Exactly Right Media

What Exactly Right Media does

Exactly Right Media (ERM) is a privately held podcast network founded in 2016 by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, creators of the hit true crime comedy podcast My Favorite Murder. Headquartered in Burbank, California, the company operates a platform-plus-content model: it produces and distributes a portfolio of 16 original podcast titles spanning true crime, comedy, paranormal, science, film discussion, legal commentary, and popular culture, including flagship shows such as My Favorite Murder (30+ million monthly downloads), Buried Bones, This Podcast Will Kill You, Ghosted!, Disgraceland, and newer limited-series productions such as Hell in Heaven, Royal Swindle, and The Butterfly King. Underlying capabilities include a new Burbank production studio equipped for both high-end audio and video podcast production, supported by soundproofing, lighting design, set design, and dedicated control rooms.

The company's revenue model is multi-stream. Podcast advertising and sponsorships (with brands including BetterHelp, Quince, and HomeChef) provide core programmatic and host-read ad income. Direct-to-consumer merchandise is sold through the Exactly Right Store, offering branded apparel and accessories tied to individual shows. Streaming rights and licensing revenue is generated through the Netflix video deal (launching early 2026) and iHeartMedia's exclusive co-production/distribution partnership covering the 12-show roster. Co-production deals with partners such as Blanchard House provide additional professional-services revenue. Live tour events (a sold-out 22-show fall tour) drive ticket sales and merchandise uplift. Go-to-market is hybrid: community-led growth anchored in the passionate "Murderino" fan base of My Favorite Murder, amplified by channel partnerships with iHeartMedia, Netflix, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube, and supplemented by event-driven live experiences and PR coverage in outlets including Variety, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. Customers are primarily individual podcast listeners (B2C) with secondary enterprise partners (iHeartMedia, Netflix, Blanchard House, Best Case Studios) and advertising clients.

Name

Exactly Right Media

Legal name

Exactly Right Media

Website

https://exactlyrightmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Exactly Right Media is a privately held podcast network founded in 2016 by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, producing and distributing 16 original true crime, comedy, and pop culture shows including flagship My Favorite Murder (30M+ monthly downloads), monetized via advertising, merchandise, live tours, and streaming deals with iHeartMedia and Netflix.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Podcast Network

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Rights Management, IP Licensing & Content Sales (MPACADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Usage Reporting, Reconciliation & Royalty Accounting (Statements, Audits) (MPAHALAN), Music & Audio Rights for Broadcast (Sync/Master/Library) (MPABANAF)

Keywords

• Podcast network
• True crime podcasts
• Comedy podcasts
• Audio content production
• Podcast distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorships: Podcast advertising and sponsorship deals across the network's shows, with promo codes and sponsored segments from various brands including BetterHelp, Quince, HomeChef, and others.
2. Merchandise Sales: Exactly Right Store selling branded merchandise for My Favorite Murder, Bananas, Buried Bones, and other shows. Physical goods including apparel and accessories.
3. Streaming Rights & Licensing: Video streaming rights deals with Netflix and distribution partnerships with iHeartMedia generating revenue from exclusive content licensing.
4. Co-Production Deals: Multi-project podcast production deals with partners like Blanchard House for original content development.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Exactly Right Media is a privately held podcast network that produces, distributes, and monetizes a roster of more than 20 original audio and video podcasts spanning true crime, comedy, paranormal, science, film, music, and popular culture. Its flagship show My Favorite Murder exceeds 30 million monthly downloads, and the network monetizes through podcast advertising, branded merchandise, and streaming rights deals with partners including iHeartMedia and Netflix.

