine is a multi-format production company that creates, produces, and distributes a portfolio of 18+ proprietary narrative and travel podcast series while selling end-to-end branded content and podcast production services to enterprise clients. The company handles consulting, development, writing, casting, field recording, sound design, editing, and cross-platform distribution for both owned shows and brand-funded engagements.

Product overview

Frequency Machine is a multi-format production company founded in 2018, specializing in immersive audio and video podcasts, film and TV development, and branded content. The company's product portfolio consists of two main podcast series categories: Narrative Series ( scripted and documentary-style shows including The Valley, In the Gap, Chicano Squad, Feminist Files, Undercover Sports, B The Way Forward, American Hustlers, Finance of Football, and Hung Up) and Travel Series (including Passport and the Cerca city guide podcasts for Barcelona, Los Angeles, London, Rome, Iceland, Paris, NYC, Costa Rica, plus MisInfoNation and Killer Trip). Additionally, Frequency Machine offers production services including Branded Content, Podcast Production, Consulting, Development, Social & Marketing Strategy, and Logistical Support. The company has partnered with major platforms including Audible, Vox Media, Hulu, CBS Studios, Warner Bros, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Valley A primetime soap-style fiction audio drama set in Silicon Valley, featuring Cam a hacker seeking revenge against tech elites. Co-produced with Arlan Was Here Productions and available on audio and video platforms.
• In the Gap True crime podcast about Richard W. Miller, the first FBI agent arrested for espionage. Audible Original co-produced with Audible and available exclusively on Audible Plus.
• Chicano Squad True crime podcast telling the story of Houston's all-Latino homicide squad in the 1980s, hosted by Cristela Alonzo and co-produced with Vox Media Podcast Network.
• Feminist Files Documentary podcast series exploring the secret origin of Title IX, starring Jodie Foster and Samira Wiley.
• Undercover Sports Eight-part narrative podcast uncovering sports' greatest scandals, controversies and conspiracy theories, produced by Emmy-Award winning David Swartz.
• B The Way Forward Action-driven conversation podcast about systemic change, hosted by AnitaB.org CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson and co-produced with AnitaB.org.
• American Hustlers True crime series about two gay con artists Kaushal Niroula and Danny Garcia, co-produced with True Crime News.
• Finance of Football Podcast focused on the business of football, hosted by The Athletic's Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé and co-produced with The Athletic.
• Passport Travel podcast exploring the world through stories, hosted by Neil Innes and Andrés Bartos and based in Barcelona.
• Hung Up Podcast series distributed via pod.link.
• Travel Series (Cerca Guides) City-specific travel guide podcasts covering Barcelona, Los Angeles, London, Rome, Iceland, Paris, New York City, and Costa Rica, distributed under the Cerca Travel brand via pod.link.
• MisInfoNation Podcast series distributed via pod.link.
• Killer Trip Travel podcast series distributed via pod.link.
• Branded Content Services Custom branded podcast and video podcast production for brands, leveraging storytelling for marketing with higher emotional engagement than traditional advertising.
• Podcast Production Services Full-service podcast production including writing, producing, recording, editing, and sound design for audio-only or audio+video podcasts.
• Social and Marketing Strategy Services Social media strategy for podcasts, cross-promotion, podcast PR, and guest booking services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Listeners report 22-27% higher emotional intensity, engagement, and memory recall when hearing brand mentions in podcasts vs TV

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vox Media Podcast NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrequency Machine co-produces the Chicano Squad podcast series with the Vox Media Podcast Network. The show is hosted by Cristela Alonzo and tells the true story of an all-Latino homicide squad in Houston. Distribution is via Vox Media's podcast network platforms.
• AudiblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrequency Machine and Audible co-produced In The Gap, a podcast about the Cold War espionage case of FBI agent Richard Miller. The series is an Audible Original, available exclusively on Audible Plus. The show features narration by Brittany Pressley and voice work by Gary Wolf.
• The AthleticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinance of Football is created and hosted by The Athletic's Asli Pelit and Michael LoRe. FM produces the podcast focused on the business of football/soccer. The show covers major upcoming tournaments (2024 Copa America, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 World Cup) and US market expansion.
• True Crime NewscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican Hustlers is a co-production between True Crime News and Frequency Machine. The true crime series follows two con artists tracked by a citizen detective. It is distributed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and other major podcast platforms.
• AnitaB.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB The Way Forward is co-produced by Frequency Machine and AnitaB.org, an organization dedicated to advancing women in technology. The show is hosted by AnitaB.org CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson and explores systemic change in tech.
• Arlan Was Here ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Valley is a co-production of Frequency Machine and Arlan Was Here Productions (founded by Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital). The Valley is a primetime soap-style fiction podcast set in Silicon Valley. Executive producers include Stacey Book, Dominique Ferrari, and Avi Glijansky for FM, and Arlan Hamilton for Arlan Was Here Productions.
• Realm.fmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Valley was initially made available on Realm.fm, a podcast platform, as part of its launch distribution. Realm.fm serves as a distribution channel for the show.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gimlet Media: Podcast production studio behind Reply All, Science Vs, and Crimetown, now owned by Spotify. Comparable to FM in producing narrative and documentary podcast content distributed across major streaming platforms.
• Neon Hum Media: Independent podcast production studio (Welcome to Your Fantasy, The Violinist). Comparable to FM as a similarly-sized independent narrative podcast producer with multi-format capabilities.
• Crooked Media: Podcast production company (Pod Save America, Lovett or Leave It) producing narrative and commentary content. Comparable to FM in producing high-profile podcast content with strong audience flywheel across multiple shows.
• QCODE: Podcast production company specializing in scripted fiction and narrative audio (e.g., The Left Right Game, Gaslit). Closely comparable to FM's The Valley in producing high-production-value fiction podcasts with celebrity voice talent.
• Wondery: Premium podcast production company producing narrative and true-crime series (e.g., Dr. Death, Dirty John), now owned by Amazon. Directly comparable to FM in producing high-quality narrative podcasts and branded content for major platforms.
• Lemonada Media: Independent podcast network producing narrative and branded content (e.g., Last Day, Tell Me How I'm Doing). Comparable to FM in its independent production model and focus on both narrative content and branded storytelling.
• Pineapple Street Studios: Award-winning podcast production company (The Clearing, Wind of Change), now owned by Audacy. Comparable to FM in producing investigative and narrative podcast content for major platforms.
• Pushkin Industries: Podcast production company co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg, producing narrative series (Revisionist History, Cautionary Tales). Comparable to FM in producing premium narrative content and branded podcasts for enterprise clients.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster and podcast network, operating iHeartPodcasts. Comparable to FM as a major podcast distributor and content producer, though at vastly larger scale and with owned distribution infrastructure.
• Realm (Spotify): Fiction podcast platform and production company, now part of Spotify. Comparable to FM as a fiction-podcast specialist and distribution partner (FM's The Valley launched on Realm).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fmpodcasts
• Facebookfacebook.com/frequencymachine
• Instagraminstagram.com/passportpodcast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frequencymachine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Frequency Machine