Product overview

Exactly Right Media is a podcast network platform created by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (hosts of the hit podcast My Favorite Murder) that hosts and distributes a portfolio of podcasts. The network offers multiple distinct podcast shows across true crime, comedy, and popular culture genres, including flagship titles like My Favorite Murder, Buried Bones, This Podcast Will Kill You, and Ghosted!, as well as newer additions such as Hell in Heaven, Royal Swindle, and The Butterfly King. The company operates as a platform-plus-content model, producing original programming while partnering with talent across various genres including true crime, paranormal, comedy, film discussion, legal topics, and music history. Distribution occurs through partnerships with iHeartMedia and streaming on platforms like Netflix and YouTube.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• My Favorite Murder The flagship true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, featuring macabre stories told with a comedic slant. Has achieved over 30 million monthly downloads and spawned the broader Exactly Right podcast network.
• Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez A paranormal podcast where comedian Roz Hernandez discusses ghost stories, psychic experiences, and supernatural topics with celebrity guests and paranormal professionals.
• This Podcast Will Kill You A podcast covering diseases, their history, biology, and epidemiology, hosted by ecologists and epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke, making infectious diseases accessible for dinner party conversation.
• Buried Bones A historical true crime podcast where journalist Kate Winkler Dawson and forensic investigator Paul Holes dissect historical true crime cases through a 21st century lens, exploring how far science has come and bringing new insight to old mysteries.
• Brief Recess A legal podcast hosted by TikTok lawyer Michael Foote and Mélissa Malebranche, breaking down crazy news stories, sharing anecdotes from criminal court, answering legal questions from callers, and discussing civic engagement topics.
• Dear Movies, I Love You A film podcast where hosts Millie De Chirico and Casey O'Brien discuss cinema like a high school crush, covering movie history, nuance, criticism, blockbusters, and art-house deep cuts.
• Disgraceland An award-winning music and true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving badly, exploring artists from every genre through audio storytelling with revealing facts and myth-busting.
• Do You Need A Ride? A comedy podcast hosted by comedians Chris Fairbanks and Karen Kilgariff who shuttle guests to or from the airport in a mobile sound studio (a car).
• Hell in Heaven An eight-part limited series documenting the true story of Wall Street millionaires John and Ann Bender who built a mansion in Costa Rica, resulting in three murder trials. Co-produced with iHeartPodcasts and Blanchard House.
• Hollywoodland A podcast at the intersection of Hollywood and True Crime exploring stories about actors, directors, and icons of movie history through the lens of crimes that impacted them, featuring cinematic audio storytelling with fully scripted, sound-designed episodes.
• Infamous International: The Pink Panthers Story A podcast about the world's most notorious jewel thieves, the shadowy Serbian crime syndicate known as the Pink Panthers who specialize in elaborate smash-and-grab heists. Produced by Best Case Studios in association with Coda Story.
• I Said No Gifts! A comedy interview podcast hosted by Bridger Winegar where each guest is compelled to bring a gift despite the title's dictum, and the conversation turns to discussing whatever object lies beneath the wrapping paper.
• I Saw What You Did A film podcast hosted by Millie and Danielle who program a double-feature of their favorite movies with a different wild theme every week, exploring the weird ways people respond to and learn to love movies.
• The Knife: A True Crime Podcast A weekly true crime podcast from journalist/producers Hannah Smith and Patia Eaton focusing on people who've been dropped into a story they didn't start, revealing the ripple effect of crime through gripping, first-person storytelling.
• Royal Swindle A true crime story about two Aussie lesbian lovers who become the toast of British high society and tout an exclusive investment opportunity. Hosted by Becky Milligan. A Blanchard House production for USG Audio in partnership with Exactly Right Media.
• Tenfold More Wicked A true crime podcast featuring chilling campfire stories blending narrative nonfiction storytelling with investigative journalism, deep diving into the lives of victims and killers and how they made history.
• That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast A podcast where comedians Liza Treyger and Kara Klenk break down episodes of Law & Order: SVU, deep diving into the true crimes they're based on, and interviewing on-screen talent.
• Trust Me A weekly interview podcast about cults, extreme belief, and the fine line between devotion and delusion, told through firsthand accounts from people who lived it. Hosted by Lola Blanc and Meagan Elizabeth.
• Two-Faced: John of God A documentary series about João Teixeira de Faria, known as John of God, a Brazilian spiritual healer who built a holy empire before his downfall. Also available in Spanish as Dos Caras: Juan de Dios.
• Waiting for Impact A deep dive podcast hosted by Dave Holmes investigating what happened to Sudden Impact, the R&B boy band whose arrival was announced in Boyz II Men's MotownPhilly video. Features interviews with entertainment world friends.
• Wicked Words A true crime interview podcast hosted by Kate Winkler Dawson featuring in-depth interviews with journalists and writers about their best true crime cases, exploring the stories behind the stories.
• The Butterfly King A WWII murder mystery podcast hosted by award-winning journalist Becky Milligan investigating the suspicious death of King Boris III of Bulgaria in 1948. A podcast from Exactly Right produced by Blanchard House.
• Bananas A funny news podcast from around the world hosted by Kurt Braunohler and Scotty Landes, discussing strange, fascinating, and just plain bananas news stories.
• Adulting with Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos A podcast providing real life advice with humor, where hosts Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos have conversations with comics, experts, and celebrities answering complex questions about everyday life.
• Exactly Right Podcast Network A podcast network created by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (hosts of My Favorite Murder) that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining, and relatable stories across true crime, comedy, and popular culture.
• Exactly Right Store (Branded Merchandise) Direct-to-consumer merchandise store at exactlyrightstore.com selling branded apparel and accessories for various shows in the Exactly Right network, including My Favorite Murder, Bananas, Buried Bones, Ghosted!, and others.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ million monthly downloads for flagship show My Favorite Murder
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Jake Brennan / DisgracelandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026True-crime podcaster Jake Brennan bringing Disgraceland and Hollywoodland podcasts to Exactly Right Media. Disgraceland is described as the most downloaded music podcast in the world per iHeart.
• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2025Streaming deal for video portions of My Favorite Murder, The Breakfast Club, and other iHeartMedia podcasts. Netflix becomes exclusive home for video content with new episodes and select library episodes launching early 2026 in the U.S.
• Blanchard HousecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Multi-project podcast deal with Blanchard House for co-production of original content. First project from this deal is 'Hell in Heaven' co-produced with iHeartPodcasts, an eight-part limited series about Wall Street millionaires John and Ann Bender.
• iHeartMedia / iHeartPodcastscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 February 2025Partnership agreement for exclusive co-production, sales, marketing and distribution of the full ERM lineup of shows. iHeartMedia is the No. 1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac. Deal covers the 12-show roster including My Favorite Murder.
• UTA (United Talent Agency)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExactly Right is represented by United Talent Agency for media and entertainment representation. Contact through [email protected] for advertising and partnership inquiries.
• Best Case StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partner for Infamous International: The Pink Panthers Story podcast, produced in association with Coda Story.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• iHeartPodcasts: The No. 1 podcast publisher globally per Podtrac and ERM's exclusive distribution partner. Comparable as a broad incumbent that operates many podcasts while also serving as a competitor for advertising dollars and talent.
• Stitcher: SiriusXM-owned podcast platform and network producing original content including true-crime titles. Comparable as a larger incumbent operating premium podcast originals with backing from a major audio media company.
• Spotify (Podcasts): Global streaming platform with significant original and exclusive podcast investment including The Ringer and Gimlet. Comparable as a broad incumbent that both distributes ERM content and competes for podcast ad budgets.

Others

• Blanchard House: Independent podcast production company that co-produces original content with Exactly Right (e.g., Hell in Heaven, Royal Swindle, The Butterfly King). Comparable as a production partner and emerging supplier of true-crime narrative content into the ERM network.

Direct peers

• Gimlet Media: Spotify-owned narrative podcast network known for premium scripted and nonfiction shows. Comparable as a portfolio-style podcast network with multi-genre slate and major platform backing.
• Audiochuck: Indie podcast network behind Crime Junkie, one of the most-downloaded true-crime podcasts. Closely comparable as an independent female-founded true-crime-led podcast network.
• Audioboom: Independent podcast hosting and network platform with a curated slate of premium shows. Comparable as a multi-show independent podcast network monetizing through advertising and partnerships.
• Wondery: Amazon-owned podcast network producing narrative and true-crime content with multiple flagship hits. Directly comparable as a multi-show premium podcast network with similar genre mix and global distribution ambitions.
• Pushkin Industries: Podcast network co-founded by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg producing narrative nonfiction and comedy content. Comparable as an independent narrative-focused podcast network with a portfolio of premium shows.
• PRX: Public radio podcast network and distribution platform serving independent producers. Comparable as a podcast network/distributor with curated independent content and a focus on narrative nonfiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ExactlyRight
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@exactlyrightmedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ExactlyRightMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exactly-right-media
• Instagraminstagram.com/exactlyright

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Exactly Right Media